Tiger Bark Ficus Bonsai 8 Years Old

Common Name: Ficus

Scientific Name: Ficus Retusa (there are several species)

Description: Belongs to the Moraceae family and is native to China and India.

There are several species of Ficus cultivated in Bonsai, but the care is practically the same. All have evergreen leaves and are medium-sized.

The aspect that most attracts Bonsaists is the high resistance (it is common to say that "you need to take a course to kill a Ficus!") combined with the beauty of the bark and aerial roots that it can produce.

Location: Indoors near a window (maximum distance 50 cm), without curtains or blinds, where it receives 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight per day, being rotated 180° weekly, away from heat sources or air conditioning. It can spend the hot months outside maintaining the 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight.

Watering: Water the soil abundantly until a lot of water comes out of the drainage holes, in order to moisten the soil evenly, always from above never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.

Tips on watering, see the watering technical sheet.

Let the surface layer of the soil dry slightly between each watering (to check if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).

If you have a tray under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to prevent the roots from rotting).

There is no advantage in misting the leaves; only do it on the days you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but make sure the leaves are dry by night to avoid fungi.

Nutrition: From February to October/November, with a basic plan composed of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant (Bio Bonsai Activ), which can also be combined with other products from our range.

Detailed information on how to combine these products with the rest of our range, or for a more specific nutrition plan, see the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.

Pruning: Due to the large size of its leaves, it should always be controlled by "Metsumi" at the beginning of budding. When cut, it releases latex, which "stops well" by spraying the plant with water.

Tips on pruning, see the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.

Repotting: With Terra Bonsai Folhosas in May/June (limit mid-July), after defoliation or heavy pruning.

Details about repotting, post-repotting care, and specific fortifiers that can be used can be found in the repotting technical sheet.

Wiring: With defoliation in the hot months, June/July, it is a very resistant plant supporting very strong work and always responding well, provided it is healthy.

Instructions on wiring, see the wiring technical sheet.