is a Japanese gardening art form that has been passed down for centuries. Translated as potted tree, bonsai trees are the attempt to represent larger natural tree forms in a small scale. To achieve this effect, growers employ careful potting and care techniques as well as skilled pruning. Read more bonsai history here.

Choosing Plants
Traditionally, outdoor plants are used for bonsai, but you can bonsai just about anything with the right characteristics, preferably something woody enough to be trained. Species like Schefflera and Jade can do quite well indoors, while others like the Shogun and the Zen Reflections Juniper Bonsai prefer more sun. To keep things simple, you get pre-trained plants, or if you're feeling adventurous, you can start your own.

Care
Depending on your specific plants and growing styles, caring for your bonsai can be simple or demand gardening precision. No matter what, you’ll need to pay careful attention to your plants’ food, water and container needs – that’s in addition to any artistic shaping you plan to do. The quickest way to kill your bonsai is lack of water - because many bonsai plants are in small containers, their soil can dry out quickly, so be sure to check on your plants often. Read more on caring for your bonsai here.

More Info
If you’re serious about bonsai, it’s always good to have a handy reference guide (like the Bonsai Survival Manual or Creating Bonsai Landscapes) to get you started. Books like these can offer helpful advice as well as inspiring photos to help you get started.