Wigert's pre-bonsai aftercare and styling tips

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I was in a bit of a mood last week and soothed myself with a couple of impulse purchases. They left Florida on Monday, and arrived today, Thursday.

Ficus virens (Thai Red Leaf Fig) and a Dwarf Schefflera Arboricola "Luseane" (pics below).

I am not 100% sure what they need as far as aftercare. The soil seems moist enough so I won't water tonight. And since we are enjoying a nice Augtober here in MN (lows in the 50s last night) I think I will let them be indoors overnight until it warms up a bit.

When they are outdoors during the day, should I be keeping them in bright shade as opposed full(ish) sun? What are people's thoughts about Wigert's growing soil (mostly organic)? It's a little late to repot tropicals here, and I don't want to rush it. If all this peat is really terrible, I can change it out and just make sure that these guys get priority under the lights when they come in this fall.

So... On to future plans. First up, the ficus.


I am thinking that the only way out of this current mess is a ground layer, and separation of the "sibling". I will probably start on that pretty soon, and leave the chop (blue) until next growing season.



The schefflera is a lot more promising looking. It's already got that crazy banyan base going, so besides cleaning up any clearly problematic roots, I am going to focus on the bringing the canopy down.

 

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I bought a saw yesterday.



I am still leaving the schefflera alone for now, but something had to be done about that ficus. The plan was 2 decent (3/4 inch trunks) and one skinny.

I ended up with 3 fat little stubs and a half dozen skinny root cuttings. I tried to leave as many feeder roots as possible on everything.

 

[W3rk]

Regarding a couple of your questions. I got to visit Wigert's on a trip to FL last Feb. With very few exceptions almost their entire stock of trees is out in the full FL sun with no shade/overhead cover. It's a really big, great nursery for tropical stock. So your trees should be fine with full sun where you are.

Also re: temperature - I move my Ficus outside for the season once overnight temps don't go below 50 F. Granted yours will probably react to the temp./environment change with some leaf drop - that's normal for Ficus.

 

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The various ficus portions are in that crazy-making "neither obviously growing nor dying phase," so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

The schefflera arboricola got an up-potting over the weekend into the disappointly undrained pot from the Costco Ficus.

This pot needed enough holes that I think I'm over the charmingness of the bit-and-brace to drill ceramics.


Done, with some unfortunate run-out because I shouldn't be allowed to use power tools after all.



Original soil & root ball. I didn't get an in process shot of the root ball, but I pretty much just eliminated what was left of the tap root and tried to clean up some of the crosses.



And finished. Current front :


Current back:

The soil is 3:1:1:1, pine bark fines, Optisorb, pumice, and lava. I went with 50% organic because everything I ready about this species says that it likes it moist (as opposed to full the full size schefflera actinophylla/Brassaia which likes drier roots).

Design wise, I still want to lower the canopy significantly. When I see evidence of new growth, I'll experiment with cutting back to low leaves to open things up a little, and then let it run. Depending on strength, I might just totally chop it next summer.

I am also tempted to go ahead and cut back the left and rightmost trunks.