Some of the final steps when repotting bonsai are among the most important – especially when it comes to wiring trees into the pot. I typically wire trees into the pot after setting the tree, but when repotting partially or completely bare-rooted trees, I first work some soil into the exposed roots. If no soil […]
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.
And if I don’t make a square cut?
I’ve written on a number of occasions, and you’ve doubtless read here and elsewhere, that when decandling black or red pine bonsai it is important to make a square cut (see “Decandling black pine – making the cut”). Square cut Until recently, however, I’d seen little evidence that the long end of a slanted cut […]
Wiring a procumbens juniper
At this past weekend’s Bay Island Bonsai workshop, I wired my procumbens juniper. I didn’t use any heavy wire or make severe bends – for the most part I used fairly small gauge wire (mostly 14-18 with some 12) to tighten up the silhouette. No big changes for now while the tree fills in after […]
Refining a procumbens juniper
This past winter I bought a juniper, procumbens ‘Nana,’ that was already well established as a bonsai. I repotted it soon after taking it home and have been letting it grow freely ever since. I removed about half of the old soil when I repotted, but until I remove the rest, I won’t expect the […]
Thinning procumbens juniper
Thinning procumbens juniper is straightforward. Remove downward-growing shoots, shoots that emerge from branch intersections and shoots that extend beyond the desired pad silhouette. Thin remaining shoots to facilitate wiring. Procumbens juniper – before thinning Before thinning – below Removing a downward-growing shoot After thinning After thinning – below Branch pad after thinning