Bonsai is a treasured art form, and a fun way of cultivating plants on a miniature scale. Many gardeners can feel frightened by the prospect of butchering this ancient art though. Although it is without a doubt easier to start with a pre-made, cheap bonsai tree, it is more than possible to learn the fundamentals of Bonsai on your own. In fact, it can be an enjoyable challenge if you set yourself up with the right knowledge beforehand.

1. Selecting Your First Bonsai Tree

You don’t need a green thumb or to be a professional gardener, necessarily, but you will need the right species of Bonsai. The UK climate in particular is one you’re going to have to pay attention to here. Consider varieties such as the Chinese Elm or the Japanese Maple. Bonsai trees can be precarious, so whether you want to keep your tree indoors or outdoors will have an impact on your selection. A bit of pre-planning will go a long way here; peruse Bonsai varieties at your leisure and find one that works for you.  

2. Essential Care and Maintenance

Bonsai trees can vary considerably in terms of their care due to species, pot size, soil-mixture and, of course, the climate. Over-watering can result in root-rot, which you’ll want to avoid at all costs, but Bonsai’s can also get quite dry quite quickly as they tend to live mainly in small pots – that is the point of their miniature shape after all. You’ll need to have a regular watering schedule and pruning techniques to keep your desired shape.

3. Tools and Techniques for Shaping

Now for the fun part. Shaping and styling your Bonsai. Whether you want it to look like a cloud or a mushroom, this might be the reason you wanted a Bonsai in the first place. As long as you have good tools – wiring materials, concave cutters, chainsaws and so on– you’ll be able to make all the pretty shapes that make Bonsai displays so uniquely beautiful. Just be careful to plan things out first!

4. Engaging with the Bonsai Community

If you’re still stuck, try the Bonsai community. Groups of enthusiasts and experts alike can help you when deciding on the all-important shapes and how to care for your new Bonsai. Participating in local workshops, associations and events can help you better understand how to build best practices when caring for your Bonsai tree. The UK Bonsai Association in particular offers a wealth of resources and information on upcoming events.

Main Image – Photo by David Yu: https://www.pexels.com/photo/green-bonsai-tree-in-white-pot-2778192/