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ID and TIPS please.

17 years ago

Okay, so my mother gave me two "bonsai" specimens, one from Wal-Mart and one from Lowes. The first one she gave me about a week ago. It didn't look good when I got it. The leaves were a faded green color, brittle, and had white spots on them. I gave it a few days and the leaves were crispy so I picked all the dead leaves off, leaving basically nothing and put it back in a south facing window on a humidity tray with my Ficus Religiosa and Willow Leaf Ficus (I'm still not sure that's even what it is). So it's recovering, or atleast appears to be. It's got a bunch of little green shoots coming out, and I'm excited because it is a pretty tree and is so much farther along than the pre-bonsai I have.

Any tips on things I can do to help it recover? I've been keeping the soil from drying out, put it on a humidity tray in a south facing window, and I pinched off all the dead leaves. Not sure what else I should do.

Then tonight my mom brought home one from Lowes. I have no clue what it is, the tag doesn't say. I'm not even sure if it's appropriate for bonsai. I'm also concerned about the soil. It's a hard brick basically of dense peat-looking material. Also had this brittle green moss stuff which I pulled off, and then water the little brick. I'll probably repot it in bonsai soil in a larger training pot if thats not the soil/sized pot I should keep it in.

Anyways, I don't know how to care for either of these plants, other than general plant care. Any help would be super appreciated.

Pictures of Wal-Mart tree:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Tantorian/DSC00050.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Tantorian/DSC00048.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Tantorian/DSC00047.jpg

Pictures of Lowes tree:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Tantorian/DSC00046.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v252/Tantorian/DSC00045.jpg

Note: To a view image, copy and paste one of the links in your URL bar at a time.

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Comments (4)

nicholiarelius
Original Author
17 years ago
Oh I should mention that I've actually moved all of them outside now, and they are still all on humidity trays, on pavers around a Bradford Pear in the front yard. They are pretty much in direct sunlight most of the day, but at some parts they are shaded by the bradford. If you think that's a bad idea for the specimens I have let me know. ^.^
lucy
17 years ago
Hi, the Lowe's tree is a Schefflera arboricola and is used for bonsai, the first tree is likely a ficus ... microcarpa? of some kind. They're both tropical and I definitely wouldn't chance them outdoors until you know for sure your overnight weather will stay above 50 F. They both need high humidity and very bright light all day, though having gone out with no acclimatization into the 'real' sun (vs indoors and/or under fluorescents) I hope they haven't reacted too badly. You can look up general care of them at www.bonsai4me.com.
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nicholiarelius
Original Author
17 years ago
It's been in the 80s during the day and around 60s at night but I've been bringing them in at night. When they were inside there wasn't any flourescents, just natural sunlight. Whenever we've had an unseasonably warm day I usually put them outside to get fresh air. They are all doing really good. My Ficus Religiosa kind of concerns me though because the leaves are big and they are crowding each other. I don't know if I should pinch some off or leave them alone.
lucy
17 years ago
Pinch them off especially where they're pointing inwards to the middle where you'd just as soon allow some light in anyway.

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