Bonsai Today
Technique

Complex, but fascinating (1)

From candle pinching to candle cutting, bud thinning, removal of old needles, and plucking of new leaves — a complete system of candle cutting. Anyone growing Japanese black pine bonsai knows...

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24 September 2025
Grafting

Not my type

Grafting new foliage to a tree is a common technique used in Japan. It is applied when the natural foliage...

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25 August 2025
Summer

Slimming down

By removing branches to make smaller foliage pads, Harumi Ishii shows us how to improve a black pine (Pinus thunbergi) from an informal upright into a ...

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2 July 2025
Basic skills

University of Wiring

Many will have experience of wiring branch tips and creating foliage pads, but when it comes to manipulating and bending heavier branches, most of us lose confidence...

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16 June 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...

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20 May 2025
Air layering

Octopussy

Grown to become shohin material, the sacrifice branches will soon be cut off and work will begin on the tree. The sacrifice branches needn’t be thrown away, though; they could be propagated by air layering to create more material...

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13 May 2025

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