When you are just starting out, bonsai tree care can be an intimidating idea. You want your tree to survive, and yet everything seems so confusing. One of the most important things to understand as a beginner is that a bonsai is a tree and like all other trees it requires outdoor conditions for good health.
Bonsai trees depend on good lighting, good air humidity and good air circulation for good health. Many species also need the cold of winter. While some species will survive in indoor conditions, the stress placed on most trees will prevent them from reaching their full potential or eventually cause the trees to die.
Central heating and air conditioning can wreak havoc on your bonsai by creating dry air and low humidity levels around your tree. Poor lighting levels can also negatively affect the health of your tree.
Outdoor trees kept indoors rarely die instantly. Instead, they will slowly decline and become susceptible to disease. It can take a long time, but eventually outward signs of ill health, such as yellowing of leaves and loss of foliage, will begin to appear, and eventually the tree will die.
If you want to have an indoor bonsai, be sure to do your research properly. Species that will tolerate indoor conditions are a minority, but they do exist and can thrive indoors if carefully placed in your home. Just make sure it’s not a conifer, as no conifer species can survive indoor conditions for more than two or three years.
Properly positioning your bonsai is the crucial first step to a good bonsai care.
