The Bonsai Ficus Retusa is a medium-sized evergreen plant.
The feature that most attracts bonsai enthusiasts is its high resistance combined with the beauty of its bark and aerial roots it can produce; both characteristics are more evident in the Tiger Bark variety, which has smaller leaves and shorter internodes.
The Bonsai Ficus Retusa is an indoor plant.
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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 as Bonsai, but the care is practically the same. All have persistent leaves and medium size.
The feature that most attracts Bonsaistas is the high resistance (it is common to say "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 plenty of water comes out through the drainage holes, in order to moisten the soil evenly, always from above never by immersion, using a watering can with fine holes.
Tips about watering, consult the watering technical sheet.
Let the surface layer of the soil dry slightly between each watering (to confirm if the plant needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).
If you have a plate under the Bonsai, never leave any water in it (to prevent the roots from rotting).
There is no advantage in spraying the leaves; only do it on the days you fertilize and if the fertilizer is for foliar application, but make sure the leaves dry by night to avoid fungi.
Nutrition: From February to October/November, with a base 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, consult the complete nutrition plan technical sheet.
Pruning: Given the large size of its leaves, it should always be controlled by "Metsumi" at the beginning of bud break. When cut it releases latex, which "stops" well by spraying the plant with water.
Tips about pruning, consult the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.
Repotting: With Broadleaf Bonsai Soil in May/June (limit mid-July), after defoliation or strong pruning.
Details about repotting, post-repotting care, and specific fortifiers you can use, consult 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.
Guidelines on wiring, consult the wiring technical sheet.
