Spring
When and how to repot
Finding out for yourself the best time to repot deciduous trees isn't easy. Our smart guide to varieties and their cultivars gives you the answers you need.
11 December 2025
Shohin
Racing roots
Unlike the deciduous species, the interval between transplanting conifers is longer and care is needed not to over prune the roots. Using two examples, Hiroki Miura shows...
19 August 2025
Shohin
Almost perfect
One of the very first trees I 'attacked' with my scissors was a Malus sieboldii (crab apple); a specimen very tolerant...
18 August 2025
Spring
All about the roots
How to carry out a proper root treatment in order to eliminate the differences in root strength and create an even better-looking nebari. Let us follow some example trees and see what can be improved...
20 May 2025
Grafting
The root dentist
In Japan roots are corrected and repositioned just as dentists do it...
16 May 2024
Spring
Where are the flowers?
Janine Droste, many years fascinated by the beauty of Satsuki bonsai, shows how to style a Satsuki 'Nikko'.
18 April 2024
Spring
Can an azalea be styled?
Hiromi Tsukada shows us how to create a deciduous-like image with a Satsuki azalea
15 April 2024
Spring
After the blossom
Once the flowering is over we must see it as a fresh start and begin preparations for the following year...
9 April 2024
Spring
Into the core…
A pine slowly starts to die off, so what is happening here?
19 May 2023
Autumn
Pruning Prunus
Cultivating Prunus from winter into spring..
3 May 2023
Spring
The key branch
The material used here is a Satsuki. It is a twin trunk and there are two apicies, but without a clear and obvious overall direction. The first thing to do will be to determine the front of the tree and work from there.
20 April 2023
Spring
All about roots
Hiroki Miura guides you through the struggles of repotting pines, pruning and cutting their roots
9 March 2023
Autumn
Red alert
A twin trunk becomes an elegant moyogi style.
26 May 2022
Spring
Acid lovers
A guide to the wild flowering shrub
18 May 2022
Spring
The first cut…
Pruning deciduous trees in the spring. A beginners' guide
5 May 2022
Spring
Beginners’ guide to repotting
Early spring is the start of the repotting season. See our guide for what to do and when to do it.
22 April 2022
Spring
A step back to go forward
Maintaining and improving the branching of Japanese elm
3 March 2022
Spring
A fruitful day
How to pollinate flowering bonsai Under the guidance of Hiroki Miura, Japanese popstar Ayaka Yamamoto tries her luck with fruiting…...
16 September 2021
Spring
Pot-bound
How to repot small trees in spring Yukio Hirose (Yamato-en) guides you through the principle techniques of repotting deciduous bonsai…....
25 February 2021
Spring
Little to do
During the growing season there is always something to do, even if the bonsai are of a small size. With…...
30 October 2020
Shohin
Show time
Spring is the time that many bonsai shows arrive on the scene. Here are some tips to get your trees…...
17 April 2020
Spring
Summer is coming
Late spring (May/June) tasks for native and deciduous bonsai Harry Harrington: ‘May is always a very busy month for bonsai…...
11 April 2020
Autumn
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
23 March 2020
Pots
Rush hour
Spring time is rush hour for repotting your bonsai, but choosing the right pot cannot be hurried. Spring arrives and…...
15 March 2020
Spring
A date with spring
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 year...
8 March 2020
Spring
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,…...
3 February 2020
Spring
The birth of new buds
In autumn you can improve the branch setting of your maple The bare branch structure is revealed and good and…...
30 August 2019
Autumn
A solid regime…
Bonsai need water, air and sunlight in order to photosynthesis and grow. The combination of these three elements is enough…...
28 July 2019
Spring
Easy elm
Japanese elm is ideal for bonsai and easy to grow Being a rapid and very vigorous grower makes it possible…...
28 June 2019
Spring
Yama no seishin – The beauty of cherry bonsai
One can find great strength in the depths of winter from the dignified beauty of the white flowers and luxurious…...
8 January 2018
