Bonsai, the art of growing miniature trees in pots, leads to amazing forms and textures for trees. Bonsai trees are visually stunning and aesthetically pleasing. They are full grown trees, only in a dwarfed form.

Seeds

If you are interested in growing bonsai trees, the first thing you would need is the seeds. Bonsai does not require any special seeds. Any ordinary seeds would do. Bonsai trees are regular, ordinary trees, only smaller in stature! However, in selecting seeds, you should consider your environment and climate in making the choice. Some trees require subzero temperatures in winter while some are more suited for hot temperatures.

There are some species that are comparatively easy to grow such as maple and hemlock. The easiest thing, however, would be to buy a young tree and then care for it. For this, you should go to the nursery and search for a plant that you like. A good indication is the leaf color that will give you an idea of the plant's health. In addition, you should decide beforehand the size you want for your tree. After you select the seeds, you must soak them in water for 24 hours. Then, to start a process called cold stratification, place the seeds in a damp towel, put it in a plastic bag refrigerate the bag for a week. This is done to simulate the conditions of winter.

Soil

The best soil for bonsai trees is pure peat. You can also use a mix which has 1/5 loam, 2/5 sphagnum peat moss and 2/5 granite grit. You can even use regular potting mix, but the recommended mix is bonsai soil mix, which is more draining and contains less fertilizer.

After selecting the soil mix, use a fine layer of sand or gravel to cover the bottom of the pot. This helps in drainage. Then, put the soil into the pot and make sure it covers a height of about two-thirds of the pot. Lightly press the soil with your hand and spread the seeds over it. For very small seeds, you do not need to cover them with more soil, but for larger seeds, you should cover them with a thin layer of soil that is about twice the size of the seeds. Once again, use your hand to press the soil very gently.

Water

For small seeds, you should water them using a fine drizzle. This is in order not to disturb their relative positions. For large seeds, you can water them in the regular way. As bonsai trees can take months and even years to fully grow, make sure to keep on watering and pruning them regularly.