Caring for Your Indoor Bonsai

Bonsai plants are extremely attractive specimens of age old practice. Bonsais are highly attractive, so many people proudly display them in their houses. However, extra care is needed for indoor bonsai trees.
photo credit: Rex Roof

This is mostly because they do not receive the full benefits of natural sunlight and natural weather conditions. They might appear to be hardy. However, there are certain bonsais that will become fragile when it comes to light and water.

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 also need to keep an eye on the frequency of watering. Your bonsai plant will also thrive if kept in a well ventilated area. The variety of bonsai plant that you possess will dictate how how often it requires watering.

Another key factor is the soil. Some bonsai plants or trees require damp soil, whilst others survive well in a drought. Misting your plant might be a necessity. This will help to create a rainforest humidity in which your bonsai plant will thrive. If you decide to use a humidity tray then ensure that the pot is not exposed to the water, but rather placed on some pebbles or a stand.

Bonsai Cutting and Pruning

Indoor bonsai trees still require pruning and cutting on a regular basis in order to maintain their appearance. Simply because bonsai plants look as though they are frozen in time, does not mean that they do not grow.

Depending on the variety of your bonsai plant or tree, you will need to repot it every year to three years. Maintaining the branches is also essential if you want it to hold its shape and style.
photo credit: OpenEye

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.

Because of the artificial environment in which they are kept, indoor bonsais don’t experience the complete cycle of seasons. It is also important to check indoor bonsai trees for pests and other anomalies. When bonsais are situated indoors, they may become a favorite place for spiders and other mites.

The best practice is to clean the leaves and branches with great care using a damp cloth or a brush.

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