By Thomas J.

For those who like to have their cake and eat it too, and by this I mean, if you like doing bonsai, and like to have a tree or two indoors, have you considered a buttonwood?

Anyone who has been into bonsai for a while, knows that most of your stock, especially the junipers, are outdoor trees. Most discovered this after their first purchase went belly up after a few short weeks sitting on the coffee table.

There are trees that can be brought indoors, but even those can't be subjected to low light positioning while inside. Some will do very good facing a southern window in winter months, while some will need high lighting such as fluorescent lights to meet their needs. You should also consider that even these trees should get some Spring and Summertime help by being outdoors for a good bit of the time. You also have to consider pest problems with trees that are indoors, especially when first introducing them to this environment, either for the first time, or when bringing them in for the winter months.

If you do decide to do some indoor bonsai, then tropical type trees are your best bet, and to me, one of the best to use is a buttonwood. Why? If you've ever seen a buttonwood bonsai in a show or in someone's collection, the first thing you'll probably notice is the beautiful driftwood on this tree. After it is lime sulphur ed and the wood takes on that nice white look, it is every bit comparable to many junipers that have the same thing.

It is also a tree that responds very well to being in a small container and used for bonsai.

Let me show you what I mean with a few of mine.

The first one below was purchased from a vendor at a local bonsai show. It was the last of the last as you can see from this picture.
 

It is one of those trees that you have to look far down the road to see its future, and that's what I did. After finding a new pot to do the training in, repositioning the tree and waiting for new growth was all that was necessary.

It didn't take long at all before my buttonwood was ready for a new pot and ready to be shown.

As for the driftwood on this one, the whole tree is practically one big piece of driftwood, with a small lifeline on the very left side of the tree. Just for the record, I didn't use any lime sulphur on this one. I decided from the start, that I would let it whiten up naturally, which I believe it did a beautiful job of also.

The next one was also purchased at a bonsai show, in fact from the same person as the previous one, only a few years apart. Notice how bad the leaves look on this one at purchase. I was kind of skeptical at first, but was very optimistic that I could make this tree not only look healthy, but stay healthy also. Plus I had a vision for this tree in the way I would style it.

Believe it or not, this is only one months training. Look at the leaves now, and also my plans for the way I intend to style the tree.

Now check this out. In only two months after purchase, look at the incredible difference from the first picture as compared to this one. Look at the amount of new growth I got in that short period of time. And whatever happened to all those nasty looking leaves?

Here is the tree now after one years training. Looks very healthy wouldn't you agree?

One thing to remember when doing indoor tropical bonsai, is that once the outdoor nighttime temps stay at or above 60 degrees, it's time to take them outdoors for the rest of the summer. Never let your buttonwood stay out with temps in the 40 degree range.

Some might make it, but most probably won't.

As for repotting them, only do this in mid summer when the temps are guaranteed to stay high for a while.

As for bringing them in at the start of the Fall, again keep an eye on the forecast, and when you are sure they will be staying in for the rest of the winter months, give them a shot of insect repellent to ward of those buggers before they even get a chance to do their damage.

From then on, keep an eye on the dryness of the soil, and water only when needed.

Many people also use humidity trays and whatnot. For me all that is necessary is something to catch the drained out water from the drainage holes. You might need to experiment if this is your first time doing indoor bonsai.

As for acquiring a buttonwood tree, check the online bonsai outlets to see who's selling them. Hopefully you can find a decent one at a decent price.

Good luck with your buttonwood, and I hope you have as much fun with yours as I do with mine.