Watching bonsai trees grow and shaping them into beautiful living works of art is an absorbing and very rewarding hobby. Growing bonsai trees isn’t an expensive pastime with not many tools being required, but a fine bonsai tree can be much more of a statement in your home than many ornaments can. A bonsai is a true living sculpture.

Bonsai are pot planted trees that are developed to be miniatures of the natural size plant. Bonsai trees are created from nearly any perennial woody stemmed trees and shrubs that grow branches and can grow in miniature through pot confinement with the help from crown and root trimming.

Bonsai trees can be grown from seeds, from young shoots lifted from the wild, (please have regard for any laws in respect of removing wild plants in your area), or can be ordered as mature grown bonsai trees. Obviously growing bonsai trees from seed is the slowest route, but you do then have maximum control of how your bonsai will grow.

Bonsai trees are grown in special containers that not only restrict root development, but are also designed to further enhance the beauty of your bonsai tree. Special soils are available that provide the perfect conditions for your bonsai to develop.

Many techniques are used to sculpt and give unique character to your bonsai tree including trimming leaves, wiring branches, grafting on other plants, short term dwarfing and deadwood, (aging and adding personality to the bark). Only a few special tools are needed to shape bonsai, and these can easily be bought cheaply. Everything you require to start growing bonsai trees can easily be purchased from a specialist bonsai nursery.

Bonsai trees can be had as both indoor and outdoor varieties, some bonsai are best if left outdoors during warmer summer months and grown inside in the winter months.

For those that like the idea, but would prefer not get involved in growing bonsai, you can buy artificial bonsai trees.

If you are wondering if growing bonsai is for you, I would say give it a try, bonsai are simple to grow and maintain, take a small amount of your time, every bonsai tree is individual, and who does not admire a bonsai whenever they see one.