How to Grow a Bonsai Ficus? Detailed Four-Season Care Tips

A ficus bonsai is a potted ficus bonsai grown for the ornamental value of its trunk, roots, stems and leaves, carefully cultivated through pruning, branch training, wiring and grafting to form a unique artistic shape. Many people like to place one in their home or courtyard, so how can you grow it well? Below are the four-season care tips for ficus bonsai.

1. Spring Care

1. Repotting

In spring the temperature rises, air humidity gradually increases, the metabolism of branches and leaves gradually speeds up, and new leaves begin to sprout. At this time, loosen the soil or repot once. Loosen the soil once a year, choosing a sunny day. Use a bamboo stick or iron shovel, and be careful not to damage the root system.

As for repotting, choose a suitable pot according to the size of the plant to promote better growth.

2. Fertilizing

Spring is the season when the ficus begins to grow rapidly, so timely fertilizing is very necessary. Apply nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium granules into the potting soil, cover with soil, and water the next day. Do not water too much. Avoid nutrients flowing out from the bottom of the pot.

3. Cleaning the leaves

After a winter of indoor care, rinse the leaves with clean water in spring so they can carry out photosynthesis better.

2. Summer Care

1. Watering

Make sure to water once each morning and evening every day; you can also water on rainy days, but be careful not to let it get rained on. For smaller pots, you can cover the pot surface with a wet cloth to prevent water evaporation, or place a tray without holes under the bottom of the pot so the roots can grow better.

2. Fertilizing

In summer, even more care must be taken to ensure the ficus bonsai has sufficient nutrients. Apply a compound fertilizer once every 10 days. If you are not sure about the right amount, it is recommended to choose a liquid fertilizer, and after fertilizing do not place it directly in the sun.

3. Pruning

Summer temperatures are relatively high and the ficus has a strong ability to sprout branches and buds, so pay attention to timely pruning, or train and shape the branches and leaves by wiring.

3. Autumn Care

1. Watering

Autumn is windy and dry, and the potting soil dries out easily, so watering is very important work in autumn. In early autumn, water once each morning and evening; by late autumn, watering once in the evening is enough. Pay attention to the method when watering: you can water in stages, first watering the leaves and branches, then watering the potting soil thoroughly.

2. Pruning

Autumn is relatively cool and the ficus grows relatively steadily, so at this time you can prune the branches that grew in summer, pinch off the growing tips and buds, and keep the branches and leaves neat.

4. Winter Care

1. Keeping warm

Winter weather is relatively cold and the ficus basically stops growing, so no fertilizing is needed. Move the plant indoors in time to avoid frost and rain or snow. Keep the indoor temperature above 5°C.

2. Supplementing light

A ficus bonsai kept indoors should be placed in a spot indoors with strong light; at night you can use lights to increase the lighting time, and pay attention to timely ventilation and air exchange.

3. Watering

In winter you should likewise maintain the ficus's vitality; often wipe the leaves with a wet cloth to keep them clean. Maintain the soil's dryness level well, watering about once every 3 days to keep the soil moist. If yellowing leaves appear in winter, after ruling out pests and diseases it is basically caused by lack of water, and timely watering will take care of it.