How do they stay so small?

Bonsai Iterate

There are many common questions and misconceptions about bonsai. For many, after they learn that bonsai is not a special species of tree (rather nearly any kind of tree or shrub trained in a certain way) the next question is, “How do they stay so small?”

Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up.

Even better, let me show you!

In the fall of 2015, I got two Japanese maples from a club raffle. They were the same variety, the same thickness, and the same height. I kept them both in pots for the 2016 growing season, and they stayed on par with one another. But in the spring 2017, I decided to plant one in the ground and keep the other in a pot. Just 14 months later, let me show you the difference.

This is the one in the pot.