Flower and Plant Bonsai

A: Many plants are suitable for bonsai, including evergreens and deciduous trees. Good choices for flowering bonsai are azaleas, cherry blossom trees, and Fukien tea trees. Flowering tea trees, such as the Fukien tea tree, produce small white flowers and berries year-round when kept in the correct climate.

A: Some flowering bonsai, such as Ficus and Hawaiian Umbrella trees, can be grown indoors. These trees need shade cloth to get used to indoor environments. They still need light and water to thrive indoors.

A: The life of a flowering bonsai depends on the species and care. Some flowering trees may live shorter lives than conifers like junipers and pines. But with good care, many can live for decades. Cherry blossom bonsai can live for several decades with proper care.

A: When choosing a first bonsai, consider the desired shape. Select a species with a good basic shape. Ficus varieties or Hawaiian Umbrella trees are often suggested for beginners because they adapt well to indoor environments and are relatively easy to care for.

A: Bonsai styles, such as upright, slanting, cascade, and semi-cascade, are based on the overall shape and how the trunk slants away from a vertical axis. Styles like formal upright and informal upright are considered easier for beginners. The cascade style, which often looks like a tree growing down a rock, can be striking with flowering species.

A: A basic bonsai kit should include a concave pruner for making clean cuts that heal well. Over time, you can get branch cutters, knob cutters, and wiring pliers. Wire of different strengths (copper or aluminum) is also needed for shaping branches.