The Ficus Loves Miracle-Gro
Author: bonsaificus | Filed under: Bonsai Care | Tags: bonsai fertilizer, bonsai tree, Ficus Bonsai, Miracle-Gro | 1 Comment »
All I can say is WOW! A few weeks ago, I decided it was time to re-pot the ficus bonsai. I don’t really know how I knew, but I could tell that it was time for some fresh soil and a root trimming. The tree had the same soil I bought it with, and I had never fertilized, so I really figured it was time.
That day, I didn’t have the time to make a trip to the nursery where I get my stuff from, so I looked around the garage and found some Miracle-Gro potting soil that I had used for another tree a few months before. The other tree, a ficus benjamina, had done so well in it that I decided that my ficus retusa probably would too. I was so right.
Maybe it is the fertilizer, or maybe it’s just the fact that the soil is new, but it has been doing great since. I suppose it could also be the root trimming, or the time of year, but I have a feeling that whatever is in that Miracle-Gro is perfect for my trees. The ficus benjamina, which is not a bonsai tree, is still getting new growth every day practically. The ficus retusa bonsai is starting to act the same way, with tons of new growth every week or so.
I hope no bonsai purist would look down on me for doing this, but all I know is that it is working. I now will fully endorse Miracle-Gro potting soil and I’ll probably use it on all my bonsai trees from now on into the future.
Tags: bonsai, Miracle-Gro, bonsai care, fertilizer, ficus bonsai
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Hi there.
Some interesting articles you’ve written there; hope to see more of them in the future. In fact I have a couple of quick questions, from one (inexperienced) ficus grower to another (more experienced) one, if you don’t mind me asking.
With regards to the Miracle-Gro compost: which one did you use, exactly? I went looking for some myself as my ficus is in a really poor state at the moment and found all sorts of different varieties!
As for your previous post, about your unfortunate natal plum: there’s a chance that your experience might yet be able to save my ficus’ life. It’s leaves are really dry at the moment, though they are still green (I don’t imagine that they’re any use to the poor tree, in the state they’re in). It’s happened since I went away for a fortnight and my housemate forgot to water it for me, so I assumed at first that it had simply dried out. I’ve watered and fed it, but one week later it’s not showing any improvement. Scratching away some bark, it’s still green (and therefore alive…?) underneath. I’m tempted to re-pot with fresh compost, but worry that disturbing it will just finish it off. It would be a shame to lose it, as I’ve finally got around to wiring it. My question is thus: have you had happen to any of your ficus, and were you able to save them? I wondered whether defoliating it of all its dead leaves (i.e. ALL of its leaves!) before it dies altogether would encourage it to grow some new ones.
Finally, I’d be interested to hear more about letting it dry out completely before watering it. It’s not an idea I’ve come across before.
I sincerely hope that you have a pearl of wisdom or two to pass on, but either way, all the best to you and your bonsai!