What is Bonsai-  the word bonsai means many things to many differnt people.  Often people have the misconception that a Bonsai is a special type of tree, however, this is simply not the case.  The Japanese expression of Bonsai translates to Shallow Tray Plant.  The ancient Chinese pioneered the art of Bonsai as a study of trees growing in their natural environment.  This art over the years has progressed into re-creating the beauty of nature by sculpting a living tree into an idealized landscape.  While this definition of "Bonsai" is by no means complete it gives us a starting  point to examine which characteristics of a Bonsai transfoms it from a ordinay garden tree into a masterful work of art. 

What to look for-  when buying a bonsai

1. Size- like all things in life, Bonsai come in all shapes and sizes.    

     a. Miniature- Bonsai are also called Shito Bonsai and typically stand less than 2 inches tall.  As you can see from figure 1 these types of Bonsai are quite small.  They may also be referred to as a Small Mame.  Ideally you should be able to hold this type of Bonsai on two fingers.

     b. Small-  Bonsai are also called Mame Bonsai and are less than 6 inches tall.  Mame Bonsai's (figure -2) are somewhat larger than Shito Bonsai, but, not by much.   

     c. Medium- Bonsai are also called Shohin Bonsai (figure 3) and are typically less than 12 inches tall.  A good rule of thumb for Shohin Bonsai's is that they must be small enough to be held in the palm of one hand. 

     d. Large- Bonsai are generally any tree taller than 12 inches.  These types of tree are often refered to as two handed trees or even two man trees if they are large enough. 

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(Figure 1- Shito Bonsai)                          (Figure 2- Mame Bonsai)              (Figure 3- Shohin Bonsai)            (Figure 4- Large Bonsai)

2. Trunk SIze and Form-  Bonsai trees can have many types of trunk styles.  They can be straight (figure 3), angled (figure 1), curved, or divided (figure 2).  However, the most important trunk feature is that it has a good taper so that the bottom portion of the trunk is largest.  The trunk should progressivley get small as you move up from the base.  A large base is ideal and will add to the impression that the tree is older.  Of course as the size of the trunk increases so will the cost of the tree.   

3. Root Spread- Ideally a Bonsai should have some of it's root formation exposed above the soil line (Figure 2).  A well developed root spread (Nebari) will give a Bonsai the appearance of maturity and stability.

4. Branch Arrangment- will ultimately form the Bonsai's structure.  However, when shopping for a Bonsai this is usually not one of the most important features because the branch arrangement can always be radically changed by wiring or pruning.  A good rule to follow is that a spiral staircase branch arrangement is ideal for most trunk styles; especially Formal and Informal Upright.  Ideally the first branch is one third of the way up the trunk.  Likewise the thickest branches should be toward the bottom.

5. Conclusion- I hope that this guide has proven useful to you.  I have purposely kept this guide short, so if you have any more questions please feel free to look me up ( BarajasBonsai ) on ebay and email them to me.  Mention that you read this guide and receive 10% off your winning bid (excludes Shipping Price).

Sources- 1. 101 Essential Bonsai Tips by  Dorling Kindersley; 2. The Art of Bonsai by David Paget; 3. Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson; 4. My Personal Experince Growing Bonsai