It’s been a couple of years since I shared an update about a twin-trunk stewartia in my garden. The basic care for the tree has consisted of cutback to 2-3 leaves on new shoots and leaf pruning in spring followed by light cutback in fall (see “Leaf pruning” for details). I’ve done this for the […]
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.
Review: Mastering Shohin Japanese Black Pine Bonsai
Eric Schrader and the team behind Bonsaify.com released an online course this week titled, “Mastering Shohin Japanese Black Pine Bonsai: A Complete Guide from Seedling to Show Tree.” I reviewed a pre-release version of the course and am happy to report that it’s a great starting point for anyone looking for support in their journey […]
Cutback and leaf pruning European beech
Now’s a great time of year to check the foliage on deciduous bonsai to see how full the crown is. If you can’t see through the tree, it may be due for some time in the workshop. Mature beech, for example, are usually good for a single flush of growth in spring. If the tree […]
Tips for a successful workshop
It took me years to figure out how to get the most out of workshops. Here are some tips to avoid downtime and get the most out of your bonsai classes. Discussing display These are the tips that helped me stay productive in workshops – share your tips in the comments below!
Post-bloom clean-up on wisteria
Usually my Chinese wisteria sends out leaves and flowers at the same time. This year it was all flowers. Chinese wisteria ‘Caroline’ After enjoying the bloom, it’s time to remove the flower stems. This saves the tree from producing seed pods and allows the new leaves to receive more light. When most of the blooms […]