Greetings. Never have known much about the care of my Bonsai tree. Ive had the tree for 30+ years. First off, what type of tree is it? Second it has looked kind of poorly to me the last couple years or so. The tree always has new growth, but looses leaves quickly and easily. I dont water for weeks at a time. Mainly because i have understood Bonsai trees prefer to be on the dry side(?) I have repotted numerous times in its life. The picture I have posted shows the most recent repotting. I used Miricle Grow soil, pulled at the roots some, but no cutting. Actually repotted in June for the first time in years. It didnt seen to do much. Seemed to like the out doors even in the heat. Need some help and suggestions so as to keep my Bonsai tree another 35 yrs. Thank you.

Mr. wrote:

Greetings. Never have known much about the care of my Bonsai tree.
Ive had the tree for 30+ years

You don't know how to care for a tree that you have had for more than 30 years and you don't know what it is ?

It's a ficus. Hardly Not a bonsai, just a tree that, if it is really that old, has had its growth stunted and that did not develop.

I dont water for weeks at a time. Mainly because i have understood Bonsai trees prefer to be on the dry side(?)

I... but... I.... I think I just started stuttering... but you got that wrong.

[on repeat]
Read the care guidelines for Ficus
Use a proper soil, fertilization and watering scheme.
Let it grow. It is not ready to become a bonsai. Get it vigorous first.
When it is growing lots of new shoots, come back with a new picture.
Meanwhile, start studying bonsai.

water it. Put it in the sun. Water it some more. You have a VERY unhappy ficus there.

My ficus benjamina drain a 10 liter watering can each day in summer

Can a 30 year old trees growth be stunted that much? You would have to be very diligent in making sure it would NEVER grow. That pot would not stunt its growth to the point where it looks like a baby tree.

JoshSiegel wrote:

Can a 30 year old trees growth be stunted that much? You would have to be very diligent in making sure it would NEVER grow. That pot would not stunt its growth to the point where it looks like a baby tree.

Note that itmatter much, but yes. It can. Keep a ficus too dark and too dry, and it will produce a or two leaf per year on each branch and grow very little

JoshSiegel wrote:

Can a 30 year old trees growth be stunted that much? You would have to be very diligent in making sure it would NEVER grow. That pot would not stunt its growth to the point where it looks like a baby tree.

Don't know about elms, but I managed to do it in 20 years with an elm. The poor thing was almost starved to death and hanging on to live by a thread.
It hardly changed in appearance for many years.
When I re-started my hobby and repotted it, fertilized and properly watered it, it got strongr and started growing again. Still, when you saw it, you wouldn't say it's that old.