Age and Training

At some point a pre-bonsai crosses a line and everyone agrees it is a bonsai. A bonsai never stops growing, so there is no being "finished."

Any tree that has had a bonsai technique done to it is a pre-bonsai. It can start with a seedling. However, the spectrum of pre-bonsai is large. What I consider a great 50 year old tree is a pre-bonsai to the master that helps me redesign it!