I'm new to the bonsai world..

[Itsthemo]

Unfortunately, I bought this one from a store, and it was not labeled. I don't even know what kind it is. I need tips on caring for it.
I've read that they do need plenty of water and sun, but I know nothing about how to help it grow/shaping, types of pots, or whatever else it'll need.
I just need to know the basics for now.

 

[Projekt Robi]

looks like a ginseng ficus

 

[milehigh_7]

First, put your location in your profile so we can give you proper advice. Yep you have a ginseng ficus. Supremely tough plants, good to learn how to keep trees alive. Are there rocks glued onto the soil? If so, get them off pronto. I got one when I started several years and it stays outside year round but that is here in Las Vegas. Most feel they are not the best bonsai because of the tuber-like roots they get. However, they are very tough.


Welcome to the site and to your new life!

 

[milehigh_7]

Also something occurs to me while re-reading your post. You may have just learned your first valuable lesson of bonsai. You said, "Unfortunately, I bought this one from a store, and it was not labeled. I don't even know what kind it is."

While we have all impulse purchased, it is just not a good idea to get a tree and not know how to care for it. Much better to learn about trees that will do well in your area and how to pick out a quality tree, then make an informed purchase.

You will save yourself money, heartache not to mention years (voice of experience here) if you make fewer but better purchases.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Yep, you've got a Ficus microcarpa. It's grafted up on top of those tubers, which is why it's called a Ginseng Ficus. Where do you live? Its growth and survival will depend on where in this World you are located.

 

[edprocoat]

Yeah a Ginseng Ficus is a cultivar of a Ficus Retusa or Ficus Microcarpa, or the also called Tigerbark Ficus. They are not really grafted, the tuber roots usually grow underground and then are exposed and planted up and then chopped off just above the thick roots, and as Ficus do, fine new growth sprouts form the top. The exposed roots look like ginseng and thats where the name comes from, I have seen them called pot bellied ficus too. You cant kill them with a blowtorch, they can be chopped, air or ground layered and will grow from branch cuttings of almost any size and without using rooting hormone, just stick em in wet sand, spaghnum moss or plain potting soil and in less than two weeks they are growing great roots.

ed

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Yeah a Ginseng Ficus is a cultivar of a Ficus Retusa or Ficus Microcarpa, or the also called Tigerbark Ficus. They are not really grafted, the tuber roots usually grow underground and then are exposed and planted up and then chopped off just above the thick roots, and as Ficus do, fine new growth sprouts form the top. The exposed roots look like ginseng and thats where the name comes from, I have seen them called pot bellied ficus too. You cant kill them with a blowtorch, they can be chopped, air or ground layered and will grow from branch cuttings of almost any size and without using rooting hormone, just stick em in wet sand, spaghnum moss or plain potting soil and in less than two weeks they are growing great roots.

ed

Sorry Ed, but I disagree with you here. Microcarpa isn't called Tigerbark, Tigerbark is something completely different. Ficus microcarpa is normally just called the Chinese Banyan.