First bonsai tree (Ficus retusa)

[rrgg126]

Hey that's awesome you still have your first tree! Thanks for the update! It has grown a bit. I'd think about cutting off that first branch though, it looks like it's causing a reverse taper on the trunk just below where it comes out. You could then take that branch and propogate it to have a whole new tree to work on if you want.

Anyway, congrats on keeping this going and looking good !

thanks for the tip! i was initially using it for a sacrifice branch but decided to keep it. heres another angle. u think its less noticeable?

 

[plant_dr]

Yes much better. Maybe it was just a shadow in the other picture that made it look that way.

 

[Ali Raza]

First I would like to say welcome to the bonsai club. Wish you good luck with your first bonsai. Ficus are very forgiving plant, but in return you should take care of them as well. Remember ficus don't like rapid changes such as light, watering habit, humidity, temperature etc. So be very gentle in making habit of your bonsai. Yes you are right with inorganic soil over watering becomes impossible, but they don't like wet feet. So chop stick test will be useful for indoor bonsai.
Osmocote is excellent fertilizer, it can feed plants from 4 to 6 months. It will slowly release in soil with water and do not burn the roots. You can use 1 tbsp for 6 inch pot. I am using it on all of my bonsai and they love it.