These days, more and more people are discovering that indoor bonsai trees offer a particularly beautiful addition to their homes and everyday lives. These compact and elegant house plants really create the sense of bringing the outdoors indoors, and can truly be considered living works of art!
With so much obvious appeal, many ask the question: are indoor bonsai trees easy to keep? The good news is that when armed with the right information, even a beginner can master the art of keeping indoor bonsai trees. Today we are going to explore everything you need to know about indoor bonsai care, types of bonsai tree that are suitable to grow indoors, and much more.
The History of Indoor Bonsai Trees
In Western countries, we often think of indoor trees first whenever anyone mentions keeping bonsai, but in actual fact keeping these spectacular specimens inside our homes and workspaces is a relatively recent tradition.
If we trace the history of bonsai tree growing all the way back to its roots in China some two-thousand years ago, we discover that bonsai trees were always grown outdoors. Amazingly, the trend for growing indoor bonsai only really began after World War II as people aspired to beautify their homes with houseplants and business-savvy Japanese bonsai growers began to showcase their trees all around the world.
For those of us who love nothing more than keeping indoor bonsai trees, this shift in bonsai culture was very fortuitous indeed. Bringing the beauty of bonsai indoors has made it possible for far more people to experience sharing their inner sanctums with something so exciting. Not to mention, there are countless other benefits that come with growing bonsai, but we will come back to those a little later on!
What Makes Indoor Bonsai Trees So Unique
When first setting out on your indoor bonsai growing journey, it is important to know which types of bonsai trees are suitable to grow inside. Not all bonsai trees can handle a life indoors because, in nature, trees generally rely upon an environment with certain characteristics—such as high humidity and seasons that change throughout the year.
In contrast, our homes tend to be warm all year round and when we have central heating or air conditioning running they will be prone to very low humidity. Happily, certain types of tropical and subtropical tree species are versatile enough to be grown as indoor bonsai trees. However, we need to ensure that we mimic their natural habitats as closely as we can.
Tropical tree species used for bonsai originate within the warm, humid, and stable environments that are located close to the equator. Subtropical tree species can handle a little bit more variation overall but may prefer cooler spots in your home. In either case, the indoor bonsai tree types that we recommend will be able to thrive in an indoor setting, given the right care and attention.
Types of Bonsai Suitable for Indoor Environments
The type of bonsai tree that you invite into your home is vital, because even if you become an expert on indoor bonsai care, all the best tips and tactics will not guarantee success if the species isn’t as suited to your environment as you are! To help you identify the perfect bonsai tree species, we have created a list of those that you will be able to grow and treasure for many years to come.
- Ficus
Ficus are immensely popular for bonsai beginners. They are members of the mulberry plant family, or Moraceae, and love to be given plenty of light so be careful not to leave them in a gloomy corner. Ficus can’t stand the cold and should always be kept above 60ºF (15ºC) or they may begin to drop their leaves. - Jade Tree
The Jade tree, otherwise known as the money tree, is another excellent choice for beginners. These striking, green Portulacaria succulents can be found in large-leaved and dwarf varieties. Unlike most indoor bonsai trees, they can handle drying out from time to time, but don’t use that as an excuse to neglect them! - Chinese Elm
Chinese Elm is the common name for Ulmus Parvifolia, which is sometimes mistakenly called Zarcova Parviflora in Europe. Chinese elm features elegant oval dark green leaves and prefers lots of light and minimal overheating. - Sweet Plum
Many indoor bonsai fans love keeping sweet plum or Sagaretia, thanks to the beautiful red tinge seen whenever fresh leaves emerge in the spring. Gradually, the foliage becomes green, while old leaves that are about to shed turn yellow, creating a playful display of color.
- Pepper Tree
Zanthoxylum piperitum, known as the pepper tree or Japanese pepper features lovely dark green leaflets that emit a citrusy aromatic fragrance. It also features tiny barely-there crimson flowers in the summer. - Buddha Pine
Podocarpus, aka Buddha pine, is a rare jewel in the sense that it is a conifer that can be grown indoors as a bonsai tree. There are large-leaf and small-leaf varieties, and new foliage is bright and vibrant, while older foliage is contrastingly dark green. Buddha pine is considered very good luck in China. - Fukien Tea
Ehretia microphylla, otherwise known as the Fukien Tea or Carmona bonsai, is a charming species that gives a lovely display of little white flowers. While popular with bonsai beginners, it is important to note that maintaining the perfect balance of light, warmth, and moisture at all times is essential for this type of bonsai. - Hawaiian Umbrella
Just as you might imagine, the Hawaiian umbrella bonsai, or Schefflera Arboricola, forms a fantastic umbrella-shaped canopy. This bonsai tree can tolerate lower humidity but must always have plenty of light.
- Japanese Holly
Although you wouldn’t necessarily know to look at it, the Japanese Holly, or Ilex Crenata, is a true holly despite missing the spiky leaves and red berries. In fact, this glossy green-leaved bonsai produces tiny black berries, and unlike its festive cousins, it doesn’t tolerate the cold.
Beyond the indoor-suitable varieties above, it can also be exciting to explore growing some of Europe’s most beloved tree species as indoor bonsai. Increasingly, enthusiasts are growing olive trees, citrus trees, and dwarf pomegranate trees as bonsai, creating real conversation starters in the process. This can be particularly fun when your bonsai features blossom or fruit that everyone will recognize!
How to Care for Indoor Bonsai Trees
Because indoor bonsai trees all evolved to grow outdoors, when moving them indoors we need to be careful that they receive everything they need to grow and prosper. There is an element of intuition involved—for example knowing that the more warmth and light your bonsai tree receives, the more water it is likely to need—but there are also some simple guidelines that you can stick to.
Whether your indoor bonsai tree’s new home is a brightly lit conservatory, a kitchen or bathroom, or a more constantly inhabited living or working space like a living room or office, you can ensure that their needs are met with these practical tips for indoor bonsai care.
Lighting for Indoor Bonsai Care
There’s no escaping the fact that the intensity of light indoors is far lower than it would be outside. Like most plants, bonsai trees need abundant light to stay healthy, making choosing their location well a must.
It’s best to pick a spot for your bonsai tree that is right in front of an east, west, or south-facing window; under a big skylight; or in a conservatory. They’ll certainly be grateful for 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day, and even for the toughest varieties, a few hours of daily sunlight on their leaves is a bare minimum.
Your indoor bonsai trees won’t die immediately if they are put in a dingy corner, but over time they will get weaker and weaker. If in doubt, you can supplement light for your bonsai tree with growth-friendly fluorescent or LED lighting.
Watering Your Indoor Bonsai Tree
The watering needs of indoor bonsai trees are quite specific—anyone who tells you that they should be watered the same amount every day is definitely misinformed! To meet the water needs of bonsai trees perfectly, they must be potted in the correct type of soil, and watered exactly when needed—no more and no less.
This might sound intimidating but it isn’t difficult to do. Observation is key because you’re going to water your bonsai tree generously whenever it begins to show signs of getting dry, without ever allowing it to dry out completely.
When you do water your bonsai tree, it helps to give several opportunities for the tree’s roots to reach the right saturation. This can be achieved by watering the tree until water comes out of the holes at the bottom of the pot, pausing for ten seconds, and then repeating the process. Do this three times for absolute confidence in your bonsai watering technique!
Water is essential for your bonsai tree’s ability to photosynthesize, so when the weather gets warmer in the spring, not only will the temperature increase the need to water, but the tree will likely use more water too as it grows fresh foliage and makes the most of transforming the sun’s rays into energy that it can use.
Many bonsai growers use a moisture meter to check their tree’s soil, although this isn’t absolutely essential. What is vital is to water your bonsai tree only when needed, while ensuring that it never dries out entirely.
The Right Temperature for Indoor Bonsai Tree
Tropical tree species like the same relatively high temperatures that we enjoy within our indoor spaces and don’t mind them being the same all year round. Subtropical bonsai trees don’t mind things getting quite a bit cooler in the winter, and in fact, they may be even happier in a conservatory that gets a touch chilly during the winter months.
That said, most bonsai tree species don’t like frost one bit, and many will go into shock if allowed to get too cold for too long. As such, never allowing the ambient temperature to dip below 50ºF (10ºC) is a good rule of thumb—which means setting the thermostat carefully whenever you go away for the weekend in the winter. It is also important to keep an eye out for cold drafts on windowsills, and even sky-rocketing conservatory temperatures that will dry your bonsai tree out too quickly.
How to Recreate the Right Humidity
It’s useful to think of water and humidity as two different elements of indoor bonsai care, even though they both involve moisture. This is because even when your bonsai tree doesn’t need to be watered, you should still be mindful to keep humidity levels higher for optimal tree health.
If you imagine being in the tropics, the air would be thick with moisture—a stark contrast to the dry atmosphere in our heated and air-conditioned homes. To make our indoor spaces more inviting for bonsai trees, there are a few handy tips to follow.
The first is to place your bonsai tree on a special tray that is always kept filled with water. Many attractive bonsai pots come with a matching tray, and some bonsai growers fill the trays with pebbles before adding water to slow down evaporation. It is crucial that the water doesn’t reach up into the pot itself, as bonsai roots do not fare well when constantly submerged.
Misting your tree with a spray bottle is another fantastic way to mimic the natural humidity of a tropical or subtropical setting, although remember that this isn’t a substitute for watering. Finally, opening a window during the day (trusting that it isn’t too cold) will allow air with a higher moisture content to circulate in from outside.
Kitchens and bathrooms are often far more humid than the rest of the house because of moisture regularly released from your sink, bath, and shower. Whichever room is destined to become the setting for your beautiful indoor bonsai tree, a water tray and misting spray bottle will help you ensure that it always remains hydrated.
Fertilizing Your Indoor Bonsai Tree
Like any living thing, alongside water, your bonsai tree also needs food from time to time. This is particularly important because of the low nutrient-density soil that is best suited to growing bonsai.
There is no need to seek out a specialist fertilizer for your bonsai. A general-purpose product that says ‘NPK’ will do the trick. These three letters tell us that the fertilizer contains a balanced ratio of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, which your bonsai tree will use to grow its stems, roots, fruits, and flowers.
Fertilize your bonsai tree about every two weeks through its entire growing season—so from early spring through into mid-fall. You can slow this rate towards the end, and then pause fertilization during winter, before beginning again when the tree starts its fresh growth cycle again the next year.
Indoor Bonsai Pruning Tips
Different bonsai tree species each have slightly different requirements when it comes to pruning—for example, some may be left to grow wildly in order to increase trunk thickness, while others might not cope well with the drastic cut-back that follows.
Broadly speaking, however, pruning not only allows you to keep the stunning and artistic shape of your bonsai tree looking its absolute best, but also to keep it healthy and strong. Unless following species-specific guidance, when your bonsai tree is sending out fresh shoots, prune those that have reached 4-6 leaves in length back to 2-3. Of course, bonsai trees with leaflets or conifer leaves will need a more intuitive touch!
Repotting Indoor Bonsai Trees
Bonsai trees usually need to be repotted in the springtime roughly every two to three years. Although, you can assess whether a repot is necessary with a simple visual inspection. Some may not need a new pot quite so frequently, and some fast-growing varieties may demand it sooner.
Bonsai trees are planted in very particular substrate without too much space for the roots to spread, however the roots should not have reached the outside edge of the substrate’s surface. If, when looking into your bonsai’s pot, you can see that the roots are touching the side, it’s time for an upgrade.
If you are growing moss in your bonsai pot, you might need to gently lift the tree out of the pot to see how far the roots have extended. If the tree roots are circling around the root mass, this is also a sign that a repot is required.
Some indoor bonsai trees will tolerate root pruning while others will not, so if in doubt, do a little research. After choosing a larger pot for your bonsai tree, consult our article about bonsai soil to ensure that your tree’s roots will be happy in their more spacious environment.
Common Indoor Bonsai Mistakes
Without a doubt, the most common problem faced by bonsai growers is either forgetting to water adequately or not understanding the watering requirements of their indoor bonsai trees. When it comes to water, a neglected tree will suffer greatly and may not survive, so be sure to water regularly, maintain humidity, and never let your bonsai tree dry out.
Even indoors, bonsai trees can sometimes fall victim to natural pests, so keep an eye out for signs of infection or disease and treat with an insecticide or organic spray from a trusted garden supplier if necessary, or even as a preventative measure.
Finally, many beginner bonsai owners panic when they see that their tree is shedding leaves in the late spring or early summer. While full or unseasonal leaf drop may be reason for concern, shedding is part of the natural annual cycle of most indoor bonsai trees. Even evergreens will drop old leaves as new ones grow through, so don’t be alarmed to see this.
The Rewards of Keeping Indoor Bonsai Trees
Now that we’ve explored how you can best look after your indoor bonsai trees, it’s worth mentioning what they will do for you in return! Because bonsai trees are more than simply glorious to behold—they offer countless rewards to their dedicated keepers.
Indoor bonsai trees are wonderful air purifiers, helping to scrub urban pollution from the air around you. What’s more, the increase in humidity due to keeping bonsai can help your skin too, protecting it from the drying impacts of air conditioning and winter heating.
The Japanese are pros at understanding the many health benefits of daily exposure to nature—in fact, they have a term for this, ‘shinrin-yoku’, which literally translates as forest bathing. The welcome effects so favored by that bonsai-loving nation include relieving stress, boosting mood, and improving health markers such as blood pressure and immunity.
Finally, keeping indoor bonsai trees offers us a great deal on a more personal level, teaching us the arts of discipline and patience, not to mention enabling the pride that comes with seeing a bonsai tree grow and evolve after many years of careful tending.
Are You Ready To Begin Your Indoor Bonsai Journey?
Having remained with us until now, there is no doubt that you are ready to take your first steps in growing and caring for indoor bonsai trees. All you need to do now is select the perfect tree to get started!
Over the course of your journey, don’t forget to check back here at Keep Bonsai for the latest bonsai tree care tips and fascinating insights into the world of bonsai growing and beyond. Until next time, we wish you every success.