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Which One Of These Bonsai Types Is Perfect For You?

August 9th, 2008

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It is useful to know that the word “bonsai” is pronounced “bone-sigh”, with “bon” being translated as “tray” and “sai” as tree. A wide range of bonsai types are available and it is important to know that they get better with age!

All bonsais have varying styles, some are informal upright while others are upright cascade, semi-cascade, literati and raft. Also ranging in size, between miniature to small and medium to average, they can have small fruit or small flowers. There are really only two types of bonsai trees, indoor or outdoor. Doing research on both types will help you to have a healthy tree for a long time.

The tropical and sub tropical trees are the easiest bonsais to grow indoors and require to be cared for only as much as any house plant. It will be a good idea for absolute beginners to choose one of these for a bonsai, as it will give a good result with less effort. They respond best if they get the morning sun and afternoon shade. Some trees survive the sun all day ,but it is best to know and carefully watch how your bonsai is growing in its location. The bonsai can be moved outdoors in late spring bordering on summer but should be brought back indoors when temperatures drop below 55 degrees.

The bonsai types most suitable for the novice include Hawaiian umbrella trees, baby jade, and ficus, just to list a few. There are plenty of other varieties, including serissa sago palms, Fukien tea aralias, brush cherry money trees, schefflera gardenias, and bougainvilleas. Elms can easily be adapted to most homes as well. There are two species of outdoor bonsai trees. These are evergreen trees such as pine and junipers and deciduous trees which include elms, maples, and ginkgo trees.

Evergreen bonsai trees are especially nice because they keep their leaves or needles throughout the year. Azaleas, boxwoods, juniper, and most pines fall into this category. Both beautiful and trainable, the juniper is a very popular bonsai tree variety. A healthy evergreen bonsai will go through a dormant period every year. There’s no need to worry if you see a yellowish tinge or a dull green on the leaves or needles, it’s just the evergreen bonsai during its rest cycle.

Deciduous trees are those trees which lose their leaves in the fall or go into the dormant stage and start re-budding in the spring. They are not suitable for growing as indoors bonsais since they go dormant in winter. These have to be placed carefully in a shed garage or near a cool window sill during winter. It is best not to let them have too much sunlight and water during these months. Fertilizers should be given every few weeks. Bonsais have different varieties such as larch, apricot, hornbeam, ginko, maple, crabapple and elm species. Japenese maple is the most challenging of all the outdoor trees. They have their foliage changing color in spring and the fall, and the colors range from yellow to orange to a beautiful deep red.

There are a number of outdoor bonsai types one can choose from. These options include the Chinese fringe flower, Chinese elm, Japanese red maple, blue moss cypress, star cypress and soft touch holly. If you intended to grow a bonsai, note that all outdoor bonsai need to be treated with care (particularly in the wintertime). Overall, it is important to ensure that they are properly protected.

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