For the most part, no. The vast majority of bonsai must be kept outside, unless you live in an area where it drops below freezing in the winter, and winterizing will be a future post. In the temperate Valleys of Southern California, that's not something we deal with routinely.
"Why can't I keep my tree inside? The bonsai truck guy said I could."
Unfortunately, for the cast majority of species, this isn't the case. Bonsai need about 5-6 hours of sunlight. The light from the sun is a spectrum of differing radiant waves, the lights in your home simply can't provide. The glass in your windows is manufactured to block out quite a bit of the spectrum a tree needs to survive and thrive. Without sunlight, your tree will grow weak and eventually die. This may take some time, but it WILL happen.
Additionally, your tree will benefit to exposure to daily and monthly temperature changes. Many species go through a yearly cycle triggered by regular cyclic changes of light and temperature. Trees benefit from exposure to breezes and moving air. The temperature and air in your home is stable thanks to your HVAC system.
So, the best thing for the health of your tree, which is, of course, the #1 concern of all bonsai practitioners, is to be outside during any time of the year above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Some trees, like junipers and pines, prefer direct sun. Others, such as maples, do better in shade during the hottest parts of the year.
Keep in mind a tree outside will dry out faster than it would inside.
Which leads us to watering.
"Care sheets" sent home with roadside, fair, and festival table bonsai may instruct you to mist or water your tree daily. Trees cannot survive with light misting as the only source of water. Water your tree well with a fine-holed water wand or watering can. Water the tree until you see the water flowing out the bottom. Wait about ten seconds, and water again. Some bonsai do not like to stay as damp as others. A bald cypress can live in a swamp. A juniper will die if not allowed to go almost totally dry between watering. Depending on the time of year, this could take a day, or three days.
This is why it is important to know the type of tree you have purchased, research its watering needs and check the soil daily in order to know when your tree is ready for more watering. There is no set schedule; season, temperature and wind conditions will change how often a tree needs more water. An elm in winter is dormant, and the pot will dry out slowly. A juniper in a shallow pot during the hot Santa Ana winds can dry out halfway through the day. Trees of the same species can also vary in how much they "drink" in a day.
Over time, you will begin to learn the needs of each of your trees, and feel much more comfortable with knowing when they need water.
"Wait, you said not ALL bonsai need to be outside, so..."
Right, ok. Ficus are tolerant of low humidity and are very resilient. They can survive indoors by a window. They must be turned regularly to avoid becoming weak on one side. There are several varieties of ficus that make good bonsai.
Other types that can tolerate living inside include the Dwarf jade and the Hawaiian umbrella (Schefflera)
Ficus, Dwarf Jade and Hawaiian umbrella trees will, in fact, do well outside, but don't tolerate freezing temperatures. When you do bring your ficus inside, it will throw a little tree tantrum and drop leaves due to the mild shock of moving inside. The tree will recover if you continue to water properly.
So, there you go; most bonsai are outside plants and different species have different watering needs that are best researched online at reputable sites.
"Wait, one more question."
Yes?
"I can just buy bonsai seeds from those kits online, right?"
Sadly, no. There's no such thing as "bonsai seeds", those are just tree seeds. You can grow a tree, but it will take years, even decades, before it would be something you could make into bonsai.
A better bet is to attend one of our workshops, in which the tree, soil, pot and wire are provided!
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