Late winter is typically busy at Shibui Bonsai. Trees in the grow beds must be dug, pruned and assessed. The best are potted up for you to purchase. Others are replanted to continue developing. A few that don’t look like measuring up are consigned to the scrapheap. Continue reading
It is mid winter at Shibui Bonsai. July and August are the months I usually dig all the stock from the grow beds and assess them. Continue reading
Sooner or later all bonsai growers need to bend parts of a bonsai. Whether the bend is in the trunk or just moving a branch slightly there is always some fear that the tree will break instead of bending the way you want it. Continue reading
The new shoots on Black pines have matured so it is time to thin out all the new shoots that have grown since decandling.
It is important to know that this is part of the technique used to REFINE MATURE pines. Younger, developing pines should be allowed to grow freely to gain strength and size and cut back hard every couple of years. Decandling is used to ramify the branches on trees that are closer to being mature bonsai. Continue reading
Shibui Bonsai specialises in quality pre bonsai and starters but occasionally I need to make some space in my personal bonsai collection. This year I have picked 2 advanced bonsai to go on the sale tables. Continue reading
At Shibui Bonsai I have found that the juniper variety we know as Shimpaku is one of the best junipers for bonsai. It has naturally fine foliage and compact growth habit which means you can produce an impressive bonsai with less maintenance. Continue reading
For a while during the real heat of summer my trees slowed up and gave me a rest from pinching and pruning that is so constant during spring and early summer. The weather has started to cool a little and we have had a few light showers of rain. This is the time of year that the Australian natives just love and they have started to grow strongly. Continue reading
As is usual at a bonsai workshop I came away with a few new ideas and techniques.
Pavel is noted for working with and, in particular, bending larger collected conifers. During the workshop he mentioned that bends are easier if you twist the branch while bending. Twisting as you bend allows the fibres in the wood to bend further without breaking.
He also mentioned that he often wraps electrical tape over the wire and raffia when making extreme bends. This serves to keep the moisture in a branch if it cracks while bending which he feels aids in healing the cracks and breaks.
Something I had not experienced before was removing ALL old needles from a pine in order to wire and shape the material. I have always attempted to retain as many old needles as possible hoping that some will produce new buds to help ramify the branching. It is certainly much easier to wire the branches without the older needles.
If anyone else has something from the recent NBPCA bonsai week feel free to let me know and I can add it here.
It was great to be accepted into the ‘lenders’ masterclass at the National Bonsai and Penjing Collection at Canberra last week. Continue reading
Japanese maples are one of the most iconic bonsai species. I get so many enquiries from beginners wanting a Japanese maple but I usually advise them against starting off with this species. Why? Not only is Japanese maple more prone to getting burnt leaves in our harsh Australian climate, it is also much more demanding when it comes to pruning. Continue reading