What Should A Beginner In Bonsai Get First?
I just have to laugh sometimes when I speak with people about bonsai and they immediately ask me if I'm referring to that mini tree that the guy trimmed in the old 'Karate Kid' movie. It is true, Mr. Miyagi maintained a nice little bonsai tree, and he even tried get Daniel to learn. Thankfully, Karate Kid is not what I'm writing about today, but I do want to shed some light on the hobby of bonsai.
The main thing you should know first is that some bonsai trees are better for novices and some are suited for experts. If you are starting out, consider a tree that is more tolerant of your mistakes. And there will be mistakes. I understand this narrows down the selection some, but it's very smart to take on only what you can handle.
Today, I will specifically talk about the ficus bonsai because it is especially well suited to beginners because of the reasons I stated previously. Although ficus only grow in humid or temperate areas, which most of the United States is not, they can still thrive indoors no matter where you give them a home. It's no task to find one, but just be sure that whoever you buy it from has raised it well.
Ficus bonsai really attracted me because they are known to do very well for beginners who are still figuring things out. As an example, they are more forgiving when you are trying to come up with set watering times; they won't dry out and die immediately.
It's easy to let the roots sit in too much water, but if you do this they will rot. Thankfully, ficus won't just wither away after a few watering errors. They will allow you to get into your groove. You'll love this about ficus after you realize that it's more difficult than you thought to care for it.
Also, if you make a mistake while pruning your ficus, it will grow back rather quickly. As long as it is receiving plenty of sun and water, you can expect it to grow well enough to hide your mistake. I have made my share of mistakes and am very grateful that the growth came back as soon as it did.
Lastly, your ficus will not shrivel up and die if you put it in less than ideal lighting conditions. Yes, you should give it plenty of south west sun, but it will adapt to less sun if you have no other alternative. It's always best to give it what it needs when you can, but know that it will live if you cannot.
Ficus bonsai are delightful trees that will make a hobbyist out of anyone who purchases one. Again, give it water when it needs it, let it have plenty of sunlight, and it will reward you with excellent growth.
