Everything Bonsai

A Complete Guide To Bonsai Care

Craftsmen labor for years to produce a single tree, which may last a hundred years or longer.

Mention the word "Art", and most will think of painting or sculpture.

There is a kind of sculpture though, that takes as its raw material not stone, or wood, but a living tree.

That is the art of bonsai.

The trees are then often passed down from generation to generation...

each successive artist adding his or her own distinctive style.

As the tree is lovingly molded according to the personal aesthetic of each caretaker, past efforts are venerated and learned from.





There are a select number of bonsai producers and growers who specialize in providing high quality bonsai trees and supplies for the budding artist.

These trees are lightly shaped and well established, and provide an excellent point to begin this artistic journey.

The many bonsai styles, and variety of trees available to the novice bonsai enthusiast, can sometimes seem a bit confusing.

This guide to Everything Bonsai will take you step by step through all areas of bonsai care, training, tree varieties and selection, and much more.

Sit back and take some time to explore the world of this Living Art.






Introduction to a Living Art - From the Japanese word for "tree in a tray", Bonsai is the art and product of shaping trees by careful pruning to produce a miniature tree or bush.


The History of a Living Art - The craft of shaping miniature trees in a small pot first arose over a thousand years ago in China, where it was known as pun-sai. Even then the variety of individual bonsai was astonishing, as known from ancient drawings.


Styles Chapter 1 - Discriptions and photographs of the Formal upright and Informal upright styles of this living art form.


Styles Chapter 2 - Discriptions and photographs of the beautiful Shakan (slanting) style of Bonsai.


Styles Chapter 3 - Discriptions and photographs of the Cascade and Semi-Cascade styles. These styles tend to be more difficult to achieve though are among the more beautiful and desired of the five basic styles.


Advanced Styles - Discriptions and photographs of some of the more common advanced styles. Examples of the Windswept, Twisted, and Literati are discribed.


Unusual Styles - Beyond the basic styles of bonsai tree art, there are many wonderful variations. The individual aesthetic that each artist brings to the work allows for an infinite variety of forms.


Exotic Trees - Most bonsai trees are a coniferous or deciduous species, however, there are a number of exotic choices suitable for bonsai training that will allow the bonsai artist to expand his or her skills.


Fruit Trees - Apple, lemon, peach, cherry and several other fruit tree species make excellent bonsai. As with the full-sized tree, it's important to select the species suited to the climate in which the tree will grow.


Maple Trees - Maples come in a variety of sub-species, but all of them make beautiful bonsai trees. Slightly more difficult to care for, they are nonetheless greatly in demand by bonsai enthusiasts.


Junipers - Junipers are, along with pine, another of the common species sought by beginning bonsai enthusiasts. And for good reason: it's a beautiful species that tolerates a wide variety of conditions well.


Pine Trees - Though no bonsai is easy to train or care for, pine is among the easier species. More tolerant to drying, they adapt well to a pot and often require only regular trimming and biannual repotting.


Bonsai Ground Covers - The goal of most bonsai artists is to emulate nature, while at the same time stylizing it. This includes ground covers.


Bonsai Seeds - At some point the temptation to take on the challenge of growing a bonsai from seed will seem irresistible. Here are some tips on how to grow your first bonsai from scratch.


Watering - Few subjects in bonsai care are as complex as watering. Apprentices in Japan will perform many duties for their first few years before being allowed to water the trees.


Nutrients - How much nutrient to supply depends on a number of factors, including the age, size and species of the tree.


Soil - Moisture retention and proper drainage are critical factors when choosing soil for your bonsai tree.


Containers - Color, material, and above all, shape and size are considered when matching the right pot to a given tree.


Pruning - Since bonsai are grown from ordinary, not dwarf, species, their small size is primarily the result of pruning, both branches and roots. No other aspect is so critical for making the bonsai more than just a small tree.


Wiring - Training bonsai is never easy, but it can be made easier by proper preparation and execution. Here are some basic guidelines.


Tools - There are tools which are essential to creating the work of art that is each individual tree. They can help you make the difference between a small, scraggly plant and a beautifully sculpted bonsai tree.


Bonsai Boy of New York - Is a family operated, certified New York State nursery. As tree growers, we maintain superior product quality and offer our bonsai trees and other accessories at low wholesale prices.


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