How to start your first fruiting bonsai

Whether you’re thinking of dipping your toe into the big world of bonsai or you just picked up a cute little tree at the store, you’re probably wondering how to handle your first plant.

It’s easy to look at one of these century-old, award-winning trees and feel overwhelmed by the whole view. But wasn’t.

Just remember that you are working with a plant, as you would any other type of gardening, and it doesn’t have to be more complicated than that. If you have an artist’s spirit combined with a green thumb, all the better.

A vertical close-up shot of a hand from the bottom of the frame holding up a small bonsai tree in a ceramic pot depicted on a soft focus background. To the top and bottom of the frame there is green and white printed text.
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This guide will break everything down to its most basic parts so you can jump in without feeling like you’re in over your head.

Even if this is your first visit to bonsai – or even your first attempt at growing plants of any kind – this guide is perfect for beginners, and we’re here to help.

Manage pests and diseases
If you are completely new to growing bonsai, you may want to check out our introduction to the art. It lays out all the basic concepts and explains the history behind this ancient art.

A little about Bonsai
Bonsai as an art form has been around for hundreds of years, brought by monks from China to Japan, where it morphed into the practice we recognize today.

One of the earliest examples in Japan dates from the 14th century, although it was probably practiced there long before that.

A close-up horizontal shot of a bonsai tree on a wooden surface with a concrete wall in the background.
This technique is not about growing dwarf trees, but rather it involves growing full size specimens in small containers and keeping them small by containment and pruning.

Most species grown as bonsai must be treated like regular trees, meaning they must be outdoors and should experience a period of rest.

That said, there are a few species that you can keep inside for part or all of the year.

Best species to start with
When choosing a plant to start your journey with, you need to consider whether you can keep the tree outdoors or if it will be kept indoors.