Bonsai, pronounced bone-sigh, can be
defined by breaking the word into two parts - bon, meaning tray, and sai, which
means tree. Bonsai is a tree planted in a tray, also called a living miniature
tree that increases in beauty and value as it matures over the years. There are
many different styles of bonsai, including formal upright, informal upright,
cascade, semi-cascade, raft, and literati. Bonsai trees range in size from
miniature, small, medium, to average, and can either be small-flowered or
small-fruit, but there are only two main types – indoor and outdoor. Even though
there are two main types, there are still many different varieties. Having some
knowledge about the indoor and outdoor bonsai will hopefully help you in
choosing what is best for your lifestyle and enjoyment.
Probably the easiest types of bonsai trees to grow indoors, which
requires about the same amount of care of a house plant, would be the tropical
and subtropical trees. These trees should be in a location where they can get
morning sun and afternoon shade. Some bonsai will survive in full sun, but it is
best to use caution if you are uncertain whether your tree will be able to take
the full sun or not. The indoor bonsai can also be set outdoors in late spring
and summer, then brought back indoors in the fall when nighttime temperatures
drop below 55 degrees.
The best type of bonsai trees that can be used indoors include Hawaiian umbrella trees, ficus, and baby jade, just to name a few. These trees are great for the
beginner or as a gift to a boss or coworker. Other varieties of indoor bonsai
trees, including sago palms, serissa, fukien tea, schefflera, aralias, money
tree, brush cherry, bougainvillea, gardenias, and some elms are also easily
adapted to most homes. The other types of bonsai trees are the outdoor species,
which fall into two categories – evergreen trees such as junipers and pines, and
deciduous trees such as maples, ginko, and elms. Evergreen bonsai trees maintain
their foliage throughout the seasons. With this type of bonsai trees, you
would find junipers, boxwoods, azaleas, and most pines. The Juniper is the most
popular bonsai tree because of its good looks and its excellent ability to be
trained. Most evergreen bonsai require a winter dormancy period, or rest period
in order to maintain their ongoing health. Generally, during this dormancy
period the bonsai would show a dull green or yellowish tint to the foliage.
Deciduous trees are those that lose their leaves in the fall and go into a
dormant stage, but will re-bud in the springtime. Some of these types of bonsai
trees include maple, larch, crabapple, apricot, hornbeam, gingko, and many elm
species. One of the more challenging outdoor trees includes the Japanese maple.
These types are known for their spring and fall foliage color changes, which
typically range from yellow to oranges to deep reds. Keep in mind that deciduous
bonsai go dormant in the winter, thereby not being suitable for growing indoors
unless they are placed in a garage, near a cool window sill, or even in a shed.
They require water every few days and fertilizer every few weeks but not too
much sunlight during the winter months.
Some of the more mature and larger bonsai trees include the one of a kind and
Aged Specimen, which make excellent gifts for bonsai enthusiasts, Other
excellent types of bonsai trees for the outdoors include the Japanese juniper,
Chinese elm, Chinese fringe flower, azaleas, Japanese red maple, blue moss
cypress, star cypress, soft touch holly, and flowering. Remember that all
outdoor bonsai trees must be treated with respect. They should always be
properly protected in the winter to guard against freezing. Therefore, it is
highly recommended that you use plastic humidity trays with a layer of pebbles
kept in water for both interior and exterior bonsai. With this, each type of
bonsai tree would be provided the necessary humidity. The beauty and elegance of
bonsai trees is quite a work of art. As lives become busier and people have less
time to garden, the opportunity to grow and train miniature trees is exciting
and satisfying.
