Tips for balancing vigor when using the cutback-decandling technique.
Search Results for: sacrifice branch
How to grow bonsai from seed or cutting
It would be nice if we could create beautiful bonsai by starting trees from seed or cutting and simply waiting for them to mature. If you’ve tried this approach, you might have found that things don’t always go smoothly. Some care along the way, it turns out, is required to ensure young trees take the […]
Bonsai Development Series #20: avoiding problems during trunk development
There are two goals when developing pre-bonsai trunks: create interesting movement, and minimize flaws. Two of the most common flaws at this stage of development are awkward or inverse taper and scars on the lower section of the trunk. To keep these in check, I prune sacrifice branches before they get too big and thin […]
Spring tune-up on Japanese plum
I like to check every tree in the garden at least once during the growing season. For deciduous trees, I look to see if there are branches that need wiring or pruning. The tree below produced a lot of new shoots this year. By wiring the base of these branches now, the curves can begin […]
Onuma’s mini-bonsai growing techniques
A number of you wrote with questions about the techniques Kazuo Onuma uses to create his mini-bonsai last week. Here are some answers! Chojubai Onuma grows chojubai by starting young cuttings in round, plastic containers. After several years, he removes the containers and lets the soil – red lava in this case – fall away […]