Bonsai ficus gift is dying, please help!!

[afrodesiaq]

Hello all!

I recently (in spring) received a bonsai tree as a present. I have never cared for bonsai before -- I have never cared for any plant more challenging than a desk cactus at work before. I have been frantically reading through bonsai advice threads and bonsai 101 how tos, but after a couple months my bonsai is losing most of its leaves and I am worried I will simply kill it if I continue having No Clue how to fix it. I have attached a picture.
- Normally the window blind is open I just lowered it because if it was backlit the picture was not turning out great!
- It is not a south facing window, I do not have any south facing windows where I could put a tree. I have a lamp with this kind of bulb https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B1NJ3583/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 to supplement the sunlight during the day.
- I water it when the substrate feels like it is drying out.
- I recently started misting it each day.
- Right now it is indoors (obviously), I live around DC (USA east coast/zone 7a hardiness) and am not sure if it would be better to keep it outdoors while it is warm?

Any advice y'all could give would be SO appreciated, I did not expect to have a plant to care for but am now very devoted to this poor baby.

Thanks!!

 

[Carol 83]

Nice little ficus. It looks like it's in good bonsai substrate as well. Probably hard to over water that soil but dump out that tray. It would be much happier outside for the summer or what's left of it. I would put it in the shade at first to let it acclimate. You should see new growth pretty quickly, then you can snip out any interior branches that are dead. Welcome!

 

[vp999]

Definitely bring it out door when weather is 60+, water it once a day and it will be growing like crazy for you.

 

[Michael P]

Steamy D.C. summers are heaven for ficus. Keep it in the shade for a week or two, then gradually move it into full sun. When it starts growing, fertilize it with any ordinary houseplant fertilizer.

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[afrodesiaq]

Thank you all so much!!! I will put it outside tomorrow and see how it goes over the next while. Really appreciate the help.

 

[vp999]

I wished you put it out 2 days ago to soaked up all this rain that we had...It would have sprouted every where lol.

 

[BonsaiManic]

Keep us updated! You've found a community that gets excited for everyone's success, and shares the disappointment and heartbreak when we lose one...
...or a bunch.

 

[pandacular]

People regularly pull all the leaves off of these in the summer and they grow back*. It will likely be fine, but definitely keep an eye on it. Cheap growlights work quite well when its time to bring it inside as well.

* This is done for particular reasons on healthy trees by people with experience, I’m not recommending it or anything, just an example

 

[Paradox]

Outside in summer
Inside under lights in winter
Water every day in summer and every day to every other day in winter with that soil. Trees generally need a bit less water in winter.

Put a wooden chopstick in the pot and leave it there. Check it once a day and look at it and water when its almost dry but not totally dry. Don't wait until it's totally dry. Ficus don't like to dry out.

 

[afrodesiaq]

Thank you all so much! I have put my lil tree out on my porch where it is shadier and set an alarm in two weeks to move it into the full sun. Also doing the chopstick thing to monitor its water. I really appreciate all the advice and will keep y'all posted on how the tree is doing!

 

[pandacular]

Looking forward to seeing it growth…and the inevitable growth of your collection

I must say, it’s very rare that we see people get bonsai gifts that are actually solid trees. Whoever got you this gift is a winner.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

There some incredible ficus in the tropical threads. Find some long progression threads and read read read!! Tons of info.

Next time you have long extensions, take some cuttings! That way you can have more trees!

Started a few weeks ago


By winter they will look like this:


After 1 full summer


Parent:

 

[afrodesiaq]

Looking forward to seeing it growth…and the inevitable growth of your collection

I must say, it’s very rare that we see people get bonsai gifts that are actually solid trees. Whoever got you this gift is a winner.

Haha I'm already thinking ahead to "if I get this one back to thriving I do have plenty of space on my patio...
And yeah it was my partner! They are a very thoughtful person and tend to do their research! I used to live in India and then Hawai'i and I have a huge place in my heart for the banyans I used to spend A Lot of time around so it was really sweet to get this ficus while I was feeling Particularly Homesick.

There some incredible ficus in the tropical threads. Find some long progression threads and read read read!! Tons of info.

thank you!! I have been looking through a lot of the threads here and y'all have such GORGEOUS tiny trees, I'm in love.