How to care for a Ficus microcarpa bonsai
An introduction to the green plant flowers detailing how to care for a Ficus microcarpa bonsai and the key points for maintaining a盆jing (bonsai) ficus tree, next, let's get to know together.
Many people place a Ficus microcarpa bonsai in their homes as decoration, which is both stylish and upscale! Despite being a popular bonsai, many people are not yet familiar with the daily maintenance of Ficus microcarpa. Let's take a look at the daily care methods for Ficus microcarpa together.
1. Water and fertilizer management: Ficus microcarpa is very easy to care for, as it can adapt to environments with abundant fertilizer and water, and it can also tolerate drought and moisture, growing even in crevices. To grow it into a bonsai, you first need to cultivate the main stem well, making it into a trunk, and frequently apply thin fertilization with decomposed organic fertilizer as a top dressing, every 2 to 3 days. When transplanting or changing pots, use decomposed organic fertilizer as a base fertilizer. Only an adequate supply of fertilizer and water can make Ficus microcarpa grow thick and strong quickly, allowing it to be trained into a bonsai. Once established, the ficus tree can tolerate long-term waterlogging, otherwise, it may only grow roots and not the trunk.
2. Daily pruning: Pruning is a means to shape the Ficus microcarpa tree. Through pruning, the tree can achieve an aesthetically pleasing form. Ficus microcarpa is also quite tolerant of pruning, which can make the tree look very beautiful. Ficus microcarpa can be pruned all year round. A well-shaped bonsai ficus tree is primarily shaped through pruning, with binding not necessarily required. When it is growing most vigorously, it can be pruned twice consecutively, mainly to shorten the branches and make the trunk thicker, and the lower branches should be pruned in a timely manner.
3. Pinching: Pinching can promote the germination of axillary buds, increase branching, expand the canopy, and also inhibit the elongation of branches. The timing and frequency of pinching are greatly related to the species. For Ficus microcarpa, pinching is generally done when 3 to 4 leaves have emerged, for the first time. When new branches grow 3 to 4 leaves again, continue pinching in this manner, which makes the branching look nice. Finally, you will get a Ficus microcarpa with many branches and a lush canopy.
4. The importance of thinning buds: Thinning buds is often necessary when many buds germinate simultaneously at the budding stage. Thinning buds is very beneficial for the better growth of Ficus microcarpa and can also make the tree shape more beautiful. Thinning buds actually involves removing extra buds from the top of Ficus microcarpa branches and leaving one or two appropriate buds. This not only reduces the loss of nutrients but also shapes the tree, as too many small buds growing into branches can be unsightly.
If you encounter the following problems, you can solve them according to specific methods:
1. Yellowing due to overwatering: Young leaves are dark yellow and lack luster, while old leaves show no significant changes, the branches are thin and yellow-green, and new shoots do not grow. Remove the Ficus microcarpa tree from the pot, place it in a well-ventilated, shaded area to let the soil dry, and then put it back in the pot.
2. Lack of light: If the Ficus microcarpa tree is kept in a dark environment for a long time, the leaves do not receive enough sunlight and cannot produce chlorophyll, causing the whole plant's leaves to turn yellow and fall off. Supplementing light can prevent this disease.
3. Lack of fertilizer:表现为嫩叶颜色变淡，星黄或淡绿色，而老叶比较正常或逐渐由绿转黄。Check the soil of the Ficus microcarpa tree pot, if there is a hardening phenomenon, change the soil, usually apply thin fertilizer frequently and water with some alum water in time.
4. Yellowing due to excessive fertilizer: Excessive or high-concentration fertilizer can cause the plant to turn yellow, as seen in the dry brown tips of new leaves, usually thick and lackluster leaves without a comfortable convex surface, and old leaves turn yellow and fall off. Stop fertilizing immediately, and in severe cases, wash the plant with a large amount of water to remove some fertilizer.
The above comprehensive knowledge explanation on how to care for a Ficus microcarpa bonsai and the key points for maintaining a bonsai ficus tree may be helpful to you.