My first Bonsai: Ficus "Ginseng"

[thesdbux]

The beginning of my first Bonsai.

[img]https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b316/bulldognb/OfficeBonsai.jpg[/img]


I got his little guy at my local Armstrong center. They had a pretty nice selection so I took my time in picking this one up.

It had a pretty large root structure already so I trimmed it back a bit. I also trimmed some larger branches off that didn't do well in the first stage shaping.

There is already new night growth from this as after the re-potting procedure it stayed under a florescent growth lamp for almost 8hrs.

It also got a light nitrogen rich water fertilizer watering 12hrs after potting.

Right now it will be under a full spectrum growth single bulb florescent and receive water I am figuring once every 2 weeks with every 4 weeks being a fertilizer mix.

Any suggestions?

[kdodds]

Unless you plan on growing the plant out completely to the right, you might want to move it more towards the center of the pot. And, even if you are looking for that kind of windswept style, being in the very back corner unbalances the composition, and could potentially lead to poor growth as the roots on that side get crowded. Just my 2¢.

[thesdbux]

Thanks for the suggestion.

After looking at it I am thinking of trying to get it closer to center but I do want it to grow mostly right. Yes the windswept style is what I am going for.

The main root structure is pretty large and in this first potting I was reluctant to really cut it down during the fall season.

Does it really matter what time of year it is for my little guy?

2 days under the light and I have 4 more new shoots and growth.

[Gnome]

thesdbux,

and receive water I am figuring once every 2 weeks

If I am reading this correctly that will almost certainly be too long to wait between waterings. To water on any kind of schedule is a mistake and to wait so long is probably a big problem for this species in your location.

https://www.bonsaihunk.us/Figsindoors.html

Norm

[thesdbux]

Your definitely right there.

I took a good feel of the under earth with my finger and it looks like it will need water tomorrow.

Its on the cool side but not really moist but yeah its way different then it was on Friday.

I thought this little buddy would be absorbing the water slower but I guess I was under estimating its growth potential.

That being said with all this growth should I go ahead and prune this time of year? I don't want to kill him off but I would like to get him in training if he is going to grow like this most of the time.

[thesdbux]

Updated. On 11.27 I shifted my little one over and did pruning.

As this is a tropical plant I figured it might be in slight dormancy but not so much that it could not handle what I did.

[img]https://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b316/bulldognb/OfficeBonsai2.jpg[/img]

There is already new growth at 90% of the places that I cut. I plan to just keep the water coming. 1 week from now is a fertilizer. I figure I will prune all leafs late February.

[thesdbux]

Update 12.25.08 Happy Holidays.

A New Camera and the ability to take macro pics

[img]https://photos-d.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v1677/98/44/750129506/n750129506_1014043_9104.jpg[/img]

[img]https://photos-f.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v1677/98/44/750129506/n750129506_1014045_9550.jpg[/img]

[img]https://photos-a.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-snc1/v1677/98/44/750129506/n750129506_1014048_225.jpg[/img]

On this last pic I can finally show this weird growth on my little guy.

Any ideas?

[thesdbux]

After the new year update.

My little one is doing so well. New growth almost each day. I added moss (cant really be seen in the pics.

This one gets a misting each day and I can see it has helped the new leafs.

Also training has begun, that is what the zip ties are for.

[img]https://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2051/98/44/750129506/n750129506_1146069_9200.jpg[/img]

[img]https://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2051/98/44/750129506/n750129506_1146072_497.jpg[/img]

[img]https://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v2051/98/44/750129506/n750129506_1146071_183.jpg[/img]

[SaturnsPattern]

Cool It's really interesting to see what different people on the forum are growing

[greeneee]

Good pics. Your bonsai is looking better.

yeah it really is. "she's a fighter!"

[Big Vine]

I know it's been a while, but are there any updates?
I'm enjoying following the progress of this tree, and I'd like to see more.
BV

[nanaseddon]

I bought one in of all places...Walmart. It looks like a couple standing with their backs to us, one with his arm around the other. Looks GREAT. It's one of my favorites