Well, I have been thinking about all this contradictory Internet info that makes the life of beginners a hell.
After going to Walmart, Ikea, HD or the local garden center, they buy their first S shaped mallsai in a blue oval shiny pot, place it near a window, and start to research online.
"What tree is this?"
"But the label says bonsai!!"
"How to make it healthy?"
"How should I name him/her?"
Before searching for good guidance in the forums, and believing every YouTube nonsense they watch, TLC starts: watering it every two hours "to keep it moist", not watering at all for two weeks "to let it breathe", fiddling with the trunk, trimming foliage, pruning branches, bare rooting, reppoting with the same soil, adding pebbles on top, moving it around, putting it over the heating because "nights here are chilly".
After some days, the tree begins to fail.
And the forums get overwhelmed with the question: "What am I doing wrong?" "Is it dying?"
Yes, it is dying.
Whilst if you get the plant, put it outside, water it when needed, and LET IT ALONE, chances are it will grow happy, safe and sound.
Far away from those tender, loving and caring hands of yours.

Of course, wiring should be learned from this piece of bonsai wisdom:

I would agree with you almost 100%, provided the tree species you have is suited for your climate. The longer I am involved with trees, the more I am becoming convinced that the best trees are the ones native to one's climate. I have a tiger back ficus, which gave me severe headaches during the fall and winter here... it now has exploded that we have more light and warmer temps.
I'm not going to get rid of my tropical trees.. but I am now convinced they will never ever possibly be of the same quality as my native tree species.

omg... what the eff did i just see....

Clicio wrote: TLC starts: watering it every two hours "to keep it moist", not watering at all for two weeks "to let it breathe", fiddling with the trunk, trimming foliage, pruning branches, bare rooting, reppoting with the same soil, adding pebbles on top, moving it around, putting it over the heating because "nights here are chilly".

And putting a tree, of which you know it is an outdoor species, indoors, because outside, you know, there's weather. People like to stay inside when it is cold, wet and windy, so the tree must want that too, right?

Holy S*IT!! That is priceless!! It's truly amazing what crap is on the WWW.

Badger wrote: Holy S*IT!! That is priceless!! It's truly amazing what crap is on the WWW.

Isn't it priceless?
Her skills with the wires are amazing!
"The secret is to wire two or three branches together to make the bonsai less bushy..."
Drops of bonsai wisdom!

Messing with Junipers since 2009.... strange that that movie is still online.

"In this segment we're going to talk about how to make an instant bonZai tree... Now there is really no way to make an instant bonZai tree"

I died a little