1.	Plant Care Guide.  Here is the link to our Bonsai Care Pamphlet that we used to give out when we sold a Bonsai.  It's a generic, general care sheet, but in a few words tells you what to do.  http://www.dallasbonsai.com/bonsai_care.html
2.	Get a good book.  All of these books are found in our Bonsai Book Section: http://www.dallasbonsai.com/store/bonsai_books_english.html Here are some suggestions on  very good starter books: General Books...these are our recommendations: B65 Bonsai Basics - $10.95 B151 Cultivating Bonsai - $12.95 B37 Bonsai Techniques I - $34.95 Indoor Bonsai Books...our recommendations: B49 Indoor Bonsai for Beginners - $14.95 B152 Indoor Bonsai by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden - $9.95 B63 Bonsai in Your Home - $18.95
3.	Get some Fertilizer. More fertilizers can be seen on the following page: Fertilizers This is one of the main essentials needed to keep your plant alive and healthy. We fertilize to keep the plant in good health and have vigor without excessive growth which would cause extra effort to shape and prune. Try the liquid first.  It's the easiest to use.  We have two basic types of fertilizer: organic and inorganic. Organic fertilizers are usually pellet type products.  Inorganic fertilizers can be dry or liquid.  We prefer inorganic liquid because of ease of use. When it comes to the organic versus inorganic debate, we just want to remind you that neither organic nor inorganic minerals are instantly available to the plant. The minerals must be broken down with enzymes by beneficial bacteria and fungi before the plant can absorb them. Therefore, the plant doesn't know the difference. Please remember we use many things that people in horticulture use, but quite often we use them backwards.  Most nurserymen want to grow trees fast; 6 feet in 6 months kind of thing. We want to keep the plant in good health and have vigor without excessive growth which would cause extra effort to shape and prune. The fertilizers we offer are specifically formulated for growing Bonsai's. F76 - The Bonsai Fertilizer and Vitamin.  The set is $5.50 and will make about 4½ gallons of usable fertilizer, which should certainly be enough for one Bonsai for a year. F75 - Organo Gro  The pelletized organic fertilizer. A one pound bag sells for $4.50.   This should be enough to last a year.
4.	Tools Here we are entering an area where your budget will come into play.  We suggest that you buy the most expensive tools that you can afford. Why? Well, you won't need to buy another one for a long while, if ever as long as you properly maintain the tool.  Our Japanese Handcrafted Bonsai Tools are not part of the expendable generation of tools. They will be with you a long time. They are handmade by the descendants of samurai sword makers. They are all very high quality. It's important to note that the quality of our least expensive tools are comparable to the top of the line tools offered by most other companies. To be honest, there are two other companies in the U.S. that offer the same quality tools that we do. When compared to these companies, the reason you should by from us is: PRICE. The two starter tools that you will need for your Bonsai are:  A Concave Cutter &  a pair of trimming shears.  Concave Cutters:  The concave cutter is used to prune off branches and a little of the inner trunk cells so that when the bark heals there won't be such a large, bulging scar present.  It's kind of like when you cut yourself, there is a scar. It's the same with Bonsai. Here you need to decide on the length and the steel used.  If you can afford the stainless steel tool, then by all means get it. Just think of all the scissors and knives you see here in the USA. They are all stainless. BM59 - 6¾"  Japanese Handcrafted, Laminated High-Carbon, Brushed Finish Black Metal Steel Concave Cutter. $22.95 BM10 - 8" Japanese Handcrafted, Laminated High-Carbon, Brushed Finish Black Metal Steel Concave Cutter. $25.95 SS10 - 8" Japanese Handcrafted, Laminated Alloy, High-Carbon, Polished Finish Stainless Steel Concave Cutter.  $61.95 Additional Concave Cutters are listed in this section of our online catalog: Bonsai Tools: better quality, selection and price Trimming shears: There are two configurations of the Bonsai Shear - The traditional shaped shear and the long handled shear. In the Bonsai shear selections you should also think of what you can afford.  Again, remembering that you will only buy it once if you take care of it. The shear/scissor is for pruning the tips of the branches and leaves.  You can think of this tool as the tool for giving your Bonsai a haircut. Traditional Shear: This Image represents the following: BM01 - 7¼" Japanese Handcrafted, High-Carbon, Unpolished Black Metal Steel Bonsai Trimming Shear. $12.95 BM72 - 7" Japanese Handcrafted, Laminated High-Carbon, Brushed Finish Black Metal Steel Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $24.95 BM75 - 7¼" Japanese Handcrafted, Laminated Alloy, High-Carbon, Polished Finish Black Metal Steel Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $36.95 SS01 - 7¼" Japanese Handcrafted, Laminated, High-Carbon, Polished Finish Stainless Steel Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $32.50 Long handled shear: This Image represents the following: BM02 - 8" Japanese Handcrafted High-Carbon, Unpolished Black Metal Steel Long Handled Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $13.95 BM78 - 7¾" Japanese Handcrafted Laminated High-Carbon, Brushed Finish Black Metal Steel Long Handled Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $24.95  BM81 - 8" Japanese Handcrafted Laminated Alloy, High-Carbon, Polished Finish Black Metal Steel Long Handled Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $42.95 SS02 - 7¾" Japanese Handcrafted Laminated, High-Carbon, Polished Finish Stainless Steel Long Handled Bonsai Trimming Shear.  $32.50

This is the 5S5 tool set. It has the two tools that we discussed above (a concave cutter and a Bonsai scissor, both in Black Metal Steel) along with a rake for combing the roots at a future time, a tweezer to pull off unwanted needles or leaves and a broom to keep things tidy.  This set is reasonably priced at $53.75. There are many, many more sets available on our tool set page: http://www.dallasbonsai.com/store/combo_tool_sets.html

Obviously,  these items are not the only ones you will need as you get along in this hobby, but they are a very excellent start! Also, rest assured, we are here to help you.  You can always call us at 1 800 982 1223 from 1 to 5 Monday through Friday Central Time with any questions you may have. 

We hope this information has been helpful to you. If you feel there is something we are missing, please let us know!