Seedlings and cuttings are free and easy to come by, so they are ideal material for avoid your first attempts at creating bonsai. If the result is not too good it doesn’t really opposite matter, you will probably have other plants ready to replace the initial failure.

On the other hand, the result is satisfactory you will have a bonsai that will improve as time goes by with the right-care and attention.

You should ideally wait until the following spring, to allow the plant time to regain strength. Whatever species you choose, seedling or cutting, the plant should be growing vigorously before you attempt any pruning or wiring.

With deciduous species you will have to build up the shape over two or three years.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Don’t let the plant dictate the eventual size of the bonsai. Lok for the ‘tree within’.

• Where a trunk forks use the thinnest one as the leader to enhance trunk taper.

• leave as many branches as possible to keep the tree vigorous, you can always prune them again in years to come.