Getting Started by The Bonsai Society Of The Carolinas One of the most frequently asked questions is how to get started with bonsai.  The beginner looks at a beautiful bonsai and is drawn to want to learn more.  Here are some simple hints that will get you started.  They consist of a few Dos and a few Don'ts.  We'll start with the Don'ts first. Don't     1.  Don't think that bonsai are like any other potted plant.   If you treat them like a flower or foliage plant, they will probably die.   Bonsai have unique soil, watering, and lighting requirements.     2.  Don't think that you can buy a pre-made bonsai at one of your local nurseries for $9.95 and expect it to live.  Most of these plants are obviously sold as disposable plants that will not live longer than a month or two.  For one thing, most of them have a layer of rocks that has been glued to the surface.  There is no way that this plant can be watered properly.  Maybe if you brought it home and repotted it immediately, you might have a chance at keeping it alive.           3.  Don't think you can put your bonsai in your living room, den or anywhere else in the house and expect it to be healthy. Bonsai are trees. They natively live outdoors. They will not stay healthy if you keep them indoors. Most of the time, they will die if kept indoors. (Winter care is a possible exception, but that is an advanced topic.) They do not get the proper amount of light, ventilation, humidity, and water if kept indoors. I heard of one lady who put her bonsai on the TV in the living room and couldn't understand why it died. (Obviously, she cooked it to death.)    4.  Don't pronounce it BAHN-ZAI.  It is pronounced BONE-SIGH.  The former is what Japanese kamikaze pilots shouted during World War II.  The term bon-sai literally means "tree in a pot".  Do     1.  Buy a good beginner book.  There are many to choose from depending upon your level of knowledge.  For the brand new beginner, Sunset's Bonsai, An Illustrated Guide to an Ancient Art, is a good place to start.  This book is often available at garden centers and bookstores.  It has lots of good pictures and some good beginner advice.  It sells for under $10.  There are better bonsai books that give more specific advice when you are ready to learn more.     2.  Seek out a good bonsai club.  Many large cities have bonsai societies.  Both Bonsai Clubs International and the American Bonsai Society have a list of bonsai clubs on their web sites.  At your local bonsai club you can get specific advice, encouragement, and instruction.  While it is possible to teach the art of bonsai to yourself, it is highly unlikely.  This is an old and ancient art that is passed down through the centuries.  Try to get around others who practice it to learn from their experience.    3.  Locate a reputable bonsai nursery.  You will get your best bonsai plants, materials, and instruction from a bonsai nursery dedicated 100% to bonsai.   If necessary, you may have to travel to find one.  It will be worth the trip.   These nurseries can answer all your questions, particularly those that deal will your local weather conditions.  A bonsai from Florida may not do you much good if you live in New Jersey.     4.  Begin simply.  There is no reason to rush into bonsai.     It is a proven fact that a $10 bonsai will die just as quickly as a $5,000 bonsai if not properly cared for.  Learn the horticultural part of bonsai on inexpensive plant material.  A procumbens nana juniper is a good place to start.  They are readily available and give a certain amount of instant gratification since they can easily be made to look like older trees.      5.  Be patient.  If anything, bonsai teaches patience.   A tree does not grow overnight.  Most people will lose a certain amount of trees when they first get into bonsai.  Don't be discouraged when this happens.   This is all part of the learning curve.  Randy Clark says that if you buy 100 trees and work on all of them, by the time you get to the last tree you will have finally learned something.  Let each plant you lose teach you something.  Also it takes time for a bonsai to develop.  You may makes some cuts on your tree that won't develop fully until the end of the growing season.    6.  Have fun.  If you enjoy your bonsai learning experience, it will reward you with many years of pleasure.  It is very rewarding to watch your trees grow and mature.  This can be a lifetime pleasure.  Links for Beginner Bonsai Information    The Bonsai Primer - http://www.bonsaiprimer.com/    Beginner Guide from Bonsai Web - http://www.bonsaiweb.com/forum/articles/begin/    The above article has been reprinted with permission of "The Bonsai Society Of The Carolinas." You may visit their web site at "http://www.bonsaicarolina.com".