Over the past few years I’ve wrestled with a question about developing Chinese quince: how do you encourage branches to bifurcate after pruning? I haven’t come up with an answer, but I did notice something heartening when I cleaned up an older specimen last week. Instead of keeping the summer growth in check, I let […]
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.
Options for addressing dieback low on the trunk
As many of you have noticed, there is a large scar at the base of the trunk on my large stewartia. Stewartia with dieback on the trunk Trunk detail There a number of options for addressing the dieback, each with their pros and cons. The simplest option is to simply ignore the wound and show […]
Fall cutback and wiring on stewartia
Refining an old tree and repositioning the branches with guy wires.
Dwarf pussy willow bonsai
Notes on developing small dwarf pussy willow bonsai.
Sierra juniper – first steps
A few years ago, I acquired a tall Sierra juniper with interesting deadwood along the lower trunk. I repotted the tree and let it grow freely to encourage as much root growth as possible. The tree is now full and healthy – so much so that it’s time to thin the foliage. Sierra juniper After […]