Sitting on the magazine table, under the glare of the institutional lighting in my dentist's office, a Juniper bonsai was proudly displayed. I mentioned that it wasn't getting much light to the receptionist and she assured me not to worry because it was, after all, an indoor tree. Too bad she had no idea that there is no such thing. All trees are outdoor trees.
It probably seems like a foolish point to make, but if there is any hope that you'll ever understand more about the care and nurturing of your bonsai, it's important to make a clear distinction between an indoor tree and one that just can't handle the cold. Sometimes the heat can actually be the problem, but take it from me, a resident of Toronto, Ontario. The real defining factor is the cold. But the question is "How cold?"
When you buy a bonsai it's important to understand just how much cold it will tolerate. It's November right now and we haven't had any frost and my leafless Zelkova and Japanese Black Pine are still outside. If we get a mild frost I won't worry. But my Trident Maple is still outside too and that puppy won't like the frost. There are other trees I could grow like a Ficus or a mini jade or a Fukien Tea that would die if they were outside right now- not because they belong inside- just because they hate the cold.
Because Bonsai grow in such small pots, the root balls will freeze solid and the trees will die. Even cold hardy outdoor trees need their roots buried and the added protection of a cold frame. I guess they call them outdoor trees because if you try and winter them in your living room they'll die even faster than being unprotected outside.
But I'd rather focus on the warm weather trees and what you can do to keep your bonsai healthy and thriving. Do them a big favor and after you've done some research on their temperature range and any wet/dry or cool/hot variation they need - let them spend as much time as possible outside. Even though it will mean more work for you to watch out for bugs, and squirrels and hot sun, wind and the odd soccer ball.
When your trees are outside for the summer and come in for the winter they will possibly respond differently that they do now. For example, a Chinese Elm that is always indoors will probably be evergreen, but one that moves in out and experiences a seasonal variation is bound to drop some of its leaves in the winter. It might even drop them all and only need to sit, barely moist and leafless, in a cool window for the winter. But it will be more robust, all things being equal that it's evergreen counterpart.
Every tree is different. Learn more about where your tree lives in the wild. Is it a tropical rainforest diva, or a scrappy little subtropical tree that can handle some temperature fluctuations? You might also find that the tree a Southern California grower confidently labels as outdoor absolutely needs to come inside for your winter. Start here. With an eye on the warmest and coldest temperatures that it will happily endure, (modified to accommodate that little pot it's in rather than the ground) take the extra steps to give it the longest dose of outdoor weather that you can reasonably provide. Your tree will love you for it - as long as you don't forget about it. - 33393
It probably seems like a foolish point to make, but if there is any hope that you'll ever understand more about the care and nurturing of your bonsai, it's important to make a clear distinction between an indoor tree and one that just can't handle the cold. Sometimes the heat can actually be the problem, but take it from me, a resident of Toronto, Ontario. The real defining factor is the cold. But the question is "How cold?"
When you buy a bonsai it's important to understand just how much cold it will tolerate. It's November right now and we haven't had any frost and my leafless Zelkova and Japanese Black Pine are still outside. If we get a mild frost I won't worry. But my Trident Maple is still outside too and that puppy won't like the frost. There are other trees I could grow like a Ficus or a mini jade or a Fukien Tea that would die if they were outside right now- not because they belong inside- just because they hate the cold.
Because Bonsai grow in such small pots, the root balls will freeze solid and the trees will die. Even cold hardy outdoor trees need their roots buried and the added protection of a cold frame. I guess they call them outdoor trees because if you try and winter them in your living room they'll die even faster than being unprotected outside.
But I'd rather focus on the warm weather trees and what you can do to keep your bonsai healthy and thriving. Do them a big favor and after you've done some research on their temperature range and any wet/dry or cool/hot variation they need - let them spend as much time as possible outside. Even though it will mean more work for you to watch out for bugs, and squirrels and hot sun, wind and the odd soccer ball.
When your trees are outside for the summer and come in for the winter they will possibly respond differently that they do now. For example, a Chinese Elm that is always indoors will probably be evergreen, but one that moves in out and experiences a seasonal variation is bound to drop some of its leaves in the winter. It might even drop them all and only need to sit, barely moist and leafless, in a cool window for the winter. But it will be more robust, all things being equal that it's evergreen counterpart.
Every tree is different. Learn more about where your tree lives in the wild. Is it a tropical rainforest diva, or a scrappy little subtropical tree that can handle some temperature fluctuations? You might also find that the tree a Southern California grower confidently labels as outdoor absolutely needs to come inside for your winter. Start here. With an eye on the warmest and coldest temperatures that it will happily endure, (modified to accommodate that little pot it's in rather than the ground) take the extra steps to give it the longest dose of outdoor weather that you can reasonably provide. Your tree will love you for it - as long as you don't forget about it. - 33393
About the Author:
A beautiful tropical bonsai is the Green Island Fig It's a Bonzi that must be brought indoors before the weather gets cold.
