How do I start a bonsai plant? Should I just buy a plant at my local nursery or should I start it from seed?

Answer #3 · Chason Arthur's Answer · There are several different ways to go about starting or choosing a plant for bonsai. The easiest route to go for beginners is to buy a plant that has already been started as a bonsai. The next easiest way is to visit your local nursery and garden center to pick out a suitable plant. Most nursery and garden centers won't have small seedlings of oaks, maples, flowering cherry or other large-growing trees, however, they will usually have a good selection of small-size junipers, azaleas, hollies, camellias and other shrubs that are good for starting a bonsai. Alternatively, bonsai can be developed from seeds or cuttings. Growing a starter plant from a seed or cutting for bonsai might be the only way to go for native or other plants that are not typically available in the marketplace.)

Answer #6 · Boris Flenchasonger's Answer · Testing once more....)

Answer #5 · Boris Flenchasonger's Answer · test2)

Answer #4 · Boris Flenchasonger's Answer · Testing)

Answer #2 · Chason Arthur's Answer · Your local nursery and garden center should have many evergreen and deciduous plants that are good for bonsai.)

Answer #1 · Chason Arthur's Answer ·
Any substancial plants, such as woody ornamental shrubs and trees, can be used for bonsai. Bonsai are ordinary trees or plants, not special hybrid dwarfs. Small leafed varieties are most suitable, but essentially any plant can be used, regardless of the size it grows to in the wild. That being said, over the long term, the root sytems of some plants may find it difficult to adapt to the small, shallow containers that are typically used in growing bonsai. Too, you want to consider selecting a plant that is hardy in your USDA Hardiness Zone. Growing a bonsai is a long term project that can take many years to accomplish - always being a work in progress. So, the last thing you want to do is pick a plant for bonsai that is considered to be "tender" or "half-hardy" in your zone. Trees and shrubs are probably the most popular choice. There are probably many native trees in your area such as oaks, maples or hickory that would be suitable candidates for bonsai. Evergreen shrubs and trees (those that retain their foliage during winter) used more commonly for bonsai are the many varieties of Pine, Juniper, Cypress, Camelia, Azalea, Holly, and Cedar. Deciduous trees (those which lose their foliage during winter) such as Cherry, Maple (specifically Japanese Maples and 'Trident' Maple), Zelkova, Elm, Oaks and Beech are also prime candidates. 

)