1 question. Well the best way would be to just simply wash it with water if your looking for the non expencieve way.

2question. Well it depends which style you want but balanceof the foliage and roots is uneven if you are going to put it in a new pot so possibly, remember this is only a suggestion you do not have to do it, anyway, what you could do is let it grow for anotaher year.

Fortunately, in Nature plants don't use leaf cleaner either.

If you just keep your plants outdoors in summer, mother nature will take care of any dust that may have accumulated on the leaves in the form of a good summer rainstorm. I have never in my life cleaned leaves.

leatherback wrote: If you just keep your plants outdoors in summer, mother nature will take care of any dust that may have accumulated on the leaves in the form of a good summer rainstorm.

And if for some reason you cannot keep them outside in summer, you can simulate that rainstorm by putting them under the shower.
I have some houseplants that do gather dust, I put them outside and use my garden hose to rinse them off.

www.plantea.com/house-plant-care.htm

bob wrote: 1 question. Well the best way would be to just simply wash it with water if your looking for the non expencieve way.

2question. Well it depends which style you want but balanceof the foliage and roots is uneven if you are going to put it in a new pot so possibly, remember this is only a suggestion you do not have to do it, anyway, what you could do is let it grow for anotaher year.

If I put it in a new pot, I will probably do so near the beginning of spring sometime. I also read that a good time to wire and prune ficus is near the end of winter, as they will go outside in the spring and start growing a lot? Is that enough time or do you think that I should wait longer?

@Auk: The shower is actually a very good idea, although I may try the hose or let it sit out in the rain a bit the next time there is some.

Also. I just watered my tree, and when I go to check if the soil is still wet, I cannot even put a finger into the soil, get to the soil at all, because the roots are so tightly through it. Should it be like this?

I have read the best time to wire is summer due to sap flowing which makes it more bendy but i could be wrong as for the outdoor thing i would rather skip that but then again i could be wrong always do big pruning in early spring and maintainance pruning early spring to late summer i could be wrong but this is how i would do it so the tree has time to heal.
Remember i could be wrong so it would be best to clarify with google or someone else. .

The root and soil thing i do not know but if i where you i would definetely do a good trimming when repotting next year. There could be another explaination though.

What you said about the wiring does make sense, although trees have sap year round? I currently keep my ficus outside, as when it was sold to me I was told I should keep it outside until it starts to get cold (around October here, usually.) I am wondering how long I should let it grow before I attempt to do anything to it, however.

I took some pictures of my tree's roots. In the first one you can see how they have begun to grow up against the edge of the pot, and in the second, you can see the smaller roots have begun to lift out of the ground.

You ficus is way past their due-for-repot-date.

Problem is.. It feels like you do not have a lot of experience with plants. Do you have a club close by that you could visit and/or contact? Maybe find someone who has does this before?

repotting is not rocket science. But the root-trim this one requires is such that you might be better of having someone help you..

Ficus being a triopical tree, it is not bound to the regular seasons for repotting wiring and trimming. It grows year round in flushes. Basically, repot when not in a flush of growth.I trim ficus when I feel like it.

There is more sap flow in winter. I did not go to a club (that is why i still needa lot kf catching up to do) but i learnt the basics really well from a book

Th complete practical encyclopedia of bonsai

Brilliant book.