The ficus ginseng is known by different names. Botanically correct, it is called Ficus microcarpa, translated Chinese fig or laurel fig. The tree, which comes from East Asia, is a popular ornamental plant that can be grown as a bonsai.

The Ficus Ginseng is a very attractive bonsai

Where can I get a Ficus Ginseng as a bonsai?

You can grow a Ficus Ginseng yourself from a young plant as a bonsai. But you need a lot of patience, which a beginner often does not have. It is therefore advisable to buy a bonsai right away. Ficus ginseng is often sold in this form, so acquiring one is not difficult.

The essentials in brief:

  • good to grow as a bonsai
  • often found in stores
  • sensitive to frost
  • suitable for room culture
  • allowed to go outside in summer
  • Location: bright, without direct sun, at approx. 18 °C to 22 °C
  • water and fertilize as needed
  • pruning carefully and purposefully

Can my ficus bonsai go outside?

The Ficus Ginseng is very sensitive to frost, but is welcome to spend the summer in the garden. However, you should treat it to a well-protected location here, it doesn't like the blazing sun, wind or waterlogging. Gradually acclimate your bonsai to the change in air and bring them back into the warmth when nighttime temperatures drop to around 10°C to 12°C.

How do I care for my ficus as a bonsai?

Even if the Ficus Ginseng is not difficult to take care of, it does have some requirements that you should not neglect. The soil is allowed to dry out slightly, but never really dry out. It is best to water whenever the top layer of soil feels a little dry.

Fertilize your Ficus Ginseng from April to September in the form of sticks or liquid fertilizer about every 14 days. Special bonsai fertilizer is not necessary for this, commercial flower fertilizer (1.95€) is completely sufficient. In winter, the laurel fig is not fertilized.

Cut and wire the ficus ginseng

The young, still soft shoots of the Ficus Ginseng can be shaped very well by cutting and wiring. Start wiring in early spring and don't leave the wire on the plant for more than four weeks.

The most important cutting measures:

  • Maintenance pruning: from May to September about every 6 weeks
  • If pruned too seldom, old wood will not sprout
  • Regularly remove unwanted shoots that are growing out of the desired shape
  • do not remove too many young shoots at the same time
  • do not leave thick twigs over thin branches
  • Always cut 3mm above an outward pointing eye
  • Cut back shoots with 5 to 7 leaves to 2 to 3 leaves

tips

The Ficus Ginseng is also ideal for beginners as a bonsai. It can easily be shaped with wires.

Category:

Indoor plants