A bonsai tree can be a joy to have inside the house. An indoor bonsai tree can really bring a room to life and start many a conversation regarding their appearance and color. Caring for an indoor bonsai tree can be easy as long as you know what kind of tree you have. The many different species of bonsai trees vary from which part of the world they come from as do their needs.
Watering Your Indoor Bonsai Tree
All plants need water. Indoor plants have different needs, depending on how much sun exposure they have and how warm the room they are in is. Generally, a bonsai tree should not have parched, dusty soil. The soil should be always be damp to touch not dry or overly wet. When watering the bonsai tree, you need to use a watering can capable of a soft, rain like effect that does not disturb the soil.
Ideally, you should water a sun-exposed indoor bonsai tree once a day. Those that are not fully exposed to the sun may not require daily watering. You will know that the bonsai has had enough water when the water runs out of the holes at the bottom of the pot.
Proper Lighting for Indoor Bonsai Trees
Sun exposure is necessary for almost all plants to survive. The amount of light that your bonsai tree will need will actually depend on what kind of tree it is. Generally, sun exposure from a south facing window (about six hours) will suffice but for those who cannot place their bonsai tree near a window with enough sun, grow lights will help. Grow lights for botanical use are available and their spectrum can actually address the needs of particular plants with regards to light.
You also have the option of bringing out your bonsai tree for most days of the week to expose it to sunlight and then bring it in after several hours of exposure. This can be tedious work especially for bigger pots which can be quite heavy to carry in and out of the house.
Humidity
Most bonsai trees from the tropics need humidity to grow well. The humidity indoors can be affected by air conditioning and the use of a heater. A/C can dry up the air thus creating an atmosphere not good for your bonsai tree, whereas a heater can also be too warm. Do not place your plant too close to the heater as this can be taxing to the plant. A shallow tray filled with large sized gravel and water can serve as a humidifier when heaters are used indoors. Place the pot on top of the gravel but make sure that the water in the shallow tray does not reach the bottom of the bonsai tree pot as this can rot the roots and erode the soil. You can also mist or spray your bonsai twice daily to mimic humidity during warmer months or when using a heater.
Taking care of your bonsai tree indoors is easy with a little effort on your part. Your plant will grow healthily by following the tips to grow bonsai indoors.
