Bonsai Placement

BONSAI TREE PLACEMENT

Unless a bonsai tree is tropical or sub-tropical it must be kept outdoors at all times. An outdoor bonsai tree will die if it is kept indoors. Although they can be brought in a couple of days at a time during the growing season for special occasions, they should never be brought in during the winter. The tree must have a dormant season, a time of rest or hibernation which would be disturbed if exposed to an interior climate.

In the winter keep your bonsai tree in a protected area such as a southern facing wall or even a cold frame. Another good trick is to plant your bonsai tree pot and all right in the ground of a winter-sunny flower bed, garden or landscape area and mulch over it. This will assure a successful wintering of a bonsai in a climate that drops to near the temperature that the tree can tolerate.

USDA Hardiness zones, USDA hardiness zones are a climate map that shows the different temperatures of different areas and classifies them as a number. Most plants sold in the US will say the USDA zone on the tag to let you know if the plant will thrive in your area without special care. Other areas not on the map could use the USDA zone map as well by simply finding out your temperature range for your area and using the map key to find out what zone # you are. The lower the number the colder it gets so if you live in zone #7, you can keep varieties for 7 and any number lower.

Here is a link to a zone map, you can click on your area or the map key to blow them up for a closer look. USDA HARDINESS ZONES MAP

USDA hardiness zones as well as temperature ranges on plant tags will assume that your tree will be planted in the ground protected by the earth. Bonsai trees are very exposed to the elements in their shallow pots and small amounts of soil. I like to subtract two climate zones off of the actual zone I live in. The lower # the climate zone the colder it gets. Myself, being in Climate #8 consider it climate #6 with my bonsai trees. If I have a bonsai tree hardy to zone 7 or 8, I assume it will die without special care. Zone 8 plants should be kept in a cold frame to protect the delicate twigs as well as the roots from die back. Zone 7 trees I would mulch into the ground in their pots or just protect them from Northern exposure. And zone 6 plants I will assume are plenty hardy to handle the climate on their own even in a bonsai pot. Zone 9+ I will not bother with trying to keep at all unless they are tropical trees which can be kept indoors during the winter months.

For maximizing the bloom time of a flowering bonsai tree, move them to the shade while they bloom and keep the flowers from getting wet by the rain or watering.

During the hottest months of summer a bonsai tree may need watering several times a day if it is left in the direct sun and drying winds. Move your bonsai tree to a partly shaded position protected from the wind and afternoon sun on hot, clear days.

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