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Bonsai is the art of the miniature tree: full trunks, tiny leaves and decades of character in a shallow dish. Current trees include Tamarindus indica and Ficus Retusa | Ficus Ginseng 'Bonsai Tree'. A bonsai asks a little more of you than the average houseplant and gives back more too. Browse our full houseplant range for easier companions.
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A bonsai is an ordinary tree species kept miniature through pruning, root management and a shallow pot. Nothing about the plant is dwarf by nature; the form is the product of ongoing care, which is precisely what makes a tree like Tamarindus indica so satisfying to keep.
Indoor bonsai are typically tropical or subtropical species that tolerate household temperatures year round, unlike outdoor bonsai which need a cold winter rest.
The shallow pot dries quickly, so checking moisture becomes a pleasant daily ritual: water thoroughly when the surface begins to dry, never on a fixed schedule. Bright light, out of harsh midday sun, keeps internodes short and leaves small. Ficus Retusa | Ficus Ginseng 'Bonsai Tree' suits a bright sill perfectly.
Trim new shoots back to a leaf or two once they extend, feed fortnightly in the growing season, and repot every couple of years in spring. For trees with similar presence but simpler care, see our tree-form plants.
They are demanding of attention rather than expertise: the shallow pot means watering needs checking most days, and light pruning keeps the shape.
Choose a tolerant indoor species to start, give it your brightest sill, and the learning curve is gentler than the reputation suggests. See the bonsai collection for current trees.
Check daily, water when the surface of the soil starts to dry, and soak thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes. In warm weather that can mean daily watering; in winter, far less.
Never let the shallow pot dry out completely, and never leave it standing in water.
Tropical and subtropical species, such as Ficus and Carmona, live happily indoors year round in bright light.
Temperate trees like juniper and maple are outdoor bonsai: they need winter cold and decline indoors. Always check which type you are buying.
For maintenance, trim new shoots back to one or two leaves once they have extended several. Sharp, clean scissors and little-and-often is the rhythm.
Structural pruning, removing larger branches to change the design, is best done in early spring and sparingly.
A move to a new position is the most common trigger, especially for Ficus, and the tree usually reflushes within a few weeks. Sudden temperature swings and dry rootballs do the same.
Keep the tree in one bright spot, water attentively, and avoid draughts and radiators while it settles.
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