'Starlight' Weeping Fig, Ficus benjamina varigata 'Starlight' bonsai houseplant

Description: 'Starlight' Ficus benjamina variety Bonsai, about 16-18" tall & 7 years old; air layered about 1½ years ago from the top of the mother plant. Re-foliating after spring denuding to reduce foliage size and increase leaf count. Set plant near good window; Southwest facing best, or south, west, or east. Most north widows are too dim in winter unless large and unobstructed. Water every 5, 6, 7, or 8 calendar days (easiest to remember; for example on the 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th & 30th) (with the plastic cup sized to this plant included). Rotate plant every 6 months or so to maintain reasonable growth on both sides, or to maximize growth/health keep outdoors in summer (when nights are over 50°F) in bright, indirect sun. If in direct sun outdoors, a conditioning period of 2 weeks or so of mostly shade is necessary to adjust to indoor light conditions before bring indoors in autumn. Leaves are not forever; lasting more than a year but less in some conditions. Losing some interior (older) leaves in autumn and throughout winter is normal. Feed with any commercial liquid or Milorganite, only when signs of new growth appear in spring (~March) until autumn (~October) to maintain good growing. Feeding when sun conditions are waning encourages leggy growth, counter-productive to bonsai compactness. To maintain the canopy size/shape nip buds appearing at the end of twigs of any growth that exceeds your imaginary canopy shape; allow growth on any twig that you want to be longer. To reduce a twig to the length you want to keep the canopy prune back to a leaf below the surface to allow the twig to grow to the size/length you desire, at which time you nips buds after that.Repot every 3rd spring when plants are actively growing; (never in autumn); with good garden soil. AVOID so-called commercial "potting mix" which has too much ground up paper and too little actual mineral soil, if any,* and gets soggy because it drains poorly. Rough materials underneath the soil in pots does not aid draining. Adding about 50% "Pine Bark Soil Conditioner" or "Orchid Mix" or chopped leaves to mineral soil increases humus to better levels and extends the useable lifespan of the soil. Do not buy bonsai unless you want to take care of it. It's like a pet dog or cat and needs continuing care or it will perish. Ficus trees are the source of latex; hence some people are sensitive to the sap..

Price: 175 USD

Location: Harrison Township, Michigan

End Time: 2024-12-07T01:48:46.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD