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
Coming In 2016
Here are a few trees that will be posted for sale in 2016 (among many others). I just love Chinese elm forests. This one is composed of five trees, with the largest having a basal trunk thickness of 1". The planting is 19" in height. Paul Katich crafted the...
Loblolly Pine – Fall Work
You've seen this loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, before. I first potted it in 2013 when I started working with the species. As you may recall, I've noted before that I've never had any luck with Japanese black pines, despite the fact that they seem very well suited to...
Growing Future Bonsai
While I love using collected trees for bonsai more than any other source, I also grow trees from cuttings and seeds. There's really nothing at all wrong with bonsai grown from cuttings and seeds. After all, our goal is to create the impression of a larger and older...
An Accidental Wisteria Bonsai? Perhaps ….
Over three years ago I came to the conclusion that I lacked sufficient sunshine for my bonsai growing endeavor - which was also my growing bonsai endeavor, hence the shady concern. My home is on a couple of acres, and came with probably close to 100 large trees. ...
Sweetgum Progression – End Of Year Four
I collected this sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua, in 2011. In 2012, with a season of vigorous root growth behind it, I decided to go ahead and put the tree in this very nice Paul Katich pot. The reason I felt comfortable doing this is with the trunk already...
Loblolly Pine Progression
Here's the progression of this loblolly pine, Pinus taeda, in 2015. All in pictures. ...
A Year In The Life Of A Water-Elm Bonsai
I've mentioned before that one of the fall chores we can do that has a key effect on how quickly our bonsai develop is fall pruning and wiring. While we can't expect much growth on our trees at this time of year, we can make and implement vital design decisions. ...
Willow Oak – Final Work For 2015
I'm sure you'll remember this willow oak, Quercus phellos, that I potted earlier this year. There are a number of developmental chores I've been working on: building the apex using the grow, clip and wire process; building taper into the tree's branches in the same...
Labor Day Sale – Fall Approaching
We've just about reached the last gasp of growth for 2015. Summer always takes a toll, sometimes more sometimes less. But our main goal is to endure, and prepare our trees for the coming dormancy while anticipating 2016. I've put everything on sale for Labor Day,...