How do you care for an evergreen ficus bonsai so it grows lush branches and leaves?

Ficus bonsai are much loved for their evergreen foliage and distinctive shape, and are currently among the more popular indoor decorative plants. They are also fairly simple to care for. Today we will explain how to care for a ficus bonsai. We hope everyone can create their own ficus bonsai with graceful form and lush branches and leaves.

I. A brief introduction to the ficus

Chinese name: ficus

Other names: small-leaved ficus, grown tree, ficus root

Family: Moraceae

Genus: Ficus

Distribution: native to tropical Asia, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Yunnan, Guizhou, as well as India, Myanmar and Malaysia

Morphological characteristics: The ficus is a large evergreen tree reaching 20-30 m tall, with a trunk diameter at breast height of up to 2 m and numerous aerial roots; the leaves are alternate, obovate or elliptical, with a dark green surface; the syconia are sessile, solitary or paired in the leaf axils, turning yellowish brown, reddish brown or dark purple when ripe. There are currently more than 1000 species of ficus in the world, mostly concentrated in tropical rainforest regions. It is one of the largest woody tree species among tropical plants, often reaching 20 m tall. Because it tolerates pollution well and is easy to plant, it is also a common street tree.

Ficus bonsai are plant bonsai made using ficus as the material and shaped through pruning, branch training and grafting. The main purpose is to admire the unusual forms of the ficus trunk, roots, stems and leaves. The beauty of a ficus bonsai lies in its roots, trunk, branches and leaves. Its basic characteristics are that it is hardy, grows easily, is deep green and evergreen. Some bonsai enthusiasts often make use of the ficus's soft branches, thick and long roots and strong adaptability to create bonsai styles such as curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, cascade style, tree-on-rock style and exposed-root style.

II. How do you care for a ficus bonsai?

According to Mr. Li from the flower market, the ficus is a subtropical plant that likes ample sunlight, ventilation and a warm, humid environment. The specific cultivation methods are as follows:

1. Soil requirements

Ficus bonsai are robust by nature and do not have high soil requirements. If conditions permit, you can choose loose, breathable, slightly acidic black stone powder mud, or river sand, construction stone powder, coal cinder, etc. Soil containing these materials will promote the growth of ficus bonsai, but if conditions do not permit, ordinary soil can also be used.

2. Temperature requirements

The ficus is a tropical plant, so if you want a ficus bonsai to grow healthily, you must ensure that the temperature difference during growth is not too large. When the temperature difference is 10°C, it can easily cause the ficus to drop leaves or even die. When the temperature is around 5°C, move it indoors to a sunny spot to prevent frost damage. In winter, the potting soil should be kept on the dry side. In late autumn and early winter, when the nighttime minimum temperature drops to 6-7°C, it should be moved indoors to a sunny spot to overwinter, and the winter room temperature should preferably not be lower than 5°C.

3. Light requirements

The ficus is a sun-loving plant, so a ficus bonsai needs to be placed in a warm, humid, well-ventilated and sunny location. In summer it needs shade and should not be exposed to strong sun. In winter, when the temperature is below 5°C, move it indoors in time to overwinter, and it can be kept indoors for a long time under conditions of scattered light.

4. Watering requirements

Ficus bonsai are planted in shallow pots, so excessive watering should be avoided, as water accumulation can cause the ficus roots to rot. You can water an appropriate amount according to the weather and whether the potting soil is dry or wet. Each time you water, water thoroughly, that is, until water seeps out from the drainage holes at the bottom of the pot. In summer, when temperatures are high, spray water frequently on the leaf surface or the surrounding environment to lower the temperature and increase air humidity. In autumn and winter, reduce the frequency of watering.

5. Fertilization requirements

The ficus has different fertilizer needs at different stages of growth. Summer and autumn are the growing seasons for the ficus, when it needs more nutrients. It is recommended to fertilize once a month. You can use decomposed cake fertilizer water or compound fertilizer, bury the fertilizer into the soil along the edge of the flower pot, and water immediately after fertilizing.

6. Pruning methods

Only after pruning and shaping can a ficus bonsai grow more beautifully. At the same time, the ficus is also a plant that tolerates pruning relatively well. Generally, choose early spring or late autumn for pruning. Cut off unwanted crossing branches, overlapping branches, opposite branches, as well as dead and diseased branches. You can do some shaping according to your own ideas. At ordinary times, you can cut off leggy shoots at any time to maintain a beautiful tree shape.

7. Pest and disease control

Pests and diseases on ficus bonsai are actually quite rare. The main ones are red spider mites and scale insects. Red spider mites are generally very small but numerous. You can rinse the whole plant with plenty of water, then spray a pesticide specifically for mites. Scale insects are especially harmful. You can remove them manually with a brush, then spray a 0.2% solution of washing powder and essential balm for control.

8. Soil replacement and repotting

As the cultivation time continues to lengthen, the nutrients in the ficus bonsai pot will gradually decrease. We need to replace the soil or fertilize in time to meet the plant's growth needs. Second, repot once every 3-4 years, preferably in late spring from April to May (repotting is generally not suitable in autumn and winter). At the same time, remove part of the old soil and cut off old roots and rotten roots.

Conclusion: The above are the cultivation methods for ficus bonsai. If you care for them well according to the requirements above, growing a ficus bonsai with lush branches and leaves should not be difficult. If you find leaves dropping, you should promptly find the root cause and see whether it is caused by watering, fertilizing, light or pests. Finally, we hope everyone can grow a beautiful bonsai.