My dad gave me a plant that looks like a tree. The trunk branches out into many branches. it is about 2 1/2 feet tall. The leaves are green with white edges and are about an inch and a half long. The branches have tiny green tips which I believe might be new leaves coming in. It is planted in a weird looking shrubby brown thing with rocks and shells on top (which I want to get rid of but don't know if they are sustaining the roots of the plant) I looked all over the net to see if theres a picture of one but no luck.

I think what you have is a 'Variegated Ficus' tree that has been Bonsai-ed. As far as the shells and rocks on top of the soil, as long as no roots are growing over them and removing them won't disturb any roots, you can remove them. Hope this helps.

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