by Mark Kennerley

The best way of getting started is undoubtedly to join a club. There are numerous clubs across the country where you will be warmly welcomed and be in the right place to receive sound practical advice. This is also a good source of material on which to work. Most enthusiasts have too many trees in their possession and are quite happy to unload the surplus on somebody else. Many clubs have a comprehensive library of Bonsai publications that can be loaned and most clubs organize trips to nurseries or obtain permission to collect trees from the wild. Rather than buying from garden centers where little or nothing will be available in the way of advice, seek out a specialized Bonsai nursery. The proprietors of these establishments are usually Bonsai enthusiasts before they are businessmen and would rather see you succeed with your trees than line their own pockets by selling something unsuitable.

So what do you need in practical terms to start growing Bonsai?

1. A basic understanding that what you are doing is growing a tree in a pot. It is a normal tree sharing the same genes as a full sized example of the same species. There is no such thing as a Bonsai tree. Nor are there special seeds for Bonsai. It is the skills and techniques applied by you that will determine to what extent your tree remains a perfect miniature work of art.
2. A critical eye is useful. Sometimes it is a curse. I tend to be a perfectionist when working on trees but this is not a bad thing as it is this search for perfection that maintains my interest
3. Time. If you are not willing or able to tend to your trees' basic needs on a regular basis then Bonsai is not the hobby for you. Having said that, there are ways around many of the everyday problems caused by other commitments. What is essential is your dedication to make sure these measures are in place if required
4. A place to keep your trees. The majority of trees sold to the general public are intended to be kept indoors while the vast majority of trees grown by Bonsai enthusiasts are grown outdoors. This highlights the gap in understanding between the two. Let us compromise. If you have come into Bonsai through the acquisition of a mass-produced, off the shelf tree or you simply don't have a garden then you may want to grow just indoor trees. Bear in mind that there are only so many places in a house where trees can be successfully grown before other members of the household lose patience. Be realistic about what you can do based on your situation. It is possible and widely practiced, especially in America it seems, to grow trees under artificial lighting. This is an option worth considering but does involve a hefty initial outlay. Window-sills will suffice if you bear in mind that light only comes from one side and a plant that is tropical in nature will not appreciate being exposed to draughts or shut behind curtains. A conservatory would be a better place to keep indoor trees, but since most truly indoor trees are tropical in their requirements then heating would be required through the winter that might work out expensive. Alternatively the same unheated conservatory, provided it is well ventilated and shaded during the summer, can be used to grow outdoor species thus widening the options greatly. This choice is widened still further if space is available outside and the protection of a cold greenhouse or other custom built structure that is open but not exposed to the elements will provide what I consider to be the ideal conditions for most trees.
5. A club. If you are serious about Bonsai, then the advice and support offered by one of the many clubs scattered around the country will be invaluable. We have already seen the gulf between the service offered to the public and that required for the more serious. A decent club will fill that gap as will a visit to a reputable Bonsai nursery. By reputable I mean one that puts the further advancement of the hobby on the same level or above making a generous living
6. Patience. The greatest gift you can possess when starting out in Bonsai is patience. Trees need time to do what they do naturally. Forcing nature to rush things will only end in disappointment. Knowing how far is too far when working on a tree is something that can only come with experience
7. Trees. One of the myths about Bonsai is that you have to start from seed. This is not the case. On the other hand you definitely do not need to and categorically should not go out and spend money on the most expensive tree you can find. Firstly, growing from seed, whilst it is a feasible method of propagating new material is a long term project. It will be at least five years before you have anything substantial with which to work. What you need is something to practice techniques on. At the same time it should have some potential for making good Bonsai. There are a number of options. Your local garden centre or nursery is a good place to look. Avoid the Bonsai section. This is not what we're looking for. Head for the conifer section and find a nice bushy Juniper, Cedar or Yew. Look for a decent trunk base, some sort of taper as the trunk goes up or plenty of choice of side branches that might be bought up to form a new apex. Avoid hedging conifers, these are not suitable. Alternatively, you might find something already growing in the borders at home. Many traditional shrubs such as Fuchsia, Cotoneaster, Privet, Ceanothus , Pyracantha and Berberis can be used successfully. Whatever your choice, you now have your first tree. If it's not what you think of as Bonsai, then this is the first lesson concluded. Now comes the exciting bit.
8. Pots. You don't need to go out and buy expensive pots. Trees in the training phases will grow in exactly the same way in seed trays, plant pots or washing up bowls. Only spend money on an expensive pot if and when the tree justifies it. As the choice of pot is a critical part of the finished work, this is not something to be rushed into. There is a compromise between the two extremes. Low priced Korean and Chinese pots look the part and make you feel like you're getting somewhere and Mica, a very dense plastic, is an ideal material for training trees in.
9. Tools. A few years ago I would have advised against buying Chinese tools. However, times have changed and the good quality tools now being imported from China are ideal for beginners. Ultra cheap tools are still available, so be wary. On the other hand, if you are serious then, invest in quality Japanese tools. If you're not sure, then a good pair of kitchen scissors will be a good start until you get hooked. Then you can invest in the right tools for your level of commitment
10. Compost. If you are repotting things at this early stage, it can be bewildering the amount of different soil mixes that are used. A tried and tested formula for beginners and old hands alike is a mixture of fine grit (2-3mm) and sieved peat (or multipurpose potting compost) in equal volumes. I like to add an equal volume of Danish pink cat litter also.

That's enough to get you started. If you have any other questions or simply want to know more, drop me a line.