Indoor bonsai plants

Traditionally bonsai are outdoor plants.  Today with an increasing emphasis on Japanese interior design bonsai plants have become popular house plants.  These ornamental trees and tropical plants are making their way into many venues, from small apartments where it is impossible to have outdoor plants to office plants in sophisticated buildings.  

Indoor gardening and house plant care for the bonsai can be a challenge.  These exotic plants need to be chosen with care since they will need the proper conditions to be maintained properly.  The house plant identification of most indoor bonsai are of the tropical or subtropical species.  Tropical plants such as the ficus tree, aralia, or carmonas are popular.  The subtropical specimens may include the azaleas, camellias, bougainvillea and the Chinese elm.  The Chinese elm is probably the easiest and the hardiest of these plant varieties and is a good bonsai for indoor gardening beginner.

Light, temperature and humidity are the prime factors in keeping these ornamental trees healthy and attractive. The plant light required to maintain indoor bonsai trees can be from a well lit room or an artificial source.  It is best to place the subtropical plants in an area of the home or office that gets direct sunlight or is light supplemented by a greenhouse grow light.  Some varieties of tropical plants, like the ficus may do with less light.  Although indoor temperatures can be set and maintained better than the outdoors, even these potted plants will need seasonal changes.  They will require periods of dormancy and then growth.  Like any houseplant, its advantageous to move them outdoors during the summer months to strengthen them and promote hardy growth.  If at all possible, moving them to an area that is cooler will allow them to go through a dormant cycle.   Bonsai plants that do not experience changes in season will eventually become weak, more difficult to maintain and their appearance will suffer.  Like all bonsai watering is extremely important.  This is even more so with indoor plants.  Moisture both in the soil and for the leaves must be maintained.  Again plant placement can be factor to obtain these requirements.  Do not put the bonsai near  heater registers or air conditioning outlets because these areas will promote rapid drying.  These tropical plants would benefit from humidity trays or even enclosures such as mini-greenhouses or bell jars.  A glass covering that keeps humidity levels high can sometimes be incorporated into the display. 

Dust is always a nuisance but for bonsai house plants it is especially serious.  Use the same house plant care practices you would any specimen and wash them down in the shower or take them outside and spray them with a garden hose.  Feeding, training and repotting techniques do not change with indoor bonsai, though  they will not need to be repotted as often as outdoor bonsai trees.    

The indoor bonsai is a spectacular display in any interior area.  They seem to be more than the simple potted plant and make a profound statement in any room.