Hi Everyone, this is the first time I've posted to this thread. And I'm new to Dave's as well :-)
Last March my young children bought me an expensive ficus Bonsai from a store in a mall for my birthday. They know I love plants and obviously didn't realize the work it takes to own a Bonsai. Or the fact that I've never been able to keep one alive. Phoenix is not necessarily Bonsai friendly - very hot & dry - and I've never had luck with them. And it breaks my heart that my children pooled together their money to buy me a present that is just hard for me to keep alive.
Not to mention I don't think the plant looked healthy in the first place but again didn't want to break their hearts by taking it back (black spot appeared almost right away).
Thanks for sticking with me...fast forward 9 months later. I've moved it outside & its starting to slowly re-grow the leaves it lost. But they are small. The temps have been around 40 at night and 70 during the day. Still dry though. But sooner or later it will have to be moved back inside as the temps will only rise.
MY QUESTION IS, can I replant this plant just as a tree in a pot? I believe I'll have better luck with keeping it alive as a bush. I would rather have it a nice, healthy bush then a dead Bonsai. Help? Please? ;-(
Please help! Reluctant Bonsai owner...
In my opinion, you certainly can. This is often done with bonsai as a stage in their development, and I don't see any reason why it can't be a stage in your plant's development. The care will definitely be less intensive, especially for watering needs.
Yes you can pot it in a bigger pot without any problems, Bonsai just means "small potted plant."
Most people thing that a Bonsai is a type of small tree, like a Maple or Elm; some people think that a Bonsai is a tree that you just trim the branches to keep it small. The most important thing about what makes a Bonsai a Bonsai is the roots. Basicly the smaller the roots the smaller the tree will stay, so by using a bigger pot then you can "nurse" it back to health, then at a latter date you can "Bonsai" it again.
meisgreen
I know you children meant well but "mallsai" as it is known, is notorius for dying a quick death. Most are poorly potted and in some cases glued onto a rock. You are well advised to remove this from its current situation and re-pot. If you are not familiar with ficus then please be aware that 40 deg. is about the threshhold for this tropical tree. When I owned ficus trees (generally a beginer tree since they are very forgiving), I would take them inside for the winter. They do like humid spaces. The key is that they are native to the tropics. Heat is not as much a problem as humidity in your area. Many ficus bonsai growers are in the Florida area.
Good luck.
Dennis
Thanks very much with the help. I will be reading up on the Ficus this week and will re-plant as soon as possible. My goal is to save it no matter. There are plenty of people here in Phoenix who've made the Bonsai work but I'm just not one of those.
Just keep it alive and the kids will love it/ It is better to keep it alive and to move it than to leave it in the small pot and have it die.
Once the plant gets settled in and happy it will grow.
I moved it to a bigger pot (this picture is pre-repot). Question is, are the "arms & legs" of the plant (they look like limbs) the trunk or part of the root system thus needing to be buried? I think it will do quite nicely!
It is beautiful. Just keep it like that. It got new growth so you are doing
something it likes. I love it....
They look like part of the root system but done this way on purpose. The roots that matter are working under the soil. I'd leave the exposed roots. Looks great.
Thanks! I want a healthy plant.
It really is a nice plant. The top will grow out. Just don't over water it. Those nice fat roots are telling you that they are o.k.
When you water do it whn the soil is dry , then water it and don't let it set in water. It is a beautiful plant in the aking. Just give it time.
Put a pretty little doodad on it to make it feel loved.
I think the best thing to do is give it to me ☺
You want to Rescue it, don't you?? Fishie. You are such a great person.
It is nice.
Thanks, but if you take it then you have to take my children at least one weekend a month. Its only fair :-)
Uh....nevermind..............:P
And my ficus are funny. Move them from one place in the room to another, and they drop all their leaves. Don't give up on them at that time. Endeavor to persevere, and you will be rewarded with new little green leaves again soon.
Well, here it is 9 months later and I'm happy to report that my plant is doing very well. He just wasn't happy. I've taken your suggestions and have given him plenty of light and I repotted it and voila! One happy little tree. Not a single bit of black spot or yellowed leaf. AND he made it nicely through our miserable summer. That's a great sign.
Looking Great.....
Thanks redmule, I'll have to dig up the "before" picture.
I love bonsai, I'm working on a young Mimosa tree I found growing in woods. Cut the top back and wired it to rock. Thought I'd killed it but It is sprouting leaves so unless it dies over winter. I got a bonsai in process. Think I'll sink it in ground, in a pot, in a pot. got to drain and the have long tap roots and don't want it to go from one one thru another pot to the ground.
Fiscus trees are tempermental, I think You did good.
Nice job!
Its doing better and better, too.