I have previously posted this tigerbark ficus to this site. See https://beginbonsai.net/2020/09/06/defoliated-ficus-microcarpa/ and https://beginbonsai.net/2019/01/11/tiger-bark-ficus-ficus-microcarpa/ to see the tree in earlier stages of its development.
I am calling this my first bonsai because I have been growing it since it was a pre-bonsai in 2012 and it has finally reached a developmental stage I would call ‘bonsai’ instead of ‘pre-bonsai’. I call it a ‘mother-tree’ because I have obtained dozens of other trees from it that I am currently developing as individual bonsais and Ficus forests. See https://beginbonsai.net/2022/09/30/tigerbark-ambush-ficus-microcarpa/ for a post about some of those.
The tree today in its new pot from Tokoname.
The tree when first purchased.
The tree when it was last posted to this site.
The tree this spring before defoliation.
The tree on the same day after defoliation.
The tree this morning before repotting. I removed and saved the moss to add to the new soil after repotting.
The tree after removal from its pot. The soil was still in good condition and it could have gone another year or more without repotting but the decision to repot was an aesthetic one. I thought it would look better in a shallower, wider pot.
Lots of room to grow in the new pot.
Bonsai soil under the roots.
Bonsai soil worked into the roots, before watering and adding moss.
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