Last summer I started an ground layer on a small olive (see “Shohin olive ground layer” for details). The lower part of the trunk was unattractive so I figured layering the upper part of the trunk would be a great way to make the most of the material. Olive with faulty lower trunk The tree […]
Bonsai Development
Bonsai Development posts form the heart of Bonsai Tonight. Learn about varieties like Black Pine, Shimpaku and Japanese Maple, techniques like Decandling and Grafting and Air Layering, and bonsai features like Deadwood.
Fall work basics – black and red pine
If you haven’t finished your fall pine work, there’s still time! Fall and winter, right up until buds start elongating in spring, is a good time to prune and wire dormant conifers including Japanese black and red pines. The first step is to prune branches in crowded areas, the second step is to remove extra […]
Refining a field-grown cork bark elm
A couple of years ago, I came across a great batch of cork bark elms at Lone Pine Gardens. It had been a while since I’d owned one, so I picked out my favorite and brought it home. Field-grown cork bark elm – December, 2022 I don’t typically do much work on trees until I […]
Developing red maple bonsai
I’ve had a lot of fun working with red maples, also known as swamp maples, over the past few years. The basic training routine is the same as it is for other deciduous species – prune and reduce foliage in the middle of the growing season and then prune again fall. Depending on how vigorously […]
Shopping for pre-bonsai
The process of looking for pre-bonsai can differ from person to person depending on one’s interest in growing bonsai. You can select trees that give you an opportunity to work on skills you want to improve, or buy a tree with great potential that requires a significant amount time to develop. In either case, the […]