Shaping Your Bonsai

A common error with first time Bonsai growers is that they wait too long to begin shaping their Bonsai trees. Most professional growers and many books will tell you to start shaping your Bonsai after the first growth period has occurred. And from a horticultural stand point that is correct, however from a practical point this is way too late.

Shaping of your Bonsai tree should really begin even before you purchase the Bonsai tree. The first step in shaping your Bonsai begins with a plan. Determine what you want your fully matured Bonsai to look like. Consider how stark or barren you want to Bonsai to appear. Do you want some special emotion to be evoked by the Bonsai or will you rely simply on the natural beauty of the tree?

Having a plan for the matured Bonsai will help us to make an informed decision on the type of Bonsai that will help us reach our plan. If your plan calls for a stately tree single tree with very delicate leaves, then a temperate Bonsai such as the maple tree maybe ideal for you. Or if your plan is in a more tropical venue then a member of the tropical Bonsai family may work better for you.


Part of this plan should also include where you plan to grow the Bonsai, indoors or out of doors. Along with that information, the plan should also consider the part of the world you live in. Some area of the world are not compatible with all species of the Bonsai. For example, a Tropical Bonsai can be damaged by frost, where as a temperate Bonsai can tolerate milder temperatures.

Shaping of the Bonsai tree is done by pruning to remove excess branches and leaves. Once these are removed the branches are often trained to grow in a specific direction by the use of small wires that guide the branches. But without a plan and the correct Bonsai, it's nearly impossible to obtain that Bonsai that we all see in our minds eye.