Japanese Black Pine As A Single Flush Pine
Over the years, several students of mine have said that decandling didn’t work for them. Not that they didn’t get the technique (which is complicated, admittedly), but that the results were erratic. After going through the variables—good sun, not shaded, well fertilized, watered well, winter storage not too cold—I asked one more question: “Where do […]
Moss: A Plant With…Three Types Of Reproduction?
Moss is a bryophyte, an old group of terrestrial plants. The first ones grew 460 million years ago in the Ordovician Period, when trilobites scuttled around and early fish were getting their bearings. And some point along the way, bryophytes began to do it like no other things did. In moss sexual reproduction a sperm […]
What To Do In The Bonsai Garden In Fall
Up in the temperate parts of the world fall is a shoulder season. And early fall has elements of summer and fall, with summer not yet a memory and cooler nights hinting at change. It may be best to let tree leaves fall off naturally. Nutrients are reabsorbed before the leaf drops. Phosphorus, nitrogen, and […]
Finding Deadwood Beneath Bark
Deadwood on bonsai often sits there under the bark, waiting for us to discover it. Here’s a Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa. You might think this small patch of yellow deadwood is all there is. Tapping the bark around the deadwood sounds hollow, and suggests airspace beneath. Slipping the tool beneath the bark uncovers a large […]
Tight Wire vs. Tight Raffia
It doesn’t take more than a year or two in bonsai to learn that wire can cause damage to branches. If left too long the wire can disappear beneath the bark, leaving bulges and sometimes weakened branches. But there’s another thing often wrapped around branches: raffia. And left on too long, raffia can resemble forgotten […]
To Cross a Wire Or Not To Cross A Wire
Given that many of us were taught to never cross a wire, suggesting that we could might sound treasonous. There are, however, situations where crossing a wire can be the right move (and yet hopefully not get you kicked out of the local bonsai club). Many of you who have studied with me know I […]
How To Drill Holes In Bonsai Pots For Better Drainage
Due to warping in firing, or poor planning, some bonsai pot drainage holes don’t do their jobs. A pot that doesn’t drain well may make bottom roots sit in water, which isn’t ideal for species like pines. A willow or wisteria wouldn’t mind. You might also wish to address antique pots, which often have tiny […]
Design Options For A Bunjin
This bunjin featured in a recent post. Like many bonsai, it has several design options. Shore Pine after a couple years of free growth. Though it has been styled once, each reset is an opportunity to disagree with the earlier one. What other design might work? With some branch bends, we could go in any […]
Another Way To Think About “Helmet Heads”
For many, the large domes of foliage on bonsai that are popular around the world are ridiculous. The “helmet head” label is accurate enough—they look not unlike the impressive headgear of Lord Dark Helmet in the movie Spaceballs. Rather intimidating. And, top heavy. To give the critique credit, such large domes are often out of […]
Can’t I Just Use A Water Softener For Hard Water?
It would seem the perfect solution. Water softeners are often used in homes to prevent white scale buildup from hard water. Why not use it to prevent the hard water that can weaken our bonsai? Trouble is, water softeners introduce sodium to our water. It’s only a small amount, and plants do use very small […]