Ficus Bonsai
Ficus retusa / Ficus microcarpa
📖 About this plant
The quintessential indoor bonsai, ficus is extremely tolerant of indoor conditions and neglect. It develops beautiful aerial roots, smooth gray-brown bark, and shiny dark green leaves that reduce with training. The most recommended species for beginners and offices. Ficus can be trained into many styles and develops impressive root buttresses (banyan style) over time.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Bright indirect (4-6 hrs)
Every 1-2 weeks
Moderate (50-60%)
15-30°C
Well-draining bonsai soil with organic components; tolerates standard houseplant soil; pH 6.0-7.0
Balanced liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks year-round (as a tropical, it grows steadily); reduce slightly in winter
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Southeast Asia, tropical regions of Asia and Australia
- 📏 Max height
- 20-45 cm (bonsai form)
- 📐 Spread
- 20-45 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Rarely
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Green
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Dark Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Perennial
- 📈 Growth rate
- Slow
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — sap can cause skin irritation and is toxic if ingested; keep away from pets who may chew leaves
- 🌱 Propagation
- Cuttings root easily in water or moist medium; air layering for thicker trunks; grows readily from cuttings in warm conditions
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — sap can cause skin irritation and is toxic if ingested; keep away from pets who may chew leaves
Common issues
- Leaf drop when moved to a new location (temporary — adjusts in 2-4 weeks), Overwatering causing root rot, Scale insects and mealybugs, Thrips causing leaf curl, Spider mites in dry indoor conditions
💡 Care tips
- Excellent indoor bonsai that tolerates lower light conditions,Thick aerial roots create a dramatic banyan tree appearance,Prune regularly to maintain desired shape and size,Tolerates neglect better than most other bonsai species
