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Ume at Kokufu 90
The Japanese flowering apricot below was displayed at this year’s Kokufu exhibit in Tokyo’s Ueno park. Ume – Japanese flowering apricot When deciding whether or not to accept ume bonsai for display at...
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Highlights from the 2016 PNBCA Convention
Earlier this month, the Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association and Puget Sound Bonsai Association hosted the 2016 PNBCA Convention in Olympia, Washington. It was one of the most fun bonsai events...
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Exhibit displays at the 2016 PNBCA Convention
The bonsai on display at the 2016 Pacific Northwest Bonsai Clubs Association exhibit were shown on stands and with accent plants. Each was healthy and well-prepared for exhibit. The black pine below...
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Judged Bonsai Show at GSBF Convention 39
The Golden State Bonsai Federation hosted its 39th convention this past weekend in Sacramento, California. The event drew attendees from across the state and across the country who came to see demos,...
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General exhibit at GSBF’s 39th convention
As the larger of the convention’s two shows, the general exhibit at GSBF’s 39th convention in Sacramento featured a broader range of sizes and varieties of trees. This included a number of California’s...
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Idendifying slipcast bonsai pots
Whether you’ve realized it or not, you’ve likely seen slipcast bonsai pots. Slipcasting is a technique for creating ceramics that involves pouring liquid clay into plaster molds. Once the clay body has...
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Kawauso Pottery – the bonsai pots of Roy Minarai
One of the highlights of attending regional bonsai events is the opportunity to meet and get to know artists from around the world. Back in September, I was looking forward to meeting Roy Minarai of...
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Earthwares – the bonsai pots of Vicki Chamberlain
I met Vicki Chamberlain at last year’s Artisans Cup in Portland. We talked about all things bonsai for some time and then, just before heading off, Vicki mentioned that she made bonsai containers. I...
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Stoneware bonsai containers by Sara Rayner
I caught up with Sara Rayner at the recent US National Bonsai Exhibition in Rochester, New York, where she nearly sold out on the exhibit’s first day. I quickly set aside a number of pots while there...
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Crataegus bonsai containers by Michael Hagedorn
Long before his apprenticeship with Shinji Suzuki, Michael Hagedorn made bonsai pots. Blue glazed pot The pots were made under the name Crataegus. They are well-known for their quality build, glazes,...
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Roundup of American bonsai potters
I thought I’d wrap up this set of posts about American bonsai potters with a look at several artists. First up is Jim Gremel. Jim is a well-known potter and bonsai professional. I’ve been using his...
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How did you learn bonsai?
Often an interest in bonsai is sparked when one sees or receives a tree that leaves an impression. Some research may lead to a book or two and possibly to a local club or nursery. Once in a club, one...
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Bonsai club programs: what works in your club?
A lot of the work of teaching bonsai falls to the clubs – the organizations that make the meetings, workshops and exhibits from which we learn possible. I’ve been a member of several clubs over the...
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How to identify an appropriate environment for your bonsai
As I’ve been visiting different bonsai clubs this year, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of enthusiasts who are relatively new to bonsai. This has led me to think about the tips, techniques and...
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How to evaluate bonsai water needs
Once you’ve determined that a given species can thrive in your area and you’ve found a spot in the garden well-suited to its development, the next order of business is determining the tree’s water...
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How to fertilize bonsai
Before jumping into the topic of fertilizing bonsai, I’ll share a tip. Bonsai can roughly be lumped into two categories – trees in development and trees in refinement. A tree is in development when:...
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How to tell when something is wrong with your bonsai
Even when you water and fertilize properly and keep your bonsai in a location appropriate for their health, problems can arise. Insects, disease, poor drainage or short periods of neglect can stress...
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Distinguishing vigorous growth from healthy growth in bonsai
One of the more important distinctions to make when evaluating bonsai is whether or not a tree is ready to be worked on. Weak trees need to regain strength and sick trees need to regain health before...
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Tips for using basic bonsai tools
The most basic bonsai tools – scissors, concave cutters, tweezers, wire cutters and pliers – are pretty easy to use. Except for the concave cutter, all have non-bonsai counterparts with which we are...
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How to secure bonsai in the pot
When I first heard that bonsai are commonly wired into the pot I thought, “That sounds crazy – you must be kidding me!” Over the years I’d planted hundreds, if not thousands, of plants in containers...
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