Bonsai for Beginners

Bonsai is a hobby and art form that rewards patience; some trees will take years before they become presentable. So be sure to think of this when deciding if bonsai is right for you, it is not for the personality that is used to instant gratification. Depending on how many trees one wishes to cultivate, bonsai will require some outdoor space as well. If maintained and cared for properly, however, bonsai trees can bring much pride and joy to the enthusiast, and many can live for more than a hundred years. In fact, prized bonsai in Japan are handed down from generation to generation.

The next thing to consider is the type of plant one wishes to cultivate. For novices, the hand's down best bet is to go with a species that is natural to the area in which one lives. Bonsai trees are not in fact miniature trees, they are regular trees trained and styled to look like they are miniature. If one already knows that Maple trees, for instance, thrive in one's particular climate and geographical location, then a Maple tree would be a good choice for a first attempt. Species that do not grow natively should be attempted until one has more experience.

In the following section, the basic bonsai styles will be described. It is said that the Formal Upright style is best for beginners, as there is not a lot of experimenting or manipulation of the tree involved. Good species for beginners are Juniper, Firethorn, and Dwarf Pomegranate. Once the bonsai enthusiast has some experience, however, the only real limitation is one's imagination and patience.

Basic Bonsai Styles

The styles of bonsai are based on the vertical slant of the tree trunk and the shape of the tree itself. Below are four basic styles of Bonsai;

Formal Upright Bonsai

Called Chokkan in Japanese, the formal upright style is based on a tree that has grown in the open under perfect conditions. Suitable tree species for this style are Junipers, Larches, Spruces and Pines... Learn More

Inormal Upright Bonsai

Also called Moyogi, the Informal Upright incorporates trunks and branches with pronounced bends, simulating a tree in the wild that changes direction from the wind or to move towards the sunlight... Learn More

Slanting Bonsai

Similar to the Informal Upright style, the Slanting, or Shakan bonsai represents a tree that has grown at an angle due to exposure to the elements... Learn More

Cascade and Semi-Cascade Bonsai

In the Kengai, or Cascade style, the tree grows up from the soil, then grows down past the edge of the container. Any species that is not naturally very persistently upright is appropriate... Learn More

While these are the basic styles of bonsai, many others also exist. They include the Broom (Hokidachi), in which the branches spread out like an upside down broom; Windswept (Fukinagashi), where the branches all grow out of the same side as if being blown by a strong wind, and Forest (Yose-ue) which consists of several trees planted in the same pot.