First timer with a Ficus Retusa

peterevans

Hello everyone.
I am new to this forum and from what I've read so far, people are very helpfull and friendly, wich is why I decided to join.
To clear my Newbie head of the all the questions I have about my newly purchased Bonsai.

I've bought my Ficus about a month and half ago, and I must say that I am loving the bonsai experience, but unfortunately I feel like I am letting my Ficus down, due to my ignorance, on how to take care and look after.

So far I have been only watering the Ficus, and I bought a pair of Bonsai scissors to trim all the extra bits that are growing out of the place (very thecnical).
I haven't ventured in trimming yet in case I mess up.
I have been reading this forums for a little while know and I think I now know the basics.
But would like some suggestions from you in this matter.

Also I am not sure how old my ficus is, I was amazed to see some pretty similar ones that where 20 to 25 years, I would really like to have a estimate of how old my tree is.
I paid £70 for it, which now that I have compared seems a bit too much.

Apologies for the bad quality of the photos as they where taken with my mobile.

All the help it's greatly appreciated.

Jose Lopes

Attached Images

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JayC

Hi Jose, and welcome!

You should fill out some information about where you live in your user CP, it makes it easier for people to discuss your tree. For the moment, you just need to get a good soil mix, fertilise the tree and water for a while (others on here can assist you as i have only a single fig which is different to yours).

In the future, maybe a year or two down the track, you may wish to air-layer the fig so that you get two trees. The base could be a banyan style (look it up), and the top, whatever you like.

Getting into a local bonsai club would greatly increase your knowledge. Read and surf the net about this species and others you may wish to purchase in the future.

JayC

Davev

Jose,


That is a very nice tree. I would also probably air layer the top, Figs are very easy to grow and train. They love it humid. That one has a great trunk and plenty of possibilities.

peterevans

Hi again and many thanks

So Many new thecnical terms for me.

@Jay C: I filled the info as requested, it makes sense as different countries different weathers right.
Do you mind point me toward the right direction when it comes to soil Mix?! Any shops or references I could get, would be greatly appreciated.
Although I thought the soil the tree is now would be the ideal, but then again, It seems that the pot and soils of other similar trees is a bit different.
Would Bonsai especific soil work with this tree? Would I need to repot it? And therefore rearange the roots?

@Davev
Thanks a lot, I really like this tree also, although I read somewhere here, that trees with this snake shape are not always a good buy? Don't know exactly why?!
Yes, Humidity is something I have noticed and read that this tree loves, it seems to be pretty happy so far, as the foliage is growing super fast, too fast it seems at times, need to groom it a bit soon.

By the photos could you tell how old this tree is? Or is this something that should have been mentioned when bought? Just wondering how long does a tree of this type takes to get to this size, it's about 2,5 to 3 Feet, quite tall I think.

I bought moss for the tree, but I am not too sure if this is the right kind of soil to grow moss?

Apologies for all the questioning, but it would be cool to know this stuff, I am researching and googling at the same time.

Thanks for the help so far.

Jose

STA4

FYI - I've seen similar size & shaped retusa's like yours go for 250-300$ here. So price wise I think you did well. The age of the tree is probably 10-15 years old as it is a bunch of smaller trees fused together. Age is usually a guess and is less important than how old it looks.

It is autumn now so don't worry about repotting till spring- while it's true that tropicals can be reppoted any time of the year, doing it now will stress the tree. It would survive but could lose branches. Read alot over the fall/winter learn more and you'll be ready to repot in the spring. Plus it will give you time to find a new pot to repot it into.

I would get it closer to a window (no less than a foot)- The growth you're getting now may be just residual energy. Plus more light will keep the internodes shorter and the tree will keep its lush appearance.

Forget the moss- moss is only put on trees when they are being shown or for pictures. You'll never get moss to grow inside. And could harm the tree trying to keep the moss moist.

The reason a tree shaped like this is always a good buy is they don't fit the puriest standards and lean more towards penjing being more whimsical and less natural. However this tree has a great lower half or you can just enjoy it as is. I have plenty of trees that are unusal and would never make into a traditional show. But I enjoy them.

Enjoy the tree- you're not letting it down- you asked the right questions and choose a great species to start bonsai with. BTW- It was years before I spent that much on a tree- good job jumping right in. After 8 years my most expensive tree I paid $170 for (and it is a bursera fagaroides which is a species I enjoy, but you never see in shows).

ericN

you have a nice tree there. for more info on ficus bonsai, check out jerry meislik site http://www.bonsaihunk.us. tons of info on ficus horticulture, styling and tecniques. and if you can get a copy of his book 'ficus the exotic bonsai' the would be a great help.

hope thet helps
eric

peterevans

Wow

Thanks a million Sta4 for all the great advice.
This tree is 10 to 15 years that's a cool fact to tell to friends. Didn't knew that this wasn't that important, when as you said it looks kind of older than that.

And about the shape, i was quite worried in the beginning, of what a bonsai connoisieur might have said about this tree, but you gave me great peace, plus at the end of the day what matters is if you happy with it.

Great to know that I am not doing anything wrong.
Somehow the idea that I had in general about taking care of a bonsai, it's a lot of detailed work, all the time.

@Eric
Thanks a lot for the Link, I am going to try and find the book in Amazon.

Thanks for the all the great help so far, really appreciate it.

Jose