How to buy your first bonsai?

You've always been fascinated by small potted trees, and you want to embark on this wonderful adventure. But where do you start, and which tree to buy for your first bonsai? This is often a confusing question for beginners, which we will try to answer.

Do you have a garden or terrace?

This is an essential question, because a bonsai is first and foremost a tree, and a tree usually lives outside. If you can dedicate a small space to your passion that will certainly grow, that's ideal. You don't necessarily need a lot of space, a simple shelf can suffice. Because a bonsai is not very big and with just a space of one square meter you can really indulge yourself.

If you don't have access to the outdoors, then you will have to turn to what is called an indoor bonsai. This term is not entirely true because there is no such thing as a bonsai that will completely enjoy it on your coffee table, but there are species that tolerate it better than others. This is the case, for example, with ficus trees in bonsai or, to a lesser extent, Chinese elms.

Know how to treat yourself with your first bonsai

We sometimes hear that it is better to start bonsai with a small and cheap tree, to learn the basics of cultivation, and then move on to the next stage with better quality trees. The reason given is that if it doesn't go very well, if the tree dies or worse, it better that it didn't cost you too much. That's one way of looking at it, but we have mixed feelings about it.

Indeed, bonsai is not just about growing a tree in a pot. If not, buy a green plant. Learning bonsai is above all about applying a set of basic techniques: watering, pruning, repotting, tying. If you only have one potted cutting, you're going to spend all your time watching it grow and you're going to get bored.

Our advice is rather to start with a tree that is already formed, with a beautiful trunk, an already established branch. There you will be able to do a bonsaika job and scutch it according to the seasons. It is by putting your hands in your tree that you will learn bonsai, not in books or by watching videos on the internet.

In our nursery we can acquire a bonsai that already looks good without breaking the bank. For example, maple trees in bonsai are the best for beginners. They grow quickly, forgive many mistakes and look beautiful all year round, especially in spring or fall when their leaves change color.

We also love Kiyohime maples with their compact habit that makes them look great right away.