new to ficus bonsai...asking about repotting and soil make up

10 years ago

I've had some disapointments with juniper parsoni that I'd started as BONSAI so I'm trying Tiawan Fig Ficus but they're "Walmart Specials". They were kinda scrawny but my heart went out to them and I've adopted these two orphans. I've had some sucess with repotting two of the same species that I got at Lowe's garden center that didn't have any glued rocks on top. They're exactly the same as pictured in " Rescue Bonsai advise" dated 12/15/13. I immediately pliered off the glued on pebbles on these orphans (if you want to salvage the pebbles put them in water in a microwavable bowl and bring the water to a boil. With a set of kitchen tongs you can aggresively seperate the pebbles and use them again) and discovered one of the two was completely dry and the other soaking wet. I've tried to address the moisture unbalance by putting a diaper under the wet baby and carefully adding water to the roots of my dry guy. Right now they're sitting on their upturned Walmart pots with their roots naked @ room temp of about 74F, 8' from a window facing our Florida northern day light and a moisture insert guage reading a bit below 50% moist. NOW FOR MY QUESTIONS... (1) what is the proper size embroidery mesh to use over the drain holes. On the cheap I found a pack of 10 3" embroidery disks @ Hobby Lobby for $1.00 w/ 1/8" pie shaped holes and hoped that would do? (2) What should be the first layer inside the bottom of the pot. I've read so many different opinions on the internet that it's mind boggling. For now I planned to try a layer of 1/2" to 3/4" lava rock if this is correct. That seems to be working on my two Lowe's babys. I've even read using peanut shells in this layer is all the rage? (3) what should the next level of soil be? I've made up a mix of course sand, old potting soil, fir bark that I've put thru my blender, 1/4" lava rock and small 1'4" river stones. I put this mix in my oven this morning @ 180 degrees to dry and pastuerize thinking my soil mix was too wet. Its up to about 150 degrees and the moisture has gone down appreciably? I planned to mound this mix under the ficus and after carefully attending to the root ball, place the plant with the hold wires positioned to accomadate their function? (4) my last step would be to put a last layer of soil w/o the stones on top. Does this sound like I might be using the wrong soil mix or the wrong base or that I should use a different layer on top. I watched a fellow do a demonstration video on line using lava rock almost excusively? I did seem to have water retention on a "Walmart Special" that I had to take back as the leaves all fell off in two weeks.... or was that just the "luck" of that plant? Right now my two orphans are sitting with their bare naked roots awaiting good advise on repotting, ie; base content, soil content, moisture and rewatering. I have sucessfully three braided two sets of flexable "Water Branches" on my dry guy and wired him to train to cascade towards the side of the pot when I get him repotted and the other baby is ment to be a gift. All advise gratefully accepted. Thanks bonsaiprice...Price Youngman

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Comments (14)

moochinka
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi - a lot going on there, and maybe too much overthinking. First thing to get out of the way - braiding is a big no-no of 'real' bonsai so either say nevermind and do it anyway (but please don't call it bonsai), or else don't do it.
Second, you don't need rock and sand and lava - either/or would be better (small size). Fir bark beyond a smidge doesn't really belong in a Ficus mix - just potting soil with maybe some extra perlite, maybe some coarse sand for better drainage. Watering roots directly when outside the pot isn't a great idea, but too late now. And do not put a layer of anything on the bottom of pots - it may be a good idea for some plants outdoors in the ground, but not in pots (old myth). Second don't layer anything else either... just use the soil mix all the way through and be done with it. And 1/8" mesh is too wide - you'll lose soil that way. Lastly, don't gift bonsai or even potensiae to anyone unless you know for sure they really know how to care for the trees, and have the time and space and inclination for doing it. S'all for now :-).
bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
thank you for your most informative response to my questions. As I read your information I can see I was overthinking. I'll follow thru tommorow and let nature take its' course. I only discovered the dry root system when I pliered off the glued stone and depotted the ficus. The root watering was done very sparingly.Thank you for the information, and the good Bonsai advice. The attached photo is of my two beginings from the repottings from Lowe's Tiawan Fig Ficus. They seem to be doing welI and are showing strong new growth, but I may also try to get these into the proper potting format if its advised necessary. bonsaiprice
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bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
this photo is of the sucessful? repotting of the two little "Lowe's Tiawan Fig Ficus". The photo didn't go thru on my last message. bonsaiprice
moochinka
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
They look terrific, but I wonder about the weight of those rocks - maybe a bit much for new roots to live with... but good start!
bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
This picture shows all three of the "orphans" after complete repotting following moochinka's advise. They seem to be thriving. Thanks, bonsaiprice
Brandon Smith
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Good work, now put them where they get some sun and keep them watered. ;)
lulo
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I have a ficus benjamin form nursery . when i take it had about 100 cm tall. I pruned it and after one year it is 25 cm. This early summer i will prune it and hope to give a good shape for making a prebonsai
bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
If you look closely at the photo I've attached you'll see the new bud growth (4) at the bases of two of the three remaining branches. Because of a lack of proper sun light I've acquired a grow lamp that could be contributing to this new bud growth but I alse have to thank moochinka for the advise to cut back on some of the branches.These are the three remaining branches. They seem to be getting longer and longer, but on a positive note though there is the (4) new bud growth. Is there a safe way to control the growth length of these three remaining branches without damaging the tree? It just seems so stringly and spindly at this stage! Is there any way I can promote more new budding at the bases of the limbs? The orphan and its companions are thriving thanks to the knowledge I've acquired on the forum. Thanks bonsaiprice
moochinka
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
More light for longer hours each day (not increasing, but up to 15 or so - under fluorescents if necessary). Plants grow to 'get' more light for photosynthesis and will look spindly if they don't have enough.
bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The spindly orphan is situated directly under the grow lamp fot 12 to 15 hours a day. As previously mentioned new bud growth (4) is generating at the base of two of the limbs but there's also new growth at the limb ends as they grow longer towards the light. Could the undesired growth be cut back sucessfully without damaging the tree? Thanks,bonsaiprice
moochinka
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You won't damage the tree, but consider the longer view about what branches you might want in future once they've fattened up a bit before cutting. All branch growth looks somewhat spindly when (relatively) new, so it's up to you to decide on patience or not. And actually, if you do cut too many close-to-leafless branches at once (leaving almost none) there will be fewer leaves (unless already bushy) to access light and stay small on the branch(es) you've left alone.
bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
moochinka, thank you for, as always, the good advise. I think patience is my best resorce for a while till some of these spindly branches begin fill out on the orphan. Might I just cut back the end growth buds as they begin to grow out to transfer the growth energy to the branches and lower buds? This orphan's going to become a great Bonsai one day. Thank you, bonsaiprice
moochinka
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
You can cut whatever you want - not a lot of bad consequences, but be prepared for possibly more branches along with (hopefully) more buds lower down. Wouldn't it be nice if trees behaved as we'd like them to :-)?
bonsaiprice
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
moochinka, Thank you for all your help with this little orphan and for what I've learned. Much appreciated, bonsaiprice

new to ficus bonsai...asking about repotting and soil make up

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new to ficus bonsai...asking about repotting and soil make up

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