Consumers are often shocked at the prices vendors require to purchase a bonsai tree, but few of them consider the time and effort it takes to create one unless they have attended a class and learned to do it properly. Bonsai trees are living plants with their own set of requirements, and turning them into works of art takes a great deal of effort. While the smallness of them seems to say they should be inexpensive, the amazing grace they show marks them as a piece of art that should be appreciated as a valuable piece of art.
Many modern gardening centers concentrate on helping people choose the right plants for their home, but there are some that give classes in the art of creating these charming trees. Students must learn how to care for them first, and creating their own tree will give them the ability to appreciate the work that goes into them. It takes years to nurture a tree into its perfect shape, so that is one reason they are relatively expensive.
It takes a great deal of patience to create a beautiful bonsai, but it is well worth the effort for those who admire its often stark beauty. Shaping it takes a combination of pruning and anchoring the branches to create the desired final form, and the student must also be willing to wait years for this process to be almost complete. Maintaining its shape will eventually require only a small amount of pruning at the right time, but it must be done whenever necessary to keep the plant looking its best.
The majority of classes in bonsai trees last only a few hours, and then students will take their creation home with them. The final steps in the process may take years, but they will be rewarded for their patience in the end.