What soil to use for Ficus ?

tochitra

Hi all,
My sister gifted me a indoor Ficus Bonsai last June and initially it shed some leaves but stayed with 75% of the leaves until last month. Now all the leaves have fallen down except for 2-3 of them still hanging on to the plant. I water the plant once in 4-5 days. Most of the time I find the soil to be dry. I'm not sure if the soil lacks nutrition and needs a re-potting. Can anyone tell me what's the right potting mix to buy online or from any of the stores. I live in NJ.

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waltr

Ficus don't like to dry out completely but also don't like sitting in water either. I use a standard well draining bonsai soil with a bit of additional organics (pine bark). Water just before the soil is dry, give it lots of light (outside during the warm months but not below 50°F).
If you live anywhere near Flemington, NJ stop at Allshapes Bonsai near Ringos (just off Rt202). They grow a good number of tropicals and can help you with soil.
http://www.allshapesbonsai.com/

MelloBonsai

50% shredded fir bark and 50% crushed lava rock.

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Sailor_Jerry

Some ficus are bigger drama queens than others, too. I have a big benjamina that flips out at the slightest change, so it pretty much stays put year round in front of south-facing glass doors.


As for watering, rather staying on a set schedule, it's better to check once a day. Water as needed, and don't let the soil get completely dry. Each tree is a little different, and by playing around with watering you'll get the feel for what it likes.

treebeard55

To answer your question: sometimes a good commercial potting mix amended with 25% crushed granite, sometimes a 3/2/1 mix of Turface, composted bark, and crushed granite. With either one, I always sift my ingredients; I don't use anything that will pass thru ordinary window screen.

It sounds to me like you may not have been watering enough. As has been pointed out, best to check the tree daily and water when needed.

Another possibility: your tree may also be suffering light starvation. Human eyes don't make good horticultural light meters, simply because our eyes adapt so well to different light conditions. A room can look well-lit to us, and still be too dark for the long-term health of a plant. You didn't say how much light it gets, but that might be worth checking.

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tochitra

Hi all,

Thankyou very much for the reply. The plant was first kept on the window and was exposed to morning sunlight. It was during this time that it shed 25%of its leaves. Then I moved it to my kitchen counter where there was no direct sunlight but in the afternoon the sun light would fall on my kitchen counter and not directly on the plant. I do think I don't water it very well. When I water, it looks as though all the water poured from top comes out of the bottom without wetting the soil I will try changing the soil and see if I can save my tree.