To complete an artist's aesthetic vision of the bonsai tree, it is important to give some thought to how it is displayed. To display bonsai properly, you have to consider its environment, its needs and the viewer who will be contemplating the bonsai. The goal is to make sure that it is displayed in the best possible manner, which is one that allows it to present its best features.

Here are some considerations when determining how to display your bonsai:

1. A bonsai tree has a front side and a back side. It is important to make the distinction while training and when displaying it.



2. When displayed outdoors, consider the needs of the bonsai tree first. Note that it will be spending most of its time in that spot. If its needs are not met in this location, it can result in your tree losing vigor and death. Choose a spot where it receives sufficient sunlight and where it is protected from excessive winds or torrential rains. It should be easy for you to access your tree in the location that you choose, so you can water it, prune it and train it easily.



3. A rule of displaying bonsai is to put it at eye level, which is the best height at which the miniature tree can be imagined as a full sized tree seen from a distance. For outdoor displays, you can choose to put it on top of a wooden bench or stand of a suitable height.



4. If you have several bonsai trees, make sure that there is sufficient space among your trees. This will allow people to contemplate each bonsai without being distracted by the other bonsai trees in your outdoor display.



5. Minimize the distractions as much as possible. The best outdoor displays for bonsai trees often contain zen elements of wood and stones. This type of environment creates a calm and simple background that will help your bonsai stand out.



6. In indoor exhibition displays, you have more control over the background of your bonsai. In exhibitions, each one is displayed inside an alcove. A display stand is selected so that your bonsai can be viewed and displayed at eye level.



7. Choose a stand that complements your bonsai and is of the right height. Just as the pot complements the form of the bonsai, so will your choice of stand.



8. In a formal Japanese display, the bonsai tree is perched on a stand. In the background, you have a hanging scroll on a plain white background. On the foreground, you have a companion plant or a shitakusa. This type of display depicts the season and represents that landscape that goes with your bonsai.

To make sure your bonsai tree is worthy of being displayed, you need to care for it and train it well. Learn how to care for maple bonsai and the bonsai styling methods that you can use to create a dramatic and magnificent bonsai.