How To Take Care Of Your Ficus Retusa Bonsai Tree

Banyan Fig Bonsai Care

About The Ficus Retusa Bonsai Tree

The Ficus Retusa, also known as the Banyan Fig or Taiwan Ficus, is a rapidly-growing tropical evergreen tree. It is broad, and develops a full canopy with it's small, dark green leaves.

New growth is happening all year long on this tree, and its a unique color: rosy red.

It has an extremely aged looking bark:  light grey with tins of red and an almost tiger stripe marking.

It is incredibly tolerant to various conditions and is VERY trouble free to keep indoors as a houseplant.

Placement

The Ficus Retusa is a tropical tree that can thrive indoors or out, as long as there is adequate lighting.  While indoors, a south facing windowsill is best, with east or west being second.

It is happiest outdoors when the temperature is above 45 degrees.

Watering

The Ficus Retusa, like most bonsai trees, will die if it dries out.  It enjoys plenty of water in well draining soil. Never let it dry out completely.

Humidity

The Ficus Retusa is a tropical tree that thrives in high humidity.  If you add enough, it will grow lovely and exotic air roots. A suitable humidity drip tray can provide that.

Fertilizing

Since your Ficus Retusa bonsai is in a small pot, and not the ground, it needs nutrients.  A slow release (pellet based) fertilizer is perfect for this, and can be added sparingly every 1-2 months during the growing season.

Pruning & Trimming

Trim back the new growth to the farthest safe point that looks good to you — but never remove all of the new growth.

A regular trim will help keep your Ficus Retusa bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.

Repotting

Repotting must be performed periodically on your bonsai, Ficus Retusa included, when its root system has filled the pot.  If you can clearly see the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, it’s time to repot your bonsai.

Generally, this means every 2-3 years for a deciduous tree and every 4-5 years for an evergreen.  Ficus Retusa, being a tropical evergreen, will need to be repotted around every 3-5 years depending on its environment.

Repotting should be done in mid-summer, when the tree is at it’s least fragile state.

Your Ficus Retusa bonsai, along with all of its soil, should be removed from the pot.  From there, you can trim away no more than 1/3rd of the root mass (1/4th is preferred.) 

Then you can repot the tree in the same pot, or give it a newer / bigger pot to thrive in.

After repotting, your bonsai Ficus Retusa should be thoroughly watered.

Diseases, Insects & Other Pests

Your Ficus Retusa bonsai can be treated for pests like a normal Ficus Retusa tree.  Just remember, your tree is miniature and will need a much smaller and more gentile dose of treatment.