First, sculpting a bonsai tree takes years. Many of the trees that can be purchased are somewhere between seven to fifteen years old, gradually sculpted until the bonsai tree has taken the shape that the artist wants. When you begin sculpting your own tree, you will need to remember that patience is necessary in order to succeed at this art. You will need a good soil for your tree, a proper pot with good drainage, and the basic tools for working wiring and trimming your tree. This typically is a minor investment, and most of the supplies will last you for several years. Depending on the type of bonsai you are growing, you may need to invest in other materials, especially for trees that require more delicate care. Training ficus bonsai can be done by bonsai growers of all experience levels, which is one of the reasons this style of tree is very popular among growers. It can be sculpted into complex scenes, or guided for a more natural appearance. This allows anyone to handle one of these plants. As the ficus bonsai group contains many varieties of figs, there are species that are harder to care for, and some that are easier to care for. If you live somewhere cold, it is vital that you store the Baobab bonsai somewhere the plant can remain warm throughout the winter season. In addition, the Baobab bonsai should receive no water at all during the winter, as watering them in winter will cause root rot and your plant will die. The most challenging aspect of caring for a Baobab bonsai, aside from taking care to water properly, is to acknowledge that these trees take a very long time to grow. As bonsai trees are more work than a standard tree left to grow on its own, there are a lot of things that you need to know about bonsai care. First, because you are designing the tree to look a specific way, you need to take the time and effort to learn about the specific tree you are working with. Some species of trees have delicate branches, making them unsuitable for wiring. Leaf trimming and pruning are typically used to maintain the appearance and health of the tree, while wiring, clamping, grafting, defoliation and deadwood are methods used to enhance the overall style and design of the bonsai. Each of these methods needs to be performed with care, as your bonsai trees can be killed if you over prune, over trim, or otherwise critically damage the root and structure of the bonsai trees.