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 […]
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.
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 […]
Three repotting tips
This winter is turning out to be a big repotting year for me. Throughout the season, three themes are guiding the work. 1. Work in Batches To get through as many trees as quickly as I can, I’m repotting in batches. When the trees are young, I’ll prepare the pots, remove the trees from their […]
Pruning and repotting coast live oak
I thought I was in for a simple before and after post about a coast live oak until I began the root work. Live oak before pruning Live oak after pruning After removing a few large roots, I found a pocket of old soil. Old soil Curious about where this would lead, I began picking […]