The Ginkgo biloba tree can also be grown as a bonsai.
You can buy a Ginkgo bonsai or grow one from seed or start with a seedling of 2-3 years old.
It is an outside bonsai and prefers full sun, but in very sunny areas part shadow is better. Young trees need some shelter in midsummer. Give plenty of water during the growing season.
Protect well against frost, for the Ginkgo is very sensitive for it in shallow pots because of the fleshy roots with moistury content that might burst open with frost. Therefore keep it fairly dry in winter.
A bonsai needs to be more fertilized than a normal sized tree. Fertilize plentiful with organic manure: spring-October twice per month.
A female branch may be grafted on the tree to get seeds earlier than normal.
Its natural shape is a good style. The large leaves and rather stiff, thick branches make it suitable for medium to large size growth. Also a broomlike style with an oval and towards the top even pointed shape (like a candle flame) or the Chokkan- or Moyo-Gi-style can be applied.
It does not need (much) wiring. Just prune the branches which are too long so that its form keeps in balance.
The bark is delicate, so be careful; if you apply wire do it lightly and use aluminium wire.
Protect the bark with raffia and check regularly.
Pruning scars do not heal, so avoid making large scars. In spring and October the cluster leaves should be reduced to 2-3 leaves with the topmost leaf on the outside. Prune new branches back to 2-3 buds while the tree is young. You may top it regularly. Young trees (up to about 10 years) need to be repotted every year in early spring just before the leaves appear. Older trees may be repotted every 2-3 years or only when necessary. Use basic soil mix that is well-drained, add 10% coarse sand and some grid. Do not prune the roots too much in the beginning.