Bonsai is a process to produce a live dwarf specimen of a big tree. A bonsai should represent a mature and old tree, not only the age, but also the sign of natural wounds a plant should bear in wilderness. Bonsai first appeared almost 1000 years ago, in China. There it was called then, pun-sai. From there it went to Japan and there it evolved more. Bonsai is a mixture of poetic dream, handiwork of an artist and success of a horticulturist. Bonsai practically comes under artwork, the only difference from other art that, it is live art.

Bonsai usually range from 5cms to 1 metre, though very old ones are even close to 2 metres. Bonsai are actually forced to retain their size by pruning the branches and roots, and shoot pinching new growth. They also need to be repotted periodically. In addition to this it also needs to be wired to get the desired shape. Some people also put hanging weights in the branches to get the desired curve, particularly in horizontal branches. Careful handling can result in a specimen living for hundreds of years and being handed down from generation to generation as a prized item.

The size of a bonsai should be determined by the size of the same tree growing in nature. For example, shrubs like ixora or rose, when left unpruned, grow upto 1/2 to 2 Mtrs. So, they are a good choice for small or mini bonsai. Some shrubs, like hibiscus, mussaenda or murraya can grow upto 2 to 4 mtrs. and suitable for medium bonsai. Trees like Banyan, Tamarind, etc. will look appropriate as big bonsai for their great heights.

Do practice it if you have a lot of time, and patience of course, as it requires regular care and not like your usual houseplants which go good with less care. A properly trained bonsai is definitely an eye-catcher and increase the beauty a garden or home many more times than a usual houseplant or a flowering plant. It surprises the spectator of staying in a small container, which could have been a giant tree.