How do bonsai trees survive hundreds of years in such proportionately small pots?

Question

Every time i see a bonsai tree i’m left wondering how it survives hundreds of years, period, but more-so how the plant takes decades to get ‘root bound’ as in there’s not enough room for the roots and the soil becomes hard, which happens more often for usual houseplants.

How do people get around that issue that is prevalent with all other houseplants?

In: 118

Answer 1

> but more-so how the plant takes decades to get ‘root bound’ as in there’s not enough room for the roots and the soil becomes hard

Bonsai trees are regularly repotted and have their roots trimmed back, precisely to keep this from happening.