Category: Care

Maintenance by RoyMar 23, 202012:11

Increase the effectiveness of fertilisation

Why do we fertilise and with what? Where do we place fertiliser and what is the most effective NPK mix available? What other methods can we use? It is not simply a case of placing...

Pots by RoyMar 15, 202023:49

Rush hour

Spring time is rush hour for repotting your bonsai, but choosing the right pot cannot be hurried. Spring arrives and it is the ideal time to repot your bonsai. Mostly it’s necessary, but it is...

Harry Harrington by FarrandMar 8, 202020:51

A date with spring

Spring tasks for native deciduous bonsai Repotting is the primary focus for bonsai enthusiasts during spring. However, there are a number of other tasks, often forgotten, that are worth carrying out at this time of...

Tree guide 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, […]

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....

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...

Harry Harrington by FarrandJul 28, 201922:02

A solid regime…

Harry Harrington’s practical guide to fertilising Bonsai need water, air and sunlight in order to photosynthesis and grow. The combination of these three elements is enough for a tree to manufacture the sugars and starches...

Tree guide by FarrandMar 22, 201920:31

Malus

Malus sieboldii, or Toringo crab apple, is a member of the apple family, a deciduous tree that can be found growing throughout Japan. Botanically speaking, ‘Miyama Kaido’ is the same, the difference lies in the...

Ficus by FarrandFeb 22, 201922:05

Ficus

Fig Figs are keystone species in many tropical forest ecosystems. Figs have figured prominently in some human cultures, such as Buddhism, objects of worship and many practical uses. For bonsai they are a great source […]

Seed by FarrandFeb 8, 201921:18

Celtis sinensis

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 with interesting and unusual species. With the help of illustrations...

Step by Step by FarrandJan 20, 201918:15

Give me space

Understanding the basics of repotting through the example of a young tree One of the big objectives in repotting is to remove a tree’s old roots to provide more space for new roots to grow...

Repotting by dvanoirbeekJan 1, 201818:04

Mycorrizha fungus: A partner for life

As bonsai enthusiasts we’ve all heard about mycorrizha, which is supposed to be beneficial to the root system of our bonsai. Is there any truth in this claim or is it just another commercial hoax?...