Dormsai? So many questions!

[aidan13]

Hello! I am new to bonsai, although I have been fascinated with the art for years now, and I have a few questions for those knowledgeable folks gracious enough to share their wisdom.

I am going away to school in the fall and I want a bonsai to keep in my dorm room while I'm at school. I have a junky little ficus benjamina that I have been attempting to grow as a bonsai, but I've really been flying blind with it, so I have no idea whether what I'm doing is correct or not. What I really want is a real bonsai that I can grow and develop into something beautiful. My stumpy, ugly little ficus is not this.

What kind of tree do you recommend for a college student living in a dorm room? I do not know what my room looks like, and will not until I move in, but I'm just assuming that it will not be ideal, lightwise. What is a forgiving tree that will not die if I look at it the wrong way? And that will do well indoors?

Also, are there any kinds of bonsai that grow more rapidly than others? I realize that patience is one of the defining characteristic of bonsai, but I would like to be able to see the fruits of my labors without having to wait a decade or two. I have heard good things about bamboo bonsai and herbal bonsai; what are your opinions? I also have seen some interesting bonsai plantings with bamboo that resemble bamboo forests, rather than single, or multiple trees. The places I've seen these have called them grass plantings or kusomono. Would a bamboo planting like this be easy to maintain and faster to achieve results than a traditional bonsai?

So yes, that's all I can think of at the moment. . . but I'm sure more questions will crop up soon. And I'll see about putting up a picture of my ficus so that you guys can offer any advice on that one if you'd be willing.

Thanks!

 

[Jessf]

dwarf schefflera is a good condidate for indoor low light levels. When you can give it plenty of sun it should grow fast and it's pretty difficult to kill.

 

[Ang3lfir3]

I'll be honest.... thats what you really want right??

a college student in a dorm... should not attempt to keep bonsai... you'll be too busy and your schedule too erratic to truly give the tree the attention it would need... plus... bonsai are outdoor plants... those that do grow bonsai indoors spend a lot of time, money and effort to do so... all things a college student doesn't have...

now... if you are going to school for horticulture or the like and can get some space in a greenhouse i think the story would be different ... but that may be harder than it sounds etc.

enjoy college... learn lots of stuff and if you can find an outdoor location to grow bonsai in... maybe give it a shot... try with your ficus first... if it survives your scholastic adventure.... then think about going further ....

if you just gotta get something else and don't like my above sentiments then maybe try a scheff ... don't be too hard on yourself if it doesn't make it or become a good looking bonsai.... once you get out in the world and make millions (that what college degrees do right ) then you can really start to go gang busters

 

[Jason]

Choice dorm material

I still have mine from my freshman year in college (circa 1989). It isn't the be-all end-all of bonsai species (Crassula), but it lived. (And believe me I wasn't burdened with its care). When I remembered I watered it.

It started out much smaller. Now it's a two man tree. (almost like its a succulent and full of water)

Excuse it's present form. It just got trimmed back hard.

 

[Kevster]

What you are asking for is something that grows fast, is very forgiving, doesn't need all your attention (in case you miss a watering) is great for a beginner and can be kept indoors.

Well as stated indoors in no place for a tree. Schiffelara is all I just listed though. It can survive with almost no nourishing light what so ever.
Because I don't know if you will have a window or how much natural sunlight would be available I can't say your Ficus B is a good candidate. But I can say if your room had a window that did get light from the sun, I don't think there IS a better faster growing more forgiving bonsai than a ficus b. I have many of them, bring them indoors every winter and my young trees just about double their size every year. Ficus are amazing bonsai and have some of the best abilities to be so. Use google images to see what one looks like. And here is a link any beginner or for someone who wants to go tropical (that's what you will need to have any chance growing indoors) with their bonsai.
http://www.bonsaihunk.8m.com/
Read everything there. Then read it again. There is a lot of info to take in. The man is a tropical (especially ficus) genius.

 

[milehigh_7]

Natal plum is a good indoor choice. It DOES NOT grow fast however.