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bonsaiTALK Journeyman
Join Date: Feb-2005
Location: Rhode Island
Country: USA
Posts: 12
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Neglected Ficus
Boy, I'm grateful to have this forum. What a wealth of information! The search pages alone were a little overwhelming. After an hour of reading, I realized time was running out and I still hadn't answerd my main concerns. I was given (what I've learned today is) a Ficus from someone who says it's been dropping leaves for the two months they've owned it. I'd like to try and save it.
Here's a link to a picture of it I took recently and a close up of some leaves that I've been watching. http://hstrial-jlynn1.homestead.com/bonsai.html My best guess is it was too close to a cold window in Massachusetts and possibly over watering.
First off, I'd like to know the technical name for the plant. Ficus? Sure, but I'm seeing there are several kinds of Ficus trees and think it's important to know which one I'm dealing with. It should help for proper care. I bought two books this morning, thanks to this forum: "Bonsai Techniques" by John Yoshio Naka I and "Bonsai" by Sunset.
My main concern is its well being while I learn how to take care of it. It fell on the floor once (before I got it) and the soil is just a mess. It appears to have no actual soil, but only red lava and there are cat hairs everywhere in the soil! It lost a lot of leaves, but as you can see from the picture, (see link above) I *think* it'll be okay.
I've got proper lighting and I better understand how to water it. It's the roots and the soil I'm really concerned with. I think there's wiring inside the pot with the roots, but I don't want to hurt the plant any future by digging in there and seeing. When I know what I need to do, I'll do it all at once and hopefully keep the stress levels down.
Any advice on what I can do for the soil/roots at this time OR any other comments?
-Jen Lynn M.
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