In today's fast-paced world, patience is a virtue that seems to be diminishing. Gardening, however, teaches us to wait. We plant seeds and tend to them regularly, patiently waiting for them to sprout and bloom. This process nurtures patience and instills a greater appreciation for the natural pace of life.

Ficus bonsai trees are very commonly available, with the most popular being the Ficus Retusa and the Ficus Ginseng. The Ficus Retusa can often be found in various different sizes and unique trunk shapes, like an “S” shaped trunk. They truly make a unique conversation piece for your home.

Ficuses will like a little bit of humidity in the air. Our homes often have very dry air during the winter months, so there are several things we can do to increase humidity levels. You can frequently mist your plant, add a humidifier nearby, or use the pebble tray trick. A pebble tray is very simple and effective: take a shallow plant saucer, fill it with a thin layer of pebbles, and fill it with water just to reach the top of the pebbles. Then, sit your plant on top. The water will evaporate around your plant, creating a sort of mini micro-climate with added humidity.

We recommend fertilizing your Ficus bonsai once every 3-4 weeks using an all-purpose fertilizer such as 20-20-20 or an all-purpose liquid plant food, from Spring to Fall. During the Fall and Winter months, we strongly suggest using PlantRX fertilizer, which is mist that you apply to the leaves of your plant, which keep your plant healthy and happy while also providing the additional benefits of adding extra humidity.

The Jade tree is another fantastic option as a bonsai tree and one of the most beginner friendly ones, in our opinion. Jades are succulent plants, so they are slow-growing but their care will be relatively simple. There are a few different types of Jades used as bonsai, the most common being the Dwarf Jade Portulacaria, and the regular Crassula Jade.

We recommend fertilizing Jades monthly from Spring to Fall, with an all-purpose fertilizer such as 20-20-20 or an all-purpose liquid plant food. During the winter, you can fertilize with SucculentRX mist fertilizer only.

As the changing climate begins to influence our daily lives, more and more of us are trying to reduce our individual impact on the climate. We recycle, turn off the lights, and generally try to minimize our waste – but somehow, our gardens end up forgotten. So, let’s talk about how we can directly influence our personal green spaces to make them healthier places for us, our local wildlife, and the planet.

what does avoiding peat mean for us functionally as gardeners? Peat is a popular soil amender as it gives soil a loose, airy texture and provides some nutrition as it breaks down. It can be difficult to find pre-mixed soils that don’t use at least a little peat. And unfortunately, until we as consumers start demanding more peat free options, this is unlikely to change. The best thing to do is make our own soil mixes, using locally sourced top soils, manure, and if possible, leaves and compost from our own home and garden.

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