Beginner
Ø 16 × H 30 cm
Bonsai terrarium kits
A ginseng ficus bonsai, staged under glass with its companion plants.
Bonsai kits: our advice
A bonsai under glass: the ficus ginseng
Not every bonsai can live in a terrarium. Outdoor species need winter cold and open air. The ficus ginseng is a tropical plant: it accepts the warmth of a home and the humid air of a large container. That is why our bonsai kits are built around it.
What the kit contains, and what it needs
The kit brings together a container tall enough for the trunk and foliage, the layers of fill, the ficus and low companion plants that cover the soil. The ficus grows faster than understorey plants: plan to prune it regularly so that it does not touch the glass.
Give it bright light, without direct sun, and watch the mist during the first weeks. The guide Bonsai in a terrarium explains the limits of the exercise and the alternatives. For pruning, read Pruning a terrarium.
FAQ
Questions about bonsai kits
Can a bonsai live in a closed terrarium?
A ficus ginseng can, in a container that is large enough and well lit. An outdoor bonsai (maple, pine, juniper) cannot: it needs winter cold and open air.
Does the ficus in the kit need pruning?
Yes. Cut the shoots that get close to the glass, just above a leaf, and always remove what you cut.
