Complete beginner

[WEC3]

I just got a copy of Chan’s Bonsai Beginner Bible today and I’m reading through. I’m planning to pick up a couple more beginner care and information books as well. I live in WV, so I’m thinking I’d like to start with a juniper of some type in the spring of 2026 because it should be okay in our climate outdoors for the winter as I learn to care for it. Would I be better off starting with a tree that is already shaped from a website that sells starter trees and pots or starting from nursery stock in the spring and learning to shape and tend it all myself? I’m planning to spend the winter learning and researching as much as I can. Thank you all in advance!

 

[Eckhoffw]

Welcome aboard!

Make sure you fully fill out your profile with location, climate zone, and etc.

A juniper is usually always a good choice for starting out.

My first suggestion would be to look into collecting some native trees in your area.

It looks like eastern Hemlock, American beech, and red maples reside there and would be nice trees (can make very nice bonsai) to start on as they’ll be the easiest to care for.
I would guess they are also pretty easily acquired at your local nurseries.

You’re probably gonna want a few cheaper trees to mess with and get in some hands-on training!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site! If you can, try to take a beginner class at a bonsai nursery or bonsai exhibition. These usually come with starter trees that you can take home. You will learn significantly faster from a hands on class than from reading several books.

 

[darzuo]

I'd second the recommendation of taking a beginner class. You'll learn a ton, and avoid some beginner mistakes that can otherwise take a long time to catch / correct. There's also fortunately a ton of resources online now. I would check out the Bonsai Mirai beginner series that they have on youtube. It includes basics on wiring, pruning and material selection. Try and get a few trees to start, and I would personally avoid seedlings / very young material. Basically, try and maximize how much you can practice and learn.

 

[Jrmcmich]

Get a few trees and learn watering techniques based on trees needs and soil. I feel this is key to keeping trees alive. Once you have that look for bigger trees to start developing. Growing trunks will take time so if you buy “sticks” you might end up putting them in ground to thicken. That’s where I’m at at least. Good luck and read, watch, and do.

 

[Tony D.]

I would suggest you find a local bonsai club. I started my bonsai journey about a year ago and have found our local club to be invaluable. They sponsor workshops with visiting artists which are great and just socializing with people who share the interest and are experienced in the art and science of bonsai is beyond valuable to me.

Our last meeting was a tree memorial. Many members submitted pictures of dearly departed trees for a PowerPoint show then spoke about what their trees ment to them and what might have gone wrong to lead to the loss. I learned a lot at that meeting, like you are going to kill a tree now and then. It's a sad fact in bonsai, but we learn from our mistakes and move on. Being in the club allows me to learn from other people's mistakes, I hope.

 

[Michael P]

Local expertise cannot be underestimated. These are people who grow bonsai in your climate! Also, bonsai is a three-dimensional art. Many techniques simply do not make sense until you see them done in person.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Welcome Aboard BonsaiNut!

Would start with a Shimpaku Juniper as these tend to be fairy bulletproof and hardy. Also this is a mainstream bonsai tree.

Connecting with a club is key. However, meetings are far between. So would consider some distance learning. This form of instruction is often far better than many books.

Bonsai Empire has a large amount of excellent courses. They do have a one time fee for each course, with unlimited viewing forever, Would start with beginner and intermediate courses. Worth watching a couple times at first and for reference later.

Also Bonsaifly has two awesome practical bonsai Shohin courses, one for Juniper and one for Japanese Black Pine. Again, one time fee, lifetime access. Eric has created an outstanding comprehensive set of courses. He also sells bonsai material for these courses (not to say one can’t get Shimpaku and JBP on your own)

You get what you pay for btw, which is why I rarely recommend YouTube, except for instances where professionals have presentations. There’s too much junk and clutter and I find some information suspect.

An exception to the above is work done by one of our members, @leatherback who has a series of bonsai presentations on YouTube. He has worked hard over the years to hone his information with folks input and has created some really good earning videos.

Just for ground truth… I have finished all the above courses over the years and seen quite a number of Joelle’s videos.

PS Please enter your approximate location and USDA Plant Cold Hardiness Zone in your profile as per @Eckhoffw . We often can’t provide decent advice to you without these data.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[rockm]

I just got a copy of Chan’s Bonsai Beginner Bible today and I’m reading through. I’m planning to pick up a couple more beginner care and information books as well. I live in WV, so I’m thinking I’d like to start with a juniper of some type in the spring of 2026 because it should be okay in our climate outdoors for the winter as I learn to care for it. Would I be better off starting with a tree that is already shaped from a website that sells starter trees and pots or starting from nursery stock in the spring and learning to shape and tend it all myself? I’m planning to spend the winter learning and researching as much as I can. Thank you all in advance!

If you can, make a trip to DC to see the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum.

Also Get on their mailing list to get news of when the next Potomac Bonsai Show and sale will be (usually in April or May). Lots of vendors and bonsai to see there

Think about making the commitment to joining a club in the dc area if only for the auctions and info (you can join a mentor program in the Northern Virginia Club via email I think.)

Potomac Bonsai Association — Bonsai Blog — National Bonsai Foundation

Bonsai Blog

www.bonsai-nbf.org

The PBA is the blanket org for DMV bonsai clubs

Potomac Bonsai Association, Inc.

potomacbonsai.com

 

[WEC3]

Welcome aboard!

Make sure you fully fill out your profile with location, climate zone, and etc.

A juniper is usually always a good choice for starting out.

My first suggestion would be to look into collecting some native trees in your area.

It looks like eastern Hemlock, American beech, and red maples reside there and would be nice trees (can make very nice bonsai) to start on as they’ll be the easiest to care for.
I would guess they are also pretty easily acquired at your local nurseries.

You’re probably gonna want a few cheaper trees to mess with and get in some hands-on training!

Good luck and have fun!

Thanks! Where I'm in 7a, would a tree in 7a or below be suitable for the winter temperature averages outdoors? I've not tried any kind of plant care before really, so I want to make sure I'm understanding the zone ratings properly. Eastern Hemlock sounds like a good place. I like the look of evergreen bonsai trees.