Indoor Bonsai Trees

Caring For Your Indoor Bonsai Tree

Bonsai trees are steeped in history. Combined with their highly attractive appearance, that makes many people choose to grow bonsai in their own homes. However, indoor bonsai trees need extra care since they don’t receive the full benefits of natural sunlight and outdoor weather conditions. In spite of their hardy appearance, some bonsai plants are quite fragile when it comes to their requirements for light and water.

Bonsai trees that are brought indoors will need sufficient light to replace the natural sunlight that they would experience outdoors. In addition, indoor bonsai trees will do best when placed in a well ventilated area. You will also have to pay careful attention to their water requirements. The type of bonsai you have will decide how frequently you need to water it, as will the type of soil it is planted in. Some bonsais require damp soil while others thrive even in drought conditions.

Indoor bonsai trees also need a humid atmosphere. Misting your plant may be necessary to produce an environment in which it will thrive. A humidity tray can be useful, but make sure that the pot containing your bonsai is not directly exposed to the water but is instead resting on pebbles or a stand.

You will need to give your bonsai regular maintenance in the way of pruning and cutting if you want it to continue to look attractive. Even though bonsai trees look like they’ve been frozen in time doesn’t mean that they don’t continue to grow. Indoor bonsai trees should be repotted anywhere from once a year up to three years depending on the species of tree. The branches will also need to be carefully maintained to keep the style intact.

Depending on what variety of tree your bonsai is, you will need to cut back on its fertilizer in the winter time. This is because some species hibernate during the season and therefore don’t need as many nutrients as they do in the warmer months. Indoor bonsai trees might not properly experience the full cycle of seasons because they are contained inside an artificial environment.

Indoor bonsai trees also need to be checked regularly for pests and any irregularities that may show up. The fact that they are indoors can make them a favorite of spiders and other mites that are more used to the great outdoors. On a regular basis, you should gently clean the leaves and branches of your bonsai with a damp cloth or soft brush.