Need some bonsai help!!!

[ccownerful]

So i have wanted a bonsai for about 5 years now, (thanks to the original karate kid) and now that i am now graduating high school, my parents decided to get me one for a cool little present. Now, the only reason that i did not get one myself was because i have no idea of how to raise one. Now i have a little tree and have no idea how to take care of it. (BTW they got it from walmart) the tree seems to be pretty healthy. does anyone have any idea of what it is? From what i have done some research on, it is a ficus. How do i water it? should i repot it? should i trim it? does anyone have any helpful websites that i can use to figure out how to take care of this little guy?
thanks!

 

[bonsaibp]

Yes a ficus. Will do best outside as long as its more than 50. Water thoroughly than let almost dry before watering again. ZDepending on location can take from full sun to partial shade. If too much shade leaves will get larger. Pretty easy to care for. Great ficus info here-http://www.bonsaihunk.us/

 

[JudyB]

Welcome to the forum. Please update your profile with your location, it'll help you get good advice. Ficus is plentiful here on the forum, take a look at the threads already here, there is a lot of good info...

 

[Cadillactaste]

Welcome...I want to ask you to check to see if any glue was applied to the moss area. The reason I ask...is that I have on that came from Walmart with glue. And it can die quickly...though healthy when they arrive. Not saying yours has glue...but, if it does it's healthy enough to not even have a hiccup over your removing it so quickly.

 

[Reesedog914]

I've had my tree about a year now. The first thing you need to do is make sure that your soil is not compacted. This can cause drainage issues which may lead to root rot. Knowing when to water is pretty important to your bonsai. You need to water it when the last bit of moisture is leaving the soil. I would check the exact watering needs of your specific tree as well. If you water too soon you will create an overly damp soil composite which leads again to rot rot but also fungus as well. If you wait too long to water your tree could quickly die. I never go a day without thinking of the water needs of my bonsai. Sometimes it's as little as poking your finger into the soil. Also, start thinking of someone to take care of it if you go away.

 

[edprocoat]

Looks like a healthy Ficus ! These are almost bulletproof, it takes a blowtorch or a deep freeze to kill one. Seriously though, don't let it freeze and keep it from drying out and it will be fine. You can trim the branches down leaving 2 leaves and they will put out side shoots (branches) and you will be starting your ramification. Keep it in full sunlight and it will take off plus the leaves will get smaller after defoliating it. The more light the less leaf surface the tree needs to produce its energy, the lesslight the bigger the leaves grow to collect more light. Have fun with it.

ed

 

[Jason_mazzy]

needs to be repotted asap. that's gonna be in a muck composed primarily of weird stuff. If you do your bonsai will love you.

assuming of course you live in a reasonably normal area. It looks to be either a target or Wal-Mart ginseng ficus.

 

[ccownerful]

thanks everyone! i live in a really sunny place near LA in California i tend to leave it inside in my room right next to the window so that it can get some light, unfortunately i think that if i leave it outside in the 120 degree heat, it will die. also it does get to freezing temperatures here, so that wouldn't work. it says around 80 degrees inside. i do water it in the morning everyday. i spray the whole plant down with a spray bottle, i tend to use a fair amount (using around 50 sprays) the moss around it doesn't seem to be glued together. i do place my finger in there to figure out how moist the soil is. should i also use some kind of plant food for it? know for trimming wise, i do want to trim it, and i do want the leaves to get smaller, but when is a good time to do so? and also when I repot it, should i use a shallow or deeper pot(as this one is about 10 inches tall)? Should i also cut the roots a little? if i do defoliate, can i do that by just pinching or pulling off all the leaves, and if i do so, should i also cut off branches? (i don't fully grasp the part of cutting a tree to keep it mini yet) Also, i have found these little things on my tree, i have no idea what they are(my guess is its a snail) but i have been killling them whenever i see them, should i? something i have just noticed is that some of the leaves are falling off/ turning black. HELP!
thanks!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Almost looks like a gall of some sort.

Place your tree outdoors. It will be much happier out there. Ficus love the heat and humidity.