Ficus Bonsai

I bought this from a store on a whim, i have not had a bonsai before. All my plant identification apps say its something different. I need to know what it is, to help it!

Hi Jody 👋 Thanks for posting your first photo. 👏 You can find other like-minded gardeners to follow by tapping Discover and "Popular" or "Recommended". If you need to reply to a user or just want to say "hi", simply @username an individual i.e. @teamgardentags and that person will get an alert. Finally, if you'd like guidance on getting the most out of the app, please check out our tutorial videos: www.gardentags.com/tutorials Enjoy using GT! 😃

Thanks also for asking us to help identify your plant PlantID. Fellow GT'ers are you able to help Jody? @barbaramatthews @carolgs @cyndi @joanboston @KariSamuel @lexijane @linfoster @mikethegardener @mrsflowerpot @PlantDoctor @richard.spicer.7906 @ShelleySnyder @Yollymac

Welcome to GardenTags this looks like a Chinese birch I think. They need lots of water

Welcome

@joanboston I have used Google lens, and i have a picture this subscription, (which has disappointed me) plus a few others and they have all came up with different names. His leaves are starting to fall and i am worried. I have never had a bonsai and from what I have read you either trim the branches or the roots once a year

Hi Jody @firefly0911 . It looks like a Ficus. If you bought it in a store I think this would suggest that it is. These are considered the easiest bonsai to care for. Joan is correct that bonsai generally require a great deal of watering. However the ficus doesn't need alot of watering. Just make sure it doesn't dry out completely. You are probably more likely to overwater than underwater the ficus. Don't be afraid to prune it and remove the leaves. Tidy it up with some bonsai scissors or even...

...secateurs. Create a shape that you like and compliments the trunk shape / pot. Check under the pot to see if the roots are okay and the tree is not root bound. If it is you will need to repot. Repotting can be done so in the same pot but you will need to prune the roots back.

Here is a link to a ficus https://www.e-bonsai.com/en/bonsai-1/indoor-bonsai/bonsai-in-gift-boxes/ficus-retusa-ficus-malolisty-ulmus-parvifolia-chinese-elm.html

Welcome to gts! A fabulous app with fabulous people and fabulous plants! Enjoy your journey with us!💘😍

@craiggj7 thank you so much I am definitely going to do some research before I mess with the root system, I had read that you do only the top or the bottom per year, never both, is this true?

Hi Jody @firefly0911, I think its a Fukein Tea tree, would you mind to send the leaves detail pictures? btw if they started to fall, it's because they are stressed, so don't move to another pot, or don't put on any direct sunlight. Just keep humidity and prune the leaves and branches to reduce the evaporation of this plant, but leave a few leave at the tip on the branches to save the energy. You can also wrap it with transparan plastic bag, to make green house environment like.