Location, location, location
While some of our first forays into bonsai may have been from a store or roadside bonsai truck, we are often told that they can be indoor plants. In fact other than a select few tropical species, most bonsai trees are to be kept outdoors.
Your local climate is important to selecting and growing specific trees. It is helpful to know your hardiness zone when selecting plants.
I am fortunate to live in Zone 10a, but our dormant (freeze) period is short and mild.
Tropical & Subtropical Trees that grow indoor.
The most common, and the easiest to care for, is the Ficus Bonsai. The Ficus is tolerant of low humidity and is very resilient, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
Other popular indoor Bonsai include the Dwarf jade, the Fukien tea (Carmona), the Hawaiian umbrella (Schefflera), and the Sweet plum (Sageretia). If you select one of these trees and care for it properly, your Bonsai will thrive indoor.
Why can’t I keep temperate, nontropical, Bonsai indoor?
Temperate trees need a period of dormancy in the winter. In this period of dormancy, the yearly growth cycle ends, and the tree prepares for the next cycle which will start again in early spring. A tree becomes dormant when temperatures and light intensity gradually decrease over several weeks, which does not happen when you keep temperate trees indoors. Tropical and subtropical trees do not need this period of dormancy.
