Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

When you bring a bonsai tree indoors it will require lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving beforehand. You will also need to monitor how often it is watered. Your bonsai plant will also thrive if kept in a well ventilated area. The amount of water you give your bonsai hinges on which variety you have. Another key factor is the soil. There are those bonsai trees and plants that need damp soil, while others do just fine with drought like conditions.

Your plant might need to be misted. Your bonsai will thrive with the extra humidity and the rainforest environment this creates. If using a humidity tray, be sure to place the pot on some small rocks or a stand so it isn’t directly immersed in the water.

Bonsai Cutting and Pruning

Indoor bonsai trees still require pruning and cutting on a regular basis in order to maintain their appearance. Even though bonsais appear to be frozen in time, the reality is that they continue to grow. It is important to repot indoor and outdoor bonsai plants anywhere from once yearly to every three years depending upon what kind of plant or tree it is. Maintaining the branches is also essential if you want it to hold its shape and style.

Depending on the type of bonsai, it’s important to reduce the amount of fertilizer you use during the winter. The reason for this is that there are some types of bonsai that go into hibernation at this time. So they don’t require as many nutrients as in the warmer months. Bonsais kept inside won’t get the full benefits of seasonal cycles due to their artificial surroundings.

You should also watch out for pests and any unusual changes to your indoor bonsai tree. An indoor bonsai is very attractive to mites, spiders and other pests. Carefully cleaning the branches and leaves with a soft brush or moistened cloth is the best approach.

By following these tips for bonsai care, your tree is sure to be an attractive feature of your home for years to come.

Grown from seeds or cuttings, Bonsai trees normally grow in height from two inches to three feet.  They are kept miniture through pruning both branches and roots.  They’re also repotted periodically, and new growth is frequently pinched off. 

Cultivating bonsai trees is actually as much about art as it is about horticulture.  Bonsai trees are not only kept miniture, they are also formed into pleasing shapes.  They often follow a number of different growth patterns, from simple triangles to waterfall shapes cascading down over their pots.  The shapes are normally a product of both the pruning of the tree and by the wrapping the branches and trunk with wire, pushing the tree into its desired shape.  The pots themselves are part of the art as well, chosen to compliment the shape and color of the tree itself.  Mosses and rocks are often added to the base for aesthetic appeal. 

Cultivating a bonsai tree is more complicated than maintaining most houseplants.  Since the bonsai has has a smaller root system than most plants, it needs fertilizer and water more frequently than the majority of garden-variety houseplants.  Pruining is also essential occasionally, since without pruning the bonsai tree would grow into just a normal large tree.  Also, if wire is used to help mold and form the tree, it is important to take care that the wire doesn’t dig into the bark of the tree, scarring the branches permanently.  Depending on the type of bonsai tree and your climate, you may be able to keep some bonsai trees outside year round, while others will need to be kept inside for at least part of the year.  Since moisture in the soil, leaves, and branches of the bonsai is important, they need to be misted occasionally to remain healthy.