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We're going to refer you to the capable Allen C. Roffey, author of the Bonsai Primer listed in our Bonsai category. According to Mr. Roffey, bonsai trees aren't that difficult to cultivate. If you've taken care of a regular houseplant, you're more than halfway there. But unlike houseplants, bonsai trees are actually trees -- and can be killed if kept indoors during the winter. There are a few other issues to consider... Contrary to popular belief, bonsai trees aren't genetically modified dwarves. They're regular trees or shrubs that are artificially stunted by pruning their roots and tying their branches with wire. The art originated in China, and
was adapted by the Japanese early in the second millennium. If you're not in the market for a ready-made bonsai, you can create your own from seeds or cuttings or by digging up your own tree. You'll need to remove the main root, or tap root, to fit the plant in your pot. With some basic pruning and wiring skills, you can convert any mangy old shrub into a glorious bonsai. That's the theory, anyway. Regardless, you'll have plenty of time to work on your craft;
many bonsai trees are centuries old.
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