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

via Posterize

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