Bonsai tree good care guide

True bonsai trees are hardy picturesque trees that are trained to stay small, and are becoming increasingly popular in the West aided by modern culture and films such as the ‘The Karate Kid’. They should be grown outdoors in a sheltered location but may be brought indoors for only short periods as they do not thrive in artificial environments. For indoor bonsai the most suitable plants are those which are already adapted to living as house plants.

Cryptomeria japonica – The Japanese Cedar

A native of China and Japan the Japanese Cedar is an elegant, evergreen conifer which is small, leathery, awl-shaped, and has rich green leaves. In its natural state it grows to a height of fifty feet (15 m)

Good Care Guide

Keep the bonsai outdoors in a well lit or partially shaded position. In summer the plant may be brought indoors for no more than a few days at a time, but this will provide a good opportunity for trimming and sculpture of the side shoots and growing points. In winter plunge the pot into peat or sand if possible to protect the roots from frost. Prune the roots every autumn or winter and repot in bonsai or loam-based compost. Propagate by seed in spring or by heel cuttings in late summer