Ginseng Ficus Bonsai Care

 

The scientific name of Ginseng Ficus Bonsai is Ficus retusa and Ficus microcarpa, and if you are actually looking for an entry into the ancient Japanese art of Bonsai, a great place to start is with a Ginseng Ficus. The Ginseng Ficus actually looks terrific and they really require minimal care when compared to other bonsai, which can be quite difficult to maintain. Actually the difficulty level of starting, maintaining, and training a bonsai tree really scares many people from getting into a really fascinating hobby, however the Ginseng Ficus will hopefully enable you to push through and enter into the world of bonsai.

Furthermore, the Ficus is part of the Mulberry or Moraceae family and the plant grows throughout the tropical regions of the world. The Ginseng Ficus is actually a native to Southeast Asia. The Ginseng Ficus is an interesting-looking plant for a bonsai, the Ginseng Ficus has narrow elevated roots that swell into a potbelly trunk and narrows at the branches before spreading out to the crown.

Most Bonsai artists particularly focus on the raised roots of these funky little plants to create a certain aesthetic. In the plants natural habitat, these aerial roots are actually grown with ease in high humidity environments. At your home, make sure you recreate this humidity level which often means an artificial enclosure. The effect is actually achieved by roots growing vertically downward from the branches until they reach the soil, where they will now develop into thick strong trunks. This can actually achieve the desired pillar style or the root-over-rock Ginseng Ficus bonsai style called deshojo.

One of the most important rules to remember is that, in the end, it is an art form and, like all art, there are no rules. If you can keep your Ginseng Ficus bonsai alive you have created a masterpiece. Know that the sap from Ginseng Ficus bonsai is toxic to humans and touching the plant can cause skin irritation and allergic reactions, so you should wash your hands after touching the plant. Be aware that Ginseng Ficus bonsai is toxic to dogs and cats and if they chew on the plant leaves, they will easily get ill. Make sure you keep the Ginseng Ficus bonsai up where your pets can't get to it.

Ginseng Ficus Bonsai Info

The common name: The common name is Ginseng Ficus.

The botanical name: The botanical name is   Ficus retusa and Ficus microcarpa.

The family: Ginseng Ficus belong to Moraceae family.

The plant type: Tree, evergreen.

The mature size: The mature size is about twelve to twenty-four inches tall.

The sun exposure: The Ginseng Ficus bonsai tree prefers full sun.

The soil type: The Ginseng Ficus bonsai tree does well in a well-drained soil.

The soil pH: Acid, neutral.

USDA hardiness zones: Nine to eleven.

The native area: Ginseng Ficus bonsai is native to Asia.

Toxicity: Ginseng Ficus bonsai is   toxic to humans, toxic to pets. 

Ginseng Ficus bonsai care

To actually grow and maintain a Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree is very easy if you follow some simple guidelines. Don’t be scared of entering this amazingly rewarding art form just because you are worried if you have heard it is hard.

Light requirement

Your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree will need a good amount of light. Indoors, placing your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree on a windowsill is a good idea. If this is not available you can use plant lights, this can aid in growing your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai. If you take your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree outdoors during the summer, plan to place the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai in a spot that gets plenty of sunlight. The Ginseng Ficus Bonsai will not tolerate shade at all.  

Soil requirement

The Ginseng Ficus Bonsai trees do well in a soil mix that is 60% aggregate and 40% organic matter. You can purchase a premix or make your own using pine bark, lava rock, and a product called akadama which holds water and slowly breaks down over time.

Water requirement

Water your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai trees thoroughly whenever the soil gets slightly dry. Misting the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai trees daily is a good idea, but don’t water to the point where the plant is dripping, or else fungal issues can easily occur. If your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree is in an especially warm environment more frequent watering will be required. 

Take a damp paper towel and then carefully wipe the plant leaves off when they get dusty. You can also use a spray bottle to mist the plant leaves.

Temperature and humidity requirement

The Ginseng Ficus is actually an indoor bonsai tree and is not frost-hardy. The Ginseng Ficus can be brought outside once temperatures are consistently above sixty degree Fahrenheit but must be kept in the sun and not allowed to dry out. Actually a low humidity can be tolerated due to the waxy surface covering the Ficus’ leaves, but the plant will thrive in a humid environment.  

Fertilizer requirement

The Bonsai tree draw on very little soil, so it is essential to replenish their nutrients occasionally. Any multi-purpose liquid fertilizer available at your friendly local nursery or garden center should be adequate. For bonsai, dilute the mixture by fifty percent with water before applying it monthly.

Pruning Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Actually pruning the Ginseng Ficus is a necessity and part of what makes a bonsai a bonsai and not just a plant.  

You can forego the pruning for a year or longer in other to achieve a thicker trunk. When you are ready to prune the leaves, a good rule to follow is to prune back to 2 leaves after 6 to 8 leaves have grown.

If you have left the tree trunk to thicken, a new shoots will grow from the old wood. But be sure to tend to any substantial wounds with cut paste so that disease does not occur on the plant. Make sure you always use sharp and clean tools when working with your plant.

Ginseng Ficus Bonsai propagation

The Ginseng Ficus also known as Ficus retusa, can easily be propagated, and there's no better time to do that than after you've pruned the plant. Here is how:

- Just select a healthy stem and then cut a six inch cutting with a sharp scissors or pruning shears.

- You need to put the cutting in a container that has been prepared with potting soil mix, and then water it very well.

- You have to place a clear plastic bag over the cuttings to make a greenhouse effect which will keep the moisture in and also encourage it to root.

- Water the plant lightly every few days, just make sure the soil stays moist.

- The cutting ought to root in a few weeks.

Potting and Repotting Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Repotting a Ginseng Ficus Bonsai must happen when the plant root system has filled the pot. It needs to be done to give the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree new soil and to encourage a more compact root system.  

You will only need to repot your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai every other year during the summer. Simply remove the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree and the soil from its container and then trim the outer and lower quarter of the tree's roots. You need to be very careful not to over-prune or remove too much root material. Place the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree into the original pot or a new container using the bonsai soil mix.

Training Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

To train your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai you can use anodized aluminum or annealed copper wire. Wiring your Ginseng Ficus Bonsai’ thin and medium branches are easy since the plant are very flexible and will bend easily. Make sure the wires are not cutting into the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree, and you can readjust if needed.

For the larger branches, guy wires will be really necessary and it will need to stay on the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree much longer. One interesting thing that Ginseng Ficus Bonsai trees are able to do is fuse their branches, roots, and other Ficus plants together. This can actually achieve some pretty amazing results.

Pests and diseases control

Proper caring for the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree involves the correct lighting and watering. Actually caring for the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree properly will help to keep the plant strong and more resistant to pests and plant diseases. The plant can get scale, spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids. These entire pests can be taken care of with neem oil or a liquid dishwashing soap and water mixture. If overwatered, the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree can develop a fungal disease and root rot, and if you see any white or black spots on the plant leaves, you can trim them off and then treat the Ginseng Ficus Bonsai tree with a fungicide.