All you need to get started is a good sharp grafting knife and willingness to experiment.
An easy way to add a branch
The simple technique shown here allows you to keep the roots of the scion until it takes; an obvious advantage.
The scion, aka the branch to be, will remain in its pot until it takes. The part you want is the branch growing off the right of the trunk. Notice the slit (notch) to left of that branch.
As long as we’re on the subject of ezo spruce, I thought you might like to see this potless ezo clump from Michael Hagedorn’s Crataegus Bonsai.
Potless and eventually boardless
Here’s what Michael Hagedorn has to say about this planting: “I have the tree on a wooden board, which will be temporary support for about two years. After that time, I hope the roots will be solid enough (with some interior bamboo shafts) to support the entire kokedama (moss ball) and be able to be placed directly on a bench—sans pot or slab.”
Post Dated
Michael Hagedorn is the author of Post Dated – The Schooling of an Irreverent Bonsai Monk and an accomplished bonsai artist and teacher. Michael lives, practices and teaches in Portland Oregon. Check out our interview with Michael here on bonsaibark.
Coming soon!
The first U.S. National Bonsai Exhibition in 2008 was a striking success (we have the album to prove it) and the second will no doubt take another large step towards bringing the North American bonsai community together and placing it on the world bonsai map.
Be a sponsor, be an exhibitor, or simply go
Stone Lantern will once again be a sponsor and you can join us if you are inclined to add a little extra push to this most worthy venture. You can also apply to show your favorite tree. Or, lacking either of those, you can simply go and lend your support and enthusiasm by your presence.
For details visit Bill Valavanis’ International Bonsai’s website
or go directly to the Exhibition’s site
Finished for now. Three years after planting (see below). Masahiko Kimura (aka ‘The Magician‘) styled this Ezo spruce (Picea Glehnii) planting with a high mountain stand of conifers in mind. Notice how the trees on the outside lean out, which is what you would expect in a natural stand of trees. You may also notice how Kimura enhanced the feeling of age by removing or jinning about half of the limbs (from below). Trees tend to shed limbs as they age. This is especially true of trees in forests where growth follows light; at tree tops and at the outer edges of stands. All three photos in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 26.
The drawing on the left shows a young deciduous tree before pruning. Notice that the tree’s energy (growth) moves primarily upward, forming a more or less inverted triangle (tip down). In order to control this growth and move the energy down, prune to form the tree into a triangle (more or less) with tip pointing up.
The drawing on the right shows the same little tree a year or two later. Now your goal is to control growth and keep the tree’s basic shape by continuing to prune back vigorous upward growth (thus forcing energy down into the trunk and primary branches) and to eliminate unsightly and unhealthy growth (branches that grow in toward the center of the tree, branches that cross the trunk, branches that grow straight up rather than out, and so forth).
This image is from Bonsai Today issue 44. Green Workshop tips are posted primarily for beginners. For some earlier on pruning deciduous tress go here and here.
After. Finished for the moment. The challenge was for Masahiko Kimura to style a bunjin (literati) bonsai with only one branch (see below for where he started). It’s eccentricity lies in its striking simplicity, if that makes any sense. It a Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora). From our Masters’ Series The Magician, the Bonsai Art of Kimura 2. From an article that originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 69.
Continue reading Eccentric Bonsai: Kimura Rises to the Challenge
This wonderfully scenic suiseki is from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum‘s current calendar of events (see below).
A first for us
This is the first time we’ve featured viewing stones on this so far exclusively bonsai blog. If you are a die hard bonsai lover who doesn’t care about the connection (it’s all about displays – see below), please don’t worry, we won’t do this very often. Otherwise, enjoy! And have Happy and Prosperous New Year while you are at it.
In their words…
The following is straight from the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum’s calendar:
Asian Tradition of Stone Appreciation Exhibit and Lecture
Exhibit: December 26-February 7, 10:00am-4:00pm
Lecture: February 7, 1:00pm-2:30pm
National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
Continue reading Viewing Stone Exhibit at the National Museum
Isao Omachi using the part of the Ichiban blade that is designed for cutting wire.
Isao Omachi’s comments
Here’s part of what Isao Omachi has to say about his Ichiban: “Compared to a normal pair of bonsai scissors, these are light and comfortable in the hand; you barely have to raise your elbow. You can multitask with ease, cutting swiftly through branches and wire… In addition to Ichiban’s unique design and efficiency, any level of bonsai student can have fun using a pair…”
Roy Nagatoshi, Walter Pall, Shinji Suzuki and Isao Omachi
So far Marco has sent us testimonials from Roy Nagatoshi, Walter Pall, Shinji Suzuki and Isao Omachi. I expect more as time goes on and more people become familiar with this remarkable new tool.
You can check out Marco’s site for more on the Ichiban…
… or you can order here
This little pine clump with its shaggy too-long needles, aged lichen covered trunks and funky almost too-small pot is near perfect in its imperfect naturalness. From Shohin Bonsai World, Nishinomiya branch. For a detailed look at the ins and outs of pine bonsai, you might want to check out our Masters’ Series Pine book.
Think small
Little bonsai (shohin) may be he solution to your space problems. Or your money problems (smaller stock and pots are usually cheaper). Not to mention your aging back. Here’s a few that might help get you going. Don’t hesitate to comment, or even send photos.
I borrowed this cold little potentilla from Morten Albek’s site. Morten is the author of Shohin Bonsai (Stone Lantern Publishing).
Sickle time. This photo is from Bonsai Tonight’s first in a series of posts (five total, with numerous excellent photos) on repotting.
A clear, simple, thorough series on repotting
Jonas Dupuich (Bonsai Tonight) has one of the best visual and written instructions on repotting we’ve seen yet. If you haven’t done a lot of repotting (or even if you have) it will set you straight on details you may be overlooking. Check it out, it’s an excellent series on an excellent site.
It starts here with this Trident root-over-rock.