Hi, I've never heard of a Ponderosa lemon (only a pine, or a ranch :-) but what you're asking is for an instant course on a big subject. Bonsai does require more than a couple of tips here, but it's not hard to get started, especially if you already have a healthy tree (plant) to begin with. The quick answers are yes, you have to cut the roots and (in time) use a small pot, but there's a lot to know about those steps, when and how, and which one, etc., not to mention things like lighting, humidity, etc., though you're obviously doing something right to have kept it going this long. It's also very important to know when and how to cut back, because doing it at the wrong time and indiscriminately with regard to what's cut aren't going to get you a nice tree, just a hacked up shrub. I suggest you try to find a bonsai club nearby, because it's the best way to start out... by actually seeing how things are done, finding out about watering (a very big issue in bonsai, which are not treated like house plants), soil mixes (very important too), and what makes a bonsai look good (or not) and why, plus how to do root work, etc. Until then, please don't just stuff it into a little pot as you'll likely lose it, and ditto for root chopping. You can go to www.bonsai4me.com for general info. on basics, www.bonsaitalk.com to ask and share info., and www.bonsaihunk.us/cultural.html for excellent advice on growing tropicals indoors. One thing I will tell you is that bonsai come in all sizes, and that fruit and flowers won't 'reduce' in size like leaves, so you may end up with a relatively larger tree (which is fine) if you want to keep a few lemons on it at any time, or else end up pinching off new fruit buds to keep the tree's energy into growing a bonsai and not to have lemons weighing down branches (or breaking them) all out of proportion to the rest of the tree. Come back and let us know how it goes!

Thanks Krista, Karl, HoovB, Petaloid, John and Jim for all your thoughts and input...Karl yes, I am hoping that Gemini will deepen in its colors at least with the leaves, but ugh, Gemini has about as much wisdom and common sense as I have. Instead of storing up chlorophyll in its leaves and tender stems, being patient, strengthening and taking its time to develop and mature, Gemini is trying to send up another flush immediately. 10 p.m. on New Year's Eve: A baby blossom bud emerged 3/4" above its sheath of leaves (fully extended "neck"). I predicted 4 other buds as well, because I started seeing the tell-tale signs of the 2 5-leaflet tender enclosed "prongs". As soon as I see a split 2 5-leaflet stem fork outwards, usually a baby bud is nested within the "sheath". New Year's Day Another 4 flower buds emerged. I give Gemini its 2nd Gardenville feeding (got delayed by a few days). January 2nd I have another one flower bud nested and emerging, and 6 very suspicious pronged stems to deal with. Total count will be 12 flower buds so far (6 definite). Sadly my house is way too large and drafty for me to do any humidity control via Karl's suggestion so all I can do is cross my fingers and shake my head at this craziness. I am expecting blackspot to strike any moment because it is a pattern of Gemini to get sick whenever it goes through a spurt of blooms. I dare not decrease the h. oil/Greencure at this point like I originally intended. Predicted survival of buds into mature blooms is only 20% at this time. Leaves and stems are way too soft and pale to support blooms!!! Why Gemini is trying to send up another flush is beyond me! Gemini is as kooky and insane as me (sigh-I think it is a "mind-reader" LOL). Jim, still no problems with spider mites... John, I have a fragrance-sport Gemini that consistently had a wonderful scent while growing outside and that is the one HUGE thing that I miss terribly. But my sport Gemini is also a BS magnet-Sport as well. Gemini is supposed to be known for its health and beauty, but mine flunks the BS test whenever it goes through a flush...It gets extremely sick and ugly, but it is also a fighter rose as well and a few weeks after the flush it will make another comeback. Tomorrow I will post a sample photo of the baby flower buds. P.S. Eluane gives everyone a puppy kiss. She is glad HoovB and Petaloid are mentioning her instead of stupid Mama fussing over some messy rose, LOL!

I believe that the link below is for a plant that will survive your conditions. Note that the plant will die down once flowering is done but will regrow from creeping rootstocks. I have some planted in a pile of soil, concrete pieces, and branches that I dumped on top of a driveway. You would not know it. Can provide photo if you wish to see. Let me know. From what I have seen of understory in pine forests or under pine trees (in California) , it tends to be rather sparse or just pine needles. You may need to provide some water when the new growths begin to emerge but it depends on your weather. You can tell if it wilts back that it needs it. Here is a link that might be useful: Ceratostigma plumbaginoides

The first has bloomed now, and I've posted pictures. I'm doing a time lapse video of these growing, so I think I have the light too far away to accommodate the cameras. They are under a 7" humidity dome, and the light is on top. If I didn't have to accommodate the cameras, I'd put the light about an inch or two away from the top of the plant.