名媛直播

Hello everyone. I am new to this forum. My wife and I decided we want to purchase a large bonsai tree for our living room. But before we do we are both doing our research and making sure we understand the basics to ensure our bonsai tree will thrive in our home.

We live in New Jersey. Our living room has very limited sunlight. We need to purchase one or more "grow lights" (not sure what this type of lighting is called). That is, we can mount multiple lights in the walls and ceiling that will surround the tree with enough light to thrive. Those lights can be connected to a timer that can provide as many hours of sunlight as needed, as well as control the intensity (e.g., the lights slowly increase in intensity to simulate a sunrise).

What I have found absent on all of the forums I have reviewed on the Internet is a discussion on lighting requirements, placement, distance from the tree, type, etc. I found two web pages that compare the effectiveness of fluorescent and led lighting, as well as trying to determine which is superior (with conflicting results). But none of the web sites and forums I have found on the Internet explain how much lighting will be required, their placement, number of hours, tools to measure if the lighting is adequate for the bonsai tree, etc. I know many people grow their small bonsai tree indoors with a simple lamp, but what about the larger ones? My intuition tells me that one lamp may not be sufficient for a larger, indoor tree. Also, since this tree will be a display piece in a living room, we will be hiding the lights (like recessed lights) in the walls and ceiling.

I have joined this forum in the hopes that someone here has some expertise or experience with identifying the lighting requirements. The tree we want will be a flowering tree, like Azalea or Bougainvillea. The largest tree we are considering has the following dimensions (although most likely the tree we buy will be slightly smaller): Width 48 inches; Height 43" inches; Depth 38" inches. The tree will be placed in a corner of our living room with a custom-built display table, along with a large humidity tray underneath the pot. The windows are not close enough to provide adequate sunlight. Also, living in New Jersey, there are considerably fewer days of sunlight compared to more tropical regions like southern Florida. The temperature will be room temperature and perhaps slightly higher due to the multiple lights focused on the tree itself. Providing proper watering, fertilizing, etc., will be very easy. During the summer months I can bring the tree outside.

Can anyone help me with my questions assuming we purchase a Bougainvillea tree with the above dimensions:
(1) Is it possible to grow this type of tree indoors? Or should we consider something completely different?
(2) What type of lighting will I need? Can you provide URL links where I can read about or purchase those lights? I am open to fluorescent and LED lighting as long as they are bulbs, not the long fluorescent tubes.
(3) How do you know how much lighting a tree needs? I am assuming the larger the tree the more light it will need.
(4) How close do the lights need to be to the tree? In our living room, some of the lights will be further away since the walls are further away from the tree. I can compensate for distance by purchasing bulbs with increased wattage for those positions.

Many thanks for your help!

You need the tree only for deco purposes if I understand you right? If thats the case, my shot would be to go with ficus as they are best for beginners and dont require much and can cope with tough conditions. They are not suckers for light and do fine with misswatering. Still, they will need proper attenetion. Have in mind that going into the real 名媛直播 requires true dedication and many years of learn and work. In your case ficus will do ok as tree in a pot. For each plant there are certain requirements in meaning of light, watering, temperature etc. You have to research on your chosen one, read bonsai books, articles in internet or watch youtube videos - there are plenty. Good luck ; )

Bougainville could work.However, if you are going to buy a bonsai that size, I presume the store can help you find an interior decorator that is able to provide the right light condition. It will not be easy to find a bonsai that size.

Persnally, I would not want to use bonsai for what you have in mind, but rather just get a houseplant. Perhaps a trimmed one. But bonsai are hard enough as it is, without trying to keep them as houseplants.

Azalea will eventually succumb.

Emilio wrote: What I have found absent on all of the forums I have reviewed on the Internet is a discussion on lighting requirements

That's true and it is because practically no one does it. Trees belong outdoors.

Thank you for your feedback. Given the difficulty of trying to grow the trees with flowers indoors, I am open to switching to one of the evergreens.

I have found some new information on fluorescent lighting for bonsai trees. I have encountered many people on forums who live in colder climates do grow their trees indoors.

Regarding using the tree as a deco piece...my wife and I are doing considerable research before buying anything. We both know the time and long-term commitment. For example, when we go on vacations, we found local nurseries that will care for the tree while we are gone.

Also, I do not find any typical house plant that can capture the beauty of a mature and healthy bonsai tree. In my opinion, there is no substitute. I have admired these trees for decades. Due to frequent travel schedule for work, graduate school, etc., I was never in a position to properly care for a bonsai tree until now.

Instead of the Azalea or other flowering tree, I am thinking a juniper, elm, or maple tree. However, I would prefer something highly unusual or difficult to come by. Does anyone have suggestions?

Thanks!

Emilio wrote: Instead of the Azalea or other flowering tree, I am thinking a juniper, elm, or maple tree. However, I would prefer something highly unusual or difficult to come by.

Do mmore research. None of these will in the long run live indoors. As aukk sais. Trees belong outside. Very few people can grow bonsai indoor permanently. Some people keep them alive indoors because they are tropials that die in frost.

Emilio wrote: Also, I do not find any typical house plant that can capture the beauty of a mature and healthy bonsai tree. In my opinion, there is no substitute. I have admired these trees for decades.

All real, beautiful, mature and healthy bonsai are outside. 名媛直播 are only brought indoors for very short periods, for example for an exhibition.
名媛直播 need to be very healthy, growing and thriving. There are plants that survive indoors, but merely surviving just isn't sufficient for subjecting a tree to the sometimes radical techniques that are being applied to bonsai. You really need a perfectly healthy, strong tree for that. The climate indoors just won't do.

I am thinking a juniper, elm, or maple tree

I agree with Leatherback - these will not survive indoors. They may live for a while, but as bonsai that life will be short.

However, I would prefer something highly unusual or difficult to come by. Does anyone have suggestions?

You're inexperienced, and still you want something unusual. Unusual means less suitable or more difficult than the trees that are regularly used.
Bad idea. I'm not really sure if you are getting into bonsai for the right reasons. Actually not sure if you are getting into bonsai at all.

Thank you for your candid feedback. Based on what I have learned the past few weeks, I think I am going to take a step back and just admire these trees from a distance (as I have for decades). Growing anything outdoors is not possible where we currently live. Thus, trying to grow a bonsai tree indoors will do more harm than good.

Reading your last post you seem a wise guy to me. If you have real passion for bonsai I encourage you to not step back, but start your personal endeavor in the world of the small trees. I still stick to my suggestion with the ficus, this could do (well) in your situation, at least for start. You may want to join bonsai club as well, you are not required to own a bonsai in order to work with bonsai, you can get a good start there. If there is will, there is way. Good luck and hope to read from you again. Cheers.