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Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
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Author:  RED [ 23 May 2012, 00:19 ]
Post subject:  Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
Hi all.
Admired this tree for years in my step-grans conservatory.
Finally came the day she got sick of it (losing its leaves apparently) so chucked it out.
It had been outside in their garden 2 weeks before we were asked if we wanted it.

Image

5ft6 from floor to the top of its branches, the trunk being about 4ft

We have very little luck with Bonsais, but we've only ever bought a couple of near-death reduced ones from sunpermakets so hardly surprising.

Just wondering what it is for starters, as I can then do some proper research. (Suggested it may be a kind of Ficus?)

Its soil was very dry so we added some fresh compost top and bottom, and gave it a litre of water mixed with 5ml bonsai food (as per instructions on the bottle) which is why the soil looks soaked in the pic.

Any help much appreciated... couldn't let this beaut of a tree get dumped, and hope we can bring it back to full health again asap.
(Got a thread on a US Bonsai forum too but thought best I put it on a UK one as they suggested it needs to be outside :shock: )
Author:  MKonig [ 23 May 2012, 15:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
Looks like some sort of Fig (ficus). You can put it outside for the summer, but I wouldn't put it in full sun for the time being. Keep it just moist and mist spray if you can. No more feed until it has recovered though. Feeding a sickly tree is not recommended unless you are certain that the problem is related to lack of nutrients.
Author:  mytree [ 23 May 2012, 16:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
hi and welcome to the site
Author:  Steve Perry 'greenfingers' [ 23 May 2012, 16:43 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
I would chop this in half and get rid of the straight section of the tree as it far to tall for me.i dont keep any indoor bonsai so carnt really help but good luck and welcome.
Author:  Tom [ 23 May 2012, 17:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
Welcome to the forum. Don's advice is sound and I would keep with his virtual. Your Ficus is a Tiger Bark Fig Ficus retusa, I have a similar one in my collection, which I dislike. Yours is a much better example, with more potential. As everyone has said before, give it time to recover before you do anything.
Author:  RED [ 23 May 2012, 17:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
stymie wrote:
Do you know how long it has been in the present medium?
Tell us how long it takes for water to appear through the drain-holes in the pot after application?
Does it exude a milky white substance when pruned?


I believe it has been in the same stuff it came with 3 yrs ago but will try and find out.
It was very dry when we collected it, so dry we actually pulled the tree out of the pot with all the soil attached to ease transportation. - It took the full litre of water and nothing whatsoever came out the bottom (I know because I had to drag it across the lounge an hour later)
It does exude a milky white substance, on the branches that have new growth coming in (Green shoots on the end) but some are presumably dead, no shoots and a dry cut site.

One thing to note.. it's been in its current location since Sunday afternoon and is rapidly losing its leaves. (50+ since yesterday and more all the time even if I walk past or blow on it it'll lose more !!!)

Thanks for the welcome all :)
Author:  Andrew Campbell [ 23 May 2012, 17:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
Follow stymies cut position and wire the branch up. Will look alot better than it does currently. Nice tree btw and welcome to weetrees
Author:  Andrew Campbell [ 23 May 2012, 17:18 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
In which case, no trunk chopping or any pruning apart from the dead stuff. What has been your water/feed regime?
Author:  Rosebud [ 23 May 2012, 20:03 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
I agree with Stymie. If it returns to good health, chop it where he indicated. There is nothing worth saving from there up.
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 23 May 2012, 20:11 ]
Post subject:  Re: Newbie just taken on a large bonsai in need of TLC
Before you chop, work out what is likely to be your front of tree.
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