How to Bonsai

For those who are interested in finding out how to grow their own bonsai trees, this short tutorial should give an insight in to the sorts of techniques used - the ideas of which were developed when bonsai trees were grown almost exclusively by the Japanese and Chinese and refined through the ages - as well as a selection of tips to help you get started in creating your own miniature masterpiece. Before even considering how you need to care for your particular tree, it's vitally important that you have both a vision of what you want in your mind and a suitable species of tree to begin with. The latter of those two is based on what sort of conditions you plan on keeping it in, as it will - of course - still have the same vulnerabilities as others of its species, if not a little amplified by being constantly shaped and pruned.

There's no strict manual on which trees are best for those just starting out learning how to make a bonsai tree, but finding one that is suited to your local climate would be advisable. Tropical trees don't fare well in the cold, and many trees aren't suited to prolonged direct sunlight. Admittedly, it is possible to simulate the right conditions if you are able to place some plants in an area that receives little direct sunlight and is protected from the wind, but it truly is down to the conditions best suited to the species you've chosen.

Selecting the right sort of starting plant is certainly recommended. Cuttings from fully-grown trees can give excellent results, the smaller and younger you can find the better as you then have time to shape it to suit your design. Growing straight from a seed is another option, and allows you to start 'training' the bonzai tree right from the start. Other options are available, but regardless of which you choose the next step is carefully selecting the correct pot size.

One key aspect to remember when starting to learn how to bonsai and starting to grow your first tree in your new bonsai garden is that it takes time to 'teach' the tree where it can grow. At the very beginning it will want to spread its roots to develop a root structure often far larger than what you'll eventually want. Allowing it too much room will mean that it has little root development near the base, and constricting it too much at first will stunt the development and potentially weaken the tree. Starting with a pot a little larger than you finally intend will be a good balance, and give you a chance to re-pot it at a later date.

Pruning is the integral method in making bonsai trees, and if you were to take away one thing from this how-to it's that you need to check up on and potentially prune the trunk, the leaves and even the roots on a daily basis. Keep the bare minimum of growth at any one time, letting the tree focus on developing a dense root structure and branching where you want it to branch comes with learning how to cultivate plants and the ideas behind bonsai trees are identical to that.

Keep your attention on your tree, encourage it to grow where you want it to grow and discourage it where you don't want it to, and soon you'll have your first addition to your bonsai garden.