Even though it’s January, I’m just now starting my pine fall work. This entails pruning and thinning extra needles. When time allows, I wire the branches too! Here’s what this looks like with a young root over rock black pine grown by Eric Schrader. Root over rock black pine – 14 years old I’ve had […]
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Coast redwood cutback and repotting
I’ve been working on a large coast redwood for the past few years in fits and starts. After an initial pruning and repotting (see “Coast redwood” for details) I’ve worked on the tree in earnest several times only to let it grow out again. After a few cycles of this, I removed almost all of […]
Judging categories at the Pacific Bonsai Expo
The award categories for next year’s Pacific Bonsai Expo are set: Best in Show Best Large Broadleaf Evergreen Bonsai Best Large Conifer Bonsai Best Large Deciduous Bonsai Best Medium Bonsai Display Best Shohin Bonsai Display (You can learn more about sponsoring awards at the Expo here.) Large bonsai are trees that are over 18″ tall […]
What to do when akadama is in short supply
Akadama, particularly when mixed with other media, is a great medium for growing bonsai (see “All about akadama” for details). Over the course of the last year, akadama has become harder to come by for several reasons: Global demand has increased. Mining slowed down due to heavier than normal rainfall. Shipping congestion has delayed shipments. […]
How to determine the direction or flow of a bonsai
Some trees point left, others point right. White pine that points to the left(This and subsequent photos are from the 2020 Kokufu exhibition) Korean hornbeam that slants to the right There are a number of ways to indicate direction or flow in bonsai. In the above examples, the line of the trunk (from the base […]