Bonsai Palm Tree

Palm trees are typically used for landscaping and ornamental purposes, as many species can grow exceptionally tall and fast. Some species can max out at about 10 feet, making them excellent as indoor houseplants. But what if one wants a palm tree that stays really, really small? This is where the bonsai palm tree comes into play! This excellent little “palm” tree (it’s not actually a real palm) can be kept super small and is quite easy to care for. Just as well, it can make an excellent basic potted houseplant or an ultra-small bonsai plant.

In this guide, we’ll explore what bonsai palm trees are, some fun facts about the species, and how to care for your very own bonsai palm tree.

What is Bonsai?

Developed from a historic Chinese art form, bonsai is the Japanese and East Asian practice of cultivating and nurturing small trees in pots. In its basic form, bonsai is the practice of preserving and regulating a tree’s development to keep it tiny. Discipline and creativity are fostered by the lovely practice of bonsai art.

Palm trees are unfortunately an exception to the rule that almost any species of tree can be bonsaied. A normal tropical palm tree cannot be trained into a bonsai since there is little growth above the ground. Moreover, their root systems struggle in shallow containers. However, the sago palm tree, a species of fake palm, is excellent for bonsai.

Sago palm tree bonsai differs differently from bonsai of other tree species. You do not need to use wire to style your bonsai palms, in contrast to conventional bonsai instruction. There is nothing to train since the sago palm lacks real branches. Basic bonsai maintenance for sago palm plants often entails removing yellowing or dead leaves in order to encourage new growth. Of course, to keep your bonsai palms to be as healthy as possible, always remember to trim them with clean, sterile scissors.

What is a Bonsai Palm Tree?

The bonsai tree, also known as the sago palm or king sago, is classified as Cycas revoluta. It is not a real palm, but rather a species of seed-producing plants from the Cycadaceae family. It is native to the southern region of Japan and its neighboring islands. It is one of the numerous species out there that are utilized to grow ornamental plants and produce sago, a type of starch. 

The dense layer of fibers covering the sago cycad’s trunk helps to identify it. The sago palm is occasionally mistaken for a real palm, despite the fact that they merely have a similar appearance and the ability to produce seeds. Towards the plant’s center, the leaves begin as little leaves that develop from the trunk.

This extremely symmetrical plant has a thick, shaggy trunk that is normally approximately eight inches in diameter but can occasionally be wider, with a crown of glossy, dark green leaves. In immature plants, the trunk is very low or underground, but as the plant ages, it becomes longer above ground. While the plant is very slow-growing and takes between 60 and 100 years to reach its maximum height, it can eventually grow a nearly 20-foot trunk. Multiple branching of trunks results in many leaf heads.

While these plants are in the reproductive stage, the leaves are a rich semi-glossy green and range in length from 20 to 60 inches. They expand into a three-foot-diameter rosette that resembles feathers. The densely packed, stiff, thin leaflets range in length from three to seven inches and have sharply revoluted or recurved edges. The sago palm plant’s petiole, or stem, is three to four inches long and has tiny protecting barbs.

This plant is dioecious, like other cycads, with the females carrying clusters of megasporophylls and the males bearing pollen cones. Insects can pollinate plants naturally and they can also be pollinated artificially.

Bonsai Palm Trees vs. Real Palm Trees

The true palm tree is a blooming plant with broad fronds and a substantial root system. Indoor palm tree cultivation can be challenging since they need lots of space for the development of their deep roots.

The sago bonsai palm tree, however, is a separate species of plant. They look like palm trees but are actually not palm trees at all. They can be contained in a small pot meant for a bonsai tree, and they are considerably easier to grow indoors. Sago palm plants are nevertheless easy to confuse with real palm trees due to their wavy fronds and absence of limbs.

How to Care for a Bonsai Palm Tree

In spite of the fact that direct sunlight can harm the leaves, bonsai palms benefit from a warm and sunny atmosphere. Moreover, spraying them often with fresh water from a spray bottle can increase their preferred high humidity. As long as the pot’s bottom doesn’t touch the water, you can also set the plant container on a tray with water and stones. Root rot can result from standing water, so be mindful of how much water your bonsai palm tree gets.

These plants are delicate when it comes to excess moisture and ill-drained soil. Therefore make sure to wait a while between waterings to let the soil surface dry. For container bonsai plants, use a pot with many drainage holes. Because porous terra cotta containers allow more soil moisture to escape, many gardeners and bonsai enthusiasts prefer to use unglazed terra cotta pots.

Although bonsai palms can withstand some dryness, they need a reasonable level of soil moisture. As mentioned earlier, never overwater to the point of wet soil; instead, water when the soil seems dry to the touch. When the plant is dormant throughout the winter and not actively developing, slightly reduce watering.

These plants like warm, moist environments. While they can endure cold temperatures for a short while, temperatures below 23 degrees F are likely to cause the plant’s death. Frost can harm the leaves as well. Avoid drafts and airflow from heating and cooling vents while growing bonsai palms inside; drastic temperature changes might harm the plant.

Bright, indirect sunlight is preferred for bonsai palms. Keep them out of direct sunshine. In the summer, the sweltering afternoon heat will scorch and burn the foliage, while too much shade can lead to thin leaves and a sick plant. When growing inside as a bonsai tree, use an east, west, or southward-facing window. In warm weather, indoor plants can be transported outside as long as the pot is in dappled light.

The soil doesn’t need to be perfect for bonsai palms as long as it has sufficient drainage. It is best to have sandy soil that is moderately rich in organic matter and has a pH range of slightly acidic to neutral. A potting mixture designed for palms or cacti should work well for container plants.

Throughout the growing seasons of spring to autumn, fertilize once a month with a liquid fertilizer. Throughout the growing season, you can also use slow-release fertilizer two to three times, as directed on the packaging. If you are growing this species outdoors, for every 100 square feet of land, you’ll need roughly one-and-a-half pounds of fertilizer for sago palms. You only need half as much fertilizer if you plant your bonsai palm in a clay pot. It is ideal to fertilize outdoor plants just before a rainstorm since the rain will help in distributing nutrients through the soil.

USDA hardiness zone eight is the hardiness limit for bonsai palms. Provide outdoor sago plants with winter protection to avoid damage or death. If you are unable to bring your plant inside during a brief cold spell, cover it with a burlap bag or a thin blanket. When the next morning’s frost has melted, uncover the plant.

How to Prune Bonsai Palm Trees

Bonsai palm trees should only be pruned once the leaves have entirely gone brown. Don’t prune wilting leaves before checking if your care routine is ideal and can be corrected. Despite their unattractive appearance, wilting leaves still have nutrients that the plant can collect. The plant’s condition might get worse if yellowing leaves are removed as well. The fronds at the bottom circle of the plant are the only ones that can be safely cut away if you want to improve the appearance of your bonsai palm plant. Cut them as close to the trunk as you can using disinfected scissors.

Can Bonsai Palm Trees Be Grown From Seeds?

Yes! Bonsai palm seeds can be either female or male. Whatever one you have, as long as the seeds originate from a reliable source, they will develop into a bonsai palm plant. Make sure to use gloves while touching the seeds since they are technically poisonous. The seeds should be prepared by soaking them in water that is room temperature to soften them and remove the outer husk.

Your bonsai palm tree seeds should be sown in a container or shallow seed starting tray after soaking. The planted seeds should then be placed in a warm area and covered with a sand-based seed-starting mixture. As you wait for the seedling to pop out, keep the soil wet but not soaking wet. Be prepared to wait patiently, as germination is often a lengthy process. It can take several months for bonsai palm seeds to germinate.

Is It Hard to Grow a Bonsai Palm Tree?

Sago palm bonsai trees have very few difficulties. No tree, though, is without challenges. The patience required if you’re developing a bonsai palm tree from seed is arguably its biggest drawback. It will take at least three years before you start to see the benefits of your bonsai because these plants develop slowly. The bonsai palm tree will thus be a challenge for you if you are an enthusiastic bonsai practitioner and like the art of shaping and styling your trees.

The only upkeep needed for bonsai palm trees is the cutting of dead leaves; no training is necessary. Also, because these trees don’t require as much water as other trees, overwatering your bonsai palm is a common issue. But, compared to the advantages, a bonsai palm tree’s drawbacks are quite minor.

Even though bonsai palm trees are not true palms, they are still very similar in appearance to palms and stay relatively small with the right amount of care. Whether you are a collector of bonsai plants or tropical plants, the bonsai palm tree would make an excellent addition to your collection.