Growing a bonsai difficult? It depends almost entirely on which tree species you pick and where you plan to keep it. Choose a forgiving species that fits your space and bonsai becomes no harder than a houseplant. Pick a fussy species that needs conditions you can't provide and you'll struggle from day one. The species decision makes or breaks your experience.
I learned this lesson firsthand with my own trees. My first bonsai was a ficus retusa that I kept on a bright windowsill indoors. That tree forgave every mistake I made. I forgot to water it for three days once and it bounced right back without dropping a single leaf. Then I bought a Japanese maple because I loved how they looked. That tree punished me for every small error. It needed outdoor cold in winter to go dormant and hated direct summer sun. It dropped leaves if I moved it too far from its usual spot. Same hobby, but a very different challenge just from the species I picked.
The best bonsai for beginners can handle missed watering days and bounce back from bad pruning cuts. Ficus retusa tops the list for indoor growing since it handles low humidity and bounces back from neglect. Chinese elm works great for either indoor or outdoor settings because it grows fast and heals pruning wounds within weeks. Jade plants store water in their thick leaves and survive if you forget to water for a week. These easy bonsai species give you room to learn without killing your tree in the process.
Ficus Retusa
- Best setting: Indoor growing near a bright window with at least 4 hours of indirect light per day works well.
- Forgiveness level: Tolerates missed watering sessions and recovers fast from overwatering, making it hard to kill by accident.
- Growth speed: Produces new shoots within weeks of pruning, so you can practice shaping without waiting months for results.
Chinese Elm
- Best setting: Works both indoors and outdoors in most climates, giving you flexibility that other species don't offer.
- Forgiveness level: Heals pruning wounds fast and pushes new growth even after heavy cuts, which builds confidence early on.
- Growth speed: One of the fastest growers in bonsai, producing visible changes in just a few weeks during the growing season.
Jade Plant Crassula
- Best setting: Bright indoor spot with direct sun for 3 to 5 hours keeps this succulent bonsai compact and healthy.
- Forgiveness level: Stores water in its thick fleshy leaves, so forgetting to water for 7 to 10 days causes no real damage.
- Growth speed: Slower than ficus or elm but develops a thick woody trunk over time that looks impressive for its size.
The right species choice removes most of the challenge, but how you start also matters. Skip growing from seeds unless you enjoy waiting 2 to 5 years before your seedling is thick enough to even begin training. Buy nursery stock or a pre-styled starter tree from a bonsai shop instead. You'll get a tree with an established trunk and root system that's ready for your first pruning session right away. This shortcut saves you years of frustration and lets you practice the fun parts of bonsai from the start.
Match your tree to your space and your schedule. If you travel often, pick a species that handles drought. If you only have indoor light, stick with tropical varieties. If you want a tree that changes with the seasons, go with an outdoor deciduous species and accept the extra care it needs. Bonsai gets a reputation for being hard because people buy the wrong tree for their situation. Pick the right match and you'll wonder why anyone called it difficult at all.
Read the full article: Bonsai Trees: A Complete Guide
