Bonsai are not genetically dwarfed plants. They can be created from nearly any tree or shrub species and remain small through pot confinement with crown and root pruning. Some specific species are more sought after for use as bonsai material, because they have characteristics that make them appropriate for the smaller design arrangements of bonsai.
 1 Forged Steel Concave Bonsai Branch Cutter Tool |
 Japanese Juniper deluxe Bonsai Tree starter kit |
 Japanese Juniper deluxe onsai Tree starter kit |
 Bonsai Tools & Trees: Beginner Starter Kit Set |
 Japanese Juniper Bonsai Tree starter kit with Live Tree |
 Snow Rose Bonsai Tree starter kit with Live tree |
 Starter Gift SOY Oil warmer / tart burner w/ sun tarts |
 Snow Rose Bonsai Tree starter kit |
The small size of the tree and the dwarfing of foliage result from pruning of both the leaves and the roots. Most trees require a dormancy period and do not grow roots or leaves at that time. Improper pruning can weaken or kill trees.
Copper or aluminium wire wrapped around branches and trunks holds the branches in place until they lignify (convert into wood), usually 6-9 months or one growing season. Some species do not lignify strongly, or are already too stiff/brittle to be shaped and are not conducive to wiring, in which case shaping is accomplished primarily through pruning.
Cultivators use Deadwood Bonsai Techniques called jin and shari to simulate age and maturity in a bonsai. Jin is the term used when the bark from an entire branch is removed to create the impression of a snag of deadwood. Shari denotes stripping bark from areas of the trunk to simulate natural scarring from a broken limb or lightning strike.
