Start reading everything you can about bonsai, because growing them is going to be different from either just regular garden growing, or house plant growth. There are specific techniques used to achieve various ends and good reasons for doing certain things. The fact you already do grow something(s) is in your favor, but you may have to unlearn a couple. Go to www.bonsai4me.com for basics, and www.evergreengardenworks.com for more, and try to find a local club to join because it's the quickest way to pick up a lot of tips, hands-on knowledge and understanding of terms, etc. that you can use.

Thank you Larke! Great links! I remembered this site from years ago, and am grateful it's still online. It's all about Bonsai from grape cuttings. There are instructions (which I need)and lots of pictures!

Here is a link that might be useful: Grape Bonsai

Yes, I have just seen what they call "accent Bonsai Pots"...all made in different shapes,angles-most pottery sold in these magnificent "out of the box shapes" from Europe/England/Ireland. But.....I am starting my Bonsai from seed....they are "yearlings" now,and when you grow and train from the very beginning,you get the perfect feel for the container you need. I now am planniing an "accent shape" - a sperical crater with lions paw type feet- to match this Bonsai when it is ready for it's final resting place in my home.Yes, surely out of the box, but something that is unusual and suited for my Bonsai type and relaxing and creative by making it myself.There are plenty of pottery shops/classes that can help you make your bonsai pot a reality and something to cherish. Good luck with your grapevines.....I've never heard of using cloth, but oh what an idea and should be a remarkable endeavor.

Carol - he's not referring to 'bonsai' pots that you would put a mature or 'show' plant in - he's talking about training pots or boxes, which are very different things. BTW, you might want to consider doing bonsai the traditional way, not growing from seed, but cutting down larger trees to develop taper and new, smaller branches. Growing from seed takes forever!

Talking of cutting down larger trees, just how easy is that to do? I have a mango tree that is now about 18 inches tall but I would like it to be about half that. The leaves are only at the the top. If I cut the stem in half, will it die?

Percy,
If you prune a healthy tree, it ought to back-bud quite well.

Josh