Bonsai - Week 3

guesskoenig · 05-23-2009, 10:31 PM

This is my first bonsai tree, and I seem to be plagued with all of the problems of a mallsai I've been reading about online. When first purchased it had yellowing leaves and one of the main branches had been chopped pretty badly, as you can see in the picture. I plan to scrape all of the rocks off and repot it in the glazed green pot in the pictures. It has an opening about an inch wide with a tray that drains pretty nicely. I've done some pruning, only cutting off a small branch every few days to get rid of the yellow leaves. They were mostly in the large opening where the big chop was made, which makes it pretty visible - something I don't enjoy. The leaves also seemed to have not scaled with the tree at all, another thing that has been bothering me. I've been thinking about cutting the lowest hanging branch and plan to remove the one growing into the rocks when I repot. The whole tree seems to be coming back, with a lot of new growth. I almost wish it didn't grow so fast because it is budding up all over the place and I'm afraid to do very much cutting.

As far as help goes I need to figure out what species the tree is exactly as it had no care sheet or information with it, although I'm quite sure it is some type of ficus. I'm planning to use the complete soil mix from joebonsai.com with some of the biogold fertilizer also sold on the site. Also, when I repot I'm going to brush off as much of the old soil as possible and soak the whole tree inside the pot for a bit after I do so. I was wondering if this is a good practice? Another thing I was wondering is if I should salvage the rocks. I'm going to soak them overnight and run them around to try and get all the glue off and lightly layer them on top of the soil with the fertilizer 'hidden' in them as I like the look of it. I'm open to any suggestions to pruning as well as what might look good for top cover, as again this is my first bonsai tree.

On a further note, I am thinking about saving this pot as it was rather costly for another bonsai project I am planning to start. This is because this tree is rather bendy and I'd like to start my own recreation of a willow or baobab tree. I've heard that either of them can be touchy, but I enjoy both of these trees quite alot.

Mortalis · 05-24-2009, 01:34 AM

Looks like ficus microcarpa to me maybe Golden gate. Microcarpa like nearly all ficus like to dry out pretty well between watering. Just make sure that it does not get bone dry. Dry but not bone dry. It looks like

It looks like that back branch is at the same level as the second branch.. if that is the case I would carve a channel in the trunk verticaly above that branch and tie that branch tightly into the channel to fuse back into the trunk effectivly moveing the branch upabout half an inch. After that bit I would start pinching back all tip growing buds to get it to backbud in the main branches.

clwagner167 · 05-24-2009, 02:33 AM

Hi guesskoenig,

Welcome aboard! Yes, you definitely have a mallsai Ficus there. Right now, you need to concentrate on its health and keeping it alive. They are mass produced, and lord only knows how long that poor tree has been stuffed in that pot; and what neglect it suffered before you bought it.

While Mortalis has some ideas for its future, you need to deal with its present condition.

Yes, get all the glued rocks off the top of the dirt. If you don't it will suffocate. Some also believe that the glue is poisonous and leaches into the soil. You don't want to put them back on cleaned either. Since we are heading towards summer, your best bet is to remove it from the pot and place it with its root ball into a regular planter that at least 2x deeper and let it grow and thrive for the next year.

After you repot, set the tree outside in a shady area for about a week, then gradually introduce to the sun. Morning sun at first for a couple of days, then full sun. With you in Arkansas, this would be safer for the tree. Don't feed it until you see the start of some new leaves. You want it to restablish itself.

Meanwhile, pick up some books and learn all that you can, and don't forget that we are here to help as well.

Here is a care sheet that you can print out...

Ficus sp.

Keep us updated? Goodluck!

guesskoenig · 05-24-2009, 12:55 PM

I popped my tree out of it's planter and got all of the rocks off, it's in some kind of potting soil dotted with the little blue diamonds. I've got it back inside the planter sitting in the pot until I can figure out what i'm doing for soil. I'm trying to think of any major suppliers that would have it at their stores, as compared to ordering it online and having to wait a week - although I might end up having to. Also, I'm probably going to go for a mix of light and amber gravel for top dressing and forgo any moss.

clwagner167 · 05-24-2009, 03:03 PM

Hi,

If you are going to pot it up for now, you can hurry over to your garden center and use a packaged soil such as MiracleGro etc...Get it repotted ASAP. (Can't stress this enough, you will kill your tree)

guesskoenig · 05-24-2009, 03:54 PM

Just a photo of the work I've done on it today, going to let it rest until Tuesday then go ahead and pop it into a taller planter with some moisture control MiracleGro. I snipped that branch that was growing downwards so it has nice clearance up to the first branches now, although I'm still trying to think of a way to stop the budding and knots from previous cuts. The big chop they did to stump it still doesn't seem very sightly to me.

clwagner167 · 05-24-2009, 04:34 PM

Hi,

If you are going to start snipping branches and such....are you using cut paste to seal the wound you have created? The cut paste will help the wound heal and protect the tree from disease and bugs.

guesskoenig · 05-27-2009, 03:43 PM

Alright, I've been watering/misting regularly and identified the tree as a golden gate ficus. It seems to be doing well in the planter it came in, and I plan to repot it soon - I'm still waiting on my soil to come in. I'm going to use the Rootopia blend sold on Joebonsai with a few rapeseed cakes spread around. I'm going to prune it back as all of the branches seem to have healthy growth on them now, and I'd like the leaves to reduce a bit as they are around one and a half to two inches at the moment. I'd appreciate some feedback on any of the materials I'm using if anyone's tried them before. I was going to use miraclegro but the only kind they had around the stores here didn't hold water or had ridiculous amounts of fertilizer in it.

Mortalis · 05-27-2009, 09:28 PM

Thats what I thought... Golden gate is pretty tuff material.. I have brought several back from the brink off the clearance rack at lowes.

Your not looking for leaf reduction until your where you want to be on branch ramification. At this point you want as much leaf surface area as possible your tree needs energy in order to grow and develop. You can pinch the terminal bud if you want to get more growth closer to the base of the branches but taking leaves is counterproductive at this point.

Mortalis · 05-27-2009, 10:24 PM

I looked at the soil mix you ordered. $4 for a quart is kinda pricey for what I am looking at. They say they double sift it but I can see in the picture it has a great number of fines. Besides that the particle size is to small all around. I would doubt that much of it would be left behind if sifted through a 1/8 inch sieve. Particle size is important for air circulation. I don't use anything that passes through a 1/4 inch sieve myself and my largest particle I would say is 3/8ths or even 1/2 inch.

Here is an easy to obtain mix you can get everything for it at wallmart.

3/4ths Breeze cat litter.
1/4th Pine bark mulch.

SIFT SIFT SIFT.. Don't use anything that passes through a 1/4th sieve on the pine bark. For the litter you can just rinse the fines off its very uniform in size and shape.

Don't use just any cat littler Breeze by tidy cat and only Breeze by tidy cat is a fired pellet instead of a granule it will not degrade or turn to mush.

05-24-2009, 01:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mortalis Darkness abides him. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 132	Looks like ficus microcarpa to me maybe Golden gate. Microcarpa like nearly all ficus like to dry out pretty well between watering. Just make sure that it does not get bone dry. Dry but not bone dry. It looks like It looks like that back branch is at the same level as the second branch.. if that is the case I would carve a channel in the trunk verticaly above that branch and tie that branch tightly into the channel to fuse back into the trunk effectivly moveing the branch upabout half an inch. After that bit I would start pinching back all tip growing buds to get it to backbud in the main branches. __________________ "I'm ready to meet my maker, whether my maker is ready to meet me is another matter" W.Church hill.

05-24-2009, 02:33 AM	#3 (permalink)
clwagner167 "Grasshopper" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Posts: 102	Welcome! Hi guesskoenig, Welcome aboard! Yes, you definitely have a mallsai Ficus there. Right now, you need to concentrate on its health and keeping it alive. They are mass produced, and lord only knows how long that poor tree has been stuffed in that pot; and what neglect it suffered before you bought it. While Mortalis has some ideas for its future, you need to deal with its present condition. Yes, get all the glued rocks off the top of the dirt. If you don't it will suffocate. Some also believe that the glue is poisonous and leaches into the soil. You don't want to put them back on cleaned either. Since we are heading towards summer, your best bet is to remove it from the pot and place it with its root ball into a regular planter that at least 2x deeper and let it grow and thrive for the next year. After you repot, set the tree outside in a shady area for about a week, then gradually introduce to the sun. Morning sun at first for a couple of days, then full sun. With you in Arkansas, this would be safer for the tree. Don't feed it until you see the start of some new leaves. You want it to restablish itself. Meanwhile, pick up some books and learn all that you can, and don't forget that we are here to help as well. Here is a care sheet that you can print out... Ficus sp. Keep us updated? Goodluck! __________________ ~ Cheryl Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Please support "your" site and click on the ads. _________________________________________ In memory of my dear friend.... "Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008

05-24-2009, 12:55 PM	#4 (permalink)
guesskoenig Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 22	I popped my tree out of it's planter and got all of the rocks off, it's in some kind of potting soil dotted with the little blue diamonds. I've got it back inside the planter sitting in the pot until I can figure out what i'm doing for soil. I'm trying to think of any major suppliers that would have it at their stores, as compared to ordering it online and having to wait a week - although I might end up having to. Also, I'm probably going to go for a mix of light and amber gravel for top dressing and forgo any moss. Last edited by guesskoenig; 05-24-2009 at 01:30 PM..

05-24-2009, 03:03 PM	#5 (permalink)
clwagner167 "Grasshopper" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Posts: 102	Soil Hi, If you are going to pot it up for now, you can hurry over to your garden center and use a packaged soil such as MiracleGro etc...Get it repotted ASAP. (Can't stress this enough, you will kill your tree) __________________ ~ Cheryl Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Please support "your" site and click on the ads. _________________________________________ In memory of my dear friend.... "Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008 Last edited by clwagner167; 05-24-2009 at 03:05 PM..

05-24-2009, 04:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
clwagner167 "Grasshopper" Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: S.E. Michigan Posts: 102	Hi, If you are going to start snipping branches and such....are you using cut paste to seal the wound you have created? The cut paste will help the wound heal and protect the tree from disease and bugs. __________________ ~ Cheryl Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha Please support "your" site and click on the ads. _________________________________________ In memory of my dear friend.... "Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008

05-27-2009, 03:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
guesskoenig Join Date: May 2009 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 22	Alright, I've been watering/misting regularly and identified the tree as a golden gate ficus. It seems to be doing well in the planter it came in, and I plan to repot it soon - I'm still waiting on my soil to come in. I'm going to use the Rootopia blend sold on Joebonsai with a few rapeseed cakes spread around. I'm going to prune it back as all of the branches seem to have healthy growth on them now, and I'd like the leaves to reduce a bit as they are around one and a half to two inches at the moment. I'd appreciate some feedback on any of the materials I'm using if anyone's tried them before. I was going to use miraclegro but the only kind they had around the stores here didn't hold water or had ridiculous amounts of fertilizer in it.

05-27-2009, 09:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
Mortalis Darkness abides him. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 132	Thats what I thought... Golden gate is pretty tuff material.. I have brought several back from the brink off the clearance rack at lowes. Your not looking for leaf reduction until your where you want to be on branch ramification. At this point you want as much leaf surface area as possible your tree needs energy in order to grow and develop. You can pinch the terminal bud if you want to get more growth closer to the base of the branches but taking leaves is counterproductive at this point. __________________ "I'm ready to meet my maker, whether my maker is ready to meet me is another matter" W.Church hill.

05-27-2009, 10:24 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mortalis Darkness abides him. Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 132	I looked at the soil mix you ordered. $4 for a quart is kinda pricey for what I am looking at. They say they double sift it but I can see in the picture it has a great number of fines. Besides that the particle size is to small all around. I would doubt that much of it would be left behind if sifted through a 1/8 inch sieve. Particle size is important for air circulation. I don't use anything that passes through a 1/4 inch sieve myself and my largest particle I would say is 3/8ths or even 1/2 inch. Here is an easy to obtain mix you can get everything for it at wallmart. 3/4ths Breeze cat litter. 1/4th Pine bark mulch. SIFT SIFT SIFT.. Don't use anything that passes through a 1/4th sieve on the pine bark. For the litter you can just rinse the fines off its very uniform in size and shape. Don't use just any cat littler Breeze by tidy cat and only Breeze by tidy cat is a fired pellet instead of a granule it will not degrade or turn to mush. __________________ "I'm ready to meet my maker, whether my maker is ready to meet me is another matter" W.Church hill.

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