The Bonsai Files
Your free access to general and how-to articles, The Bonsai Files. Detailed and filled with bonsai pictures, Zach shows you step-by-step how he designs bonsai and provides before, during, and after images.
The Bonsai Files
Looking To 2020 – Flowering And Fruiting Species
Though the holidays are not yet upon us, it's not too soon to start thinking of 2020. A lot of the work we do now will have an impact on how our trees develop next year. Today I looked at a few flowering and/or fruiting specimens that will make great progress...
A Few Rules For Slip-Potting
Those of you who have been with us for a while know I love to slip-pot trees. Why? Well, I guess the biggest reason is I'm impatient to see a tree progress toward its best self. Another reason is that a lot of trees pass through my hands, and often it's just...
Bonsai Development Basics – Trunk Building
That Boxelder I lifted last month did so well I thought I'd lift another one. Might as well have two to play with next year. For this specimen, my plan is somewhat different as I want to build the trunk from the ground up. In this blog post, I'll show you what...
Water-Elm Redux – Progress, Progress
There's no denying that fast development in our bonsai is a good thing. To be sure, time in training really brings a bonsai to a fullness of design. But getting the design established quickly is, in my view, very important. Some species lend themselves to this...
Bonsai Odds & Ends – Oak, Fig, Maple
I love working with unusual species, and making bonsai that defy the normally accepted rules for design. Here are a few examples of current projects. First off is a Red oak, Quercus nuttallii, that I collected in East Texas a couple of years ago. (East Texas...
Privet Work And Slip-Potting
Privets seldom disappoint. This one has put on a lot of growth in just a couple of months, and I can tell by the strength of it that a slip-potting now shouldn't cause any problem for it. But first, some design work. Most bonsai design work is "grow and clip,"...
Oak Sunday
I love oak bonsai. Oaks are, in fact, among the best deciduous species available for bonsai. They take to pot culture well, backbud well, have great bark, and many species have small leaves. What's not to like? Here's a Water oak I lifted this summer in order...
Big Hoss Gets Chopped And Styled; A Brother Gets Some Work
"Big Hoss" is a really big Water-elm we brought home last summer. Recently I posted him for sale as raw material. I've been studying this unique piece of material since we first happened upon it. No question it's an awesome specimen. But how to make the most of...
Water-Elm Collecting 2019 #3
Today was probably the last of our Water-elm collecting trips for 2019. We once again got some nice material. Here are a handful of examples. I just love this raft-style specimen. Nice, tight trunks. I've already got a plan in mind for this one, so hopefully it...