Desert Rose Indoor Bonsai Tree

The Desert Rose Bonsai is a fast growing bonsai that is best suited as an indoor bonsai tree. This bonsai needs full sun from a window or patio door but does not like temperatures below 45 degrees F. It is a somewhat delicate plant that should have the moisture level of the potting medium monitored daily. The pH of the soil should be neutral; 6.6- 7.3 for best results.    The blossoms of the Desert Rose are very colorful pink and white flowers that bloom most of the year. The trunks grow thick and bulbous at the base and can get quite tall if not pruned in a timely manner. This brightly colored indoor bonsai tree will make a welcome addition to and liven up your home.

Nandina Indoor Bonsai Tree

Nandina have  interesting shapes and make cute indoor bonsai trees as well. Though they have been nicknamed Heavenly Bamboo and Sacred Bamboo, they actually are not bamboo at all. Originally from China and Japan, they are now used the world over as ornamental shrubs... and bonsai.    Nandina only need a lot of watering in the heat of the summer. On cooler days a daily drink of water is usually all they'll need. Fertilize them with some time release fertilizer about once a month and give them 4-6 hours of full sun and they'll do just fine. Nandina are slow growers... so give them plenty of patience and TLC for your indoor bonsai tree to grow and flourish. Positively, Truman

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Calamondin Indoor Bonsai Tree

This is a really neat indoor bonsai tree...a Calamondin Bonsai. The fruit of the calamondin looks a lot like cumquats or miniature oranges. The calamondin blooms almost all year long and has little white flowers along with the fruit. The fruit is used all over the world to flavor recipes and has a sour citrus taste; however, the skin tastes sweet. I have used calamondin fruit to make Sweet & Sour sauce which can be saved and frozen. Another interesting idea is to freeze them with a few small slits in the skin and use them for ice cubes that also flavor your drink! How cool is that?!    Though calamondin were originally from Asia, they were introduced to the United States in the early 1900's and are grown in mostly temperate climates. The fact that they are frost sensitive makes them an excellent choice for an indoor bonsai tree...maybe even a bonsai orchard... Positively, Truman

Sago Palm Indoor Bonsai Tree

A really interesting thing about palm trees is the many different shapes of the fronds, trunks, and fruits. A Sago Palm doesn't get very tall and the trunk slowly grows outward increasing more so in girth than in height. This makes the Sago Palm a good indoor bonsai tree whose size can be controlled by pruning the roots to fit a small pot. The pot in the photograph is 6" tall and 6" in diameter and will be adequate for this bonsai for several years.     Sago Palms propagate by growing 'pups' near the base of the trunk. When they have sufficiently developed, they can be removed from the "Mama" trunk and planted in their own pots... almost like giving birth...to your Sago Palm indoor bonsai tree family... Positively, Truman

Palm Indoor Bonsai Tree

Palm trees make good indoor bonsai tree specimens due to their hardy nature and ease of maintenance. Though palm trees can grow to be quite large, their size can be controlled by pruning the root system. Also, there are many varieties of palm trees that have a miniature or pygmy variant that doesn't grow as large. When potting a palm, you want to select a pot that is large enough to allow the root system to grow and anchor the tree into the growing medium. The above ground portion of the tree will not grow larger than its root system can support. In time, the trunk of the palm will thicken and grow taller until the plant has reached the extent of what the root system can maintain. Daily watering and fertilizing a couple of times a month should keep the palm bonsai beautiful and healthy...along with 4-5 hours of sunlight from a nearby window or patio door. I mist myindoor bonsai tree with a mild  liquid foliar fertilizer (7-9-5, 1/2 tsp. per gallon) and this helps to keep the foliage fresh and green. Last, but certainly not least... a healthy dose of TLC... something all living things want and need... Positively, Truman

Palm Indoor Bonsai Trees

Palm Indoor Bonsai Trees

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Date Palm Indoor Bonsai Tree

The Pygmy Date Palm is an excellent candidate for an indoor bonsai tree. It is a slow growing palm with feathery-type fronds. The diameter of the fronds is about 2 feet and the height of the palm can be controlled by pruning the roots.    These palms can do well in low light and care should be taken not to overwater them. They should be fertilized several times a month at the start of the growing season and cut back on the fertilizer and water in the winter. The Pygmy Date Palms can handle cold weather, but prefer to be indoor bonsai trees when Jack Frost comes whistlin'...    The fronds of this palm are miniature compared to other palms and make good decorations in floral arrangements or religious holidays like Christmas, Palm Sunday, and Easter. These indoor bonsai make great additions to sun rooms, dens, offices, and dining rooms.

Bougainvillea Indoor Bonsai Tree

I really love this time of year...the days are getting shorter, the weather is getting cooler, the flounder are beginning to run for deeper water, and my Bougainvillea indoor bonsai trees are blooming. I took my bonsai outside to give it a rinsing and put it up on the hand rail of my bay house to take a couple photos.    After my Bougainvillea bonsai have finished blooming, I will give them a light pruning. I usually take any pruned branches (vines) and remove the bracts up about 1/3 from the bottom and propagate them. I use some potting soil with a mixture of root growth hormone and fertilizer to get the roots growing. After the roots have firmly rooted themselves in the potting medium, I'll start to wire and train the new Bougainvillea and any new branches that have started.    With a little care and TLC, the new trees will make beautiful Bougainvillea indoor bonsai trees...with their little pink blooms...when the flounder begin to run.

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Willow Leaf Ficus

The Willow Leaf Ficus, or Ficus Mexicana, is another indoor bonsai tree that is both pleasing to the eye and easy to care for. Ficus do well with moderate watering and adapt readily to an indoor environment. I mist my Ficus bonsai several times a week with a mild foliar fertilizer. This helps the Ficus maintain a thick, green canopy of the slender willow-like leaves.    Ficus have a tendency to grow roots above the ground; which allows bonsai artists to place the Ficus on a rock or crystal. The young branches are easily shaped by wiring to a desired shape until the branches lignify and harden. The Willow Leaf Ficus is a wonderful indoor bonsai tree for amateurs and seasoned veterans alike! Happy bonsai-ing! Positively, Truman

Juniper Indoor Bonsai Tree

Another great bonsai for beginners is the Juniper indoor bonsai tree. The Juniper bonsai was my first bonsai approximately 28 years ago and  is still one of my favorites today. We all remember Mr. Myagi pruning his juniper bonsai and I'll bet that many people became bonsai enthusiasts from watching him! Though junipers are probably best suited as an outdoor bonsai, they can be easily grown indoors with a little extra TLC.    The photo shows one of my Juniper indoor bonsais on my computer desk at the window that it gets 5-7 hours a day of direct sunlight. I take  great care to keep my bonsai properly watered...not too much or too little, and make sure the pot has good drainage. I mist my Juniper bonsai a couple  times a day with a very mild foliar fertilizer to both feed and hydrate the foliage. When we have several overcast days, I have a florescent light fixture that I light the bonsai with for 14-16 hours a day.    Though my Juniper indoor bonsai tree is grown indoors, I do give it a  'time out' period from December through February. I place it out on my  covered porch to allow it to have a dormant period. In March, I unpot it to check out the root system to see if it is 'root bound' or has any other issues before I bring it back inside to my computer desk. I enjoy tending to my indoor bonsais and believe they are as therapeutic as they are aesthetically stimulating... Positively, Truman

Chinese Elm Bonsai

Occasionally people tell me about a bonsai tree they tried to grow a few years ago and usually ask me which bonsai I would recommend to a beginning gardener. Though I have several in mind, I prefer the Chinese Elm for a beginner's first indoor bonsai tree. For this bonsai specimen, the pros far outweigh the cons.    The Chinese Elm is a very hardy tree, both in and out of doors. As an outdoor bonsai, the tree will lose its leaves in the winter. As an indoor bonsai tree, it will keep its leaves and remain green throughout the winter and does not need a dormant period. This elm is resistant to most diseases including Dutch elm disease.     The soil of this bonsai should be kept moist but not soggy or over-watered. Make sure the pot has ample drainage and basic potting soil for best results. For fertilizer, one with a little extra nitrogen during the growing season will aid in extra growth and use less fertilizer in the winter months.    What I like most about the Chinese Elm is the ease of training and shaping the bonsai. When the tree is young, you can wire wrap the trunk and branches to begin gradually bending and shaping the tree to whatever style you would like. The trunk can slowly be bent into a twisted upright, cascade, or windswept shape...or, just let it grow upright like a normal, healthy elm would grow. The bonsai in the photo is an 8 year old small leaf Chinese Elm "shohin" bonsai whose trunk I trained into this interesting shape. This bonsai is 8" tall above the top of the pot and the pot is 4"x 5-1/2"...a rather small bonsai... but indeed, beautiful.    As far as the cons, I'm sure there may be some...but as of yet, I have not encountered any. I sincerely hope that many of you will find, as I have, that the Chinese Elm is truly a great indoor bonsai tree for all. Positively, Truman

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Indoor Bonsai Tree                       Foliar Fertilizer    Foliar fertilizers are a unique way to deliver nutrients to your indoor bonsai tree. Foliar fertilizers not only feed your bonsai through the foliage, but also by soaking into the bark. These fertilizers are generally mild to weak and sprayed in a light mist onto your bonsai. The foliar fertilizer I used on the Bougainvillea bonsai is a 7-9-5 ratio by Dyna-Gro and the recommended usage is 1/4 tsp per gallon for daily watering and 1/2 tsp per gallon to promote growth.    As you can see in the first photo of the Bougainvillea bonsai, the leaves were yellow and wilted and I wanted to bring some immediate attention to my little tree. At first, I misted and watered the bonsai  with the foliar fertilizer 2-3 times a day. After about a week, I cut back to misting and watering once a day...and 4 weeks later you can see a noticeable improvement in the appearance and vitality of my little tree.    Avoid over misting; the foliage should have a light mist on it rather than be dripping wet. The pot should have adequate drainage to avoid damaging and rotting the roots. Also, the prime time to mist your indoor bonsai tree is late in the evening. That's when the leaves of the bonsai and basically all plants open their pores to absorb the moisture of the dew falling. Since there is probably no dew falling in your house...a light misting of foliar fertilizer should 'dew'.  Happy Bonsai-ing! ~ Truman

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