Bonsai is an ancient Japanese tradition, dating back thousands of years. It is considered an art form, in which the creator shapes and molds a tree to their liking, typically in a small container. This art has evolved over time, and has expanded to all cultures and backgrounds. It has become a popular hobby in the world today, one that can be both time consuming, yet rewarding.
As opposed to what some might think, these plants are grown from regular seeds, that produce regular sized trees. The key to this art is knowing how to shape the trees to become full and mature, but not grow more than a foot or so. Bonsai can be used for all types of plants, including pine trees, palm trees, juniper trees, and especially ficus trees. It is appealing to look at and can be done indoors and has a typical slow growth pattern, so for a beginner it will do little harm to not care for the plant periodically.
Growing these special trees incorporates a number of techniques which are both specific to Bonsai, or normal for cultivating other plants. These will include leaf trimming, pruning, wiring, clamping, grafting, and defoliation. These would all be used together and, in time, will produce a wonderful looking tree.