Ever wonder what a Bonsai Tree really is it is a miniature tree grown in a pot. The point of Bonsai Tree culture is to develop a tiny tree that has all the elements of a large tree.

How is the achieved. This look is achieved, primarily through branch and root pruning and shaping, but there other factors that are very important. The texture of the trunk, its look of age, even the moss and the under plantings in the container all contribute to the look of a miniature tree as it is seen in nature. A presentable Bonsai Tree can be created in a few seasons. Cultivating these miniature potted trees is both an intriguing hobby, and a means of adapting a wide range of plants to specialized and decorative uses. Bonsai Trees require daily watering during their growing season, and, because the plants are rooted in shallow pots, careful pruning.

Bonsai Trees are kept outdoors most of the year, but , from time to time , these miniaturized versions of nature are brought indoors for display. Only certain tropical trees, shrubs, and vines can be continually kept indoors full time as a Bonsai Tree.

Bonsai, as an art form, stems from ancient oriental culture. It originated in China and was developed by the Japanese. In the 13th century, the Japanese collected and potted wild trees that had been dwarfed by nature.

These naturally formed miniatures were the first Bonsai Trees.

When demand for the small trees outstripped the supply, Japanese gardening specialists began to train Bonsai from native trees. They shaped the trees to give them the illusion of age and naturalness. Over the years, the Japanese devised standards of shape and form, which gradually began the classic Bonsai Tree styles.

American bonsai are much freer in concept and style than Japanese bonsai. American bonsai growers have recognized that the horticultural and aesthetic rules are important, but are specifically aimed at Japanese culture. Because of this, Americans have taken oriental styles and applied them to plants never grown by the Japanese.