Most people associate the word ?art? with either painting or maybe sculpture. However, there is a largely forgotten art that draws its natural source not from stone or wood but from an ordinary tree. Incase you haven't guessed yet, I'm refereeing to the almost forgotten art of Bonsai?

In Japanese the word Bonsai roughly translates to ?tree in a tray? and is the art of sculpting by systematically pruning a bush or tree to achieve a miniature or dwarf like copy of a tree in its natural environment. Often people assume that Bonsai trees are naturally small but the reality is far from natural. Only the careful pruning of both roots and branches will determine a Bonsai tree.

As Bonsai trees are sculpted and grown in a small container or pot from ordinary species like maple or pine, its extremely important that proper care is given to help stimulate the trees natural living conditions.

With this in mind, growing your own Bonsai tree is a relatively straight forward process. Perhaps then this is why the art of Bonsai is such an exciting and worthwhile hobby that many people around the world appreciate.

But where do you start...?

If you want to grow your own Bonsai tree then you need to be on the lookout for a young sapling from a slow growing tree. Ideally, you are looking for a tree with small leaves too; these tend to make better Bonsai trees. Something like a maple, pine or hawthorn are good Bonsai choices.

Its advisable, initially anyway to plant your sapling in the garden until its more established and actively growing. Once you are happy your sapling is maturing, its time to think about transferring your young Bonsai to a pot or container where its likely to spend the rest of its life.

When choosing a Bonsai pot careful attention to the size and shape should be given. The art of Bonsai is to mimic a naturally growing tree in miniature. Therefore, make sure your Bonsai pot complements your Bonsai tree perfectly in terms of its appearance. Also make sure its sufficient enough to support growth of your Bonsai tree and to fully support it.

Before transferring your Bonsai tree to a pot or container make sure there isn't a long tap root in the root ball, carefully look at the roots and trim any obvious offenders.

A good potting compost can be used to house your Bonsai tree. A good tip here is to mix in some sand or grit to help with drainage. Also ensure that your Bonsai pot has adequate drainage holes. This will hopefully ensure your Bonsai tree doesn't get waterlogged, which if left unattended is likely to rot the entire root system.