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The reason I kept it inside is because the man at the store I bought it said to do that and that it would be fine. This is my first bonsai year, so I believed that he knew what he was talking about.

Google "cold frame".
I don't think that's what Ivan meant.

Looks about right.

Arktos wrote: The reason I kept it inside is because the man at the store I bought it said to do that and that it would be fine. This is my first bonsai year, so I believed that he knew what he was talking about.

You are not alone. The most common reason for newbee questions is bad advises from non specialized bonsai sellers.

In US there is a hardiness map for trees:



Learn your zone. Trees in pots are more sensitive than trees in ground so add one full zone. When finding a tree you like, goggle scientific name plus hardiness zone. If the trees hardiness zone is whithin your own zone plus one you have found a good material.

In winter protect the trees from strong wind.

But most important. Connect with people doing bonsai in your area. They know best hos to do things and when.

Ivan Mann wrote: Looks about right.

I always thought cold frames were mini greenhouses, but I guess it has a different meaning where I'm from ?\_(ツ)_/?

Arn wrote:

Ivan Mann wrote: Looks about right.

I always thought cold frames were mini greenhouses, but I guess it has a different meaning where I'm from ?\_(ツ)_/?

I think of a greenhouse as being a small building big enough to walk into, and a cold frame as a smaller structure. A greenhouse would usually have climate control of some kind and a cold frame usually would have little or none. I have no idea if that is what most people would think.

Put it out with a good weather.

Arktos wrote: I live in West MI. I have kept my bonsai indoors all year with plant lights. I assume that is why it hasn’t lost its leaves. Is it too late to go through the dormancy process? I don’t want to shock and kill it by putting it outside now.

Trees need some 6 weeks of shortening days and lowering temperatures to normally dive into dormancy. Putting it outside in Michigan now may cause frost damage to several species if you bring them from a warm living room.

I would go for the unheated garage option. Just checked the average lows for dec/janfeb and that is considerable frost. I would not expose trees to that unless well-dormant & hardened off.