Caring For Your Indoor Bonsai

A bonsai tree is a beautiful example of an ancient tradition. Because bonsai trees are so attractive, many people love to display them in their houses. Indoor bonsai plants will need extra care since they do not reap the full benefits of natural sunlight and natural weather conditions. Despite the fact that they look pretty tough, bonsai trees can be quite picky with their water and light requirements.

Watering Your Indoor Bonsai

When you bring a bonsai tree indoors it will require sufficient lighting to replace the natural sunlight that it would have been receiving outdoors. It’s important to place your tree in a location with good ventilation. How frequently you water your bonsai will depend on what kind it is and the condition of its soil. Many trees and plants must have wet soil, even though several others have no problem surviving drought conditions.

Your bonsai tree will thrive in high humidity, which can be achieved by regular misting. Humidity trays can be useful, but don’t let the pot sit right in the water; it should be sitting on a stand or some stones.

Pruning and Cutting

The indoor bonsai tree will still need to be regularly pruned and cut to maintain its appearance. Just because bonsai plants look frozen in time does not mean that they do not grow. A bonsai tree needs to be repotted somewhere between one to three years, depending on the type, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor plant. As well, you’ll need to give proper maintenance to the branches in order to preserve its distinctive style.

In the wintertime, you’ll likely have to reduce fertilization, depending on the type of bonsai you have. This is due to the fact that some bonsai species become dormant in this season, and will not need the level of nutrients that they do in the warmer seasons. Your indoor bonsai might not fully experience the whole cycle of seasons because it is in an artificial environment.

You need to be on the lookout for pests and other irregularities that might appear on your indoor bonsai tree. The fact that they are indoors may make them a favorite of spiders and other mites who are used to the great outdoors. It is best to gently clean the leaves and branches of your indoor bonsai plant with a damp cloth or a brush.