Indoor Bonsai
Indoor bonsai are miniature versions of subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs, whose native climate corresponds most closely with the climate inside the house.
Placement
Most indoor bonsai will do well at winter temperatures down to as low as +4 degrees C.
Remember if you are placing a bonsai on a window ledge behind drawn curtains at night, the temperature will be much less in the space created between the curtains and the window, as the curtains will keep the heat of the room away in the room and leaving the air in the space, where your bonsai is located, to be much colder.
Also do not place your bonsai in front of a window that where it will get hours of hot summer sun. This will dry out and scorch your tree.
In summer your bonsai will benefit from being placed outside provided they are sheltered from the wind and kept out of the sun at the hottest hours of the day. Bring the trees inside again in autumn or when the night temperature drops to around 6 degrees C.
Light
Sufficient light is of vital importance to your bonsai for without it the plant cannot live, as light is needed for the essential process of photosynthesis.
If 1m (3ft) away from the window the light intensity is considerably reduced, enough to make it too dark for many plants, although the difference is scarcely detectable with the human eye. Nearly every window would be bright enough provided that it is not too overshadowed by the roof, trees, other houses, etc.
Light does not mean hot sunshine, but brightness. Too much hot sunshine is harmful to your plants and can even kill them.
Air
Sufficient humidity is vital for every indoor bonsai.
If you decide not to install electric humidifiers at least take steps to create a higher humidity in the immediate vicinity of the trees. Either place water filled dishes in the room or an indoor water fountain nearby. Another and more common way is to stand your tree and pot on a humidity tray with some gravel or pebbles and keep these moist as much as you can.
Your tree will also benefit from regular sprayer using a fine water mister.
Your trees will also benefit from fresh air circulation. This is not in problem in the summer where you can open windows or even place your tree outside for the most part, but do not let it get caught in very droughty locations and certainly do not let the frost get to it.
Watering
Watering is absolutely essential if your indoor bonsai is to remain healthy. Remember that bonsai's are not your ordinary household plants. They require more care and attention and more regular watering.
If the surface soil is starting to look dry then water. Pour water over the top of the soil until water drains freely through the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. Just try and make sure the soil remains moist. Also give your bonsai a good soaking in a bowl of water once a week. Place the pot and tree in a bowl and fill with water the just below the rim of the pot. Leave to stand for 15 minutes or so.
Avoid spraying your bonsai when it has the sun bearing down on it. The water droplets will magnify the suns rays onto the leaves and cause burns.
Another mistake by novice bonsai enthusiasts is overwatering. It is sometimes hard to judge just how much and when to water but make sure you do not keep the tree drowned constantly.
If you have hard tap water in your area then your tree will benefit from boiled water occasionally to soften it up. Do not pour boiling water onto the tree, wait for it to cool. Do not use straight out the fridge water either. Just room temperature will suffice. But overall if you can collect rainwater then this is by far the best to use as rain water contains nutrients and other natural chemicals essential to a trees health.
Feeding
Bonsai's have only very limited soil that they live and grow in and in which to obtain food and nutrients from. This is why it is very important to keep replenishing the soil with nutrients.
The most important nutrients for a plant are nitrogen, phosphorus, potash, calcium, sulphur, iron and other trace elements. These can be found in the right formula in specialised liquid bonsai feeds available from all bonsai stockists. Pellets can also be found such as Biogold, but can be rather smelly and so only get used by on outdoor trees.
1. Before feeding, water your plant thoroughly. If using liquid feed use the amount shown on the instructions. We recommend that you use a little less than the required amount rather than too much.
NOTE: If you tree is starting to look poorly then you must stop feeding right away. This will only harm your tree further.
2. Also do not feed your bonsai just before and during the flowering period. The increased vigour would go into the shoots and thus the tree would shed it buds and flowers.
3. Do not feed after repotting or root pruning your bonsai. Wait about 4-6 weeks for the roots to recover before feeding again.
4. Do not feed during the winter months.
This may all sound a little daunting for someone wishing to keep indoor bonsai. But once you get used to the fact that they do require a little more care than normal houseplants then you'll be fine if you keep the above advice to hand. It does become easier...we promise!!!!
