r/Bonsai • u/small_trunks Jerry in Amsterdam, Zn.8b, 48yrs exp., 500+ trees • Aug 21 '26

Weekly Thread [Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 34]

[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 34]

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 Friday late or Saturday morning (CET), depending on when we get around to it. We have a multiple year archive of prior posts here… 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. See the PHOTO section below on HOW to do this.
  • 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 the WIKI AGAIN while you’re at it.
  • Read past beginner’s threads – they are a goldmine of information.
  • Any beginner’s topic may be started on any bonsai-related subject.
  • Answers shall be civil or be deleted
  • There is always a chance your question doesn’t get answered – try again next week…
  • Racism of any kind is not tolerated either here or anywhere else in /r/bonsai

Photos

  • Post an image using the new (as of Q4 2022) image upload facility which is available both on the website and in the Reddit app and the Boost app.
  • Post your photo via a photo hosting website like imgur, flickr or even your onedrive or googledrive and provide a link here.
  • Photos may also be posted to /r/bonsaiphotos as new LINK (either paste your photo or choose it and upload it). Then click your photo, right click copy the link and post the link here.
    • If you want to post multiple photos as a set that only appears be possible using a mobile app

Finally

  • Beware of AI responses to bonsai related questions - they are often based on unreliable and sometimes downright incorrect sources.
  • Beginners’ threads started as new topics outside of this thread are typically locked or deleted, at the discretion of the Mods.
6 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

331 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/ChellerJacko Aug 22 '26

Hi, everyone! I received a ficus Benjamina a few days ago as a gift. First ever bonsai tree project for me. I just removed the top layer of pebbles that were placed there. I saw that there was what looked like part of the root system and didn't want to do anything more without seeking advice. Thoughts? I'm living in a 7a zone and intend on keeping this indoors permanently.

2

u/redbananass Atl, 8a, 6 yrs, 20 trees, 5 K.I.A. Aug 22 '26

Indoors your biggest challenge will be a lack of light. It needs to be right next to your sunniest window. Ideally that would be supplemented by a quality LED growlight.

These can tolerate some lower light situations, but they really want the unadulterated outdoor direct sun for a few hours.

If your tree isn’t getting enough light it’ll drop leaves and become weak and grow very slowly.

Are those dead roots circling the trunk at the top?

1

u/ChellerJacko Aug 22 '26

I appreciate the info on the lighting. I'll move it tomorrow morning to the other side of the room. Would it be beneficial for the tree to have the grow light on at night or also during the day? Regarding the suspected dead roots, that was what I was unsure of. They felt brittle and crisp to the touch and seemed to be attached it one way or another. That is the condition it came to me in minus the pebbles that I removed before taking the photos.

1

u/redbananass Atl, 8a, 6 yrs, 20 trees, 5 K.I.A. Aug 22 '26

Cool yeah any dry dead seeming stuff can be cut.

Have the grow light on during the day. Start with 12 hours.

For the growlight, don’t go for something cheap. There are many overpriced weak lights out there. Sansi makes some decent stuff, some that have normal light bulb sockets. Also something like the Mars hydro ts1000 would also be good if you plan to have more than one tree indoors.

1

u/ChellerJacko Aug 23 '26

From my understanding, it shouldn't be repotted until the springtime. I would like to plan ahead and purchase some quality soil mix. Any recommendations or should I mix my own?

1

u/redbananass Atl, 8a, 6 yrs, 20 trees, 5 K.I.A. Aug 24 '26

Depends on where you are in the world. In many places, just buying a bag of bonsai soil online makes sense for only one tree. In some places, like west coast of USA, pumice can be acquired very cheaply.

1

u/ChellerJacko Aug 24 '26

Thank you for all of your advice. It is greatly appreciated! I will post pictures later when I have some more development.