Should I put my bonsai trees in the fridge?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Mar 25, 2009
They will be indoor bonsai trees and it says to put them in the fridge but there going to be indoor bonsai trees so do I really need to put them in the fridge? Oh yeah the seedlings are already up if it makes a difference.
You should have put the Seeds in the fridge. Aparantly, since your seedlings are "already up" chilling the seeds wasn't really necessary. It will take years for your plants to mature – better off finding a naturally stunted tree or buying a potted shrub to use the bonsai technique on.
Here's info on the technique: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=bonsai+techniques&ygmasrchbtn=web+search&fr=ush-ans
What type of bonsai tree should I choose that will stay the smallest?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Mar 19, 2009
I would like to start caring for a bonsai plant as a hobby, can someone advise me on which type of tree would be a good starter plant?
I want to know what type of tree is best to train it to be teeny tiny, I would like it to be 12 inches or less. Even smaller would be great.
Also, I would LOVE a variety that produces flowers.
This would be a mainly indoor bonsai, though I wouldn't mind bringing it outside for fresh air on nice days.
Thank you in advance!
a bonsai doesn't just 'stay' small, you need to work at it, to keep it small…..
bonsai is still the plant that it is… if it needs to live outside, then it will not do well INSIDE….. (crepes hate it inside!)
you need to study the where's and how's a lot more before you're ready for a plant…. best idea would be to get a book…..
http://www.bonsaisite.com/
http://bonsaisite.com/bonbooks.html
that "BASICS'' one looks good to start with….
http://www.absbonsai.org/
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ei=wgLBSauHJKHhtgfOgZHTCg&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=bonsai&spell=1
bonsai tree's, for a beginer?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 19, 2009
i have never had a bonsai tree but i want one. i live in the UK so its cold and i want an indoor one. i would like a smallish one but not extremly small 10 inches will do. what types fit that criteria? any links to pictures? and i kno bonsai trees need looking after what equiptment do i need?
i looked on google its not very usefull!
Most bonsais are hardy trees so need to be outdoors, you'll have to go for a more tender tree. A few are commonly grown, you can even get them in garden centres or DIY stores if you just want a cheap tree. If you buy from a specialist nursery you'll get a better quality plant. Chinese elm, podocarpus or a succulent such as a crassula are some popular indoor ones.
Succulents can be good because they naturally have a fat trunk and don't need much water. Bonsais are generally hard work but a succulent should be pretty unkillable and fairly easy to keep in a tree-like shape.
Some tree-like succulents have leaves too big to look like a true bonsai but if you like the look you can gow them, for example the money plant.
Can one use 20W fluorescent tube lamps as a substitute to 40W lamps?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 17, 2009
I bought a second hand, mini sun bed to sustain a few bonsai trees, this winter, indoor. The sun bed has a build in ballast to power 6X40W fluorescent lamps, thus a 240W system (220V~50Hz). Unfortunately the UV-lamps do not emit the best spectrum needed for cultivation and growth. The lamps I need to replace the UV-lamps with, has to be 590mm in length, but the highest wattage, available in this length is 20W. I plan to keep 2 of the UV lamps in the system. I want to know if I am going to blow the 20W lamps by I replacing the old 40W lamps. If so, why?
Yes they will work if they fit the fixture…. They will only draw the 20 watts they need to operate, so No, you will not blow the 20W lamps….
Ensure however that the lamps you will be using are rated for 220 volt operation… I am guessing you are in Europe since you mentioned the 220V ~50Hz so that shouldn't be a problem.
Can I grow an olive pit?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 15, 2009
I really want to start an indoor olive bonsai and I can't find any starter material since I live in Minneapolis Minnesota. Does anyone know how to start this and if the pits will grow? Thanks
Olives are treated with lye or brine to cure them before processing with spices. There are web site sources for olive trees though.
Monrovia nursery marketed Olea europaea 'Montra' under the trademarked name Little Ollie. You should be able to go to any good nursery, show them the info from Monrovia. and ask them to order it.
http://www.distinctivelybetter.com/PlantInf.nsf/709359cd399269ec8825684d0078b8fd/ec1ca51be83bdd288825684d0071ee17!OpenDocument
If you can't there are mail order plants.
http://www.treelandnurseries.com/index.php/page/product_view/item_id/9011278/LITTLE+OLLIE+(TM)+DWARF+OLIVE/
http://www.gardeningideas.org/bonsai/types-olive-bonsai.htm
http://www.dugzbonsai.com/olivehead.htm
http://www.amazon.com/Brussels-Black-Olive-Indoor-Bonsai/dp/B0000DGFCL
http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/olive.htm
Some species suitable for bonsai:
* Olea 'Cailletier': small black olive.
* Olea europaea: common olive – This Mediterranean native grows to 25 feet, with leaves of up to three inches.
* Olea europaea 'Montra': 'Little Ollie' olive, dwarf olive – An excellent choice for miniature bonsai, as the leaves are much smaller than the species, the 'Little Ollie' is becoming popular with bonsai enthusiasts.
* Olea europaea oleaster: wild olive – A natural bonsai subject, it produces less oil than the species, but has smaller leaves.
* Olea europea sativa.
* Olea 'Picholine': green olive.
* Olea 'Tanche': black olive
http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/olive.html
what is the best way to get moss to grow on slate indoor?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 9, 2009
i am trying to grow moss on slate to form part of a bonsai garden indoors
i would say to try to find a dark corner of the floor ,dig uo some moss with dirt attached and put it down where it recieves marginal light but alot of moisture, just a guess that would be how i try it
Suggestions easy indoor plants nothing to big please?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 7, 2009
I aready have lucky bamboo, norfolk pine and a Ginseng Ficus bonsai
oh and English ivy 8 )
pothos–marble queen or golden–both like bright, not direct, light
spider plant–bright, indirect, light
dracaena warneckii–good in very low light
any kind of philodendron
if you can keep a Norfolk pine alive, you should have no problem with these!
they`re usually found in any plant store.
How can I tell if my bonsai tree is healthy?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Feb 1, 2009
I'm particularly concerned with leaf color. Specifically, the tree is a Hawaiian Umbrella Tree (an indoor bonsai). Some leaves are thick ovals with a dark, rich green color and some are thinner, less defined ovals with a very light green color. I would assume the light green leaves are not as healthy, but those are found primarily at the top, while the dark green ones are found near the bottom, so I'm not sure if that is just how the plant develops.
Also, should I pick off unhealthy looking leaves?
Lastly, it is called an indoor bonsai, but the instructions mention leaving it outside in the spring, summer and fall. I'm not sure if these instructions are specific to my tree. Is it okay if it stays inside, by a window, perhaps?
Your tree sounds like its fine. Schefflera arboricola is the proper name for your tree in case you need to look up anything else.
The new growth on these is always a much lighter green color. They will also be smaller and not as well defined in shape. If it is a young plant, most all of the new growth will be at the top. You'll eventually see the same kind of growth from developing branches.
The Schefflera is a tropical plant. That is why it is called an "indoor" bonsai. It needs to be protected from temperatures much below 50 degrees F. All plant grow best outdoors. It's where they live 
So if you can, and as the weather allows, keep you plant outside. Just keep it out of full direct sun, it can't handle that. Also know it will dry out much faster outdoors.
Indoors will be OK for the tree. I would try to keep it in a bright location. One way to tell if it is doing OK inside would be to watch for "elongation" or "leggy" growth. This happens when the plant is not getting enough light. The spaces between the leaf stems (called "nodes") will get longer and longer as it reaches up for more light. While this is not really that bad, it doesn't help with keeping the bonsai style.
Also, as the leaves get older and the plant develops, the leaves will eventually die off as the "trunk" of the tree forms. First they will turn yellow, then brown, then fall off. This is normal, as long as it's not happening to the entire plant. You'll find that new branches will develop from where the leaf stems came out from the trunk.
bonsai tree recommendations?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 30, 2009
i want to purchase a bonsai tree online. i've never had one before. any recommendations of what type of bonsai tree i should get? i wanted something that is kind of tall and maybe has some color to it. also, do these indoor trees last a long time? i would think so since they are rather expensive. any tips and advice would be appreciated! thanks
You have taken the right first step by deciding that you want an indoor bonsai. Many people get an outdoor tree and try to keep it inside, and this results in death in about 6 months. Anyhow, please feel free to read the Bonsai Care page on my site:
http://www.american-bonsai.com , then proceed to the indoor bonsai pages that are separated in price categories. You'll notice that each bonsai has the height and approximate age. We can only ship live trees to the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Even if you are not in this area, you'll be able to get an idea of the type of tree you may want. If you have any questions, you're welcome to email me directly at:
wchoat@american-bonsai.com
Bonsai Tree Difficulty?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 24, 2009
I have a Miniature Indoor Bonsai Tree Garden, Tasmanian Eucalyptus tree, and I was wondering which container keeps the seeds. I have four things with the kit; a bag of what looks like soil, a plastic container with white stuff and some soil, an empty pot, and instructions.
The Instructions do not help by the way…
seeds are usually pre-planted in the soil, the 'white stuff' could be a bag of growing medium
Professional Bonsai Growing Tips -
www.expertvillage.com/video/426_bonsai-repotting.htm
How Often Should I Water My Bonsai Tree?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 20, 2009
It Is A Fujian Tea Tree.
How often should i water it (like how may times a day?)
And how many hours between each watering? (10-12 hours?)
How often should i mist it as well, and how many times per day?
It is an indoor Bonsai tree, kept in indirect sunlight. I keep the temperature in the house at about 70 degrees, which is the bonsai's desirable temperature.
All my bonsai's have done best outdoors in a covered area. Any I have brought indoors have "kick the bucket" on me. You can water way to much. The problem is that we do not know where you live. If I guess and say treat it like you would like to be treated, that should not be to far off. Good luck and hit the library and see what you may find.
Can Bonsai Cherry Blossom trees be grown indoors?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 18, 2009
Hi,
I am looking to acquire a Bonsai Cherry blossom tree (although they seem hard to find). Are they considered indoor bonsais? I would be growing it indoors.
Thanks,
Shelly
You are probably thinking of the Yoshino cherry trees that are popular in Japan and are planted around the Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC. If so, they are outdoor trees. There are indoor cherries such as Brush cherry, Surinam cherry, etc. They have blooms more often, but not as spectacular as the Yoshinos. You may want to read the Bonsai Care page on my site:
http://www.american-bonsai.com
What are good trees to use for indoor bonsais?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 14, 2009
I'm hoping to raise a new bonsai, having just killed off my last one after reading that it wasn't a good indoor breed.
Any help would be great! Thanks!
Any tree can be made into a Bonsai, but my favorite, and the easiest is a Banyan Tree, -though where you live might be too cold for that.
Need to identify small indoor fir tree?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 12, 2009
I have a small fir tree indoors–about 2 1/2 feet tall. I can't seem to identify what exactly it is, which I need to do in order to take care of it. The lower branches keep browning and drying out. I trim them off and it seems fine and perky for a while. Then a month later, the lower limbs brown and dry up again. Any ideas of web sites to visit? I have googled and don't find anything about indoor pines or firs except stuff on bonsai, etc… which this is nothing like.
treehelp.com
What happened to my bonsai tree?
Posted by Bonsai Care on Jan 6, 2009
I took good care of it…followed the directions…watered it…one day they were spraying something outside of my complex…the leaves on my bonsai turned white…i cleaned them off with water…about a week later little tiny white things appeared on the leaves…i cleaned them off and all the leaves fell off the tree except for about 10…what am i doing wrong? will new leaves sprout again? i have an indoor bonsai tree
i think the landscapers were spraying pesticides…it was diffused into the air…its called an indoor bonsai..that is all it says
You may have mites in the soil affecting the tree,or you may have watered it too much.Best thing to do. Take bonsai out of pot. Throw away old soil. Get new potting mix from garden center. Get plain mix without fertiliser. Wash roots of bonsai, plant back in soil. Only water when soil is dry on top. Remember it's a bonsai. Needs very little water.Occasionally feed with liquid fertiliser.Otherwise you may have to buy new plant.Good Luck!
