A few years ago I started a batch of exposed root pines – black and red. I let them grow for several years without wiring and they now look like this. Black pine trained in the exposed root style You’ll notice the trunk is completely straight – the least appropriate form for exposed root bonsai […]
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Exposed root black pine – the first wire
A couple of years ago I planted several young pines in deep containers with the objective of creating exposed root bonsai (see “Repotting 1 year-old black pine seedlings“). These young trees have grown and now have a single large shoot. 2 year-old seedling The shoot is straight and the only branches are near the top […]
Pot selection exercise – Yaupon holly
I’ve always been surprised at how different pots can elicit such different feelings from a given tree. I’ve previously posted several pot options for an Ilex vomitoria and found that a variety of styles and colors can work well for the broadleaved evergreen. A number of the pots I tried this year make a great match […]
Correcting faulty roots on young hawthorn bonsai
For years, I drove by a hawthorn on my way to work. The tree wasn’t particularly striking, but the fine branches were very dense. In fall, however, the tree was covered with bright, red, fruit. One day I collected some of the fruit, and the following spring I planted them. A handful sprouted and I’m […]
Finding a go-to resource when you need to learn more
So – my trees are pest free, properly watered, and well situated in my garden. I can tell the difference between merely healthy and vigorously growing bonsai. My trees are secure in their containers and I’ve started practicing wiring. I take a tree off the bench, sit down, and ask myself, what do I do […]