Want a bonsai but don’t want the tedious care that comes with it? This is the plant for you! The ficus ginseng, scientifically known as Ficus retusa, is a compact Ficus with bulbous aerial roots and a small canopy of waxy green leaves. It is a fun houseplant to keep as a focal point, great for both novice and seasoned houseplant parents.

You can certainly bonsai this tree by keeping up on pruning, wiring and bending. However, we like the ginseng because you can forget about all that work and still get a really cool houseplant that looks like a bonsai. It will keep its neat, meandering roots and just get thicker with time. It is generally forgiving, which is great for you first time bonsai enthusiasts out there.

Ginsengs are native to lowland tropical forests of Asia and Oceania and while their leaves are coated in wax that traps in moisture, they require extremely high humidity to develop their characteristic aerial roots. Daily misting is ideal, but not practical with everyone’s busy schedules. Sometimes a steamy bathroom or kitchen window will provide enough ambient humidity to do the trick.

Ginsengs are surprisingly tolerant of over and underwatering. We don’t suggest you try to test this fact, but rest easy knowing you have some wiggle room. Water generously as soon as the first few inches of soil dries out. Try not to let it dry out completely. Depending on the size of your plant and temperature of your house, it will most likely take a good watering once every 7-10 days. Make sure you have a good soil mix that allows it to drain well. Peat, sand and perlite makes for an excellent mix that won’t hold on to too much water and is slightly acidic. Bright, indirect light will help the leaves grow fast and the soil dry out as it needs to, but your ficus can tolerate lower lighting if needed.