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Repotting a field grown trident maple
Some of my favorite bonsai work is repotting trees for the first time. I never take for granted that new trees in the garden have healthy roots and perfect root-bases. Sometimes they do, but other...
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Larger pots make a big difference for young pines
I’ve been growing black pines for a long time. My approach has been pretty consistent the past few years and I can dependably produce trees that look like the following after 2½ years. 2½-year-old...
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When not to use colanders for developing young bonsai
I’ve been using colanders and perforated pots like pond baskets for years to grow pines. They’re great for developing roots, they allow for frequent watering and they’re easy to find. What they aren’t...
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Cutback and partial defoliation on trident maple
Healthy trident maples are among the most vigorous deciduous bonsai species. When they are growing well, they can be defoliated three – and sometimes four – times each year. Climate and tree health...
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Repotting an olive bonsai
I could have guessed that an olive I took home a few years ago had a trunk that extended below the soil. It was potted in a deep container and was far heavier than I’d expected. I confirmed this was...
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Where lava rock comes from
On a recent vacation, I had the opportunity to visit a mine that produces scoria. Scoria is the proper name for lava rock. The locals, however, refer to it as “cinder” – an older name for the...
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Natural deadwood
I happened across some beautiful deadwood on a recent hike. Although carving deadwood features in bonsai is a popular pursuit, it can’t compete with the work produced by time and the elements....
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Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest
The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest sits at 10,000′ elevation in California’s White Mountain range, just east of the Sierra Nevada and Owens Valley. The main draws are the ancient specimens that are...
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Rapid recovery – developing a cork oak bonsai
I have yet to find a bonsai variety that develops as quickly in my backyard as cork oak. The cork oak below was dug from a nearby nursery at the beginning of 2016. Unlike the other oaks that were dug...
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Redwood Empire Bonsai Society’s 34th annual show
This past weekend the Redwood Empire Bonsai Society held their 34th annual show at the Memorial Veterans Building in Santa Rosa, California. Coast redwood The show is the largest in Northern California...
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Evaluating summer growth – how much is enough?
One of the most common questions I get this time of year is whether or not the summer growth on decandled pines is strong enough. A better question might be, based on the summer growth to date, is...
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How to care for bonsai during heat waves
Is it unseasonably hot right now where you live? If so, make sure your bonsai are getting the care they need to stay healthy. The actual temperature during a heat wave is often less important than how...
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Starting crabapple for bonsai
One bonsai variety that I’d like to see a lot more of is crabapple. They make great shohin, great mid-size trees in medium displays, and, occasionally, outstanding full-size specimens. Kokufu...
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Bonsai Development Series #1: How to treat wire scars mid-way along the trunk
When trees are growing quickly, it’s not uncommon to find wire marks along the trunk. Wire marks above the first branch For young trees early in the development phase, it’s not much of a problem when...
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How to measure bonsai wire
There’s not much worse than cutting a piece of wire, applying it perfectly and then realizing, on the final turn, that the wire is too short. I picked up my favorite approach to measuring wire from...
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Finding the center – moving a Western juniper to the middle of the pot
One of the challenges I faced with the Western juniper below was that it had no roots on one side of the trunk. This was natural as the tree got its start when it was separated from its larger sibling....
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Summer break edition – some favorite trees at the World Bonsai Convention
Bonsai Tonight will be going on summer break for the next few weeks, but before signing off, I’d like to leave you with photos of some of my favorite trees on display at the 8th World Bonsai Convention...
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Fall maintenance tasks – removing old leaves
As the weather cools and the days shorten, I find myself making adjustments in the garden to help trees transition into the dormant season. Common tasks include moving trees around the garden so they...
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Fall cutback on young Japanese plum bonsai
One of the first bonsai under my care was a Japanese plum. As I really like the way it grows, I decided to make some cuttings a few years ago. Young Japanese plums grown from cuttings The work is...
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Sierra junipers in the snow
I’ve always wondered what Sierra junipers look like in winter. We often hear about how alpine trees are “buried in snow” through the winter months, but I hadn’t seen this first hand. After many visits...
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