Be patient and don't be intimidated by growing a bonsai Growing a bonsai is more than just caring for a miniature tree -- it’s an art, a craft and an ancient meditative practice.
Growing a young bonsai into a form that resembles a mature tree requires regular pruning to encourage even growth and to remove dead limbs, foliage and errant branches.
Originating in China thousands of years ago, bonsai was later adapted by Japanese growers who further developed it into the bonsai we know today.
Chinese elm, jade, Japanese maple and juniper are popular beginner trees; pines and maples are cold-hardy and best suited to growing outdoors; tropical trees, such as Ficus, are best kept indoors in regions outside the tropics.
Growers often train branches to grow into desired shapes by wrapping them first with protective raffia, then with bonsai wire that is bent into formation.
