Bonsai Plant

This can be purchased at most nurseries and can be an indoor or outdoor tree.

Items Needed
A Container and Soil if not already potted
Pruning Shears
Small rocks or gravel and extra soil
Training Wire - optional

Get to know your bonsai
How much water does it need?  Should you fertilize?  How much light does it need?  The nursery you bought the tree from should be able to answer these questions for you.

Trimming and shaping your bonsai
Decide what side will be the front of the tree and what you want its basic shape to be.

The lowest branches should be the longest of the branches.  Trim so that branches get progressively shorter and the shape tapers towards the top.  This allows light to hit all planes of the bonsai.

Trim branches that point directly out to the front or back.  It is not pleasing to see a branch pointing towards the eye.

Keep the trunk clear of too many branches and trim any shoots that grow where branches meet the trunk.

Keep foliage compact and dense, like an old tree that has been naturally growing in nature. 

Training your bonsai
You can use wire to train the trunk of the tree as well as individual branches.  Wind wire around the branches and position them in the direction you’d like them to grow.

Generally a copper-aluminum wire is used.  Begin as far back as needed and bring out to the edge of the branch.

Do not wrap too tightly.  Wire may eventually cut in as bonsai continues to grow.  At that point, cut the wire off completely.

Add rocks to cover soil
It’s important to keep the soil moist.  Not too wet and never dry.

Gravel acts as protective covering when sprinkled over the soil to help hold the moisture in the soil.

Add to the tray as well.  This will catch any overflow water and add a nice decorative touch.