INDOOR BONSAI

Indoor bonsai create miniature worlds with tropical and semitropical trees and shrubs. They challenge the gardener skills, but are extremely rewarding to grow. These small plants have a personality of their own and since they need daily care, they become like a pet. Except they don’t have fleas.

How to choose a Bonsai Plant

There are two types of indoor bonsai—tropical and semi-tropical. Tropical plants need to have a constant temperature. Temperatures shouldn’t fall below 60 F and fluctuate more than 10 degrees between night and day. Semi-tropical bonsai want a distinct two-season year. A nice warm, bright growing period April through October, followed by a bright cooler period November through March. Another consideration is whether you want to have a flowering plant or one that you grow for it’s leaves. The choice of plant type and shape is highly personal.

Where to Site Your Bonsai

One of the most important considerations is light. Bright light is important, however indoor bonsai need protection from summer sun from the south or west. In our dark northwest winters you may need artificial light. In order to grow indoor bonsai in a spot away from windows it needs to be lighted at least 10 hours a day using grow-lights.

Bonsai need a fair amount of humidity. This can be a problem in the winter, especially with central heating. Keep bonsai away from heating vents. Dishes of water placed near your bonsai can help. A humidity tray filled with crushed rock and continuously filled with water can be placed under the plant. Make sure the bottom of the bonsai pot isn’t touching the water. Regular spraying of foliage is also recommended.

How to Plant Your Bonsai

Choose a container that’s the right size for your tree. Generally, the length should be about 2/3 the height of the tree. The depth should be about 1 1/2 times the diameter of the trunk. Wire a small screen over any drainage holes in the pot. The type of soil depends on the type of plant you’re growing, but using a special soil is very important. Please ask our staff or refer to one of the references listed below. Remove the plant from the container it came in and slightly mist the exposed roots. Tease the root ball gently apart. Remove stale soil and check for insects or signs of root rot. Clean this area well. Try the tree in its new container. To decide how many roots to remove—look at the foliage. Keep slightly more roots than foliage at all times. Having far more roots than foliage encourages root rot. Trim the roots so the tree can be properly placed in the pot. Add small amounts of soil at a time and thoroughly tamp the particles into place around the roots. Spend time tamping the soil into crevices and air pockets. Keep tamping until no more soil can be incorporated, making sure the largest exposed roots are about 1/3 above the total height of the pot. Carefully brush the soil surface to create the landscape you desire. The soil level at the edges should be 1/4" below the rim.

Indoor Bonsai Care

Use water soluble fertilizer following directions on the package or use a timed release fertilizer like Osmocote twice a year. A foliar feeding on a weekly basis is very helpful.

Pruning and wiring are highly individual depending on the type of plant and the desired form. We recommend looking at books, taking classes and asking our bonsai experts.

Watering is crucial for any bonsai. Water in the morning so the plant doesn’t sit around wet at night. First mist the soil well to get it wet so it will absorb more water. Then wait about five minutes and water, wetting leaves and branches to wash them. Then after a few minutes water it a third time, drenching the area around the trunk and root ball to flush excess impurities out. Make sure you water the entire pot, even around the edges and that water runs out the drainage hole. The type of plant you grow will determine how often to water, to some extent. Some plants like the soil surface to dry slightly between watering and others need to be kept moist.

Aphids are the most common insect problem and can be taken care of by spraying with soapy water.

Supplies & Sources

• Your bonsai plant
• The perfect container
• Tray for the container
• Screen
• Bonsai soil—we sell pre-mixed bags in pint and 4 gallon sizes
• Schultz’s Instant Plant Fertilizer or Osmocote
• Pruners
• Water mister
• Root hook
• Chopsticks
• Decorative rock for the planter
• Books:
• The Bonsai Workshop by Herb L. Gustafson
• Keep Your Bonsai Alive & Well by Herb L. Gustafson
• Bonsai in Your Home; An Indoor Grower’s Guide by Paul Lesniewicz
• Indoor Bonsai by Paul Lesniewicz
• Indoor Bonsai; a Beginner’s Step-by-Step Guide by David Pike

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