The Kaizen Bonsai Blog by Graham Potter
Whether you are looking to master the basics of tree health or perform advanced structural styling, use the sections below to navigate our decades of experience in the art of bonsai.
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Bonsai Restoration
Bonsai Technique
Video Masterclasses
Graham's Bonsai Trees
Practicing My Bonsai Wiring Skills
It's getting busy around here. We have new stock arriving every week, at this time of year it's mostly what we call 'dry goods' like pots, tools etc'. Whilst it's not as exciting as getting a lorry load of beautiful trees it all still has to be dealt with. Last week I spent over 60 hours sitting in front of my Mac listing bonsai pots.... joy. By way of a little relief I was popping outside from time to time and practicing my bonsai wiring skills. I buy a lot of untrained material. It represents good value and people like it. However sometimes I cock it up and buy something that, whilst I...
The Triffid’s Return-Garden Juniper Bonsai Tree
Another busy week here at KB. This week has been a bit of a merry-go-round rather than a rollercoaster which, after the year we have had has been nice. Not too much stress and lots of sunshine all week. That allowed me a few pleasant hours in the greenhouse doing a bit of bonsai. In this case the The Triffid's Return-Garden Juniper Bonsai Tree. It's a sad fact that I have sold all the best trees I ever owned, except of course for the ones I killed in the exuberance of youth, yes I was actually young once. I have a bit of a rule around here that I do not buy back trees we have sold. I have a...
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A Big Day
Once you get to my age there are too many days gone by to remember even a small fraction of them. Even the years tend to get lost. However there are always going to be a few that are particularly significant. I suppose they are what we call 'red letter days'. I don't...
English Elms Arrived
Bonsai seems to be influenced by fashion both in terms of style and regards to species that are in demand. However one thing I have noticed is that British native trees remain high on everyone's shopping list. Our best sellers are always hawthorn, blackthorn, scots...
New Delivery
Just for the record olives have to be one of my favourite trees used for bonsai. That's not because I have some soppy romantic notion of warm scented groves enjoyed on balmy evenings on holiday. I don't get to have holidays. I like olives because they are tough and...
Special New Bonsai Arrived
This week we had a delivery of trees which bought us a special little piece. Not so many years ago getting hold of quality Japanese bonsai was a work-a-day thing. However since the recession hit, our currency devalued and the Nazi party took over policing of plant...
Dazed and Confused
I get a million phone calls and emails every day from beginners who are struggling to get their arms around keeping bonsai. Just last week I heard from a guy who told me he had started his bonsai collection, he had planted 70 bonsai seeds :-0 After some discussion he...
Get a New Tool
I have been around this game a long time now, about half my life in fact. Who knew little trees were so engaging? One thing I know is that, much as in other areas of life, there is a lot of crap out there just sold to get your money. As a practical old fashioned bloke...