My story and a few questions as well!

coolcat600

I've read a lot of posts, read what I could about soil (I plan on getting a "kitty litter" soil), about watering and how over watering is about as bad as letting it not get any water. I'm trying to learn the basics before I start trying to form an actual bonsai. Right now I have a "mallsai" - as a matter of fact, I didn't even expect to get one. Here's my story, then some questions afterwards, you can ignore me for the most part as I'm long winded though. I'll clearly mark where my questions are below so that you can skip my long winded story.

I told my fiancee I always wanted to get a bonsai, or more accurately, learn how to grow a bonsai, as I've always been told that it can be very calming to work with because of the time required to "see" the tree, form the tree, care for the tree, etc. As far as tree types that I want? I always wanted a juniper I guess, those are the ones I usually see being called "bonsai". Well, what I ended up with was a Ficus "ginseng" (Banyan). Not very big at all (maybe 10-12 inches tall). It was purchased from Walmart (for those who somehow do not know what that is, its a department store). Much to my dismay the plant's soil was covered in a layer of rock that was glued together. Even before I read information about bonsai I knew this could not be healthy, so I got some tools to carefully remove the rock, washed it, rinsed it, and then broke it all up so that it was looser than before. I put it back on top simply because, well, quite frankly - the dark soil beneath is ugly. The rocks on top I would think (well, hope) won't hurt anything as they're more decorative now, and should easily allow for the passage of water.

I don't have the ability to take a picture of it, but its got some decent growth, but there is definitely room for improvement, especially considering what I've seen so far.

Like I said, I'm not going to attempt pruning, shaping, wiring or anything else until I get the basics of keeping it alive down. After all, I would imagine that is probably the hardest part. After you can care for them, shaping them into works of art is all about taking the time to find the right specimen and then the time to cultivate it into the work of art you saw when you first picked it up.

I hope this tree doesn't die, mostly because I hope that a good first experience will keep me going until I can learn how to do even better.

Now, for questions!

Told you' I'd make it obvious, lol - ok, here are a few of my questions I have.

A) Is the Diatomaceous Earth that I'm planning on using really as good as I hear? Since I plan on being 100% inorganic is it then pretty much absolutely required to use fertilizer w/ the water and/or pellets?

B) As stated, it was from walmart. With rocks being glued above it. The label on the side says its from Florida. It is now spring here. There are quite a few leaves on the tree. Should I let the soil be or should I repot it? I know it would be tricky being new and all, but it didn't seem like the soil was of the highest quality when I pulled the rocks from it, and I'm worried that if left until next spring I won't have a tree.

C) I have a florescent light bulb in my desk lamp that is shining straight onto it from about 6 inches away, I don't really have any windows that it can be put in right now (they'll all have AC in them in about a month or my cats will knock the plant from the window and/or I'll forget about it ) - Will this work for the plant I have for now until I can find a suitable window?

D) Just general advice. I know there is a lot on the forum, and I'm reading through it. But any advice that you can give in the forms of clear "do's or do not's" would be great, as I would prefer to get told now that something is a stupid idea instead of having my tree die and reading why later.

At any rate, thanks for listening to my ridiculously long post.

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malhaku

Hello Coolcat,

I am pretty new to bonsai myself, but if I was to make a recommendation for your questions, I would say to hit up some websites that have a lot of good beginner info.

http://www.bonsai4me.com/Basics.html - good beginner articles

http://wiki.bonsaitalk.com/index.php/Beware_the_mallsai - The bonsaitalk wiki page has good info in general on it, but here is a page that talks about store bought bonsai like yours

Finally, since you have a ficus http://www.bonsaihunk.us/ - An entire section of the site is devoted to ficus and their care... also under "bonsai Cultural Information" a lot of info about indoor bonsai in general and lights for indoor bonsai

Hopefully reading through some of that information will help get you rolling and then if you have any more specific questions I am sure the many more experienced members of the site can assist you.

BonsaiSteve1

C) I have a florescent light bulb in my desk lamp that is shining straight onto it from about 6 inches away, I don't really have any windows that it can be put in right now (they'll all have AC in them in about a month or my cats will knock the plant from the window and/or I'll forget about it ) - Will this work for the plant I have for now until I can find a suitable window?


The fluorescent bulb should be a plant bulb. Regular fluorescent bulbs will do nothing.

coolcat600

malhaku - thank you for the information. I had already started reading bonsai4me and bonsaihunk in an attempt to learn more. bonsai4me is where I got the suggestion about the inorganic material. As far as the mallsai - hopefully if it does die my fiancee doesn't get discouraged and think its a lost cause. I may be able to get past the initial death, but she might get discouraged and not want to buy anymore. I've also already located a shop nearby in my area so if this one does die, I will head there to buy a good one, and hopefully that one will survive for years. I'm actually going to follow the instructions on that mallsai right now, and hopefully I'll get a survivor. My only concern is how to prune half the foliage. I think I will take a few pictures and upload them so someone can give me some advice as I have -no- idea how.

BonsaiSteve1 - thank you as well, I did not realize that it was an issue. I have a few other plants growing under this bulb (catnip and grass... lol, i have cats). I will look into buying a plant bulb and see if that helps. Unfortunately the light cannot be super bright, as this desk is also in our bedroom and many times it is on when one of us is in bed.

Edit: I have gone ahead and gotten pictures. Two are of the plant, a third of the soil. Once I figure out how to upload them I will (looking around boards as we speak)

Mcspeed

C C if the instructions say to soak the thing once a week in a bowl, then put on your tv and enjoy, throw them away.

Also what is it telling you about pruning half of the foliage?? Maybe for styling purposes you might want to do that, but mallsai instructions are NOTORIUS for being way off base.

Pics are good, we can see what you have and offer guidence.

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coolcat600

Nope, doesn't give instructions in that manner. It says "Prefers bright to moderate light. Requires excellent drainage, drought tolerant. Average home temp, 65-80F."

The "beware the mallsai" link is what said to soak it and prune away half the foliage.

Pictures follow (I think...)

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Mcspeed

You can reduce the foliage to practically nothing, who am I kidding nothing and these will bud back no problem. Water as needed( when starting to get dry but still with some noticable moisture in the soil.


Pruning will be dictated by a style choice, come up with a choice, then begin to eliminate branches that don't work with how you envision the tree down the road.

On the contensious side many don't like these as bonsai due to the bulbous roots, I have seen it put out many times that they can be layered, which would give a more even taper to the trunk, and a chance (for a while anyway) for a more normal nebari.

__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you.


Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill

coolcat600

thank you mcspeed - and while it does have a bulbous root, I was reading that these can develop aerial roots if given the proper environment. That is something I would definately be interested in, but then again, I'm new and I could have been reading things wrong. Not sure on the style that I want yet (looking at quite a few so far). As far as the soil - I'm going to try and do it that way, but for now, I need to figure out if it needs to be quickly transplanted to give it the best chance of survival or not.

So, if anyone knows - should I repot it right away to try and make sure this tree will survive, or leave it in the pot till spring? (I posted a picture w/ the soil if you want to look at it).

Mcspeed

CC if you can take a chop stick or similar and aerate (poke holes) in the soil to break it up a bit, then observe closely for a bit, you should know when the clay/soil is taking water, if it's not then you need to do the repot soon. If it seems to be taking in water then breaking up the rootball a bit will probably get you to next repot season which isn't to far away, trops like it to be nice and warm for repotting. Avoid pete moss when repotting, pete has a tendency to have this kind of issue often. If you need use long fiber sphagnum moss for your organic component.

__________________
If at first you don't succeed -- skydiving is not for you.


Always remember that you're unique -- just like everyone else

Enjoy this day.
Bill