Last year I did some initial cutback and wiring on a cork oak that was one year out of the ground (see “Stimulating new buds on cork oak” for details). The tree has grown well over the past year and is now ready for another cutback. Cork oak The part of the tree I’m most […]
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.
Thinning young cork bark pine bonsai
A few years ago I created some cork bark black pines by grafting. The trees have grown well and are now quite full. Corkbark Japanese black pine Some of the oldest needles have recently begun to yellow which is a tip-off that the interior branches will be yellowing out as well. To make sure that […]
Be patient with pines in summer
As decandling season comes to a close, you might notice summer buds forming on some of the first trees you decandled this season. Summer buds Ideally we’ll see two buds at the end of every branch. Ideally. It’s common – and perfectly fine – to see anywhere between zero and five or more buds per […]
Identifying suitable material for bonsai – part 5 of 5
Over the past few posts we’ve looked at how trees at different stages of development provide opportunities to learn different sets of skills. The same is true for mature bonsai too. Trees that are close to show-ready can help us address questions like: Can I manage vigor? Can I do maintenance work? Can I do […]
Identifying suitable material for bonsai – part 4 of 5
One of my favorite starting points for longer term projects is bonsai that has been developed for some time but is no longer in good shape. Neglect and infestation are two of the most common reasons why a bonsai no longer looks as good as it once did. Failure to repot or cut back a […]