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Hey everyone. I'm new to bonsai, and after watching many Youtube videos, decided to buy my first proper bonsai at the start of lockdown (in the UK). It's a medium sized ficus retusa that I've had for just over 2 months now. I went for ficus after much research about which type of tree would do best in my current living conditions.

I wired the tree initially and gave it some nice natural shape, and have been regularly feeding every 2 weeks with a good nitrogen feed (7.3.5) to encourage leaf growth (I used to be a greenkeeper so am very familiar with fertiliser!). I've been watering it a little every day, and misting the leaves in the evening. During sunny days I leave it outside, and even when not particularly sunny I leave it by our large lounge window, so it gets plenty of light.

It responded amazingly to all I did, it lushed out inredibly, I also pruned some longer shoots to try and encourage rammification. I'd say leaf density doubled in 1.5 months. However, for the last 2-3 weeks it seems like all new growth has stopped/slowed (there has been continuous new leaves growing the whole time previously), and something like 1-5 leaves per day have come off from yellowing. Combinations of older and new leaves have started to turn yellow. I've attached a photo of the yellowing leaves.

I've noticed the last month or so my plants indoors in general have needed less water, perhaps I have been over watering the bonsai? It seems like it takes longer to become dry recently. Could over watering cause yellowing of leaves? Could it be over fertilising? I also noticed a few months ago that there were tiny little insects in the soil, like 0.5-1mm long, however I read that they do no harm and if anything help keep the soil free of fungus.

I've attached a before photo when I bought it, and some photos from a few months ago during lush growth, photo of now, and off the yellow leaves.

Any advice hugely appreciated!

Its leaves are yellowing because you have it indoors during the summer. It needs to be outside or it will die.

Brand new leaves are often more pale than the rest, it would do better outside, if it can be. You're little tree is doing okay right now.

Spot Beagle wrote: Brand new leaves are often more pale than the rest, it would do better outside, if it can be. You're little tree is doing okay right now.

Yeah the new growth was a lovely bright pale green colour, this was during April/May. I didn't actually photograph any of the yellowing leaves on the tree the other day, but they were leaves which were green and have then started to yellow. Should a healthy ficus bonsai produce new lush growth all growing season? Or only at the start?

I'm going to leave it outside all the time now, I was hoping that indoors at night would still be okay for the tree, but seems like it needs the whole time outside.

Trees dislike being moved around, and ficus really dislikes it.