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Knowledge Base

Welcome to our Bonsai Knowledge Base.  Here you’ll find a wide range of articles and links that offer advice and instruction to help you on your bonsai journey.

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Links to Sites

14 Tips for Field Growing Bonsai

Development

Visit

Useful tips for how to prep your mateiral and develop it over time in the ground.

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips August

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips July

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips May

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips September

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Learning Platform/Collection

Bonsai Re-Leaf by Abdarrahman Eatwell

YouTube Channel

Visit

Well-produced styling videos that go in depth in individual tree transformations

Learning Platform/Collection

Bonsai Tonight by Jonas Dupuich

Website/Community

Visit

Blogs, exhibits and podcasts on bonsai care and development. Excellent photo tutorials and seasonal maintenance tips

Documents

Boon's Tips -- April

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- February

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- June

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- November

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Links to Sites

Conversation on kusamono (accent plants)

Horticulture, Accents & Suiseki

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From 'Bonsai Tonight' blog - Jonas Dupuich

Links to Sites

Evaluating Field Grown Material

Design, Development

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Bonsai Tonight post on what to look for in field grown stock and common flaws to avoid.

Documents

Fungicides & Pesticides Treatment Guide

Monthly Tips, Horticulture, Pests & Disease

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A seasonal guide of treatment options for pests and disease

Links to Sites

Growing Pines for Bonsai ' by Julian Adams

Design, Development, Species Care Guide

Visit

Link to purchase this great book

Links to Sites

How to properly wire a y-shaped branch

Beginner's Resources, Development

Visit

From 'Bonsai Tonight' blog - Jonas Dupuich

Documents

Information on fungicides - Part 2

Horticulture, Pests & Disease

Visit

Types of fungicides and definitions sheet

Learning Platform/Collection

Mirai Live by Ryan Neil

Website/Community

Visit

Livestreams, in-depth tree critiques, horticulture and design theory + extensive video library of tutorials.

Learning Platform/Collection

Rakuyo by Andrew Robson

YouTube Channel

Visit

Deciduous-focused artist with informative videos and in-depth video podcast discussions.

Links to Sites

Satsuki Azalea Care Calendar

Species Care Guide

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A month-by-month guide on what you should be doing with your Satsuki Azaleas.

Links to Sites

Winter Care Overview

Beginner's Resources, Horticulture

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Winter storage techniques and considerations are covered in a comprehensive article from Bonsai Tonight.

Links to Sites

Winter Storage for Bonsai

Beginner's Resources, Horticulture

Visit

Bonsai4Me covers basics of getting your trees ready for winter dormancy.

Learning Platform/Collection

Arkefthos Bonsai

YouTube Channel

Visit

Bonsai channel based in Greece with many species-specific how-to videos

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips December

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips June

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips November

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Learning Platform/Collection

Blue Sky Bonsai by Dave Seymour

YouTube Channel

Visit

Wide-ranging educational channel with unique illustrations to help understand concepts.

Learning Platform/Collection

Bonsai Subreddit

Website/Community

Visit

Great beginner- to intermediate-level discussion and sharing forum

Learning Platform/Collection

Bonsai-U by Bjorn Bjornholm

Website/Community

Visit

Online video platform Bonsai-U features monthly demos, livestreams, and tree critique

Documents

Boon's Tips -- August

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- January

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- March

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- October

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Learning Platform/Collection

Crataegus Bonsai by Michael Hagedorn

Website/Community

Visit

Thoughtful blog posts on bonsai philosophy, design, and horticulture. Online learning resources

Documents

Ferns: Biology and propagation

Horticulture, Accents & Suiseki

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Covers the evolution and reproduction of ferns as well as how to propagate them from spores

Documents

Good Wiring Techniques

Beginner's Resources, Design, Development

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From Rebecca Ayre's Beginning Bonsai class at the NC Arboretum

Learning Platform/Collection

Heron's Bonsai by Peter Chan

YouTube Channel, Beginner's Resources

Visit

Hundreds of accessible bonsai styling tutorials. Practical demonstrations with commentary.

Links to Sites

How to secure bonsai in a pot

Beginner's Resources, Soil & Repotting

Visit

From 'Bonsai Tonight' blog - Jonas Dupuich

Learning Platform/Collection

International Bonsai by Bill Valavanis

Website/Community

Visit

Bi-monthly digital issues the International BONSAI Online Magazine

Documents

Outdoor Bonsai Display

Design, Pots/Stands/Display

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Felix Laughlin: how to emulate the aesthetic qualities of a high quality indoor display in an outdoor setting.

Documents

Repotting Bonsai

Beginner's Resources, Horticulture, Soil & Repotting

Visit

Presentation b Chris Pazoles

Documents

Soil Compaction: Effect on bonsai health

Soil & Repotting, Horticulture

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See page 4 in this Jan, 2022 issue of the Lake Charles Bonsai News

Documents

Winter Care for all kinds of bonsai

Beginner's Resources, Horticulture

Visit

Presentation by Felix Laughlin

Links to Sites

r/Bonsai Beginner's Walkthrough

Beginner's Resources

Visit

A comprehensive "where do I start?" type guide for beginners

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips April

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips January-February

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips March

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Documents

BRBS Bonsai Tips October

Monthly Tips, Beginner's Resources

Visit

BRBS Monthly Tips guide for tree care and tasks

Learning Platform/Collection

Bonsai Empire

Website/Community

Visit

Free articles, species guides, care tutorials + paid online courses with top bonsai artists.

Learning Platform/Collection

Bonsai Today / Bonsai Focus

Website/Community

Visit

Offers Bonsai Focus E-magazine

Learning Platform/Collection

BonsaiNut

Website/Community

Visit

Excellent for intermediate- to advanced-level practitioners.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- December

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- July

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- May

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Boon's Tips -- September

Beginner's Resources, Monthly Tips

Visit

Monthly bonsai care tips by Boon Manakitivipart written for San Francisco climate so adjust timings accordingly.

Documents

Creating a Forest on a Rock: Shag Rug Method

Design, Development

Visit

This method takes some time to grow the cuttings, but produces wonderful results.

Links to Sites

Fertilizing Overview

Beginner's Resources, Development, Horticulture

Visit

Bonsai Tonight overview of the how to fertilize at what stage and some information on types of fertilizer

Learning Platform/Collection

Growing Bonsai with Jelle Ferwerda

YouTube Channel, Beginner's Resources

Visit

Very clear and highly expansive how-to videos for early-mid development trees. One of the best channels on youtube.

Links to Sites

How to collect and apply moss

Beginner's Resources, Accents & Suiseki, Soil & Repotting

Visit

From the National Bonsai Foundation

Documents

Information on fungicides - Part 1

Horticulture, Pests & Disease

Visit

Classes and modes of action for various fungicide groups.

Links to Sites

Japanese Maple: Styling & Development

Design, Species Care Guide

Visit

A guide to early Japanese maple development - from trunk chop to wiring.

Links to Sites

Pinching vs Pruning

Refinement, Development

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Mirai guide on when to use which technique and the effects you can expect from each.

Documents

Root-Killing Temperature Lists

Beginner's Resources, Horticulture

Visit

The following lists from Rutgers University and from the Horticultural Journal give temperatures that will kill the roots

Learning Platform/Collection

Wabi Channel by Seiji Morimae

YouTube Channel

Visit

Known in the world of bonsai/suiseki for his dedication to formal display and his ownership of S-Cube, a bonsai garden.

Links to Sites

Winter Root Temp Chart

Beginner's Resources, Horticulture

Visit

Table from Bonsai Heresy comparing select species' in-ground root hardiness temps to hardiness temps in pots.

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