Hello, I got this as a gift about a month ago. Unfortunately I was too sick to notice if it came to me with scales and this brown stuff but I got Neem oil for it. I think the scales went away but I don't know what this stuff is on my plant nor what to do about it. Yes, I'm new at this. I have ordered books on Bonsai care and a bonsai encyclopedia but they haven't arrived yet. Can you help? Thanks in advance for any advice.

charmsei wrote: Hello, I got this as a gift about a month ago. I have ordered books on Bonsai care and a bonsai encyclopedia but they haven't arrived yet. Can you help? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Looking at the photos and the size of the leaves and the long green twigs and leaf stems - I'm pretty sure this is not a bonsai?

I should have read the topic title.

A money tree (pachira aquatica) is not a bonsai, but a common house plant.

Why is it listed as a bonsai on this site if it's not? Or is that just a common term for this tree?

www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/money-tree
www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species

charmsei wrote: Why is it listed as a bonsai on this site if it's not? Or is that just a common term for this tree?

Good question to which, to be honest, I do not have the answer. You'd have to ask the owner of the site.
Ih my opinion, this plant isn't suitable for bonsai. Looking through Google images, I cannot find any that looks like a real bonsai.

Well... at least you found the care guidelines. Hope that helps.