12 Best Indoor Bonsai Trees for Beginners

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If you’re a bonsai lover and want to grow them as houseplants, save this list of Best Indoor Bonsai Trees for Beginners!

The beauty of the bonsai trees is second to none and they can be the object of desire in rooms. If you are a newbie and want to grow them, then you should try these Best Indoor Bonsai Trees for Beginners!

Compare to the outdoor plants, houseplants become great indoor bonsai specimens as they are far easier to grow and well accustomed to the low light environment. 

Check out our article on expert tips on bonsai for beginners here


Best Indoor Bonsai Trees for Beginners

1. Jade Plant Bonsai

Botanical Name: Crassula ovata

The best thing about the jade plant as a bonsai is you won’t need to train it much. It naturally looks like one.

Growing Tips: Since it’s succulent, be careful with watering.

2. Hawaiian Umbrella Bonsai

Botanical Name: Arboricola schefflera

Hawaiian Umbrella is easy to cultivate and maintain indoors, making it best for new bonsai growers. It looks quite good with glossy leaves on long petioles.

Growing Tips: Water moderately. Fertilize during springtime.

3. Juniper Bonsai  

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Botanical Name: Juniperus

These evergreen coniferous trees become great bonsai and you can even grow them indoors. Commonly, Japanese junipers are trained but you can also try California and Chinese junipers.

Growing Tips: Provide them sunlight or supplement with grow lights. Also, keep them on a drier side.

 4. Dwarf Jade Bonsai

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Botanical Name: Portulacaria afar 

The dwarf jade plant looks similar to real jade plant (Crassula ovata) but both are different, and if you’re new to growing bonsai, this should be your first plant.

Growing Tips: Provide warm indoor temperature to this African plant and it will live happily.

5. Ginseng Ficus Bonsai

Botanical Name: Ficus retusa

Ginseng ficus can be a successful indoor bonsai because of its fat trunk that gives it a mature appearance even when it’s young. Moreover, it doesn’t mind shade!

Growing Tips: Keep it at a location that receives morning sun.

6. Ponytail Palm Bonsai

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Botanical Name: Beaucarnea recurvata 

A great low-maintenance option for beginners looking for indoor bonsai types with no maintenance.

Growing Tips: Being a succulent, it loves being on a drier side.

7. Ming Aralia Bonsai

Botanical Name: Polyscias fruticosa 

Outdoors, ming aralia is a dwarf tree that doesn’t grow above 2 meters. This hardwood tree can be a perfect bonsai specimen in no time.

Growing Tips: The plant needs constantly moist soil to thrive so be careful with watering. 

8. Norfolk Island Pine

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Botanical Name: Araucaria heterophylla

Being an excellent indoor plant, you can train Norfolk Island pine as a bonsai with ease.

Growing Tips: Any place that gets 2-3 hours of sunlight would be great for the plant.

9. Money Tree Bonsai

Botanical Name: Pachira aquatica

Also considered as a token for good luck, the braided money tree looks like a trained bonsai without much maintenance.

Growing Tips: Read the growing guide here.

10. Desert Rose

Best Indoor Bonsai Trees for Beginners 8

Botanical Name: Adenium obesum 

A flowering succulent with a bulbous base, that makes it look like a bonsai from the very beginning. This low care indoor bonsai needs a sunny window to large tubular flowers.

Growing Tips: Provide enough sunlight and be careful with aphids and spider mites.

11. Malyan Banyan Bonsai

Botanical Name: Ficus microcarpa

Features a very smooth bark in a light gray color, which matches perfectly with the light green, oblanceolate leaves of 2 inches. 

Growing Tips: While it can survive in day-long bright indirect sunlight, warmth and humidity are must to grow it as a houseplant.

12. Chinese Elm Bonsai 

Best Indoor Bonsai Trees for Beginners 1

Botanical Name: Ulmus parvifolia

Chinese elm tree has a rugged thick bark and small green, double-toothed, slightly serrated leaves, which is like bringing woodland indoors. It’s easy to grow and adaptable!  

Growing Tips: Provide bright indirect light. Keep the soil neither too dry, neither too moist.

Also Read: Trees You Can Grow Indoors

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8 COMMENTS

    • Hi, I know they say that junipers won’t survive indoors, but I do have 3 juniper bonsai that I’m growing indoors. My first one I have had for 4 years and the other 2 almost 2 years. Unfortunately, I have lost a few in the past, but the survivors make it worth it.

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