• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Bonsai Tonight

An educational website about bonsai development

  • Blog
    • How-to Guides
  • Podcast
  • Shop
    • Bonsai
    • Books
    • Soil
    • Soil (wholesale)
    • Supplies
    • Tools
    • Video Consulting
    • Northern California Bonsai Resources
  • About
    • Workshops

The Little Book of Bonsai – a look at what’s inside

January 21, 2020 by Jonas Dupuich

A few weeks ago I told the story of how The Little Book of Bonsai came to be. Today I’d like to share details about who it’s for and what’s inside.

I wrote the book for people who are new to bonsai. It’s illustrated with images of trees from my collection and the collections of friends.

Zelkova

Grey-bark elm by Eric Schrader *

Six chapters introduce basic bonsai topics.

  1. Bonsai Style
  2. Caring for Your Bonsai
  3. Tools and Techniques
  4. Containers and Display
  5. Appreciating Different Species
  6. Next Steps

The first chapter starts with questions like where bonsai come from and what makes a bonsai look like a bonsai. On a practical note, it walks readers through the process of selecting the front of a tree.

Chapter two focuses on tree health: how to identify an appropriate environment for your trees, how to water, how to fertilize, and how to deal with common pests.

Shimpaku

Watering a shimpaku juniper *

Readers learn about tools and techniques in chapter three. A brief introduction to pruning and wiring provides a starting point for shaping trees. An overview of the styling process shows the transformation a tree can go through from pre-bonsai to styled tree.

Chapter four focuses on Containers and Display and features a step-by-step sequence of the repotting process with tips for matching trees with containers.

Appreciating Different Species (chapter 5) provides criteria to look for when shopping for bonsai and describes characteristics unique to groups of trees like broadleaf evergreens and deciduous species.

Princess persimmon

Princess Persimmon by Bill Castellon *

The final chapter describes Next Steps enthusiasts can take to learn more. It identifies educational resources for further study and lists public bonsai gardens and events around the country and in Japan.

True to its name, The Little Book of Bonsai is small (6″ x 8″, 112 pages). Inside, eighty color photographs show readers a variety of species commonly grown as bonsai and the styles in which they are trained.

The book will be available next Tuesday. To learn more or to pre-order a copy, visit The Little Book of Bonsai.

* Photography by David Fenton

✕

Subscribe to Bonsai Tonight

New Posts Delivered Every Tuesday and Friday

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Filed Under: Bonsai Care Tagged With: Book

Previous Post: « Pruning to support development goals on crabapple pre-bonsai
Next Post: Bay Area Bonsai Associates’ 39th annual exhibit »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lars says

    January 21, 2020 at 5:29 am

    Already pre-ordered my copy. I’m happy to support you Jonas!

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 21, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Thanks, Lars!

  2. Edward Stanton says

    January 21, 2020 at 5:33 am

    Jonas, please let us know how to purchase a signed copy. Thanks.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 21, 2020 at 6:52 pm

      Hi Ed – I’ll be happy to sign a copy for you! They’ll be on sale on the store on the 28th and I’ll sign it before it goes out. Thanks!

  3. Antonius G Nijhuis says

    January 21, 2020 at 12:46 pm

    Our club ordered 50 copies we plan on selling some and we will include a copy with our annual beginners courses for each participant. Even though we haven’t read or seen it but your blog is always to the point and we know the book will be the same.

    Congrats
    Anton

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 21, 2020 at 6:40 pm

      Wow Anton – thanks so much! I’d love to visit your club someday – will try to plan a trip up your way!

  4. Robert Potts says

    January 21, 2020 at 3:55 pm

    I’m going to be starting a beginner bonsai class for my club and plan to use this as the textbook.

    • Jonas Dupuich says

      January 21, 2020 at 6:39 pm

      That’s awesome – thanks Bob!

Footer

Follow Bonsai Tonight

Subscribe

Instagram ● Facebook ● Twitter
  • Blog
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • About

P.O. Box 6560, Alameda, CA 94501 · 510-915-2025 · jonas (at) bonsaitonight (dot) com

© Copyright 2009-2023 Bonsai Tonight · All rights reserved · Privacy · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. You can opt-out if you wish. Accept Decline Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT