New to the hobby, and would like some assistance in identifying my tree!

Hello all! Im new to this bonsai hobby, just recieved my first tree today! Its a broad leaved green stemmed/trunked[?] tree, but the ID tag only says 'House plant - Bonsai' It says bright light, height varies, water weekly, fertilize, avoid direct heat sources, and that it 'generates oxygen'. O.o [Thats a 'duh' factor! =P]
My boyfriend got it for me for Christmas, and didnt know what to do with it after he bought it, so he gave it to me early. Itd be kinda hard to hide it from me, Id notice it in an instant!
Let me tell you my plan for this bonsai, with a little history.
Im a fish nerd. And an even bigger aqua scape nerd. I love my fish, but the plants is what i really enjoy. I currently have six fish tanks up, three of them planted. Its alot of work, along with working two jobs and going to school, but i handle it. =]
Recently, Ive gotten the itch to try whats called a Walstad bowl, which is basically a small [1-6 gallon] ecosystem that exists almost without your help, because of the amount of plants in the bowl.
So, guess what im giving my mom for Christmas? =] And of course i bought two bowls, cause i knew id want my own.
I set up my moms, and its coming around, and i wanted to try something different with my bowl, but i didnt know what. I remembered the bonsai trees i saw at home depot, and thought, what a great idea! I figured id get to it at some point, but when i came home from work, there my little tree was! =]

I think it may have a deficiency , because as the picture shows, the leaves are deformed, and a different color. Personally, i like those leaves better, but if i know my tree has a problem, and i didnt help it just because i liked the wey it looked..that wouldent be me!


Im sure i have some misconceptions about bonsai trees and how they are grown, but all i know as of now is what ive got is not a juniper, and may be a ficus. Lol. I will be looking around on your forum for my own answers and learning how bonsai keeping really is! Thank you in advance for your help!


The pictures you asked for via sticky;
A shot of the branch structure
the leaf structure
The trunk
The whole tree, and laying down

Hope these are enough for you, though i can always take more!

Hello Lyzza,

Welcome to the IBC,

see if this is it -

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/ScheffleraBonsai.html

Later.
Khaimraj

Why, yes it is! Thank you so very much! Do you have experience with this species? Im off to research!
Thanks again!

Yup, it's a schefflera

I haven't had much experience with schlef, but I think they pretty similar to ficus in that

Don't let it freeze. Don't let the soil completely dry out. Make sure there are drainage holes in the pot. Don't let it sit in water for more than a few minutes. Don't overwater. Schlef are tolerant of low light, but more light is more growth.

Yes, schefflera are similar to ficus in that they tolerate lower light levels, and low humidity. However, if you want to develop aerial roots, you'll need to keep the humidity up. Also, if you give them plenty of light, they'll reward you with lots of growth, rather than the static state they maintain in a windowsill. Watch out for scale, schefs are particularly susceptible.

Khaimraj Seepersad wrote:Hello Lyzza,

Welcome to the IBC,

see if this is it -

http://www.bonsaihunk.us/info/ScheffleraBonsai.html

Later.
Khaimraj

Why send someone outside this forum when there is good info right here (although that is a really good link!). Just type it into the "search" option and see what happens. It's magic!

Your tree is Schefflera arboricola, a member of the ivy family and somewhat succulent. I don't know what kind of a bowl you have in mind, but it is not for this kind of a tree. Shefflera will tolerate a sunny windowsill for the winter. Let it dry out between waterings. Fertilize with houseplant food once a month.
You can repot it in the spring in a bonsai pot with bonsai soil. As soon as the nights go above 45, put it outdoors, gradually into full sun. Keep it trimmed & pinched. Fertilize once a week. You will be amazed.
Iris

Russell,

I gave the most efficient response I could, especially since I thought the person asking wasn't really going to go deeply into Bonsai.
Hope that helps to explain.
Khaimraj