Calliandra, or powder puff, is an indoor bonsai that blooms reliably!

If I enticed you to try your hand with indoor bonsai in my previous post, you may ask “how can I successfully grow indoor bonsai?”

There are many myths about bonsai, especially growing indoors. Take this short yes or no quiz to test yourself:

1. All bonsai can live inside indefinitely.
2. Bonsai are small evergreen plants.
3. Bonsai will be fine located where they look there best.
4. Indoor bonsai need water only now and again just like other houseplants. Once a week will do.
5. Normal potting soil works well as a growing medium.

The plant in the center of this photo is a dwarf Schefflera arboricola I’ve been growing for over 20 years.

As you probably guessed, the answers are all no. Growing bonsai is an unusual hobby, and to succeed requires a little lesson or two.  First of all, I’ll dispel some common misconceptions, and elaborate on 1-5:

•  Tropical plants grown as bonsai can live for long periods indoors, especially for protection during winter months. However, all houseplants and bonsai benefit from time spent outdoors during the summer. Locate them in partial sun or shade depending on the cultivar. Also depending on type, the bonsai will probably need water every day!
• Many different types of plants may be grown as bonsai. Some respond better to the root confinement of those tiny pots, drastic pruning, and other horticultural tortures of bonsai cultivation.
• Indoor bonsai need to be located in the light preferred by the particular plant. That might mean direct southern sun, indirect northern placement, or partial sun in a east or west facing window. They can be displayed for a couple of days at a time in other locations. Position out of drafts and away from heating and air conditioning vents.
• Bonsai need water when they need water! That could mean every day, or other frequency depending on how dense the roots are, the amount of light, etc, and the type of plant.
• Bonsai ideally grow in a soil that is not soil at all. It is a mixture of gritty components providing little nutrition to the plant, but causing it to produce fine, hair like roots.

Chaenomeles, or flowering quince, is an  old fashioned shrub. It is an outdoor bonsai that could come inside to be displayed for a few days at a time. Then back out she goes!

A little love can insure beautiful results with you indoor bonsai. Seek out your local bonsai club (I’ll bet there is one!) for great info and learning opportunities for growing bonsai, inside and out! The local RVA Richmond, VA club is http://www.richmondbonsaisociety.org/

Happy growing!