---
title: "I got this gift for Christmas! I’ve never worked with bonsai but I…"
description: "I got this gift for Christmas! I’ve never worked with bonsai but I have a few succulents and other house plants. What’s the best resources you’ve used to learn…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/hB0M8pmURCqUK7zhKpIOTw/w7f4NSK091sa31RWmdSDDE"
community: "Bonsai Matters"
author: "Mo"
published: "2026-01-11T16:36:11.646607Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eWpzZm8zQoqmbXFuTnwocwT7kwpcnORdYSux6q7RgDg/1AexicyhTZiWf-5z7XXrlQ.webp?size=large"
---

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# I got this gift for Christmas! I’ve never worked with bonsai but I…

_Posted by Mo on 2026-01-11_

I got this gift for Christmas! I’ve never worked with bonsai but I have a few succulents and other house plants.

What’s the best resources you’ve used to learn about shaping/ pruning?

Any other tips or recommendations on pots/fertilizers/ shaping tools would be appreciated as well!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/eWpzZm8zQoqmbXFuTnwocwT7kwpcnORdYSux6q7RgDg/1AexicyhTZiWf-5z7XXrlQ.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Just a guy commented on 2026-01-13

I assume it’s by seed so just plant it and let it grow for a couple years. You could buy a bonsai and shape it right away.👍

### Just a guy commented on 2026-01-13

For wiring i will use this juniper as an example. For a cascade style this what I would do. Use wire on the entire trunk and dramatically make a slope down over the base of the pot. Next create foliage pads by shaping the branches and trimming leafs. Make not sure not to cut to Much as this species is very dramatic.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/JiGKag1rW8RDYFXlzBKXyrtrqxQg54OuRDrjGbcOwo8/17E4bMlnQlOWf2DRIg7KSg.webp?size=large)

### Just a guy commented on 2026-01-13

Semi finished result should look like this I will continue to refine

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/JiGKag1rW8RDYFXlzBKXyrtrqxQg54OuRDrjGbcOwo8/KW3nSJVRRoG_gMnm46SnNw.webp?size=large)

#### Mo replied on 2026-01-15

Wowww!!! That looks so good

### iBenchbuses commented on 2026-01-13

Go to YouTube. There’s a lot of useful information there. There are also bonsai books. Try looking some up with one or some of those trees in it and that should get you going in the right direction. Besides that trial and error and watching it grow and learning what it likes in your specific environment. Good luck! 😊

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