While there is a growing trend to caring for them indoors, many of the traditional trees, such as the Japanese maple bonsai, do not do well indoors. This is due to the fact that these trees require a period of dormancy, where the tree will rejuvenate any damage that has been done to it over the growing seasons between spring and fall. A good pair of small shears, typically made specifically for bonsai, will allow you to prune the branches and leaves of your bonsai as needed. This is an important part of bonsai care. A rake is used to work the soil of your bonsai pot, checking for clumps and otherwise maintaining this aspect of your bonsai. Essential Bonsai Supplies There are some bonsai supplies that are required in order for your plant to be as healthy as possible. Caring for a bonsai involves a lot more than just watering your tree every now and then and watching it grow. Bonsais are works of art that require careful pruning and management in order for the tree to take the shape that you desire. 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. Because of this, you can select the type of ficus bonsai that is suitable for you. It should be remembered that many fruits from ficus bonsai are not edible. For the beginner, selecting a good bonsai soil is a daunting task. For the experienced bonsai grower, a good soil makes the difference between a thriving, healthy tree and one that will only survive a few months to a year. When you are selecting bonsai soil, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind, regardless of whether or not you are an experienced grower. If you are just starting to get into the bonsai hobby, bonsai tree care may be a little difficult for you to understand at first. For beginners, there are two fundamental aspects of bonsai tree care that must be dealt with first. The primary one is knowing how much to water your tree. Because bonsai grow in such small pots, the trees need to be watered in a very specific fashion.