Sos Roofline Systems

It is kind of funny to me that when I mention the word bonsai to some people, the first thing they ask is if I mean the little tree that Mr. Miyagi had in the movie ‘Karate Kid.’ Yes indeed, Miyagi was fond of his bonsai tree, even teaching the art to Daniel-son. Well, I’m not here to talk about Karate Kid today, but rather what you should do if you are thinking about taking up a bonsai hobby.

First things first: know that some bonsai trees are best left for only the most experienced, while there are a lot for those who don’t have any experience at all. If you fall into the second camp, you will want a tree that is forgiving of beginner mistakes and can handle the time it may take you to become proficient. You may feel that this limits your choices, but it really is for the best.

I want to mention one specific bonsai tree today because it meets practically all the ‘good for beginners’ requirements. I mean the ficus tree. Ficus is suited very well to bonsai, no matter what kind of weather exists where you live. Just about any nursery carries them, though some buy better quality ones, and you should know which ones those are.

I love ficus bonsai because they withstand the period that a beginner needs to figure out how to best care for it. For example, beginners must get used to how the tree likes to be watered. Ficus bonsai like to dry out just a little before the next watering.

The roots must not be kept wet or else they will rot. Luckily, the ficus will not die after one or two watering mistakes. It will allow the beginner to get it right. Trust me, this is crucial because it can take some time to really get the right schedule down so that the tree can grow optimally.

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.

And finally, if for some reason you can’t put the tree in the ideal south west facing window, don’t’ worry because it will live. Now don’t get me wrong, I advocate letting the ficus have all the sun it needs, but I also understand that not everybody can. If you give it a decent amount, you should be ok.

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.