How to Care for a Mini Bonsai Ficus
Summary: This article provides an explanation on how to create a mini ficus bonsai, how to care for it, let's take a look!
Mini ficus bonsai is quite popular, so there is a lot of experience to be found. Some gardening friends have asked how to care for a ficus bonsai. It's better to learn from experience than theory. Let's first see what those who have cared for them have to say; we can learn about the daily maintenance methods from their experiences.
Let's start with the issue of leaf yellowing in mini ficus bonsai. If an old tree in its original pot has yellowing leaves, it is usually due to issues such as improper sunlight, ventilation, watering, fertilizing, or not changing the soil for many years. Ficus likes sunlight, except for the need for shade during summer. It can be exposed to full sun in the other three seasons. The main problem is with those that have been planted in semi-shade and then suddenly moved to direct sunlight, which is absolutely not feasible. They need to adapt to the sun gradually. Also, those leaves with black spots or pests are mainly due to poor ventilation. Indoor environments are naturally enclosed with poor air circulation and quality. Some people even like to spray water on the leaves every day, claiming that the northern environment is dry. In fact, there's no need to spray water every day. Spraying every few days to wash the leaves is fine.
Ventilation
Everyone knows that closed environments easily breed bacteria, so ventilation is very important. You should open the windows for ventilation every morning and evening, avoiding ventilation at noon because the wind is a bit dry and hot at that time, while it is cooler in the morning and evening.
Watering
People always say that watering should be done when the soil is dry but not too dry, and when it's wet but not waterlogged. When the leaves are slightly wilted, it's time to water. The soil should not be waterlogged. The watering time depends on the type of potting soil you have. Some soils retain water well, and although the surface may look dry, the inside is still moist. Ficus has succulent roots and can store water, so a bit of dryness won't cause any problems. Honestly, most plants don't die from drought but from overwatering. The roots are too moist for too long, unable to breathe, and eventually rot. My personal watering experience for reference: When the surface of the potting soil is dry about one centimeter, it's time to water. Based on your experience with different pot sizes, find a container that can water the plant just enough to moisten the soil thoroughly. When it's dry, water just one container at a time, which moistens the soil without overwatering. The water should be prepared in advance, as tap water directly is not good. Don't water at noon or on cloudy days.
Fertilizing Mini Ficus Bonsai
Improper fertilizing can either burn the roots or the leaves, and the concentration is hard to control. Bonsai is meant for indoor leaf or root viewing, so why make it grow so big? When it grows too big, you'll say it doesn't look good because it's out of shape. If you want to see a big one, plant it in the ground, and it will definitely grow into a large tree. Mini ficus does not like a lot of fertilizer. As long as the potting soil is good, try not to fertilize. Changing the soil every two years with decomposed leaf soil contains enough nutrients.
Repotting
It's best to repot with one-third of the original soil. It's best not to cut the roots unless they are rotting. Leave them if they are not rotten. Mini ficus bonsai has succulent roots, so if you prune the roots, you need to handle them, let them dry before planting, and the potting soil should be disinfected to prevent infection and root rot. Don't water before repotting. The best time to repot is before spring sprouting. After repotting, water thoroughly and place it in a shady and well-ventilated area to care for it. It will take about half a month to adapt, then gradually expose it to sunlight for normal care. If you've just bought a mini ficus bonsai, it's best to repot it with the original soil.
The above is a detailed explanation of how to care for a mini ficus bonsai. I hope this article can help you with green plant management!