Technical Sheet - Ficus Retusa

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 are evergreen and of medium size.

The most attractive feature for Bonsai enthusiasts is its high resistance (it is common to say that "you need to take a course to kill a Ficus!") combined with the beauty of its bark and aerial roots 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, rotated 180° weekly, away from heat sources or air conditioning. It can spend the hot months outdoors keeping the 2 to 3 hours of direct sunlight.

Watering: Water the soil abundantly until plenty of water flows out of the drainage holes, in order to uniformly moisten the soil, always from above, never by immersion, using a fine-spouted watering can.

For watering tips, consult the watering technical sheet.

Allow the top layer of soil to slightly dry between each watering (to confirm if the plant already needs water, touch the soil with your fingers).

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

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

Nutrition: From February to November, with a base plan composed of a complete fertilizer (Fertil Bonsai Humic, or Green & Gold Bonsai Organic or Biogold), and a biostimulant throughout the year (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: 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.

For pruning tips, consult the pruning and defoliation technical sheet.

Transplanting: With Bonsai Soil for Broadleaf Plants in May/June (limit mid-July), after defoliation or heavy pruning.

Details on transplanting, post-transplant care, and specific fortifiers you can use can be found in the transplanting technical sheet.

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

For wiring instructions, consult the wiring technical sheet.