If I took a 1-gallon procumbens juniper and grew it for 15 years, I’d have something like the tree below. Procumbens juniper pre-bonsai This tree has been grown at a nursery specializing in pre-bonsai – trees with which we can create bonsai. The trunk has good size and movement, and there are plenty of branches to work […]
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.
Identifying suitable material for bonsai – part 1 of 5
When I’m thinking about what trees to add to my collection, I often think about the kinds of problems I enjoy solving. I like developing rough material and turning it into bonsai. I like refining mature specimens. And I like restoring bonsai that may have become unhealthy or grown out of shape due to neglect […]
Reducing branch vigor on black pine bonsai
Balance is one of the top priorities when developing black pine bonsai. In spring, as new shoots elongate, it often becomes quite apparent which shoots are stronger than others. Strong shoots near the apex of the tree Strong shoots on the back of the tree Although decandling is a very effective technique for balancing vigor […]
Thinning a cork bark black pine
In the mid-1990s, I created a cork bark black pine by grafting foliage on a young pine I’d started from seed. The foliage was yatsabusa cork bark – cork bark that produces very dense foliage and lots of buds. Every year or two I thin the tree out, and on occasion I wire the youngest […]
Making a big cut on an ume bonsai
I’ve had this ume bonsai for a long time. Several years ago, the tree lost all but a single branch due to fungus. The branch survived, and I’ve been letting the tree grow freely so it can regain some vigor. Now that the tree is strong again, it’s time for some cutback. Semi-cascade ume One […]