from the blog

Stewartia Pruning Decisions

Stewartia Pruning Decisions

March 31, 2023

This tree has been in a box to develop branching and nebari. We pruned at the same time we repotted this tree. Pruning back at repotting is possible with deciduous and less recommended with conifer (this story is spooled out in Bonsai Heresy). A Stewartia in a box. This tree grew with vigor, and, as tends […]

Repotting Closeups 2023

Repotting Closeups 2023

March 24, 2023

A few photos with captions of our repotting adventures in 2023… A partial soil replacement of a hemlock, with the beginning of a muck wall to hold the soil in. The wall was up to the top when finished. It’s easier to repot large clumps and forests on slabs while leaving them on the slab […]

Shore Pine Bunjin First Potting

Shore Pine Bunjin First Potting

March 17, 2023

It’s a big shift from a large pot to a small one. Take great care to preserve fine feeder roots in this transition. Feeder roots are the very finest roots. If a pine’s roots are cut leaving only 1/8” roots, and nothing finer, the pine can die. For older pines a solid mass of the root […]