The new new NEW guy (tiger bark ficus pre-bonsai)

[Johnathan]

Hey everyone, I'm so excited to find this forum! I was up late last night searching and skimming various post and there is a TON of information on here already. Thank you guys for that!

I purchased this tree a few days ago down in Fort Worth, Texas from an amazing grower and she had a 50 year old ficus bonsai and between her passion for the craft and the beauty of a tree I decided to go with the tiger bark variety. I went with the pre-bonsai because I want it to be 100% all mine, I know that's selfish lol

Now, I'm back in OKC, and have labeled the plant on each side because I'm not sure exactly which is going to be the front or anything.

Currently my only plans are to put it into a bigger pot ***not bonsai*** and just care and love on it for about a year. The goal is to thicken up the bark and just get a feel for the hobby as I'm new completely.

Since this is the only tree I have (going to max out at 2 for now, plan on getting a juniper or a pine in April) nights are still chilly and winter temps up and down here, I was looking through some post about lights and things and I plan on getting a couple daylight bulbs on cheap timers for the tree this upcoming weekend.

Mainly just looking for opinions amd thoughts on what you established guys and girls would do as far as nutrients and other tips. Thanks in advance. Pictures of the tree and my light fixture below!

 

[sorce]

I want it to be 100% all mine, I know that's selfish lol

I'm with that!

Not so much with this...

max out at 2

But as long as this...

for now

Is like 2 may be 3 minutes....
I'm with it again!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Bavarian Raven]

Max out at two?
*rolls on floor laughing*
Good luck with that. Seriously.

 

[Underdog]

Max out at two?

Dozen... LOL Welcome!
Ficus are Fun! They will fatten up in a small pot unlike most trees.

 

[Victorim]

Don't put a max

Get some saplings of any thing your remotely interested in. Cheep as chips. Play grow and learn

 

[Cattwooduk]

Don't set yourself a max... You'll say one or two, then suddenly find yourself wandering around the woods with a folding saw and a spade, no idea how you got there or what day it is, or what you are even looking for. All you know is you have the overwhelming urge to dig stuff up, or tie rope around things that look nice but you have no idea why 'I'll get that sucker next year!'.

It's too late man, give in, embrace it, and make yourself a whole lot of space in the garden for many, many stumps and random plants in containers.

 

[Underdog]

If you add location to profile it will help with advice. All trees want to be outside as much as possible. Do you have outside space? I keep a few tropicals in a south window w.no lights in the winter. No problems. Above 45 degrees out doors. Grow local trees which stay out year around.
Lots of them... LOL

 

[Johnathan]

You guys are awesome! lol Should I just go with a cheap pot from the garden store for the first transfer? I've read width is better than depth to encourage "fattening" up of the trunk.

Do you think that light fixture would be fine with a couple of those CFL daylight bulbs in it pointed directly at the plant from a couple different angles on a 12 hour timer would be okay?

Should the timer be less than 12 hours since there would be other lights on in the house at various times?

and I keep showing the wife various plants, the hope is that she will fall in love with something so then we have a reason to get more than just 2 lol

 

[just.wing.it]

find yourself wandering around

no idea how you got there or what day it is, or what you are even looking for.

The usual ......
Haha!

 

[sorce]

That light with cfls will be good...
But only for that one tree and as close to the foliage as you can get it...

Which Will probly mean a shelf or something creative.

You seem like a fun dude...

Did you label that pot 1234?

That's like labeling a circle 1234!

Stick!

Let it be in that pot for awhile.
Midsummer be a good repotting time.

You'll find something free to put it in by then!
Yes wider and a bit more shallow.

Some plastic drainage trays of larger pots work great after drilled for drainage.
And always free on Craigslist.

Just remember to take them all...
And not just 2!

Sorce

 

[Cattwooduk]

Did you label that pot 1234?

That's like labeling a circle 1234!

Sorce

Should have gone with 12 hour clock style all the way around for maximum angle/number use.

 

[Rusty Davis]

Any thoughts on adding some wire and give it some wiggle?

 

[sorce]

Any thoughts on adding some wire and give it some wiggle?

At least them numbers will be useful then!

Sorce

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site!

Your tree will be happier when you own 100 trees. Because then you will leave it alone sometimes

If you have too few trees, you will have a tendency (being a normal human) to overwork them. You will mess with them on a daily basis. Now if you have 100 trees, and you only mess with them 1 in 100 days, they can deal with it. But if you are constantly touching, poking, bending, abusing, etc your trees on too regular of a basis they will resent it. You may find yourself killing trees because you pay them too much attention.

So go onto eBay and buy 20 shimpaku juniper starters. Then do the same for Chinese elm. Then try to style them so they all look different.

And you will appreciate your ficus even more!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Quick add... and by "shimpaku starters" I mean guys like this:

Shimpaku-Juniper-Evergreen-Great-for-bonsai-TEN-plants

100 trees would set you back $165 I took some of these and planted them in my yard to see what would happen, and then I took some of them and planted them in bonsai mix in pond baskets, just to compare (result - pond baskets by a MILE). They are great for learning. And in 20 years they could easily be worth $100 each if you keep them alive

PS though I have gotten the small ones before, I would recommend the larger ones in the 4" containers that cost about $5 each. They are two years older and you have more to work with. This is one of the 4" ones:

 

[sorce]

y "shimpaku starters"

Kevin at THG commented about those same bunches of whips.

How he was amazed at how they can be transformed...

I think the words were...
"Holy shit that's a tree!"

Sorce

 

[Rusty Davis]

Can you still find that size for $5? I wanted to get 10 but missed on the spot I knew of

 

[Rusty Davis]

Evergreen was where I was looking

 

[Rusty Davis]

I found his hummmm

 

[sorce]

Some plastic drainage trays of larger pots work great after drilled for drainage.
And always free on Craigslist.

See?

Sorce