Trees are first chosen for bonsai that have an interesting trunk. Branches can be reshaped by wiring and pruning, but the trunk form, except when seedlings are used, is fixed in the choice of the tree. Nursery stock, especially junipers, such as Prostrate Juniper and San Jose Juniper are the easiest for beginners. The finished bonsai is generally between six or seven inches to no more than three feet in height. Plants are selected with the final height in mind.
Miniaturization is accomplished by root-pruning and top pruning.
Trees are repotted every year or two until they reach an age of twenty years. They are fed with a balanced fertilizer, at half strength of the usual recommendation. The object is to maintain the tree in good health, but to keep growth at a slow rate. Once the potential bonsai plant has been selected, it is looked over carefully to decide which side well show off the trunk most effectively. The lowest branch is usually selected to leave the trunk bare about one-third the distance from the ground to the top.