A Simple Air-Layering Technique

This image is from Bonsai Today issue 48. The details are a little on the small side, so we’ll break it into pieces for you. Step 1. 4mm is almost exactly 5/32″ BTW: if you need a quality grafting knife…

Jin & Shari #5: Carving Jin with a Draw Knife

In this series of photos (from our Juniper book), Hideki Nakayatsu turns a needle juniper on its side to work on the apical jin (jin can be either a dead branch or a dead top of the trunk). He is using is a draw knife to carve natural looking grooves in the wood. Though there are other ways to get grooves in deadwood (dremels come to mind), a draw knife is a tried and true old standard. This close up, though far from perfect, shows the grooves a little better. Deadwood naturally cracks and grooves along its length as it … Continue reading Jin & Shari #5: Carving Jin with a Draw Knife

Green Workshop: Bonsai Branching Basics

Both illustrations in this post are from Bonsai Today issue 92. Learn the rules first, then break them Though nothing is written in stone, understanding the basics can be very helpful. If the points shown here are not that familiar, you might want to take some time with each one. As you apply them, your bonsai will immediately improve. Once you get the basics, you can experiment with breaking the rules. A little story to make a point I’m told that when the first Westerns saw Japanese bonsai they (or at least some of them) thought there was some sort … Continue reading Green Workshop: Bonsai Branching Basics

Bonsai Today Sale: 40% to 50% off!

John Naka‘s famous ‘Goshin’ graces the cover of Bonsai Today issue 93. Inside there’s a tribute to Mr. Naka and a range of how-to articles and other useful and inspiring photos and information. This and a host of other back issues can now be yours for forty to fifty percent off. I love summer… …my bonsai and garden are in ecstatic celebration and there’s cold drinks on the deck in the late afternoon (just before the mosquitoes take over). I hate summer… …it’s too short, my lawn needs mowing every fifteen minutes, and just when you’re relieved that black flies … Continue reading Bonsai Today Sale: 40% to 50% off!

The Great Debate part 3: More from Walter

A naturalistic Norway spruce (Picea abies) by Walter Pall (from Bonsai Today issue 106). This tree was awarded third place overall in the Bonsai Today/Art of Bonsai 2006 photo contest. Walter also won first and second place in the overall category. The Naturalistic Bonsai Movement? In the expanding galaxy of accomplished Western bonsai artists, Walter Pall’s bonsai skills and dedication to teaching and promoting the art of bonsai make him one of the brightest stars. Walter is also one of the most prominent proponents of what could be called the Naturalistic Bonsai Movement (or something like that). In our last … Continue reading The Great Debate part 3: More from Walter

Get Out Your Camera! AoB Awards Coming Up

This Red escallonia (Escallonia rubra ‘Woodside’) by Mike Page is from the Bonsai Today/Art of Bonsai 2006 photo contest. If you are interested, you can find the winning photos in Bonsai Today issue 106. Don’t be shy Stone Lantern and Bonsai Bark are delighted to announce that we one of the sponsors of The Art of Bonsai Project’s annual photo contest. The contest provides an excellent opportunity for you to delve into preparing and photographing your bonsai. Two practices that will open your eyes in ways that may surprise you. Really, don’t be shy and don’t think your trees have … Continue reading Get Out Your Camera! AoB Awards Coming Up

Jin & Shari #4 – Natural Aging

These four stages of natural aging on deadwood are from an article by François Jeker that appeared in Bonsai Today 103 (out of print). Francois is a accomplished bonsai artist (and deadwood master), gardener, author (Bonsai Aesthetics) and more. Stage one A freshly peeled branch or trunk will have completely smooth wood. Stage two Over the years, due to drying in the sun and wind, the wood will split into apical cracks (see below for more on apical growth and cracks). Stage three Much later, cracks that are perpendicular to the apical cracks will appear and form a “snakeskin” pattern. … Continue reading Jin & Shari #4 – Natural Aging

Shape in the Ground & Save Wire

A unique technique The illustrations and photos used here are from an article by Kusida Matsuo that originally appeared in Bonsai Today issue 20 (out of print). The unique technique featured is for shaping cuttings taken from seedlings. Though Japanese black pine are used here, the technique should work on any number of species.

Energy Balancing #7: More Defoliation Tips

Defoliating to move energy down These illustrations show a few very simple points. In both methods we are trying to strengthen the the two weak secondary branches (the first two branches). These need help as energy tends to flow past them towards the tips of the primary branch. This movement of energy towards the outer tips of branches is natural and occurs in virtually all plants.

Energy Balancing #6: Defoliation Tips

Cut… Use sharp scissors to defoliate. Cut in the center of the petiole (leaf stem). If you cut too close to the base of the leaf stem, you may damage the buds that form there. …don’t pull Don’t use you fingers to pinch or pull leaves off. This is a recipe for damage (the unreadable text with the illustration above says: Don’t pull, it could damage the buds).