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
Water-Elm #53 Video #2
I posted Water-Elm #53 Video #1 on September 9th. Since that time, the trees have grown out very well, so much so that today I decided I could risk slip-potting them. There's always a risk in doing this, but I've found over the years that the risk is very low. So...
Remember This Sycamore?
Most of you probably remember this Sycamore, Platanus occidentalis. From humble beginnings it made its way humbly into a bonsai pot. At the time, I said it would either end up being great or terrible. The jury's still out on that one, but today seemed like a good...
Water-Elm #39 Video #2
This is Water-elm #39, the day it came home and was potted up. I published Video #1 once the tree had started pushing new growth. It grew so rapidly that today it was time to do an initial styling. Here's the step by step process I used to create the initial design...
What I Do When They Grow Really Fast
This Water-elm, Planera aquatica, was collected on August 11th of this year. It's a really nice triple-trunk specimen, as you can see. It came back from collection quickly, and has thrown foot-long shoots. It's certainly a strong tree. So what would you do about...
Water Oak #8
Quercus nigra Collect date: 2/24/18 Trunk base: 2.25" Height to chop: 13" Estimated age: 20 years Years in training: 1 Estimated release date: 4/15/20 Video #1 Although this tree obviously grew with great strength this year, it did present me with one...
Water-Elm #40
Planera aquatica Collect date: 8/4/18 Trunk base: 2.5" Height: 22" Estimated age: 40-50 years Years in training: 0 Estimated release date: 5/1/20 Video #1 I love the trunk movement and gradual taper of this specimen. A nice feminine tree. The nebari is outstanding!...
Water-Elm #53
Planera aquatica Collect dates: 8/11/18, 8/11/18, 8/25/18 Trunk bases: 2", 2", 1.5" Heights: 9", 12", 13.5" Estimated ages: 25-30 years Years in training: 0 Estimated release date: 5/1/20 Video #1 Here's a great example of the principle that sometimes the whole is...
Huckleberry #5
Vaccinium species Collect date: 12/23/17 Trunk base: 3.5" across Height to top chop: 18" Finished height (est.): 22" Estimated age: 35-50 years Years in training: 0 Video #1 This Huckleberry was collected in December of 2017, and allowed to grow...
Bald Cypress #68
Taxodium distichum Collect date: 1/20/18 Trunk base: 5" (5" above the soil) Height to chop: 26" Final height (est.): 36" Estimated age: 50-65 years Years in training: 1 Estimated release date: 4/15/22 Bald cypress #68 Video #1