Can anyone ID my Bonsai tree?

[Naga]

My lovely missus brought me a Bonsai but it doesn't say what type it is, can anyone ID it for me?

[nelliegemini]

Looks like a ficus/rubber tree type, but that's only a guess.

[BrideXIII]

it also looks like my hedge, which is no help whatsoever, so i apologise

i do find it a little odd for a bonsai though? where did she get it from?

[Naga]

Actually, I thought it looks like my dads hedge to! How strange.

She brought it from Lidl.

[BrideXIII]

no offence to lidls, cos they can't take it.......... but i have to wonder, bonsai are REAL trees root trimmed and trained to grow stunted, its an art, a REAL art, you cant just , buy one and do it, and it can only be done with certain trees. I wonder, if lidls are just taking the mickey here, cos hedge plants are so easy to root off.
maybe i am just being a cynic here again, if it was a maple or a spruce, or a cedar, i'd recognise it i think LOL.it just doesn't look like a tree?

[Naga]

I am going to ask Bonsai pro, hopefully he should know, will report back with my findings.

[FionaH]

Doesnt it take ages, like 100 years to get a true bonsai. Loads of miniscule pruning and stuff. Cant see Lidl being up for that sorry.
Err it does look a lot like a bush

[BrideXIII]

I'd be pleased to know what he says, i could be really wrong here, and i suppose you COULD midget a hedge, but why would you want to?

[Naga]

Ok I just asked and showed it off, it is as nelliegemini says, and that's a Ficus.

[BrideXIII]

Ok I just asked and showed it off, it is as nelliegemini says, and that's a Ficus.

did he say if it could be 'midgeted'? i would be interested to know.

[Naga]

No but as this is a a midget Ficus then I guess they can be, why not have a go?

[BrideXIII]

No but as this is a a midget Ficus then I guess they can be, why not have a go?

why not indeed!, i don't think you will be able to achieve the shape and form of true bonsai, but it will be good practice if you can keep it alive, then if you get bitten by the bug you can move on to something else.

[Snadger]

Thats got to be the UGGLIEST bonsai I've ever seen!

It looks a bit like a local Councils 'slash and burn' technique of pruning!

[zazen999]

Hi Herby.

No offence - but I reckon your missus has been sold a dud. That's just a cutting surely? Can she take it back? I hope she didn't pay too much for it [if she didn't then it definitely wasn't bonsai].

[Capsid]

Bonsai means trees in trays and many trees/shrubs can be tried. I am trying to bonsai a horse chestnut tree! The picture is a bog standard type sold at GCs and is what I would call a work in progress. With some correct pruning and about 10 years of growth it could be spectacular. You will need to repot it and prune the roots and top growth every spring and then feed weekly. They will also need regular watering as the roots dry out very quickly.

Looks like a Ficus type to me.