Wal-Mart Ficus "Bonsai"

[WesternGrower]

So I was at good ol walmart while I was home for spring break, and they had a few ficus plants on sale (I say plants even though they are listed as a bonsai) and I bought one, because why not.

Obviously its meant to be in a bonsai style, and obviously its not (I forget the term used to describe this?).
I dont really care so much about that. What I want to know is general advice on it, how does it look health wise, how hard would it be to turn into a bonsai, etc (I have nothing but spare time).
I know its going to be a long while before it comes anywhere close, but I was looking to differentiate my assortment of trees, and everyone in my family has a ficus of some kind, so why not.

I see a new bud sprouting off the main trunk, if you can call it that, just below and to the left of the main cut scar, so hopefully that means its healthy enough.

Picture:

 

[BunjaeKorea]

So I was at good ol walmart while I was home for spring break, and they had a few ficus plants on sale (I say plants even though they are listed as a bonsai) and I bought one, because why not.

Obviously its meant to be in a bonsai style, and obviously its not (I forget the term used to describe this?).
I dont really care so much about that. What I want to know is general advice on it, how does it look health wise, how hard would it be to turn into a bonsai, etc (I have nothing but spare time).
I know its going to be a long while before it comes anywhere close, but I was looking to differentiate my assortment of trees, and everyone in my family has a ficus of some kind, so why not.

I see a new bud sprouting off the main trunk, if you can call it that, just below and to the left of the main cut scar, so hopefully that means its healthy enough.

Picture:
View attachment 184697

Did you repot that? If you have the next step is in my signature between musical notes...

 

[WesternGrower]

Yeah I repotted it the same day I bought it, it was in some extremely poor draining plastic pot with some moss all over the top. I reused the soil for now, but I do have other soil around for the next repot. The pot it was in was more of a priority.
I have no intentions of doing anything else to it for a while, but I do enjoy learning about it long before it has to be done.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Yeah I repotted it the same day I bought it, it was in some extremely poor draining plastic pot with some moss all over the top. I reused the soil for now, but I do have other soil around for the next repot. The pot it was in was more of a priority.
I have no intentions of doing anything else to it for a while, but I do enjoy learning about it long before it has to be done.

I recommend you search Nigel Saunders on Youtube....he knows his stuff when it comes to ficus ans he gets them to grow well even though he lives in Canada so he has great info

 

[WesternGrower]

Oh I've actually watched a few of his videos on spruces, didn't know he was well versed in the tropical varieties.

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Oh I've actually watched a few of his videos on spruces, didn't know he was well versed in the tropical varieties.

Yeah...I like him a lot. He is into ficus because he likes something for those long cold Canadian winters.....he has a heated plant room though. In Cali ficus should be rocking it year round