Category: Articles

Buxus sempervirens by FarrandFeb 24, 202016:20

Buxus sempervirens

Boxwood Its botanic name Buxus comes from the Greek word puksos, meaning ‘dense’, because of its very hard wood, which is second only to ebony as the hardest wood of all. Because of this feature, […]

Styling by FarrandFeb 23, 202012:56

Prisoner of time

The development of a special tree, a Buxus sempervirens. According to Marco Giannini trees develop into bonsai via a careful balance of technique and time. Respect for the original habitat where the tree once lived...

Step by Step by FarrandFeb 14, 202017:56

Italian heart

Creating a moyogi with a small pine Under guidance of Hiroki Miura (Miura Baijyu-en) Ayaka Yamamoto, lead singer of the Japanese girl band NMB48, works on creating a small black pine in the informal upright...

Styling by FarrandFeb 9, 202014:35

His father's voice

Isao Omachi’s creates the bonsai his father envisioned. Solving the problem with a new styling on a Juniper by turning the tree upside down using and making the most of the twist in the trunk...

Repotting by FarrandFeb 3, 202022:03

What's under the soil?

Repotting your bonsai is rather like a health check The trees of Hiroshi Takeyama, the head of Fuyo-en bonsai nursery, have a distinctive character and elegance. He is renowned for his conscientious and thorough work,...

Harry Harrington by FarrandJan 26, 202013:17

Cold weather care

Harry Harrington’s winter care tips. Needless to say, the weather is not always ideal for bonsai during the cold months. The winter period is very active; however, good protection and aftercare are essential, Harry explains....

Technique by FarrandJan 18, 202015:44

Flowers from Korea

The challenge is to create a finished tree starting from scratch. In this series we look at creating bonsai from cuttings, grafting and other methods using interesting and unusual species. With the help of illustrations...

Technique by FarrandJan 10, 202015:13

Pruned by air

Roots are happy in pots with an air pruning function. Jens Lindworsky invented the Tie-Pot with knobs for attaching guy wires and with air root pruning, which prevents the formation of unfavourable circular growing roots....

Styling by FarrandJan 10, 202014:03

The wild one

Wild olive trees provides one of most ideal materials for bonsai. Marcial Yuste Blasco, who runs a bonsai school in Spain, prefers to work on material from the wild. For Marcial, it possesses the characteristics...

Technique by FarrandDec 20, 201910:16

On a tightwire?

Winding wire around a branch is easy; effective wiring is more difficult. Wiring skills by Taiga Urushibata Wiring is an indispensable skill in bonsai; it is something that needs to be used at many stages...

Step by Step by FarrandDec 13, 201921:38

Popstar bonsai

Branch development on an elm Inspired by a colourful autumn, we look at how to develop branches on deciduous trees that show seasonal colour. Guided by Master Hiroki Miura, Ayaka Yamamoto, a famous popstar in...

Masterclass by FarrandDec 6, 201912:37

As one with the tree

Hiroaki Suzuki becomes as one with the tree during the styling of a pine Young artist Hiroaki Suzuki takes on the challenge of transforming and displaying a five needle pine The aim is to change...

Harry Harrington by FarrandNov 30, 201912:24

The cornerstone

As the leaves fall in autumn, it is time to study the branch structure of the tree in detail and begin pruning This article describes the pruning of deciduous tree branches in autumn. I believe...

Styling by FarrandNov 13, 201921:48

Just cut all the branches?

How to deal with upward-growing branches on a pine Impossible material with all its branches growing upwards becomes a fine bonsai. Toshio Ogawa notes the superb movement of the lower trunk and solves the problem...

Report by FarrandNov 4, 201921:31

Red moods

Diepenbeek, Belgium, the first weekend in November 2019, the triannual show of the Eda Uchi Kai bonsai club initiated by Jean Paul Polmans. Thanks to Mario Komsta who arranged the exceptional displays and high quality […]

Fruit by FarrandNov 1, 201921:11

From chopped stump to Bonsai Art

Nearly Two Decades in the Life of a Pomegranate HISTORICAL PROFILE Scientific Name: Punica granatumCommon Names: PomegranateOrigin: The pomegranate is native from Iran to the Himalayas in northern India and has been cultivated since ancient...

Report by FarrandOct 31, 201921:43

A shari never shown

Bonsai Focus Magazine was asked to sponsor the “Best New Style” At the 7th edition of the European Bonsai-san Show in Saulieu, Bonsai Focus magazine aimed to look for a bonsai which stands out in […]

Free by FarrandOct 30, 201909:59

Kickstarter Bonsai book

Pacific Bonsai Museum launches a kickstarter book We are excited to announce that we launched our Kickstarter to publish our first-ever book about our collection: A Gallery of Trees: Living Art of Pacific Bonsai Museum. […]

Technique by FarrandOct 25, 201912:37

Heavy bending

How to bend thick branches Sometimes wire is simply not enough to bend the branch in the desired position. Here we sum up the proper techniques to make things bend smoothly. Lower a branch by...

Masterclass by FarrandOct 19, 201912:00

Puzzling it out

Manuel Germade shows us how he solves the puzzle of this juniper. You can read and watch him working on the tree. This is all about making choices. Which branch is too long, too much,...

Free by FarrandOct 16, 201921:24

Bonsai on the red carpet

An impression of the Bonsai-san Show which was held in the weekend of 12 – 13 October 2019, Saulieu, France. Guest of Honour Mauro Stemberger. Demonstrations were held by Bjorn Bjorholm (USA), Jan Culek (CZ) […]

Masterclass by FarrandOct 11, 201912:00

Hungry to learn

Salvatore Liporace reworks one of his finest bonsai. The first styling of this Juniperus chinensis ‘Sargenti’ has a long history which goes back 20 years when its top was 40 cm higher. Gradually it was...

Free by FarrandOct 10, 201915:48

Wood never Dies

Portland (USA) based woodworker, Austin Heitzman seeks inspiration from ancient trees I have been attempting bonsai for just as long as I have been a professional woodworker. When contacted about commissioning a bonsai stand, I […]

Seed by FarrandOct 7, 201917:05

The Edo cherry

The challenge is to create a finished tree starting from scratch. In this series we look at creating bonsai from cuttings, grafting and other methods from interesting and unusual species. With the help of illustrations...

Shohin by FarrandSep 27, 201921:22

Where are the roots?

Air-layer experiment. What works best: Sphagnum or a tourniquet? Yukio Hirose (Yamato-en) is up for an experiment. Which of the air layer techniques gives best results, the one that uses sphagnum only, or the technique...