Have you always wished for a miniature tree version to have at home? Bonsai is your safest, cutest, and most gorgeous option to have indoors. If you're ready to get yourself involved in the bonsai world, whether this is your first or tenth bonsai, these are the top 10 best bonsai plants for your home.
Having Bonsai Plants at Home Will Elevate the Quality of Your Life
These days, it's crucial to have a green companion inside your house or place of business. Number one for your mental health, and number two for the physical part of it. Bonsai's green leaves help absorb the atmospheric pollutants, giving you cleaner air at home. They also enhance your space's stunning beauty, as if that wasn't too obvious.
The best alternative for bringing trees home in the majority of big cities where people struggle with a lack of space seems to be bonsai. Yes, you may accommodate trees without having a large lawn or garden. This is the greatest benefit of having bonsai plants at home.
But First Let’s Start With the Basics - What Is Bonsai?
It's crucial to understand where the terminology comes from and what it refers to if you're planning on adding these 10 best bonsai plants to your home.
The ancient living art of bonsai involves growing and training methods to create little trees that resemble their larger counterparts. Heavy crown pruning, root pruning, and root confinement in shallow containers are some of these methods.
Almost any perennial tree or shrub with a woody stem and true, actual branches can be taught to grow into a bonsai tree. But certain species are better adapted to bonsai cultivation than others. Others are well-known for being low-maintenance and hardy when planted as miniatures, while some bonsai tree species are more popular for aesthetic reasons. Time to reveal the 10 best bonsai plants for your home!
1. Juniper (Juniperus)
There are two key factors that make junipers a great bonsai plant for your home. First of all, this bonsai's miniature aesthetic works well with the small leaves, and secondly, junipers are tough trees that can tolerate severe trimming.
Make sure to place them in a bright, sunny spot in your house and allow their soil to dry slightly before watering.
2. Pine (Pinus)
Due to their hardiness and trainability, pine trees are a preferred bonsai plant for a home. In fact, practically any known bonsai style may be achieved using pine trees. The bark of pine trees ages to become scaly or flaky, and their needles appear in bundles of two to five.
Japanese Black Pine (Pinus Thunbergii), Mountain Pine (Pinus Mugo), Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris), and Japanese White Pine are among the species that are particularly suitable for bonsai.
3. Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum)
Deciduous hardwood trees known as 'Japanese Maples' is considered one of the 10 best bonsai plants for your home given their red-burgundy or green leaves that change to vivid red, orange, or yellow in the fall.
Japanese Maples require a lot of water, especially during the growing season, thus those bonsai aficionados with limited free time should be aware of this. Depending on the temperature, they can need watering every day or perhaps many times a day. But all in all, it's a real bonsai beauty.
4. Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus Serrulata)
Cherry trees are traditionally believed to signify friendship, and varieties such as the Japanese flowering cherry also make beautiful bonsai trees. These ornamental, deciduous trees are not only gorgeous, but they are easy to train because their branches and trunks are pliable and easy to shape, hence why they're one of the best bonsai plants for your home.
5. Cedar (Cedrus)
The rough, ragged bark of cedar trees has made them a popular choice among bonsai enthusiasts. Cedar trees are evergreen conifers that grow short needle clusters along their branches, providing an opportunity for very dramatic bonsai styles.
There are four cedar species frequently grown as bonsai: the cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libania), Cyprus cedar (Cedrus brevifolia), Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), and Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica).
6. Ginseng Ficus (Ficus Retusa)
Continuing with the list of the 10 best bonsai plants for your home, the ginseng ficus is a type of tropical bonsai tree that is loved by many. However, because it is a very resilient and forgiving tree, it is regarded as a fantastic species for beginning bonsai lovers.
In comparison to other common bonsai kinds, ginseng ficus is a low-maintenance bonsai tree that doesn't require as much light. It thrives in warm areas and bright, indirect light, making it a good interior houseplant.
7. Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina)
The weeping fig is a well-liked option for bonsai because of its lovely, umbrella-like canopy. Another attractive aspect that works well for a bonsai style is the tangled surface roots of the plant.
Ficus Benjamina is an attractive tree that is also tough and durable, making it an ideal bonsai plant for your home. It thrives inside and is frequently grown as a houseplant all year round.
8. Dwarf Jade (Portulacaria Afra)
A softwood shrub that is semi-evergreen and makes a great starting bonsai tree is the dwarf jade plant. Dwarf jades resemble the more popular jade variety (Crassula Ovata) in appearance, however, the dwarf jade is better for bonsai growth due to its smaller foliage.
While they flourish well indoors, dwarf jade bonsai trees require direct sunshine for the majority of the day, so make sure you find a spot to make your bonsai thrive with happiness.
9. Dwarf Boxwood (Buxus)
Popular shrubs like dwarf boxwoods make excellent bonsai plants for home because they respond well to pruning. Littleleaf Boxwood, also known as 'Kingsville Dwarf', is a species of dwarf boxwood that grows 30-50 cm tall and is ideal for bonsai and tiny gardens.
10. Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia)
Chinese elms, often referred to as lacebark elms, are a common choice for beginners to bonsai since they are simple to cultivate both indoors and outdoors but require extensive pruning. Its rounded shape and unusual multicolored bark, which exfoliates for aesthetic appeal, include colors of brown, gray, green, and orange. A Chinese elm bonsai will maintain a height of between 10 inches and 2 feet.
Now that you have a little more knowledge and background as to what Bonsai is and which ones are more suitable for a home environment, you can take a stroll to your plant shop and get your favorite. One thing is for sure: having bonsai at home can never, ever go wrong!
