New Bonsai What is it?!?

[Psawchuck33]

I just purchased a bonsai from my local shop....the only problem is they didn't identify it for me....this is my first bonsai and I am not sure how to go about identifying it...any help would be greatly appreciated

https://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z446/Tricia_Sawchuck/Photoon2011-05-26at2141.jpg


I am also wondering if the leaf color is normal. I also have leaves that are curled and others that are black. I just got this bonsai today.

I am completely new to the whole bonsai scene so any help and tips all you experience people have to offer would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you so much :)

[kdodds]

First, id... it's a variegated Schefflera arboricola.

Second, there are a bunch of problems. First, remove the sheet moss. It looks like florist's decoration and not living moss at all, so it's no place in a bonsai pot. It will just get in the way of your being able to water properly. And, if it's not chock full of antimicrobials (IMO in itself a bad thing if it is) it will degrade horribly over time. Second, check the soil. This looks like one of those plantings that have used traditional potting soil, not a good thing for bonsai. If it is potting soil, you'll need to replace it. Third, whether or not you replace the soil and repot is up to you, but I would definitely strongly suggest, at the very least, unpotting and checking the root system. The reason for this is that these are not trees you are looking at, they are cuttings. There has been a proliferation, this year, of Schefflera cuttings, unrooted, or incompletely rooted, being shoved into pots and sold as bonsai. This may not be the case with yours, but it certainly looks like one of the aforementioned types of mass-produced "bonsai". If it doesn't have a good, healthy root system, you will be better off rooting it in a glass of water than in the bonsai pot, for sure. HTH.

[Psawchuck33]

I have taken off the moss. I was actually glad to hear you recommend that because I never liked it from the second I got it in the car.

I am going to attach some more close up photos of my plant.

https://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z446/Tricia_Sawchuck/DSCF5383-1.jpg

https://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z446/Tricia_Sawchuck/DSCF5382.jpg

https://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z446/Tricia_Sawchuck/DSCF5381.jpg

Also if this isn't an acutual tree how do I go about taking care of it?

Thanks again for all the help I really appreciate it

[kdodds]

Oh, it's a tree, just not really a true "bonsai"... yet. The species is very useful for bonsai. The damage to the upper leaves is probably from being too close to a grow light.