Key Features & Benefits

• Common varieties: Ficus retusa, Ficus benjamina, Ficus microcarpa
• Popular beginner-friendly bonsai species
• Attractive miniature tree with thick trunk and glossy leaves
• Highly adaptable to indoor conditions
• Long lifespan with proper care
• Helps improve air quality and adds aesthetic value

Plant Care Guide

• Climate: Tropical and subtropical; prefers warm conditions
• Sunlight: Bright indirect light to partial sunlight; can tolerate some direct morning sun
• Soil: Well-draining bonsai soil mix (garden soil + sand + compost or akadama mix)

Watering

• Water when the topsoil feels slightly dry
• Keep soil moist but not soggy
• Reduce watering during winter
• Avoid letting the soil completely dry out

Fertilizers

• Use balanced liquid fertilizer (NPK 10-10-10 or similar) every 2–3 weeks during growing season
• Apply organic compost or vermicompost monthly
• Reduce feeding in winter

Re-potting Instructions

• Re-pot every 2–3 years
• Best time: Early spring
• Carefully prune roots (remove 20–30% of root mass)
• Replace old soil with fresh bonsai mix
• Use a shallow bonsai pot with good drainage

Fruiting Season

• Ficus bonsai may produce small fig-like fruits under ideal outdoor conditions
• Fruiting is rare indoors and not the main purpose of the plant

Usage Ideas

• Decorative indoor or office plant
• Bonsai art and styling (formal upright, informal upright, banyan style)
• Gifting option for plant lovers
• Enhances focus and calm environment

Care Tips

• Prune regularly to maintain shape and size
• Pinch new shoots to encourage dense foliage
• Protect from cold drafts and temperatures below 10°C
• Rotate plant occasionally for even growth
• Mist leaves occasionally to maintain humidity
• Watch for pests like aphids, spider mites, and scale insects.