How to start your first fruiting bonsai

As we said, some trees need a rest period that includes cooler temperatures and less light, so they cannot be kept exclusively indoors.

Many people choose to start with plants that are not necessarily trees, but rather woody shrubs that can be trained into a small tree-like form.

These are usually easier to grow and they mature faster, so you can start practicing your technique without the risk of upsetting a temperamental species or ruining a form that will take years to fix.

When picking a plant, look for something that has interesting bark. If you imagine an older bonsai, you never see one with a smooth trunk.

That’s because slower-growing trees in nature usually have thick, textured bark, while fast-growing trees have smooth trunks.

As iconic as they are, I don’t recommend maples, pines, cherry blossoms, or cedars for beginners. Fruit trees, birches, redwoods and ginkgo trees are also a bit challenging.