Want a Bonsai Tree for my new office
- Thread starter Jeff7181
- Start date
- Aug 21, 2002
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BrokenVisage
Lifer
- Jan 29, 2005
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- Aug 21, 2002
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Bee4945
Senior member
SlitheryDee
Lifer
- Feb 2, 2005
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All I can think is why? Why would you want to add another thing you have to attend to at work? I guess everyone's job isn't as stressful as mine, but still...
Miramonti
Lifer
- Aug 26, 2000
- 28,651
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Wow, lighten up.
Sounds like you need something like a bonzai to take your mind away from the stress. A little water each day, perhaps grabbing a cup when refilling the coffee cup, is a minor task for maintaining an awesome looking tree. I've always appreciated green plants in the office.
Phoenix86
Lifer
- May 21, 2003
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Not that I know everything about bonsai, but I would select another easier to look after plant for your office. Something like a chilli pepper, or a herb, or something. Something fast growing and tolerant of sunlight.
If you do want a bonsai, you will need a south facing window (I'm assuming you are in the states). If your window does not face south, forget about it. Trees need large amounts of light - north facing will kill them. Also put it as close to the glass as possible.
Species - I'd recommend a ficus of some kind. Most of them are more tolerant of indoor conditions than other species, and fairly easy to look after.
Could you leave it for a weekend? Yes, I think you could, depending on the amount of light it receives and how hot it will be in your office. The more light it receives, the faster it will dry out, obviously. But most trees can survive on the water available in the soil for a day or two at least. Just water it when you get in on Monday.
You'll probably end up having to buy what is called a mallsai. Mallsai are mass produced, not very good, bonsai available everywhere. I believe they are mass grown in China. Compared to "proper" bonsai, they are much cheaper, and in my opinion, much less attractive. But then I am a bonsai snob.
If you just want a little bonsai to look interesting, a Ficus (Fig) mallsai is fine. If you want something that looks amazing, or if you want a species not normally recommended for indoor growing, hire a company to look after it for you. I wouldnt want to spend $1000 on a bonsai only to kill it with inexperience!
When you water it, just pour enough water in until it starts to leak out the bottom. Wait until the top is dry before doing it again. Make sure that the water can drain out the bottom, and never allow it to dry completely.
Species definitely NOT suitable for indoor growing:
Most deciduous trees.
All conifers, without exception.
Nearly all flowering trees - cherries, azaleas, etc
Species that might be suitable for indoor growing (note the might!):
Tropical evergreen trees.
If you do want a bonsai, you will need a south facing window (I'm assuming you are in the states). If your window does not face south, forget about it. Trees need large amounts of light - north facing will kill them. Also put it as close to the glass as possible.
Species - I'd recommend a ficus of some kind. Most of them are more tolerant of indoor conditions than other species, and fairly easy to look after.
Could you leave it for a weekend? Yes, I think you could, depending on the amount of light it receives and how hot it will be in your office. The more light it receives, the faster it will dry out, obviously. But most trees can survive on the water available in the soil for a day or two at least. Just water it when you get in on Monday.
You'll probably end up having to buy what is called a mallsai. Mallsai are mass produced, not very good, bonsai available everywhere. I believe they are mass grown in China. Compared to "proper" bonsai, they are much cheaper, and in my opinion, much less attractive. But then I am a bonsai snob.
If you just want a little bonsai to look interesting, a Ficus (Fig) mallsai is fine. If you want something that looks amazing, or if you want a species not normally recommended for indoor growing, hire a company to look after it for you. I wouldnt want to spend $1000 on a bonsai only to kill it with inexperience!
When you water it, just pour enough water in until it starts to leak out the bottom. Wait until the top is dry before doing it again. Make sure that the water can drain out the bottom, and never allow it to dry completely.
Species definitely NOT suitable for indoor growing:
Most deciduous trees.
All conifers, without exception.
Nearly all flowering trees - cherries, azaleas, etc
Species that might be suitable for indoor growing (note the might!):
Tropical evergreen trees.
StrangerGuy
Diamond Member
- May 9, 2004
- 8,443
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SkullWalker
Member
- Mar 22, 2012
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Jeeez, bonsai..
Buy a carnivorous plant like this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_flytrap
And everybody in the work will know they are dealing with a bad ass!
Buy a carnivorous plant like this one http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venus_flytrap
And everybody in the work will know they are dealing with a bad ass!
edro
Lifer
- Apr 5, 2002
- 24,326
- 68
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Indoor bonsai are rarely successful for average owners. The only trees capable of living indoors for over a few seasons are tropical trees that are used to heat/humidity year round. These include ficus, schefflera, fukien tea, chinese elm (can be tropical or not), etc.
All tropical trees are genetically programmed for high humidty, high sunlight, high temperatures. When you move them indoors, they generally have low humidity, low light and a "winter" temperature. Remember these trees grow in the tropics, so 70°F is not "warm"... it is like a winter temperature for them.
To simulate their natural environment, they need to be in a very sunny window and a humidity tray would be good. In the winter, windows can get very cold, so a ficus might get pissed and drop all of its leaves.
Being indoors, it can usually last 3-4 days without watering, but this hugely depends on the soil amount, type, pot type, temperature, sunlight, type of tree, etc.
If you want your tree to have the best chance of survival, I recommend a schefflera. They are not the stereotypical bonsai tree (juniper, pine, etc), but they are the most difficult to kill and can survive in bad environments very well. If you keep chopping it back, it can stay small sized and can develop into a really nice looking tree.
I have over 40 trees, ~15 of which are tropical. In the winter, I keep mine in my basement under high powered fluorescent lights.
All tropical trees are genetically programmed for high humidty, high sunlight, high temperatures. When you move them indoors, they generally have low humidity, low light and a "winter" temperature. Remember these trees grow in the tropics, so 70°F is not "warm"... it is like a winter temperature for them.
To simulate their natural environment, they need to be in a very sunny window and a humidity tray would be good. In the winter, windows can get very cold, so a ficus might get pissed and drop all of its leaves.
Being indoors, it can usually last 3-4 days without watering, but this hugely depends on the soil amount, type, pot type, temperature, sunlight, type of tree, etc.
If you want your tree to have the best chance of survival, I recommend a schefflera. They are not the stereotypical bonsai tree (juniper, pine, etc), but they are the most difficult to kill and can survive in bad environments very well. If you keep chopping it back, it can stay small sized and can develop into a really nice looking tree.
I have over 40 trees, ~15 of which are tropical. In the winter, I keep mine in my basement under high powered fluorescent lights.
Last edited:
dawp
Lifer
- Jul 2, 2005
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Thanks for the info. I wouldn't be getting an expensive plant at first, $50 max, $20 or $30 if I can find a decent one for that price. Just something for me to learn what it takes to maintain one in my environment (my office) and see if it's viable. If it is, I might end up with 2 or 3 of them in front of my window. The window is south facing, by the way.
I did a little research on different types of trees and it sounds like a Chinese Elm would be suitable for indoors, and also look quite nice. It seems they can be had for $30 or $40 online... but I'd likely buy locally, if I can find them. What do you think?
edro
Lifer
- Apr 5, 2002
- 24,326
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Chinese elm is ok, but they are more difficult to keep alive than ficus and schefflera.
They never seem to do well inside. They are semi-tropical, so ideally, they would still have a cold/dormant period. When they grow year round, they do not have time to rest and focus on root grow as normal deciduous do.
IKEA has been known to have chinese elm, fukien tea and ficus for really cheap.
2 online suppliers I highly recommend for tropicals are:
www.brusselsbonsai.com
www.wigertsbonsai.com/store/
Keep in mind, the tree in the photo usually isn't the exact tree you receive.
They never seem to do well inside. They are semi-tropical, so ideally, they would still have a cold/dormant period. When they grow year round, they do not have time to rest and focus on root grow as normal deciduous do.
IKEA has been known to have chinese elm, fukien tea and ficus for really cheap.
2 online suppliers I highly recommend for tropicals are:
www.brusselsbonsai.com
www.wigertsbonsai.com/store/
Keep in mind, the tree in the photo usually isn't the exact tree you receive.
- Aug 21, 2002
- 18,368
- 11
- 81
edro
Lifer
- Apr 5, 2002
- 24,326
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Here is a schefflera I have had for about 12 years.
It started as a twig attached to a volcanic rock. (I have since attached it to a larger rock)
This photo is right after I removed all of the leaves (defoliated).
To keep schefflera leaves small and fresh, you can cut them all off once or twice a year, as long as the tree is very healthy. The same goes for other tropicals and deciduous.
http://i.imgur.com/W3QNC.jpg
It started as a twig attached to a volcanic rock. (I have since attached it to a larger rock)
This photo is right after I removed all of the leaves (defoliated).
To keep schefflera leaves small and fresh, you can cut them all off once or twice a year, as long as the tree is very healthy. The same goes for other tropicals and deciduous.
http://i.imgur.com/W3QNC.jpg
RPD
Diamond Member
- Jul 22, 2009
- 5,100
- 584
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