Suitable indoor pine bonsai

Reza · White Belt Joined: 25 Jun 2005 Posts: 1

Hi,

Im new to the world of bonsai and currently only have 1 (Chinese Elm) which is doing well.

I live in a flat with no garden and would like to get some more indoor bonsai trees.

I particuly like pine type trees what I have seen but they have all been outdoor. I was wondering if there are any suitable indoor pine leaved trees?

Cheers
Paul

Dick · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

Hi Reza and welcome to this forum. I'm sure that you will find it just about the most user friendly place to be to have your questions answered.

And welcome to "Bonsai." However, I want to warn you. As being one who have been involved in this hobby for over 35 years, I can honestly tell you that having one tree is virtually impossible, especially when you start to see possible bonsai trees in your neighborhood gardens and elsewhere.

Your Chinese elm i a good starter tree. It's is very easily grown and it recover well when it has a problem, e.g. insufficient water. However, hearing that you live in an apartment, I'm a bit concerned because Chinese elms are often sold as "indoor bonsai," which they are not! They are outdoor trees and need to be outdoor for their best health. Otherwise they become very weak and can easily succumb within one growing season. So if your apartment has a terrace or a fire escape, you can and should place your elm outdoors especially for this growing season and then learn more about its care before winter comes.

As for your question about an indoor pine tree, the sad thing is that there are none. Pines need the winter cold to set new growth for the following year and living indoors does not provide that. So they are outdoor trees. However, there are other trees that are good indoor candidates. One is a fukien tea, which is pretty available and easy to grow, or a schefflera (umbrella tree) or a ficus. Those are good for beginners. You will also find serissas (tree of a thousand stars) also available, but they are very difficult to grow indoors unless you have a greenhouse.

And finally, I highly recommend that you become a registered member of this forum. For the small fee involved, there is a ton of very good information from many members who have loads of experience with the trees that are commonly used for bonsai. Plus you'll be able to participate in all sorts of discussions as you continue to learn about this hobby and to see photos of actual trees that member have and the trees that they are working on.

Good luck, Welcome again and come back with any questions that you have.

steve · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

I have always wanted a needle bearing tree for indoors as well Reza. In my searching I have found out there isn't one. Unless it is a tropical tree it won't survive indoors.

StaceyR · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:44 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

I read somewhere that there is a juniper native to some region tropic region. I don't remember where I read it or where it was from but a websearch might do some good.

jimothy · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 6:49 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

I think the closest thing to an indoor conifer you'll find is Podocarpus, or "chinese yew" (not actually a member of the yew family, of course)

steve · Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

That did cross my mind but I don't know enough about them to recommwnd. Do they truly grow year round indoors?

Jackyboy · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

The Filao Tree, is a native conifer to the tropics. There are lots of them around here specially at the sea side, they will grow on the higher grounds of the island where the temp is the lowest. I would say 10-40+degrees celcius.

It looks like a juniper....

Google search...

http://members.chello.be/cr28796/CasuEqui.JPG

Dick · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 2:55 am Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

It would seem to me that the foliage would be hard to maintain. Watch the tree so that seeds can come out at this time of the year.

Jackyboy · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2005 12:36 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

Loads of seeds around, cost 2Pence per tree at the ministry of agriculture Cool

andrew lenden · Yellow Belt Joined: 11 Sep 2004 Posts: 92

if you are set on trying a pine indoors, try the mediteranian stone pine, pinus picea, quite often found for sale as houseplants around christmas or easily raised from seed, regards andrew

Techn1um · White Belt Joined: 01 Jul 2005 Posts: 14

Hi Reza

Cant help you as am new to this forum too but everyone is so helpful.

Welcome to the forum!!!! Smile

and good luck

LiteratiLarry · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

You can get a succulent equivalent, called the Miiature Pine Tree which definitely is an indoor plant:

http://images.google.co.uk/images?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8& rls=GGLD,GGLD:2005-18,GGLD:en&q=crassula+tetragona

I have one as a mame pine style literati here:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Dawnrider/Bonsai/crass.jpg

Dick · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:01 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

Hi LLarry,

Good to see you back again!

LiteratiLarry · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

Hi dick, I've been lurking,trying to get back into my guitar,sorting my sun loving succulents out(need a greenhouse!) and working on some bonsai.

Heres a link to a cotoneaster I have:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/Dawnrider/Bonsai/cotoneaster_fra nchetii002.jpg

I think its C.franchetti.

Stymie · Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:28 pm Post subject: Re: Suitable indoor pine bonsai

Dick got it in first this time Laz. I'd been thinking that its a