What are indoor bonsai and how are they cared for?

In recent years we have begun to see in nurseries and garden stores some small trees planted in very beautiful trays that they had put inside a kind of box with a label that says: Indoor bonsai, which often creates confusion, because …what is a bonsai ?, and … why are there plants that are considered indoor?

We are going to talk about all this and much more in this special, in order to be able to provide these miniature trees with the best care.

What is a bonsai?

And let’s start, of course, at the beginning. If you have just entered this fantastic world, it is completely normal to have many doubts, because nobody is born knowing. Little by little you are realizing that what you see on the labels of some plants sometimes does not correspond to reality, as is the case with indoor bonsai.

A bonsai is a tree or shrub, coming from seed, cutting or layering, that has been worked to give it a certain style and maintain it year after year. This style has not been created by humans, but is an imitation of the styles that plants adopt in their natural habitat (you have more information on this topic here!).

For example: those that grow in areas where the wind blows strong and / or regularly, will produce abundant branches that will grow in only one direction, while their trunk also develops after the wind since it does not allow it to do it in another direction mode. This, in the bonsai world, is known as the Fukinagashi (windswept) style.

Thus, not all plants called “bonsai” are bonsai, especially if they are sold in garden centers or nurseries (except, of course, specialized ones).

Another important issue is age. Can we trust how old they tell us they are? The truth is that it is practically impossible to know the age, since not even the teachers agree. Does counting start from the moment the cutting or layer was cut? Wait for it to root? Or, should it be counted when it is first planted in a bonsai tray? It is not known. The age of “indoor bonsai” is used more than anything to make the plant itself more expensive: the taller the sellers say it is, the more expensive it will be.

What is an indoor bonsai?

When we talk about indoor bonsai we are talking about tropical plants, which are not they can survive indoors if they are in an area where winters are cold (temperature below 0ºC). But you have to know that all plants should be grown outdoors whenever possible. They need to feel the air, the sun, the rain,… everything. The conditions that a bonsai is inside the home are sometimes not what he would like.

In fact, the probability that we will lose it is very high. Air currents, both cold and warm, seriously harm it, weakening it. But, in addition, the substrate that it carries has already fulfilled its function, that is, it has already achieved that the plant takes root and grows a little. When we take it home be very careful with watering, otherwise the roots will rot easily due to the substrate.

For all this, we are going to give you a series of tips and tricks so that you can enjoy your little tree for many, many years .

What care do you need?

If you dare to have a bonsai (or bonsai project), take note:

Location

You have to place it in a room where a lot of natural light entersbut which in turn is protected from drafts, such as in the living room.

Irrigation

Irrigation has to be moderate. Let it dry a bit before watering again. A) Yes, it will usually be watered 3 times a week in summer and 1-2 weekly the rest of the year. Use rainwater or fresh water for this.

Transplant

It depends on the species. It is usually every 2 yearsbut it can be every 3, or even every year. To know when your tree is due, all you have to do is observe it: if you see roots on the surface and / or coming out through the drainage holes, then it will be time to transplant it.

The time for this will be late winter-early spring.

How is it done?

The first thing to do is prepare the substrate. There is a mixture that turns out to be very good for all species and it is the following: 70% akadama + 30% kiryuzuna, but you can also choose to change the kiryuzuna for kanuma if it is acidophilic plants (Camellias, Gardenias) or conifers .

Once you have it, follow this step by step:

1. Let the bonsai substrate dry well.
2. Remove it carefully.
3. Clean the tray thoroughly, with a cloth dampened in water, and dry it.
4. Place two pieces of wire mesh (one in each hole) and secure with wire.
5. Add a layer of substrate.
6. With the help of a bonsai hook and with great care, remove the substrate from the roots. When finished, put them (just the roots) in a container with water to remove any dirt that may have remained.
7. Cut the roots that look black with previously disinfected scissors.
8. Place it on the tray. It should be slightly above the edge of the tray (0,5cm or less), and slightly away from the center (0,3cm or less).
9. Secure the tree with the wire you used for the drain grates.
10. Fill the tray with substrate.
11. Water.

To make it easier for you, we attach a video that shows how to do it:

Pruning

The pruning of the indoor bonsai will be done with the aim of maintaining its style. Thus, what should be done is to observe the tree from a certain distance, and see which branches have grown too long. Once you have identified them, you have to trim them with scissors previously disinfected with alcohol.

The ideal time to do it is at the end of winter, when the temperature begins to stay above 15ºC.

Wiring

Not usually necessary. The plant that is sold as bonsai already has a defined style, so that its branches are already in the position it touches. If not, they can be wired in spring and left with the wire until fall. But it is convenient that you go checking it regularly to avoid that the wire leaves a mark on the tree.

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During the entire growing season, that is, in spring and summer, you must pay with a specific fertilizer for bonsai following the instructions specified on the package. You can also pay in autumn if you live in an area where frosts do not occur, or they are weak (up to 2ºC) and of short duration.

And with this we are done. We hope it has been useful to you and you can enjoy your plant .