Indoor Bonsai Tree Care

Juniperus rigida (Temple Juniper) is a species of juniper, native to northern China, Korea, Japan, and the far southeast of Russia (Primorsky Krai), occurring at altitudes of 10-2,200 m.

It is grown as an ornamental tree, often planted in temple grounds in Japan. It is also often grown as bonsai.

Increasingly used as a bonsai. A tall deciduous tree to 60′, hardy to zone 4; leaves ovate to 2″ and in 3-8 pairs. Tiered appearance with sturdy branching.

Recommended Temperature Zone: USDA: 4-11

Sun Exposure: Full sun to light shade

Origin: China and Korea

Growth Habits: Deciduous medium to large tree, 40 to 60 feet tall and wide (12-24 m); young branches have olive-green bark; bright to dark green, pinnately compound leaves, 6 to 10 inches long (15-25 cm), 7 to 17 leaflets

Watering Needs: Little to moderate water, needs good drainage

Propagation: Seeds, occasionally softwood cuttings under mist, most named varieties are grafted

Beautiful pine up to 60-90 feet in the wild, but with a slow growth. Young trunk and branches smooth and greyish. Bark becoming darker and scaly after. Quite hardy in zones 4-9.
The Japanese White pine has the most “artistic” growth habit of any five-needle pine. It is a top choice bonsai specimen and an extremely graceful landscape tree. Rather slow growing, green to blue-green in color and variable in height. Native to Japan.

This wonderful pine also makes a fantastic bonsai tree!

Has small evergreen leaves which remain on the tree year – round. They are hardy with excellent branching characteristics. Has a twisted trunk and exposed roots which give the appearance of great age. Easy indoor care.

A tough attractive tree capable of growing just about anywhere, bark is often patched in varying colours and fall foliage is yellow to reddish purple. A lovely park or landscape tree. Zone: 4
Grows To: 70 ft.

Eucalyptus is an enormous and fascinating genus. It comprises over 700 species, and accounts for more than two-thirds of Australia’s vegetation. It is unfortunate that they are frequently regarded as not being reliably hardy outside of the subtropics, because it discourages people from planting them in cooler areas. There are many reasons to plant a eucalyptus–to begin with, they help to control aphids and other insects, most of them will grow rapidly, even in poor soil (12′ per year is not out of the question), and most of them are very attractive–eucalyptus have a beauty all their own. And eucalyptus foliage, which shows incredible variety, is excellent for cut foliage in floral arrangements.

Unless it is to be grown as a pot plant for its entire life (more on that below), a eucalyptus seedling must be planted as soon as possible, before too many roots reach the edges and bottom of its pot. Eucalyptus ought to be planted when they are no more than 8 – 14 inches in height.

This tree is a native of Australia, but nowadays it is popular in European and American ornamental gardens. The foliage has an attractive silvery-bluish colour and a fine, aromatic fragrance which keeps gnats at bay. Growth is extremely rapid.

Japanese Wisteria (Wisteria floribunda)
Japanese wisteria was brought from Japan to the United States in 1860 by George Rogers Hall. Since then, it has become one of the most highly romanticized flowering garden plants. It is also a common subject for bonsai, along with Wisteria sinensis(Chinese wisteria)

The flowering habit of Japanese wisteria is perhaps the most spectacular of the Wisteria family. It sports the longest flower racemes of any wisteria; they can reach nearly half a meter in length. These racemes burst into great trails of clustered blue flowers in early- to mid-spring. The flowers carry a distinctive fragrance similar to that of grapes.

Japanese wisteria can grow over 30m long over many supports via powerful clockwise-twining stems. The foliage consists of shiny, dark-green, pinnately compound leaves 10-30cm in length. The leaves bear 9-13 oblong leaflets that are each 2-6 cm long. It also bears brown, velvety, bean-like seed pods 5-10cm long that mature in summer and persist until winter. Japanese wisteria prefers moist soils and full sun in USDA plant hardiness zones 5-9. The plant often lives over fifty years

Japanese cedar is a tall, cone-shaped evergreen with bluish green foliage and a massive trunk with thick reddish brown bark that shreds and peels in long strips. This is a fast-growing tree that, in its native habitat, can get more than 180′ tall with a trunk diameter exceeding 12′; ornamental specimens are rarely more than 60′ tall, though, and many of the named selections stay much smaller. The branches are arranged in horizontal tiers, ascending at first, then drooping near their ends. The flattened, wedge-shaped leaves are about a half-inch long and point forward, while their bases clasp the twigs. The leaves are overlapping and crowded in 5 ranks that spiral around and completely cloak the twigs.
Culture
Japanese cedar can grow to 25′ tall in just 10 years.
Light: Full sun to partial shade.
Moisture: Japanese cedar needs well-drained soil but plenty of water for best growth. Never allow the soil to dry out and mist if the humidity stays very low.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 6 – 9. In zones 6 and 7, expect the foliage to turn brown or purplish in winter.
Propagation: Japanese cedar can be grown from seed. Named cultivars are propagated vegetatively by rooting mature tip cuttings in late summer or autumn, or by layering. To start a new plant by layering, cram a section of branch into a pot or bury it in the ground. Water occasionally and in a couple of months the potted section will have roots, and you can sever the branch from the mother plant. Allow it establish for another month or two before moving. Young, well-rooted specimens transplant easily.

The Bamboo-Leaf Japanese Maple
(Acer palmatum scolopeudrifolium rubra) has amazing red leaves in the fall. They are deeply dissected, very long, and narrow. The foliage is so cut and long that it almost resembles bamboo. Hardy in zones 5-8. Also makes a great bonsai!

When choosing a location outside, keep in mind that this tree has a slow growth rate and it needs full or partial sun. It grows up to 8 feet in height and 8 feet in spread. Prefers well-drained soil that is rich in organic material.

A great landscape tree for zones 5-9. Grows up to twenty five feet in height but is often pruned shorter. Also makes an excellent bonsai specimen.

Busch reveals the mysteries of creating the dramatic, often startling miniature plants that typify the art of Bonsai. He highlights more than 30 native species of deciduous trees, shrubs, and conifers and explains the necessary elements of growing and shaping them. He offers detailed pointers on Bonsai’s aesthetic requirements, and numerous color photographs illustrate this art form that originated in China and evolved more fully in Japan. Written for newcomers, Busch’s manual yet provides helpful counsel to experienced gardeners, too. Alice Joyce
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.