Janet Baraclough wrote in
:

The message
from FragileWarrior contains these
words:

Jangchub wrote in
:

It is probably a Ficus because it is simple to get a nice knarled
bark and shape at the base in a short span of time. Don't be
freaked when it loses its leaves, if it does. It's normal and the
foliage will come back if you keep it evenly moist, not wet, not
dry.


What causes the loss of leaves? I wonder if the other ones that were
being sold for $5 ea. due to their leaves being shriveled and dry are
actually going to recover?

All trees shed leaves, even the most evergreen and hardy, (which
ficus is not).

Ficus is a warmclimate plant. Kept in ideal conditions it will
stay
in leaf for years, just gently shedding the oldest ones occasionally.
However, it will shed more leaves (or, all leaves) if it gets
stressed, such as chilled, dried out, or a cold draft of air. Even
indoors, houseplant ficus may suddenly drop the leaves if you move
them from one room to another where it's a bit brighter or darker. So,
if you move it, pick your moment and make it gradual, no sudden
extreme changes.

Janet


It's a wonder they use those plants for their bonsai trees then. You'd
think the shock of traveling from the distributor to Walmart and then
being hustled all around the store -- in the dead of winter, no less --
would put them ALL on the discount table in short order.