My first bonsai was a very small juniper in a very small pot. As an experienced gardener, I knew junipers liked full sun, but as a novice bonsai enthusiast, I put the little plant on a windowsill in a south-facing window, where it soon overheated and died. Racked by guilt, I set out to research the genre before trying again. I discovered that only a few species can live indoors, where it may be too hot and will almost certainly be too dry for trees. And that’s what bonsai is – not houseplants, but very small trees. And trees like to be outside.

Bonsai (bone-sigh) literally means “plant in a dish” and is an ancient art form, having originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. During the 12th to 14th centuries, bonsai was exported to Japan. Today, the art form is popular worldwide.

People who enjoy bonsai tend to have collections rather than a single plant. It is addictive. You can spend hours simply watering them, repotting every year or two and keeping them clipped. People talk to their bonsai, give them names and generally treat them as pets. In China and Japan, some bonsai are handed down through generations.

To succeed, you will need to know your plants. Some like shade and some prefer sun. Some like fertile soil and others prefer sand. Your best source of information is likely to be a local nursery. Many hold bonsai classes or workshops and will know if there is a bonsai club in the area. Some community colleges offer courses or workshops. There are online forums and even online classes. There are many books on the subject. Find an author who knows your local growing conditions and what plants work well where you live.

Growing bonsai can be expensive. Though famous bonsai can cost hundreds of dollars, and even small ones in nurseries are pretty spendy, you can purchase common garden shrubs and turn them into bonsai. The expense comes not so much from the plants themselves as from the paraphernalia.

You will need tools to cut, groom and pot your bonsai. Preferred cutters are the Japanese style shears and knob cutters. For potting, you’ll need a root hook to detangle the roots, a trowel or scoop and the ultimate tool for tamping down soil under roots: a chopstick. If you use wire to shape branches, it must be the right kind of wire. A soil sieve is also essential, with screens in at least two sizes, to remove too-large and too-small particles. Bonsai pots are less expensive than they were 12 years ago, but they will still set you back anywhere from $10 to more than $100 each, depending on size and style.

This 25-inch-tall California pepper tree (Schinus molle) is about 15 years old, but with well-developed nebari (surface roots) and a gnarled trunk, it looks much older. The turnk is only 8 inches in height.The bonsai tool kit may include Japanese style shears and knob cutters, a root hook and chopstick, soil movers and a sieve with two sizes of mesh. It’s also a good idea to have a watering can with a very small spout or a sprinkler head, window screening to cover drain holes and a sharpening stone.Growing bonsai is meditative, relaxing and fulfills artistic yearnings. It is satisfying to take a plain shrub and turn it into a work of art, to get just the right mix of soil and rock, to clip and trim and shape and tamp down the soil, cover with a decorative layer of tiny rock chips, then sit back and enjoy the sight of a healthy, growing miniature tree. Bonsai takes the essence of what a tree is and brings it up close for your very personal enjoyment.