The basic idea of sacrifice branches is a simple one: develop sacrifice branches in order to thicken the trunk and then remove them when the trunk reaches the desired thickness. The application of this idea is where things can get tricky, so let’s start with a simple example. My goal for the pine below has […]
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.
A quick tip for maintaining Korean hornbeam bonsai
Korean hornbeams typically produce lots of back buds. For the most part, this is a good thing as the prevalence of buds helps hornbeam bonsai develop quickly. Korean hornbeam Not all buds, however, are useful for the design of the tree. Buds emerging from the trunk Hornbeams often produce buds along the trunk, at the […]
How to use a bonsai jack
“Bonsai Jacks” are tools designed to bend heavy branches and trunks. They allow us to make these bends incrementally – and safely – by twisting a threaded rod. The best way to describe their use is with an example, so let’s start there. Here’s a pine styled by Daisaku Nomoto with help from Boon Manakitivipart, […]
Reducing the trunk to improve a cork oak bonsai
One of the first cork oaks I started working on has developed quickly. I let a couple of sacrifice branches grow freely and they have now adequately thickened the branch that will become the new leader. It’s time to make a big cut. Field grown cork oak The decision to cut has also been influenced […]
Initial work on a cork oak bonsai
I recently picked up a field grown cork oak with some nice movement in the trunk. There are, however, few usable branches at this point. Field grown cork oak As I’d like to encourage new branches to grow from the trunk, I cut back the existing branches to small side shoots. After cutback Most of […]