How to Pick a Good Bonsai Plant if You're a Beginner
It's just amazing to consider the quantity and great diversity of trees and plants that can be used and trained for bonsai. If a plant or tree has a woody stem there is a very good chance that it can be used to develop a bonsai plant.
Where are you growing your bonsai plant? If you live in a temperate climate and will be growing your bonsai outside you will probably pick from a winter-hardy species, and if you are growing your plant inside or are in a warm climate year-round you could choose a tropical or sub-tropical species.
I have compiled a short but very good list of plants which have been very good choices for the beginner bonsai grower, and which will be easily obtainable and widely used:
The Japanese Maple (Acer Palmatum) is a deciduous tree which has green leaves in the spring which turn a beautiful rich red in the summer time and a dazzling red in the fall. This kind of tree isn't going to need a great amount of maintenance beyond what is recommended for most bonsai plants. Grow it in full summer sunlight but safeguard it from excessive cold and severe frost during the cold months. As with all bonsai, watering your plant correctly is very important. This maple enjoys small, frequent watering, and make sure you never let the soil dry out entirely.
Yet another favorite is the Chinese Juniper (Juniperus Chinensis). This coniferous juniper with dark green needle-shaped leaves is hardy and straightforward to work with. Again, this plant can endure and thrive in full sunlight all year round, but needs a little protection from very cold winter winds and frosts. This plant will do its best when you keep the soil moist all year long. This will likely require you to check the moisture level in th soil regularly, especially in winter.
The Chinese Elm (Ulmus Parvifolia) is amongst the best trees of all for the beginner bonsai grower. This tree is relatively slow growing and extremely forgiving of poor cutting and pruning. When grown outdoors this tree reluctantly loses it's leaves and oftentime continues to have some at mid-winter. For best results you need to keep the plant in an area which is sheltered from the wind, but that's nevertheless pleasant and sunny. During the winter you can keep it inside a cool room that has good light. Just like the Chinese Juniper you need to keep this plant's soil moist continuously through the summer, Again, don't overwater in order to keep it moist, just water more frequently. Through the winter keep the soil just barely moist after all the leaves have fallen.
The Weeping Fig (Ficus Benjamina) is a very common houseplant, very often seen in offices as well as homes because it is relatively low-maintenance. This can be a good plant to modify as a bonsai plant, and once more is an extremely good choice for the beginner grower. For the reason that this plant is accustomed to living in a very warm environment it should only be grown indoors. Keep the soil evenly moist through the summer months, cutting back during the winter but never permitting the soil to completely dry out.
These five examples barely scratch the surface of the large number of choices for your bonsai plant. A good nursery or garden center will probably be an ideal place to begin your search for your first bonsai masterpiece.
It's not hard whatsoever to get started in the hobby of bonsai. A good, practical, step-by-step guide to bonsai gardening is essential to a beginner's success. And I'm not talking about a picture-book that is better suited for the coffee table. I have a link on my website to what I consider to be the best practical guide, dollar for dollar, that you can find. Don't wait to get started in this fascinating hobby. Check out this really great book and get started today!