What kind of bonsai do I have??

[rockm]

Any recommendations for beginners in Oklahoma? Lol I’ll get one in the spring once I’ve decided.

Can you grow something outside? If not, some sort of ficus is probably your best bet for indoors (although even they should be outside in the summer)...

IMO "outdoor" bonsai are easier to deal with and are much more rewarding as bonsai --deciduous trees change color in the fall, fruit trees blossom etc. Indoor trees have much less bang for the buck. Chinese elm would be a good choice for Oklahoma--although the native cedar elm (ulmus crassifolia) makes excellent hardy bonsai but they're not readily available in a small pot and already shaped.

 

[Warlock]

I have had my bonsai for a year now, and I’m still not sure what it is, but I think it’s dying and I need help! I don’t know if it naturally loses its leaves in the colder months or what but I’m very concerned. I’ve made sure to water it so the soil is damp at all times and to put it in indirect sunlight. Please help if you know ANYTHING about this, and thank you so much!

fukien tea, for sure.. I killed a few of them. I know that they look like without leaves..

 

[The Barber]

Try a ficus, they are pretty bulletproof.

 

[yashu]

Any recommendations for beginners in Oklahoma? Lol I’ll get one in the spring once I’ve decided.

If you’re interested in an evergreen the dwarf varieties of Mugo pine are inexpensive and readily available. There are a ton of good resources on here and some folks have made some beautiful trees. A lot depends on how deeply you intend to dive into this hobby… it can very easily take over a substantial chunk of your life.

 

[IckyGuyBonsai]

recommendations

I have a small handful of tropicals that come inside for the winter and survive (not thrive) under a grow light, so take my word with a grain of salt. I definitely second everyone who's mentioned ficus if you want a faster grower. Unpopular opinion, but I also enjoy portulacaria, they're slow growing, but thrive on neglect, and you're pretty much guaranteed to have it respond whenever you cut on it.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

That is one dead Fukien Tea. They are notoriously fickle. I have one - because I am daring it to die on me

Ficus is a good "seasonal" tree - keep it indoors in the winter, outdoors in the summer.

 

[The Barber]

My fukien tea has been slowly losing its leaves ever since I got it, very similar to me, it is slowly going bald.

I'm not sure why fukien tea are so common in box stores etc, the Lowes here gets them pretty often, which is where I got the one I own. I figured 30 bucks, why not. The Chinese elms and ficus I got from there have done great, and I've bought a few of each from there for experimentation.

If you travel a lot, this hobby can be rough, a lot of the trees in this hobby will dry up in a few days without water, depending on the season. If that's the case, dwarf jade can go very long periods without water, and decent looking trees are pretty available. Ficus can survive longer than a lot of trees without water, or too much water as well. I feel like is one of the harder things to dial in for us that are newer to the hobby. Find a tree/trees that suit your lifestyle though.

 

[Mike Corazzi]

The "big box stores" also consider epoxied gravel to be a suitable medium.

 

[jradics]

Hopefully someone with Tropical bonsai experience chimes in.. the answer is usually some sort of ficus.

I don't keep trees indoor trees, so I cannot say. You may wish to look into joining a local club to help you out as well. Good luck.

i agree with ficus being the most forgiving indoor plant to practice bonsai on

 

[paigelovesplants]

Guys! I found a photo of when I first got my bonsai, hopefully it’s recognizable.

 

[Warlock]

Guys! I found a photo of when I first got my bonsai, hopefully it’s recognizable.

Yep.. like we said.. fukien tea

 

[paigelovesplants]

Yep.. like we said.. fukien tea

Lol ok, well thank you!