Traditionally, the bonsai tree can only be found in the ancient temples and gardens of Japan. But right now, everyone can take care of bonsai considering the climate, season, and the species of the tree. A bonsai tree has an aesthetical beauty that can lighten up one particular place or space in a room. That’s why some plant growers want this bonsai to be part of their bucket list.
In growing a bonsai tree, the grower must consider where they are going to put the bonsai. Indoor and outdoor placement of bonsai affects its optimum growth. Moreover, the seasonal changes in the weather can also be considered by the bonsai grower and the bonsai species.
Picking the Best Location
When choosing the best location for bonsai, indoor and outdoor are the two best options. Indoors can help to protect the bonsai tree from the harmful fiery of the sun and the freezing winter breeze that makes its leaves dry. On the other hand, the outdoors can help the bonsai absorb natural humidity that moisturizes itself. But don’t worry, growers don’t need to choose between these two bonsai placements. There are some methods or techniques for adapting bonsai for use both indoors and outdoors.
Bonsai Indoors Placement
However, most bonsai want an outdoor placement due to the natural lighting and high humidity. There are also still bonsai for indoors that the grower might consider taking care of, such as Dwarf Umbrella, Jade plant, and Snow Rose. They are the species that can adapt to a minimal source of sunlight. Here’s the placement method for the indoor-friendly bonsai:
1. Artificial or natural light will suffice
Depending on the species of the bonsai tree, some are not light-sensitive. They can be put south-facing beside the window to directly absorb the sunlight and start the process of photosynthesis.
Meanwhile, artificial light can also be considered, especially in the winter months when there is no source of light. Some of these artificial lights are fluorescent lights and LED or HID lights that growers can buy online or from a gardening shop. But the grower also reminds us of the accurate placement of the artificial light. Fluorescent lights must be six to eight inches away from the bonsai tree and LED or HID lights must be 20 to 24 inches away from the bonsai tree.
2. High Humidity
There’s no question that most bonsai trees enjoy water vapor in the air. These water particles are absorbed by the bonsai trees to make their bodies and leaves moist. But don’t worry! Bonsai growers can place their trees in open windows or well-lit bathrooms.
A bonsai grower can also purchase a humidity tray for their bonsai. This is designed to generate more humidity in the air because of the absorption of pebbles or charcoal by watering the tree. A humidity tray can help to maintain high humidity in the area, even in an indoor setup.
3. Avoid High Temperatures
Bonsai trees don’t like the extreme heat. The leaves of the bonsai can immediately dry due to the fast evaporation of water inside their bodies. That’s why it is best to put the bonsai trees in the shady yard if the sun sets at a high temperature. In some cases, indoor-friendly bonsai is dying due to the heat of the room. So bonsai growers must consider that their trees are in a well-ventilated place.
4. Pest Control
Pests are everywhere, especially the plant pests that can live in bonsai. Plant pests can harm the bonsai tree by producing diseases that might affect the health of the tree. Moreover, plant pests like to live in a warm environment like indoors. That’s why indoor-friendly bonsai must check its leaves and branches if there is a pest to kill. That’s why you put the bonsai in a place with decent airflow.
Bonsai Outdoors Placement
There are no worries for the growers because most bonsai are adaptable to outdoor placement. Most bonsai originates from the tropical and sub-tropical regions, such as Mini Jade, Olive, and Bougainvillea. They are species that can live under plenty of sunlight and temperatures that are below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. These bonsai species prefer humidity, which can be found indoors or outdoors. Here’s the placement method for the outdoor-friendly bonsai:
1. Rotation on the Outdoor
Sunlight is good for bonsai trees, but direct sunlight is not. Bonsai has two growing seasons, which are spring and autumn. That’s why the bonsai trees deserve plenty of sunlight. Remind bonsai growers to place them in the center and front. This is to absorb all the properly photosynthesized bonsai tree nutrients. Yet, like in the other story, the bonsai trees don’t like the extreme sunlight or heat. So the bonsai grower can put their bonsai around the shady part of the yard that is still absorbing sunlight.
One reminder to all the outdoor bonsai growers is to know their calendar or seasonal changes in their climate or weather. This is to make the bonsai rotate perfectly to the place where it can absorb plenty of sunlight. Moreover, it helps the bonsai tree to maintain its optimum growth and health.
2. Water Regularly
Due to the long hours of exposure to the sunlight, the bonsai becomes thirsty and dry because of its continuous photosynthesis. It is a slow process to see the effects of exposure to high temperatures, and it is hard to recover its health. This might affect its vibrance, which turns to brown or gold, and the wood is losing mass. That’s why the bonsai grower must rely on his might to water the tree regularly. Moreover, moving the bonsai tree to shady places like near-grown trees, fences, and other parts of the yard helps to converse the water in its body to its roots.
3. Winter Season Placement
Depending on the regions where the bonsai tree was taken care of, Winter is one of the seasons that one region can experience, and bonsai can take the frozen feeling outside. It might kill the bonsai by attacking its roots. That’s why the growers put them in different areas of their yards, such as a garden house or shed, and the garage, which is suitable for some growers. This method of enclosing the bonsai tree can protect it from the cold and keep it intact. The bonsai grower can also put in styrofoam, paper, or other thermal sources to heat them up and protect the roots of the bonsai tree.
Although the winter season has plenty of sunlight, it’s hard to put in and out of the bonsai tree. The other solution is to use artificial lights to sustain the growth of the tree even if it is slow. This artificial light can also help the outdoor bonsai stay alive and warm in the winter season.
Now! Where Should You Place Your Bonsai for Optimum Growth?
Always remember the methods and practices mentioned above and ask yourself what bonsai specie you want to take care of. This will help you to understand more about the different kinds of bonsai trees and how to place them in the right spot. Read it carefully each way.
1. Identify the Bonsai Species
They are different species of bonsai and they have different characteristics. Some are into the outdoors and some are into the indoors. This may contribute to the placement of the bonsai tree. Moreover, those species have different needs that can develop their optimum growth.
2. Understand your Geographic Calendar
It may sound difficult, but knowing the pattern of the seasons in your country, such as summer, autumn, winter, and spring, or one or two of those, is nothing. It can help you with the timing when it’s the time they need something more or less.
3. Practice Different Styles of Rotations
There are times that the bonsai tree needs sunlight at different angles of its body. This means that there is a month when one side requires more sunlight exposure and the other side requires less. That’s why you need to identify the species of your bonsai. Understand your geographic calendar and don’t forget to rotate your bonsai tree.
4. Invest
Having a plant is like having a child or pet. They need equipment and materials to achieve optimum growth. They need fertilizer to enrich their bodies, different pots because they change their bodies or roots, and more. Moreover, investing in the bonsai tree is also a profitable one, but it needs your attention, patience, and money.
Picking the best location for your bonsai tree has a lot to consider, but if you master them, it will be easy now for you. It will thrive from its optimum growth, and it will be satisfying. Moreover, having a bonsai tree is a way of artistically molding something or someone. Mastering the placement and rotation of the bonsai tree is like teaching yourself to redirect toward harmony, patience, and good luck.
