Before purchasing your Bonsai make sure you do your research. Not all Bonsai can survive indoors, and some will do much better inside. It’s important that you pick the correct tree for on your space. Tropical and subtropical species will do better indoors. Most Bonsai will survive outdoors but this does depend on your local climate. If you live in a location that experiences periods of extreme winter weather, you will not be able to keep tropical and subtropical species in your outdoor space. You may want to opt for trees found in areas where the weather is generally colder.
If you’ve picked the correct Bonsai tree for you it’s time to take it home and find the best place to put it.
Indoor Bonsai
If you’ve decided on an indoor bonsai and are having trouble finding a good breed. We suggest the Ficus Bonsai, which is a great choice for beginners. The Chinese Elm is another great choice if you like a more whimsical look. There are tons of selections. Check out our guides to get some ideas and recommendations.
Sun Exposure
The first thing you should do is to find a spot beside a window. All Bonsai need to be exposed to a good amount of sunlight. This allows photosynthesis to take place and is crucial for your plant’s survival. For best results, place near a South facing window. Experts advise 5 hours of light directed approximately 2 inches above the tree to increase light exposure. You’re going to want to expose the tree to a large of amount of light. If not, the growth will slow over time. It will become weak and eventually die. Large amounts of natural light will make your bonsai will thrive!
Humidity is good!
So in which room in the house will you place your Bonsai? Most Bonsai trees do better in high humidity spaces. Unfortunately, this is not always an easy environment to create indoors. The bathroom or the kitchen are good options. If you need a bonsai for an arid space, the ficus can tolerate slightly lower levels of humidity. You may also consider a cactus species.
Another room which enthusiasts often pick for the Bonsai is the conservatory, if you have a conservatory with South facing windows this would make an ideal home for your new Bonsai tree. Place the pot on a small humidity tray, which you should fill with water.
Keep away from heat sources
Avoid placing your Bonsai close to sources of heat, particularly radiators, it must never be placed on a windowsill directly above a radiator as this will certainly lead to it drying out and dying over a relatively a short period of time.
About indoor pests
Outdoors aren’t safe from pests either. Be sure to keep your Bonsai in a clutter-free and clean environment, making sure to dust around it frequently. This will discourage any little pests from bothering your Bonsai tree. Check out our bonsai pest guide for more info.
Outdoor Bonsai
Most Bonsai trees will do well outside. They are more capable than most people imagine at surviving and adapting to the seasons and the outdoors. A good outdoor bonsai for beginners is the Juniper Bonsai.
Geography is important
Something important to consider when picking your outdoor Bonsai tree is where the tree would naturally originate. If you purchase a native species it will be much more adept at tolerating and thriving well in your outdoor space.
If your living in a state or country, such as Canada, where temperatures are likely to drop to extremely low levels do not buy a tropical or subtropical bonsai with the intention of keeping it outdoors, instead opt for a more robust species like the Maple Bonsai which can handle temperatures which fall below -40 during the winter months.
For drier, warmer climates like Arizona, the Natal Plum Bonsai is a good choice.
Subtropical species are great if you live in Florida or somewhere with a similar climate. The black pine is a popular choice in this area.
Again, do your research to ensure that your Bonsai can survive harmoniously with the elements it will be exposed to.
Place above ground level
The first thing to note when placing your Bonsai tree is that it should be raised off the ground. You could build a special display bench for your Bonsai or if you have a patio this is also a nice option, great for the Bonsai and a cute little addition to your patio.
Pay attention to the weather
Remember Bonsai’s need sunlight so make sure to position it where it will be able to soak up at least 5 hours of light each day. A south facing garden is always best.
Bonsai like many other plants and trees don’t do well with extreme weather and do need some protection from strong winds. For this reason, finding a spot near a fence can be a great option for your Bonsai or if you’ve opted to place your Bonsai on a bench, placing them underneath the bench during periods of severe weather works well too.
Should you take bonsai inside for the winter?
Many people are tempted to take their Bonsai indoors during the winter, but this is not always in the plants best interest as you disturb the natural cycle of nature.
Bonsai go through a period of dormancy during the winter and this rest period is important to their longevity.
If your Bonsai is a tropical or subtropical species then moving it into a greenhouse or conservatory is necessary, particularly if temperatures are likely to drop near or beneath freezing.
For other species, if the weather becomes frosty or drops beneath -5 you might want to provide a little extra protection for your Bonsai. One option is to wrap the pot in Styrofoam, this protects the roots which is key as they are the most susceptible to the frost.
Once you’ve found the perfect place for your Bonsai, monitor it regularly and remember every tree is unique.