The Exotic Ficus Bonsai

If you are looking for a bonsai tree that can be kept indoors year-round, then look no further than the exotic Ficus bonsai. This article covers how to get the best results with your Ficus bonsai tree.

There are many different types of bonsai trees, but the ficus bonsai is known as being the most exotic of all. This type of bonsai is ideally suited for growing indoors, which is where in fact it should be kept year round. Growing a ficus bonsai can be a relatively simple and enjoyable task; however, taking regular and proper care of the tree is essential.

Tips for Caring for a Ficus Bonsai Tree

Ficus bonsai trees like to dry out between waterings, so you should make sure to feel the soil before watering. Although they do like this drying out period, you cannot let your bonsai go completely dry for an extended period of time. You can pour water on your ficus bonsai tree as you would with any other plant; however, the best way to water this type of tree is by letting it soak in a sink or container of water for about five to ten minutes. After this you must allow it to drain, and you should repeat this process several times in order to ensure that your bonsai has received sufficient watering.

Light is another essential part of maintaining a healthy bonsai tree, and your ficus bonsai will grow best in either direct or indirect sunlight, as long as there is a sufficient amount of it. If you decide to place your bonsai in an area where there is mostly direct sun, you must remember to keep an eye on the tree, because sometimes the afternoon sun is hot enough to burn the delicate leaves of the plant. Grow lights will also work efficiently in this case.

Feeding the tree at least once every two weeks with organic liquid fertilizer is important, because that's not as strong or as harsh as most chemical fertilizers. Organic pellets such as rice cakes can also be used along with your regular fertilizers. As for the humidity issue, you should maintain at least some form of moisture in the air around your bonsai tree. This can be achieved by either the use of a humidity tray or a plate filled with stones and water. As well, you should remember that your ficus bonsai tree should be repotted every two years, and after repotting be sure to water thoroughly and keep the plant in a shady location for the beginning couple of weeks.