Bonsai Trees For Beginners

People often ask what are the best bonsai trees for beginners. Well, to put it simply, it depends. Two main factors contribute to a successful bonsai tree – water and location. Although, certain species of bonsai trees are undoubtedly easier than others.

With bonsai enthusiasts encouraging the plant to be grown outdoors, beginner bonsai gardeners usually want to keep their bonsai inside, with the idea of inviting good fortune into their home. However, realistically speaking, bonsai plants tend to grow best outdoors, with the sun, fresh air, and rain making your bonsai journey a whole lot easier. Nonetheless, there are some bonsai tree species that can be grown indoors, and bonsai beginners tend to start with these.

The Best Bonsai Trees For Beginners

Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

Elm Bonsai

Chinese elm bonsai tree tends to be one of the easiest bonsai trees as they’re not too expensive and have relatively small leaves. Chinese elms can be grown both indoors and outdoors, however, they grow best outside in the warmer seasons. Chinese elm bonsai is considered relatively easy to prune, as they sprout a lot of new shoots when the branches are cut back – the perfect beginner bonsai tree!

Juniper Bonsai Tree

Old Juniper Bonsai

Juniper bonsai trees are a classic, however, can only survive in an outdoor space. Due to the leaves growing in small segments, the scale-like foliage gives the illusion of a wild tree with an abundance of leaves, making them the perfect outdoor plant. Over pruning may weaken your juniper bonsai and lead to browning; however, they tend to be fairly forgiving and recover quickly, making them a perfect match for a novice bonsai gardener.

Ficus Bonsai Tree

Ficus Ginseng Bonsai tree

Ficus bonsai is considered the best bonsai tree for beginners, as they tend to grow well indoors and are extremely low maintenance. Ficus love a sunny location and have supple branches that bend effortlessly, making it fairly straightforward to shape with wire. Ficus trees are resilient and permissive regarding humidity, meaning growing indoors is convenient for both plant and gardener. Ficus bonsai trees are lenient regarding water, making them a popular bonsai tree for beginners when you’ve got enough on your plate!

Japanese Red Maple Bonsai Tree

Japanese red maple bonsai is perfect for beginners as they don’t require a large amount of expertise in bonsai care to keep them blooming. Scientifically known as Acer Palmatum, the plant doesn’t require too much sunlight and is pretty easy to cultivate. These bonsai trees require watering once a day during the cooler periods. However, twice a day is advised during the hotter months to produce a healthy growing bonsai.

Like the ficus bonsai, Japanese maple has flexible branches that react well to wiring. Regular pruning is an essential factor when it comes to keeping the shape and aesthetic of the tree and should be done on a regular basis to encourage branching and maintain its art form.

Jade Bonsai Tree

Are you looking for an indoor plant to spruce up your home and invite some good fortune along the way? Then baby jade is the bonsai for you. These bonsai can survive outside for the summer but, ideally are perfect for growing indoors.

Commonly called Portulacaria, baby jade or dwarf jade bonsai is a relatively easy bonsai species to begin with as they don’t need to be watered regularly- perfect for bonsai growers trying to incorporate their first bonsai tree around a busy schedule!
Note: bonsai experts advise avoiding over-watering baby jade as these bonsai species are more inclined to root rot.

Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai Tree

Are you a bonsai beginner who’s worried your poor watering habits will put an end to your bonsai journey before it’s even begun? Hawaiian umbrella bonsai have many essential elements that make it a superb choice for beginners, the first being that they’re not fussy with how often you water them, as long as the soil isn’t left to completely dry out. Another plus is that your Hawaiian umbrella bonsai will let you know if it’s been over or under-watered, with the leaves curling at the end if under-watered or turning black if over-watered!

Hawaiian umbrella trees grow well in lower lighting conditions, making them excellent indoor plants. Although they do tend to desire high humidity, this can be combatted by filling a humidity tray with water and pebbles and placing the pot on top, allowing the water to evaporate and humidify the air. Avoid placing a Hawaiian umbrella tree near dry areas of the house, such as fireplaces and heaters.