Bonsai Society of Australia Inc.

Home / Suggestions & Tips

Moss Workshop with Young Choe and Zach Stanley

Well known for her very beautiful kusamono and kokodama, Young Choe has a deep interest in moss and is a member of a moss identification group along with Zach Stanley, a bryologist from the Pacific Bonsai Museum. In this workshop, […]

Read More

Privet Makeover: Lee Wright

Have this charming little privet, all of 16 cm high. The trunk has great movement, showy roots and a mushroom top. What more can you ask for? The problem was, the roots were getting too big and the top had […]

Read More

Developing Additional Trident Roots by Lee Wright

Lovely trident, upper structure well developed and ramification coming along very nicely. But the nebari looked like two legs doing the splits. A couple of years ago I cut a path all along the front nebari, brushed on rooting hormone […]

Read More

1951 Red Pine by Andrew Edge

I took over care of a Japanese red pine in December of 2017 from a very good friend who had had the tree for many years. It is an old Koreshoff pine that was grown from seed planted in 1951. […]

Read More

CARE FOR AZALEAS AND CAMELLIAS: Brenda Parker

At this time of year a lot of azaleas and camellias have or will be finishing their flowering period. It is important that if you want to have them for bonsais, there are a few things that you must do […]

Read More

AUGUST’S DEMONSTRATION: John Marsh on ‘Preparing Your Trees for a Show’

As John’s demonstration had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions, he has kindly provided these detailed notes on preparing trees for show. So, after some time nurturing and styling your bonsai, the time has come when you think it […]

Read More

Solace by Lee Wright

I was so disappointed in missing out on the Earth and Fire Pot Sale, cancelled due to the lockdown, that I immersed my sorrow in checking out plants at the Rockdale Community Nursery. A row of $40 Leptospermum ‘Pink Cascade’ […]

Read More

A TIMELY REMINDER: MONDO MONSTER

Working on a neglected maple forest last week reminded me of Lee Wright’s warning about mondo grass in a previous newsletter. The under-plantings in this setting were totally overgrown and needed radical thinning or removal. Military grass, violets, miniature ivy […]

Read More

SEASONAL PINE WORK

If you haven’t already, now is the time to prepare your pine trees for their spring growth. Maintenance now sets the tree up more even candle development in spring through balancing the energy of the tree by directing the energy […]

Read More

COLLECTING MOSS AND CREATING TOP DRESSING: Andy Bello

As bonsai practitioners, we are always thinking about the past, present, and future aspects of our trees and the environments in which they live and grow. We constantly plan and prepare for the next step in the wonderful journey of […]

Read More