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Great site--so happy to find it! Thanks so much for all your kind sharing!

I'm an American living in China (lived some years in Japan) and have always loved bonsai. Have recently been brainstorming with a creative Chinese friend about a creative alternative to working in an office for peanuts (or at least additional peanuts)--ideas ranging from making pottery to dolls. She is a great lover of plants and flowers, and we were on the way to her home for Chinese New Year dinner when we stopped at a humongous New Year Plant market and I happened to see some bonsai trees. The vendors seemed to know nothing about them--but then the idea hit--Let's try this together! So, I explained to her what bonsai was and we are enthusiastically going to start researching and seeing if we can do something. Anyway, I bought one of the cheaper trees for about $15 USD and I'd like to know what it is. Couldn't be sure from the leaf ID pictures--it might be a fig? Wonder if someone could help identify.

Also, can't wait to start reading what seems to be an ocean of advice here--but would also appreciate advice on how my friend might best start her business. Obviously, this takes time and patience--probably some years before she sees any result, but that's fine. Thanks so much for any help that can be given!

Hi Susan

I think you're right in that its a Fig - sorry I can't help with more info, I only ever had one and it died in an unheated greenhouse some many winters ago....not as hardy as I thought at the time

Dave

Thanks so much for your kind reply, Dave! I was beginning to lose hope that someone would answer. It is said that the fig is a popular plant to start bonsai with, so had been hoping that people would know.

They are very popular, regarding general requirements & care have a look at the 'Species Guide' on this site - they are fairly undemanding unless you freeze them to death!

Dave

A youtube video popped up on a page on which I was watching Olympic ice-skating (gotta love youtube recommendations at times) which gave me an indisputable answer to my question--it's a Ficus Retusa (Tiger Bark Ficus):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzGOT7yk_qU. Totally identical to what I have.

It is probably a ficus ginseng or green island fig.

Thanks, I'll check into that.

Sorry, I think its a ficus rubiginosa a lot more than the others I mentions.

im leaning towards boxwood probably Kingsville...how big is this OMG I want it really bad :pinch: :blink: