Bonsai Nursery Pot

I'm starting my first bonsai and I couldn't find a clear answer on the internet. I will be starting my bonsai journey with a Ficus Cutting and read that I should start in a nursery pot in order to get to a trunk size I desire most.
What I couldn't find is whether the nursery pot should be bonsai soil or just regular potting soil until the ficus gets moved to a bonsai pot.


Thanks for any help.

You mention a cutting. Does the cutting have roots?

Hi Sunking

Bonsaisoil is the best....if it is of any help, did I have a topic on IBC 1 or 2 years ago called " ficus in the cold north" I dont recall exacly what I wrothe, or if you can use any of it. But try and have a look, it could be helpfull.

Kind regards Yvonne

Yeah, he is coming all bundled up. He hasn't got here yet, I am just trying to prepare all the necessary things. But, here is his picture.



I plan on removing or modifying the wiring. I was going to get the one without wiring but the guy sold out of them.

At this stage you don't need the wire. The soil should be any good potting soil from Wal Mart, etc. Get something peat based such as Miracle Grow. Your container should be about 1/2 again as deep as the peat pot, and a bout an inch wider on each side. The danger of too big a pot is that the soil will stay too wet and rot the roots even with a Ficus, Make sure the pot and soil drain well. I would remove the netting around the peat pot and tease out some roots. PAck soil in well and protect from wind.

Thanks for the info. I'll remove the wiring when he gets here and get him planted asap.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:At this stage you don't need the wire. The soil should be any good potting soil from Wal Mart, etc. Get something peat based such as Miracle Grow. Your container should be about 1/2 again as deep as the peat pot, and a bout an inch wider on each side. The danger of too big a pot is that the soil will stay too wet and rot the roots even with a Ficus, Make sure the pot and soil drain well. I would remove the netting around the peat pot and tease out some roots. PAck soil in well and protect from wind.

Interesting you suggest the peaty soil, do you think that's fine if you're just growing stock out?

Ryan wrote:

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:At this stage you don't need the wire. The soil should be any good potting soil from Wal Mart, etc. Get something peat based such as Miracle Grow. Your container should be about 1/2 again as deep as the peat pot, and a bout an inch wider on each side. The danger of too big a pot is that the soil will stay too wet and rot the roots even with a Ficus, Make sure the pot and soil drain well. I would remove the netting around the peat pot and tease out some roots. PAck soil in well and protect from wind.

Interesting you suggest the peaty soil, do you think that's fine if you're just growing stock out?

For a Ficus, yes, and even in a bonsai pot I have some Ficus in Metromix which is coir/peat.

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:

Ryan wrote:

Billy M. Rhodes wrote:At this stage you don't need the wire. The soil should be any good potting soil from Wal Mart, etc. Get something peat based such as Miracle Grow. Your container should be about 1/2 again as deep as the peat pot, and a bout an inch wider on each side. The danger of too big a pot is that the soil will stay too wet and rot the roots even with a Ficus, Make sure the pot and soil drain well. I would remove the netting around the peat pot and tease out some roots. PAck soil in well and protect from wind.

Interesting you suggest the peaty soil, do you think that's fine if you're just growing stock out?

For a Ficus, yes, and even in a bonsai pot I have some Ficus in Metromix which is coir/peat.

That's what I had always wondered; whether or not it would be all right to grow Ficus in a peaty soil. I'll give it a try and see what happens, thanks Billy.

I'll remove the wiring when he gets here and get him planted asap.

I HOPE your plant, when it arrives, will have NO wire on it, but if it does, be very, very careful ,when you try to remove it! A plant this small will be extremely delicate and it will be easy to do serious damage to the plant.

Your best approach will be to get some wire cutters that cut at the tip of the cutters, and snip away the wire in short pieces, being careful not to cut into the plant. Trying to UNwind the wire will be especially dangerous.

Next, never deal with that dealer again.