Help my ficus ginseng

Hi I've had my ficus ginseng for 3 months now. I didnt experience any problem with it then all of the sudden I've noticed one of the roots is shriveling. now all of the roots are the same and the leaves are turning brown and looks wilted. I've tried repoting it and then watering it but after the few days more leaves turned brown. I' using an artificial lighting in case that helps. I've repotted it in sphagnum moss coz ive heard somewhere it's good for bonsais. below is the link for the pic of what it looks now. I've searched the web for answers but it made me more confused

http://img215.imageshack.us/i/securedownload1h.jpg/

Please help my bonsai!
Thank you

It would help if you posted a picture of the whole tree. Read the Tutorials forum & post your pictures directly here.
Fortunately, your tree does not have the big ugly storage roots of most ginseng ficus, so there may be hope for it.
The first thing you have to do is get hold of some free draining bonsai soil and repot your plant. It is over-watered. If you can't find bonsai soil, repot it in very sandy cactus soil. The correct name of your plant is Ficus microcarpa. It needs to dry out quite a bit between waterings. I don't think the sphagnum moss will help.
Artificial light is fine if it is adequate. The plant should be up close to the tubes, on 18 hours a day.
Iris

Here's the pic of the whole tree

http://img15.imageshack.us/i/securedownload2y.jpg/

I usually let it dry out before I water it but i often mist it, could that be the cause of it? If so should I just leave it alone for awhile? I place the tree about 2 feet away from the light. I'm worried it might burn the buds.

Thanks for the reply!

Too much water too little light, the roots get fat because they are storing water the tree doesn't need, repot in a well drained soil, move as close to lights as possible, remove the tray under the tree or dump the water out, don't let it stand in water, don't mist it.

Thank you! I'll do that. Should I cut off some of it's branches?

Hi Lexbene,
Look for sandy mix or as Iris siggest a cactus mix is fine,don't use spagnum it'll do harm nore than good.You water as the need arises what i mean is if you see its wet do it every other day,ficus are very sturdy plant and needs a lot of sun/light...
Regards,
Alex

see http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t5706-new-to-bonsai-trees-any-help

Ooh, you are in bad shape. Orchids and bonsai both!
Don't cut anything off now. Let it recover. Fluorescent light does not burn. The top should be almost touching the tubes. No misting. Do not water on a schedule. Stick your finger in the soil. Don't water until it feels almost bone dry.
Iris

Thanks for all the help guys. I'll take all your advice and will post more pics if there's any changes.
BTW my orchids are doing fine. They just started a new cycle and everything's perfect. although I had a few scare after I bought it but thankfully it survived. And I'm on my second one now. Hopefully when everything's fine with my tree I will get a nice bonsai

Oh and I'm using glo and grow light, can't remember the exact name is that better or worse than fluorescent light?

lexbene wrote:Oh and I'm using glo and grow light, can't remember the exact name is that better or worse than fluorescent light?

I will check the internet but is this a screw in bulb? How much heat does it generate? Glo & Grow Light might mean it is coated to produce frequencies of light needed by plants. The problem with artificial light is that it doesn't always produce the frequencies of light that are best for plant growth.

What I found under Glow n Grow was a company in the UK that sells lighting for hydroponics.. If your light is like theirs it will produce a lot of heat and cook a plant that is too close. In my community if you bought these you might get a visit from the drug squad.

Apparently you have an incandescent bulb. Forget it. Use a two-tube 40W shop light fixture. Get the high K number daylight bulbs. If you can't find them, cool white will do for the bonsai. Your orchids will also do fine under the shop light. Two fixtures side by side will be even better. But take it from an old addict, the orchids & bonsai will fight each other for space under the lights & you are doomed.
The Ficus should go outdoors for the summer, but not the Phalaenopsis.
Iris

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:In my community if you bought these you might get a visit from the drug squad.

Yeah I know. The guy at the counter gave me this suspicious look. LOL.
I think I'll try to find what Iris said then put them beside each other. I'm confused though coz it says online that to avoid direct light.

Well Iris I can't help it all I'v got is this small window and here in canada it's mostly winter and this gardening hobby is getting addictive pretty soon my office will become a garden. So I think the best option is artificial lighting. Oh and I've starting to play around with aquarium plants.

BTW there are some buds starting to come out. I cut off all the brown leave coz it's dead anyways and I placed the plant near the light.

Thanks!

lexbene wrote: it says online to avoid direct light.

Don't believe half of what you see online, even on IBC. Most Ficus prefer full sun but after being indoors they have to become accustomed gradually.

lexbene wrote:
Well Iris I can't help it all I'v got is this small window and here in canada it's mostly winter and this gardening hobby is getting addictive pretty soon my office will become a garden. So I think the best option is artificial lighting. Oh and I've starting to play around with aquarium plants.

Where are you in Canada? Join the nearest bonsai club.
Iris