Am I Taking Good Care Of My Ginseng Ficus Bonsai?

Did you placed your bonsai somewhere bright?

Is your Ginseng ficus bonsai planted in a bonsai potting mix?

Did you provide a warm and humid environment for your bonsai?

Do you water regularly, whenever the soil gets slightly dry?

Do you feed your bonsai regularly with diluted multi-purpose liquid fertilizer?

Do you prune your bonsai tree?

Do you repot your Ginseng bonsai when the root system has filled the pot?

Do you keep your Ginseng ficus bonsai free of pests and diseases?

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

Ginseng Ficus trees do well in a soil mix that is sixty percent aggregate and forty percent organic matter. You can buy 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.

The Ginseng Ficus is an indoor Bonsai and is not frost hardy. It can be brought outside once temperatures are consistently above 60oF but must be kept in the sun and not allowed to dry out. Low humidity can be tolerated due to the waxy surface covering the Ficus’ leaves, but it will thrive in a humid environment.

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

Bonsai draw on very little soil, so it is necessary 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 monthly.

Pruning is a necessity for bonsai trees. You can forego the pruning for a year or longer to achieve a thicker trunk. When ready to prune leaves, a good rule to follow is to prune back to two leaves after six to eight leaves have grown. If you have left the trunk to thicken, new shoots will grow from old wood. But be sure to tend to any substantial wounds with cut paste so disease does not occur.

You should repot your bonsai when the root system has filled the pot. It needs to be done to give the tree new soil and to encourage a more compact root system. You will only need to repot your Ficus every other year during the summer. Do this by removing the tree and soil from its pot and trim the outer and lower quarter of the tree's roots. Be careful not to over prune or remove too much root material. Place the bonsai into the original pot or a new container using the bonsai soil mix.

Good job! You are taking good care of your Ginseng ficus bonsai.

Some common diseases ginseng may develop are leaf blight and root rot. Most diseases are fungal, so you can try a fungicide to treat your plants if they show signs of infection. Pests shouldn't be a problem if you keep your bonsai indoors. If you're taking it outside during summer, beware of slugs, cutworms, and larger pests like mice.