Coiled Trunk Ficus No. 3

This coiled trunk ficus makes a striking, low-maintenance bonsai. The tight coil at the base is trained into the trunk while it's still young and flexible, and it's a shape few species tolerate as well as ficus does. This is a Ficus benjamina 'Orientalis', a selection of the weeping fig with narrower, glossier leaves and tighter growth than the standard form.

Native to South and Southeast Asia, ficus adapts well to indoor life, which is a big part of why it's such a common entry point into bonsai. One thing to expect: benjamina is sensitive to change. It may drop leaves after it moves to your house, then push new growth suited to its new spot. That's normal, not a crisis; pick a bright location and leave it there.

As a small bonsai in a 6" container, it will dry out faster than it would in the ground. Check soil moisture every 1-2 days rather than watering on a fixed schedule, and feed regularly during active growth. Keep it above 50F; unlike more cold-hardy species, ficus should come indoors before temperatures drop.

It's a tree that asks very little and still holds your eye--a good one to live with while you're learning what bonsai actually requires of you.