This past spring, as the deciduous bonsai in my garden began to leaf out, I noticed several dwarf flowering quince began to die back. Over the next two months, about half of these chojubai died. I found no evidence of insects or fungus, and a nearby lab couldn’t identify the culprit either. Our best guess […]
Chojubai
Repotting chojubai in fall
When do you repot your chojubai bonsai? They’re one of a handful of varieties that can be successfully repotted at different times of the year. I planted a chojubai in a small container last winter ahead of an exhibit, but didn’t get around to putting the tree back into a larger pot for the growing […]
Slant-style chojubai
Clump-style chojubai are relatively common. Less frequently seen are chojubai with single trunks. Here’s a great example of a slanting chojubai. Slant-style chojubai
More than an accent
Referring to the companion pieces at fine exhibits as “accents” doesn’t always do them justice. Using the Japanese “kusamono” isn’t much better as the term translates directly to “grass-” or “weed-thing.” Accents can provide color, add interest to displays and indicate the season. They can also be compelling artistic creations on their own. Here are a […]
How to improve ramification by reducing large branches
A common problem of bonsai in early stages of development is that large branches extend from the trunk all the way to the edge of the tree’s silhouette. This is especially true for material that was grown in the ground. That’s the case for the chojubai pictured below. Although a number of small branches are […]