fallingleaf
Full Member
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:29 am
Location: Northern MN

Ficus bonsai

I had been talking about how I wanted a bonsai allot I guess. Enough that my sweet husband decided to order me one. When I found out I panicked. My poor husband. He tried to do a good thing and I freaked on him. :(

Anyways, I asked him what kind and he showed me where he ordered it from because he didn't know. I looked and it was a ficus. So I tried to cancel the order but it said the order was already processed. It is very cold here and we have snow on the ground. I saw it was shipped from Memphis and I was expecting the arrival of a dead tree.

It arrived safely and it looks great. I have had it for over a week I guess. It said it would drop 20% of its leaves and I honestly haven't noticed any yet. I water it daily and I have a florescent light bulb for it. It said it simulates midday sunlight 5000K.

I am worrying though because the leaves are starting to turn yellow.
So now I wonder. Am I watering it too much? Is the light bulb not giving it the kind of light it needs? Is it possibly turning yellow because of its cold trip? I don't want it to die. I wonder if the soil is too spongy. Sheesh I don't know!

Here is my tree when I first got it.
https://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj36/merissalucas/123.jpg

Here are the leaves now..
https://i268.photobucket.com/albums/jj36/merissalucas/011.jpg
[/img]

moulman
Cool Member
Posts: 94
Joined: Wed May 30, 2007 1:35 pm
Location: Idaho, USA

fallingleaf,

There is nothing wrong with it. It is just being a ficus. They will loose leaves and drop many when moved too often or if their environment changes.

I wouldn't worry about it. But don't water it every day. Only water when barely damp (not totally dry, but nearly).

fallingleaf
Full Member
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:29 am
Location: Northern MN

whoops I have been watering it daily! Thanks for your reply!! :)

User avatar
Gnome
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 5122
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A

fallingleaf,

Try using the chopstick method to judge when to water, it is outlined [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=8607#8607]here.[/url]

Norm

fallingleaf
Full Member
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:29 am
Location: Northern MN

thanks so much! I will try the chopsticks! :)

Charles M
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Posts: 23
Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:53 pm
Location: Orange County, CA

You might want to try adding a little fertilizer on top of the soil. When leaves start to go a little yellow in the center, it can be a sign of an iron deficiency.

fallingleaf
Full Member
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:29 am
Location: Northern MN

thanks for all your help!

My friend came over and squashed a fruit fly on my ficus. I used my finger to kind of push the soil around and I saw these tiny silver looking flies?

I don't think there are many of them. What could they possibly be so I can google how to destroy them?

Should I get rid of the humidity tray for awhile? I don't know what is keeping these varmints alive but I hate bugs. They must be vanquished.

linlaoboo
Green Thumb
Posts: 469
Joined: Sat May 22, 2010 1:15 pm
Location: NJ

looks like there's organic content in your soil and when it's kept too wet, there will be bugs. Let it dry up a bit more and the situation should improve. Check out this post on fungus gnots which have to be killed before they turn into adults. keep the soil clean, don't let any dead leaf decay in it as it will attract flies.

https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=31873&highlight=

fallingleaf
Full Member
Posts: 31
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:29 am
Location: Northern MN

thank you! that was a great thread!



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