Watering - This is the most important aspect of caring for bonsai, especially for bonsai that are kept indoors for too long. Two things to remember about providing water for bonsai are the type of soil and species. Different soils will absorb and retain water at different rates and different tree species have varying degrees of water need.

A rough rule of thumb is that approximately 75% of water gets taken up via the root system and 25% via the leaves. Because the leaves are an important water absorption surface, you should ensure that you keep them soil and dust free.

Make sure that you don't use excessive pressure when watering your bonsai. A fine mist will generally be adequate. You can get watering bottles that expel water in a vapour form which are excellent for this purpose. Tap water is fine for watering bonsai just ensure that it's of a medium temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.

Soil choice is also critical to the health and longevity of your bonsai tree. You should match the soil type to the tree species. A rough and ready guide is that 30 per cent humus and 70 per cent grit should be used for needled evergreen bonsai trees and 70 per cent humus mixed with 30 per cent grit for deciduous trees. You will need to ask advice or get a good book to help you with soil choice for the rarer species.

Another important aspect of caring for bonsai trees is pruning. Leaves, branches and roots need to be pruned. This is probably the aspect of bonsai care that beginners have most trouble with and it is certainly true that skill in this area only comes with experience and knowledge.

First, consider the style you've chosen for a particular bonsai. Draw an imaginary line over your bonsai and cut the branches that protrude, obstruct or deviate from that line. Second, prune to redirect growth to one area. If you prune the left side heavily, you will redirect growth to the right side.

You should prune leaves and buds with care. Always keep in mind that you're growing a miniature tree and you have to exert the discipline on the tree in order to achieve this. The tree will always want to grow to full size so if you leave it to its own devices, that's what will happen.

You're going to have to exert a lot of loving care if you're going to achieve your objective of a beautiful bonsai tree. It's going to involve a lot of work over a long period of time, but if your heart's in it, I think you'll find it well worthwhile.