Say the word, "Bonsai" to people and they will usually think of a type of tree.

Bonsai is a Japanese word meaning "tray-planted," and can refer to either the dwarf trees or to the art of training and growing the miniaturized trees in containers.

The most important Bonsai skills include the knowledge of when and how much to cut the roots, how much fertilizer and water is ideal, and which branches should be pruned to give the plant a pleasing look. Bonsai trees are able to bear fruit and to drop their leaves in season, thereby producing nature in miniature.

The idea of a bonsai is to balance the pot with the plant and make the plant look like a miniature tree. Selecting the right pot has a lot to do with the desired size and style of the plant. The pot must be large enough to allow enough soil to cover the roots of the plant. You will kill the plant if you do not have a large enough pot.

While there are many excellent tree species for bonsai, the Chinese Elm is one of the most popular. A skillful bonsai artist can prune, bend, and shape branches to suggest trees standing tall and upright in a field or bent and gnarled by age or weather.

Bonsai trees have long been popular additions to offices and homes because of their small size, aesthetic appeal, and minimal upkeep requirements. Growing bonsai is a great hobby. With a little patience and care, the results you achieve can last many years.