Everything You Need to Know to Grow an Awesome Indoor Bonsai Tree – Part II

In Part I of my article on Indoor Bonsai we talked about the distinctions between an indoor and an outdoor bonsai, and typically what characterizes an indoor bonsai tree. In this report we’re going to focus on a few of the most widely regarded indoor bonsai plants, and additionally recommendations on how to pick the top plant material from your nursery or garden center.

There are lots of different suppliers from which you may easily find very good quality plants and trees for your indoor bonsai tree project. A specialist bonsai nursery is the very best place to buy a bonsai tree, and here you will be able to find out what kind of potting mixture is used and when the plant should be repotted.The very best place to find bonsai plants and trees is at a nursery that specializes in bonsai trees. The men and women at the nursery can provide a great deal of care suggestions, including the type of potting material that was used, and when it ought to be re-potted next. If you don’t plan to start from scratch with your bonsai tree you could purchase a plant which is already established as a bonsai. This can be fairly expensive however. Another great place to get plants and trees which might be suitable for bonsai is at your nearby garden center. Remember that employees at these kinds of retailers are going to be less knowledgeable about bonsai however.

Another approach is to take a house plant that you already have at home and begin training it as a bonsai. This is a a lot less pricey approach to get started in the hobby, and would be a little less painful if you lose the plant. Don’t improve the likelihood of killing your first bonsai plants by purchasing from the bargain table. These plants are usually unhealthy and definitely will lower your chances of long-term success.

Be sure that the foliage on any plants that you are considering buying are bright green and healthy looking, and that there are no clues of insect damage or disease. If there are any new buds on the plant they should have firm young shoots. It will be easy to determine if the plant has not been getting enough water because the buds will be dried up. Trunks and limbs need to be strong and healthy. If you familiarize yourself with the many different styles of bonsai before you go to the nursery you will be able to choose plants that are ideal for the style that you want to create.

The following is a list of plants that would be highly suitable as an indoor bonsai tree and for beginner bonsai enthusiasts:

Java Fig (Ficus benjamina) You can buy this as an established bonsai or you can buy it as a houseplant and modify it into a bonsai. The java fig will stay green all year round. Several bonsai styles work well with the Java fig including, the broom style, the cascade and semi-cascade style, the informal upright, and the slanting style.

Chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) You can buy this as a houseplant and train it as a bonsai yourself, or it is widely available as an established bonsai. Ulmus parvifolia is a semi-evergreen. It can be grown either inside or outside. As an indoor plant is will keep it’s leaves and stay green all year.

Chinese Box (Murraya paniculata) You can buy this as an already established bonsai or you can buy it as a small potted houseplant at a reputable garden store and modify it into a bonsai. The Chinese box is a favorite indoor bonsai plant. It is native to China and India. After flowering it produces small berries that change from orange to bright red.

California Juniper (Juniperus californica) This plant is commonly available as an established bonsai. You can also buy it as an ordinary houseplant and train it yourself. Juniperus californica is a favorite for an indoor bonsai, and is a great plant for the novice bonsai grower. Typical styles that you will often see this plant trained as are the informal upright, the slanting style, and the cascade and semi-cascade styles.

Jade Plant (Crassula ovata) You can buy this as a houseplant and train it as a bonsai yourself, or it is widely available as an established bonsai. This is an evergreen with flattened succulent leaves with a scalelike appearance. The Jade Plant shows best when trained in the slanting, informal upright, or broom styles.

This is just the tip of the iceburg in terms of the variety of plants and trees that are suitable for indoor bonsai. As your skills as a bonsai grower improve you will be able to add many new speciaes and varieties to your bonsai collection.