Bonsai tree plant takes ‘pride of place’ in shoppers’ homes

Plants and potted trees can be a simple and affordable way to bring some much-needed life and colour into your home. Shoppers are currently loving a bonsai tree they say has taken ‘pride of place’ in their homes. Bonsai is the Japanese art of growing and shaping miniature trees in containers, and they’re said to have many benefits.

Shopping marketplace Yimbly (owned by the Daily Express parent company Reach Plc) is selling the Plant in a Box Curtain Fig Ficus Microcarpa Ginseng which has been nurtured in this way. The unique bonsai tree has a height of 55 to 65cm upon delivery and usually retails for £59.95, however it’s currently on sale for £47.96. The retailer says this style of plant is one of the most popular bonsai species for beginners.

Ficus ginseng grows in south China and Malaysia, with ginseng being the Chinese word for ‘root’, referring to the plant’s trunk which takes years to form. Bonsai trees are said to offer numerous benefits, including improved air quality, reducing stress, enhancing well-being, and making the owner more patient and mindful by caring for them. 

With bonsai trees becoming more and more popular, many retailers now sell them. Amazon has a smaller Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree that’s currently on sale for £34.99 and is ideal for sitting on a desk, shelf or windowsill. This plant is nine years old and comes in a ceramic drip tray.

For plant lovers looking for a taller bonsai for outdoors, B&Q has a Large Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) Bonsai Tree. Priced at £204.90, it comes in a stylish 35cm glazed bonsai pot.

Yimbly recommends you water the Curtain Fig Ficus Microcarpa Ginseng regularly, never letting the pot ball dry out. The plant can also be placed outside in summer, provided the temperature does not drop to below 12 degrees Celsius.

Any yellow or brown leaves can be removed, with pruning recommended in autumn. To give the plant some extra vitality, Yimbly suggests feeding it with bonsai food. Amazon sells Bonsai Focus Liquid Concentrated Fertiliser for £5.93. 

The Plant in a Box Curtain Fig Ficus Microcarpa Ginseng boasts a five-star rating on the Yimbly website, with one impressed shopper saying: “I keep bonsai as my main hobby which I love. I love this plant I have bought from you. I will re-pot it later in the season. It will take pride of place with my indoor trees, thank you.”

A second buyer simply wrote: “Good healthy plant.” Someone else rated the bonsai tree five stars, however they shared a concern: “We were very pleased with this plant when it arrived. But we have become worried about the amount of leaves which are dropping. We have followed the watering instructions.”

In the product description for the plant, Yimbly says: “In the beginning the bonsai may lose leaves, this is not harmful. The plant needs some time to get used to its new place, so do not move it too often. New leaves will grow naturally. Always provide sufficient light and water in the beginning.”

If you’d like to add the Plant in a Box Curtain Fig Ficus Microcarpa Ginseng bonsai tree to your home, you can buy it from Yimbly here for £47.96 while the sale is on.