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A beginners guide to Bonsai Trees

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Free Bonsai

Any tree or plant can be turned into a bonsai for free but some will be more succesful than others. Bonsai are not dwarfed varieties of plants, they are dwarfed by the conditions in which they live, ie a small shallow tray. When looking for a specimen to bonsai there are certain characteristics to look out for which will suit or be advantageous to creating an attractive plant which will flourish. They are:

Small leaves or pines- trees with finely textured and compact foliage are among the best candidates for bonsai as they more accurately re-create the look of a large wild tree in miniature. If you wish to grow a specimen that fruits or flowers, make sure that these too are naturally small.
An attractive trunk- this can depend on your taste but generally an unusual trunk is desirable as it adds character and the impression of age. The colour and texture of the bark is also important.
Dwarfed varieties- although any tree can be adapted to bonsai, dwarf forms adapt easily so can be a good choice for beginners. Trees that grow large in nature will be much more of a challenge

Many techniques associated with bonsai are methods of aging or replicating some symptoms of aging to give the impression that the tree is older than it actually is. Collecting young seedlings or saplings from the wild holds no advantage but occasionally older wild trees can be naturally dwarfed by the conditions of it's habitat. Such trees are rare however and can be extremely difficult to find. Permission is always required from the owner of the land on which the tree sits and in some areas it is illegal to remove a living plant from it's natural habitat. You are most likely to have success if the land is to be cleared for development as it is somewhat questionable wether any trees should be removed from their natural habitat.

Having found a suitable specimen it still requires some time to establish a bonsai from a mature tree. It should be removed only in late winter or early spring before it buds,and certainly before it is in full leaf. It should be planted out in a garden bed or a larger container (not a bonsai pot) for several years to establish it, before trimming roots to fit into it's final destination.

Cuttings

Cuttings are a relatively effective way to begin creating a bonsai for several reasons:

Cuttings can be obtained very easily - even from discarded cuttings, although it's advisable to cut it for yourself to ensure it is an optimum cut (over 4 branches up from the bottom and of good growth

Cuttings are much quicker to establish than seeds - they put down roots very quickly (within a month) and can then grow much faster than seedlings.There are 2 main types of cuttings. Softwood cuttings are less mature as they are taken from that seasons growth, usually in early Summer. Hardwood cuttings are taken from growth at least a year old when the wood has fully ripened. These are usually taken in the Autumn.

Plants raised from cuttings retain all characteristics from their parent plant - although it is beneficial to combine positive traits from 2 parents (as can be done with seeds and grafting), Cuttings can guarantee a plant of the same quality as it's parent.

The only disadvantage for cuttings is that some species will not root, or can be difficult to cultivate. See more specific details on the plant you wish to grow to determine the best method for it's cultivation.
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Bonsai Roots