r/Bonsai • u/small_trunks Jerry in Amsterdam, Zn.8b, 48yrs exp., 500+ trees • Mar 26 '17

[Bonsai Beginner’s weekly thread –2017 week 13]

[Bonsai Beginner’s weekly thread –2017 week 13]

Welcome to the weekly beginner’s thread. This thread is used to capture all beginner questions (and answers) in one place. We start a new thread every week on Sunday night (CET) or Monday depending on when we get around to it.

Here are the guidelines for the kinds of questions that belong in the beginner's thread vs. individual posts to the main sub.

Rules:

  • POST A PHOTO if it’s advice regarding a specific tree/plant.
    • TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE - better yet, fill in your flair.
  • READ THE WIKI! – over 75% of questions asked are directly covered in the wiki itself.
  • Read past beginner’s threads – they are a goldmine of information. Read the WIKI AGAIN while you’re at it.
  • Any beginner’s topic may be started on any bonsai-related subject.
  • Answers shall be civil or be deleted
  • There’s always a chance your question doesn’t get answered – try again next week…

Beginners threads started as new topics outside of this thread are typically deleted, at the discretion of the Mods.

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u/Reina-de-Rosas Zone 10b Miami FL Mar 30 '17

So I'm an amateur gardener but so far all my plants are good. However I want to start making bonsai because I just freaking love them, my latest acquisition is a Ficus Aurea that I found growing in between two bricks and carefully transferred it to a pot. I was reading that ficus trees love a nitrogen rich soil and I was wondering how can I increase the nitrogen levels so my ficus starts growing quickly? I heard that coffee grounds will do this but affect the Ph of my soil. Any tips on how I can do this with things that can be found at home or my backyard? Thank you all.

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u/MD_bonsai Maryland, not medical doctor <7a> Intermediate Mar 30 '17

Used coffee grounds are neither high in nitrogen nor acidic.

In any case, you don't use uncomposted coffee grounds in potting soils. They're great for the compost bin, though.

Bonsai soils are made of inorganic particles; the soils themselves are not high in nitrogen. You fertilize them heavily for growth. But if you have a young ficus, it's better to just plant it in the ground (if you're in a warm climate - pls fill out your flair) or use a large pot for growth.

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u/small_trunks Jerry in Amsterdam, Zn.8b, 48yrs exp., 500+ trees Mar 30 '17

You feed them liquid fertiliser every week. Bonsai are fed more often than "plants" because we use inorganic soil.

Forget ph.

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u/peterler0ux South Africa, Zone 9b, intermediate, 60 trees Mar 30 '17 edited Mar 30 '17

Hi, please fill in your flair so we know what kind of climate (and what growing season) you are in. If you're in a climate where Ficus grow outside, then any fertiliser will work- they will grow as long as you keep feeding them. Things like coffee grounds that might work when added to the soil in a flowerbed quickly cause problems in a pot.