Caring for a bonsai tree is a good way for plant lovers to see the efforts they put into nurturing a plant turn into a work of art. Through careful maintenance of leaves, branches and roots, a bonsai tree can be shaped to virtually any style that suits the artist.

If you are interested in starting to care for and grow your own bonsai tree, there are several ways you can start. You can start by purchasing a tree that has already been designed. These trees are typically five to seven years old and have had their basic shape already tended to by a bonsai tree artist. These trees are easier to take care of than shaping and designing your own tree, but are also more restrictive on what can be done with them. These trees are good for beginners who want to learn how to care for a bonsai tree without investing several years in designing the tree.

If you are adventurous, or have owned a bonsai tree previously, you can choose to acquire a young seedling and sculpt your bonsai tree yourself. If you are planning to sculpt your own bonsai tree, there are several things that you will want to remember. First, sculpting a bonsai tree takes years. Many of the trees that can be purchased are somewhere between seven to fifteen years old, gradually sculpted until the bonsai tree has taken the shape that the artist wants. When you begin sculpting your own tree, you will need to remember that patience is necessary in order to succeed at this art.

When you go to sculpt a bonsai tree, you will need an assortment of tools. Wire pliers, branch cutters and pruning tools are just among a few of the tools you will need. Most of the tools required for maintaining and growing a bonsai tree can be purchased at most hardware stores or are sold online from stores that specially handle bonsai tree care supplies. While many of these tools are used in basic maintenance of established trees, there are some tools used for grafting and defoliation that are typically only purchased and used by those who are forming their own bonsai tree designs.

Many bonsai trees are only suitable for outdoor growth in ornamental gardens. However, there is a growing popularity in dwarf bonsai, many of which are built from trees that can flourish indoors. Before you purchase your established bonsai tree or your seedling, ensure that the tree can survive in the climate you wish to keep it in.