Two years ago I found myself with a few dozen young Japanese beech. They were mostly the same size and age, and they weren’t very far in their development as bonsai. They were perfect, in other words, for a group planting. Young Japanese beech Because the trees were so similar to each other, I started […]
Bonsai Care
The bonsai care category includes topics like Watering, Fertilizing, Repotting and Bonsai Soil. You can also find information about the Pests commonly found on bonsai, and read Interviews with bonsai professionals.
Repotting chojubai in fall
When do you repot your chojubai bonsai? They’re one of a handful of varieties that can be successfully repotted at different times of the year. I planted a chojubai in a small container last winter ahead of an exhibit, but didn’t get around to putting the tree back into a larger pot for the growing […]
Fall maintenance tasks – removing old leaves
As the weather cools and the days shorten, I find myself making adjustments in the garden to help trees transition into the dormant season. Common tasks include moving trees around the garden so they get more sunlight, removing shade cloth, and pulling old leaves from deciduous trees in the process of shutting down for the […]
How to care for bonsai during heat waves
Is it unseasonably hot right now where you live? If so, make sure your bonsai are getting the care they need to stay healthy. The actual temperature during a heat wave is often less important than how much warmer it is than normal. This past weekend, San Francisco set a new all-time high of 104 […]
Evaluating summer growth – how much is enough?
One of the most common questions I get this time of year is whether or not the summer growth on decandled pines is strong enough. A better question might be, based on the summer growth to date, is there something I need to do to keep the tree on track? Here’s a black pine I […]