The trend to keep bonsai trees at home has grown extensive, especially across the urban regions. These pretty plants are now seen as an impressive component for enhancing the home décor. The availability of indoor bonsai plants belonging to different species has motivated people to start with home gardening. It is essential to gather useful information associated with bonsai care and maintenance as they require sufficient sunlight and watering for sustained growth.
Which are the Popular Indoor Bonsai Plants?
You can always seek guidance from expert gardeners regarding selecting indoor bonsai plants that are best suited to be placed indoors. Below mentioned are the topmost species of bonsai plants that you can buy for your living room and other enclosed spaces.
Dwarf Umbrella Bonsai
Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgCWRJ_P2Fg
Dwarf Umbrella or Schefflera Arboricola is renowned for its canopy-style foliage. Some people also call it the ‘Octopus tree’ basically due to its extended branch structure. These days, the demand for Dwarf Umbrella bonsai is prevalent among avid gardeners and homemakers. The presence of thick foliage requires you to prune the bonsai at least twice a year. It should be remembered that the Dwarf Umbrella has weak roots; therefore, overwatering should be avoided.
Ficus Bonsai
The popularity of Ficus bonsai is majorly due to its blossomed appearance that stays active throughout the year. Its reputation as an indoor bonsai is acknowledged by people who want to brighten up the décor of their living room or bedroom. The Ficus Benjamina is also called the Weeping Fig and exhibits a rapidly growing characteristic. The lush green foliage of Ficus bonsai is complemented by small flowers that look extremely attractive.
Dwarf Pomegranate Bonsai
The scientific name of Dwarf Pomegranate Bonsai is Punica Granatum Nana, which can be chosen as a radiant indoor dwarf bonsai. During the spring season, you can observe the bonsai grow bright-colored flowers. With a thick trunk and lovely pomegranate fruits, this dwarf bonsai is perfect to be placed on your balcony or garden area. It is essential to position Dwarf Pomegranate bonsai at a location that receives sufficient sunlight during the morning and evening hours. Some additional care is required to upkeep the health of Dwarf Pomegranate bonsai that includes restricted watering and organic nutrient feed.
Chinese Elm Bonsai
Among the top indoor bonsai plants, Chinese Elm does acquire a crowning position. This particular variety of bonsai is easy to maintain and can prove useful for beginners who have just started to nurture bonsais at home. Chinese Elm showcases fast growth and is tolerant when it comes to overwatering. Such a trait makes this bonsai one of the preferred indoor plants in most home gardens. Do remember to re-pot the Chinese Elm at least once in two years; this action is required to escalate root growth, especially during the spring season.
Snow Rose Bonsai
Snow Rose Bonsai or Serissa Japonica is widely known for its eye-catching bunch of beautiful flowers. You can spot these flowers across all seasons, which makes the Snow Rose bonsai an excellent choice for your living room or office. During the spring season, you can easily spot white or pinkish flowers on this sturdy bonsai plant.
How to Care for Indoor Bonsai Plants?
It is essential to understand that care tips for indoor bonsai plants are different when compared to regular house plants. The purpose of placing bonsai trees in small pots is to limit their storage for water and nutrients. Furthermore, tropical trees are always in need of sunlight to maintain constant growth.
Below mentioned are some of the significant factors to consider that decide the actual caring of indoor bonsai plants:
Sunlight
A tropical bonsai tree cannot survive indoors if not met with adequate sunlight. There is a possibility that the tree might die if natural light is not provided for a longer duration. Your bonsai will develop weak roots and leaves in such a situation. Always try to spot a sunny spot for your bonsai, especially during the colder season, when cold drafts are a common scenario.
Furthermore, even if your house has a south-facing window, there are chances that the intensity of light can still be low. Artificial lighting can be supplemented in this situation to support the bonsai plants. For instance, several gardeners make use of fluorescent lighting as part of their regular gardening regime.
Watering & Fertilizing
With indoor bonsai plants, do keep in mind that you need not follow any particular watering routine. Avoid any such information which you see on the plant labels since overwatering in bonsai is a severe condition that can cause root damage. The same practice needs to be abided for fertilizers that shouldn’t be fed to the bonsai plants regularly.
Temperature Check
It is analyzed that tropical tree species are always in search of high temperatures during the entire year. Interestingly, this temperature is similar to the typical room temperature of a living room. In fact, subtropical bonsai trees can tackle lower temperatures and can conveniently thrive in the winter season, where the temperature drops way below the average room temperature.
Humidity
A bonsai tree kept indoors always seeks relatively high humidity; this level is indeed higher as compared to the humidity level maintained in your house. You still have the option of augmenting the humidity level close to the bonsai tree by using a humidity tray. Most people follow the standard practice of air circulation by opening any window present in the plant’s vicinity.
FAQs
Ques 1. Why we shouldn’t prefer temperate or nontropical Bonsai tree for indoor setup?
Ans. It is essential to understand that temperate trees require a certain dormancy period in the winter season. During this period, the tree’s growth cycle ends and prepares to start the next cycle that initiates in spring. A bonsai tree becomes dormant the moment when the light intensity and temperature slowly decrease week by week. If you manage your trees indoor, this biological activity is restricted.
Ques 2. Which all Bonsai trees can you consider for indoor spaces?
Ans. Apart from the topmost indoor bonsai plants, you can consider several average varieties to grow indoors. Some of these species include the Crassula or Jade, the Schefflera Arboricola or Hawaiian Umbrella, the Carmona or Fukien Tea, and Sweet Plum.
