Category: Care

Tree guide by RoyJun 28, 202015:17

Hibiscus

Styling and caring for a sea hibiscus (Hibiscus tiliaceus) Jerome Kellerhals has his bonsai garden in sunny Florida USA, where he mainly works on semi-tropicals. This time he talks about the many virtues of the...

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Tree guide by RoyApr 26, 202017:41

Larix

This is a tree whose beauty is legendary, yet it suffers from some neglect as bonsai. There are many species of larch to choose from and available in Europe are Larix decidua, the European larch; […]

Tree guide by RoyApr 18, 202017:37

Crataegus

An interesting plant that is either a spreading tree or large shrub. The wild tree has white flowers and red fruit. The distribution is vast spreading from America in the west, through Europe and on...

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Tree guide by FarrandApr 17, 202017:37

Raintree in Florida

Styling and caring for a Pithecellobium tortum, or Brazilian raintree Jerome Kellerhals has his bonsai garden in sunny Florida, where he mainly works on semi-tropicals. Here he talks about a special tree he grew from...

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Tree guide by RoyApr 15, 202017:49

Potentilla

Potentilla, a plant that is often overlooked as a ‘serious’ Bonsai because of its shrubby nature. It does however have excellent characteristics for Bonsai, with its interesting bark and fresh yellow flowers. SPECIES Common Name: […]

Tree guide by RoyApr 15, 202000:04

Pinus parviflora

This is one of the most popular of the Asian pines for bonsai work and garden use. The two species of the white pine commonly seen as imported bonsai in the west are: Pinus Parviflora...

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Tree guide by RoyApr 13, 202023:19

Cotoneaster

Cotoneaster is a familiar plant, which can be found in almost every garden. It has all the plus points: small leaves, tiny flowers and berries, and it grows quite rapidly compared with other species. When...

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Harry Harrington by FarrandApr 11, 202012:20

Summer is coming

Late spring (May/June) tasks for native and deciduous bonsai Harry Harrington: ‘May is always a very busy month for bonsai enthusiasts growing deciduous bonsai. After a long winter and early spring of dormancy, our trees...

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Tree guide by RoyApr 9, 202011:21

Zelkova

JAPANESE ELM Being a rapid and very vigorous grower makes it possible to have quick results with Zelkova. The downside is that the elm can overgrow very quickly and so it needs regular pruning and […]

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...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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....

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Tree guide by RoyJan 2, 202022:39

Acer palmatum

Acer palmatum, the Japanese maple, has a wide distribution and grows at many elevations throughout its native habitat. In cultivation, it is seen everywhere as a garden plant and as bonsai. Under good conditions, the...

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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...

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Harry Harrington by FarrandJul 28, 201922:02

A solid regime…

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 it requires from its leaves. Harry...

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Tree guide by FarrandMar 22, 201920:31

Malus

Crab apple Malus sieboldii 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 colour of...

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Tree guide by FarrandFeb 22, 201922:05

Ficus

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 of […]

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...

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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...

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Repotting by FarrandJan 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? Text:...

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Tree guide by RoyJan 29, 200515:51

Weigela

Weigela florida may well be the most common and popular species along with its cultivars:W. ‘Foliis purpureis’, slower-growing dwarf form of compact habit with attractive purple-flushed leaves and pink flowers; ‘Variegata’, a form with compact […]

Tree guide by RoyJan 20, 200516:53

Celtis

The Celtis (Hackberry) originates from China and Taiwan and has a strong yet graceful trunk with neat oval leaves. In southern Europe, bonsai amateurs often grow the Celtis australis, but nurseries tend to import the […]