Bonsai Tree Delivery

The quality of Japanese bonsai available for purchase has improved greatly over the past 10 years. You can now find bonsai from many different places such as your local plant nursery center and even at the local WalMart or grocery store. But some of the best places to purchase bonsai trees is right here, online. So, what do you need to consider when choosing online bonsai delivery?

First, research a companies' shipping practices. A perfectly healthy bonsai tree can quickly turn into future firewood if it's not shipped correctly. Make sure the company you choose ships their bonsai trees quickly. If they ship their trees by ground service, you run the risk of your bonsai tree arriving dead. Also, make sure they package their bonsai trees with plenty of cushioning to assure your Japanese bonsai will arrive undamaged. Take it from me, UPS and FedEx do not care what is inside your box or how much you paid for a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. The ultimate goal is to find an online company who provides high quality bonsai trees and who ships them safely and quickly.

One of the most reputable online bonsai tree stores is Bonsai Boy of NY. They carry a unique selection of high-quality bonsai trees at a fair price and always ship their trees with the utmost care. There are many other online dealers but I have never had an experience purchasing bonsai trees and supplies from them.

I will offer a word of caution about purchasing "bonsai" from Ebay. There are many people on Ebay who have beautiful pictures - but they don't look ANYTHING like the bonsai tree you receive. Make sure when you are bidding that you ask if the picture is WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get). Also, ask how they will ship it - many don't understand how to ship bonsai trees properly.

How to Shape your First Japanese Bonsai Tree

Welcome back to Indoor Bonsai for Beginners!

Shaping your first Japanese bonsai tree will require you to have patience with yourself. You will make mistakes - be prepared for that. Remember to keep the image of the tree you would like to produce in your mind at all times. Let's get started!

Remember you will need your BASIC BONSAI TOOLS to get started.

1. Take your bud scissors and trim away at the branches of the tree to create your basic bonsai shape. Just keep snipping your bonsai until you've reached the basic shape that you desire. Use the concave pruner to remove branches at the trunk. Hold our pruner directly perpendicular to your trunk and snip off your branches.

2. Once you've reached the basic shape, using bonsai wire carefully wrap the branches and trunk of your tree to alter it's shape and coax it into the bonsai tree in your mind. Take care not to wrap your tree or branch too tightly as this can hurt the delicate bark and cause unsightly scaring on your tree.

3. Once you are done pruning and wiring your tree, water it well and LEAVE IT ALONE. Avoid the urge to continue to prune it. Your tree needs to rest now to recover from the surgery you just performed upon it. Just keep the soil moist (but not wet) for the next month. Observe your tree and watch how it's healing itself.

That's it! You've created your very first Japanese bonsai! Remember, the odds are that this tree will most likely perish. But, with continued practice, you will home in your skills and create beautiful bonsai trees.