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Developing a bonsai can be a fulfilling accomplishment. Taking a young cutting or seedling and carefully growing it to a size for shaping and training is one of the most common methods for bonsai creation. Although time consuming, this technique has been popular, and a bonsai can be developed right from the beginning according to your own taste and understanding of bonsai. As your bonsai experience and knowledge increase (hopefully) and developing your own style bonsai can be developed.

Shohin bonsai—tiny trees with towering presence—are a marvel of miniature horticulture. Typically no taller than 20 cm (about 8 inches), these small-scale bonsai demand not only artistic vision but also precise care. Among the most critical aspects of their health and beauty is one often underestimated: fertilisation.

I was reminded last week what an awesome resource we have in the Pacific Bonsai Museum. For those who haven’t visited, the museum hosts a collection of outstanding bonsai in Federal Way, Washington. It may be best known, however, for staging some of the most engaging and thought-provoking exhibits and events in the bonsai world.

“Make a concavity when finishing pruning cuts.”

I kicked off this year’s decandling season by working on a pine that had been left to grow freely for a few years.

The latest book by Jonas Dupuich hit the market this spring. It’s a beautiful book that meets this moment of knowledge, in clear language accessible to anyone. 

There’s something quietly magical about a flowering shohin bonsai. In just a handful of centimeters, it holds the grace of a full-sized tree and the delicate beauty of seasonal blooms. Among the many species suited for this miniature art form, Spiraea stands out—not just for its charming clusters of flowers, but for its forgiving nature and seasonal interest.

If you’re not happy with a tree’s structure, you can always hit the reset button and remove any branches you’re unhappy with. This process looks different for different species but the basic idea is the same: remove any portion of the tree that lacks “good structure.”

Australia’s National Bonsai Convention wrapped up this past weekend. Here’s an overview of the event, a selection of trees from the show, and a few notes from my trip up north to Queensland. 

The Bonsai Society of Upstate New York, based in Rochester, is hosting the 52nd exhibition for only one day this year because of a scheduling conflict. Sunday, May 18, 2025, was the only date available to the group. The venue for this year is the Golisano Autism Center which has two sections of a gymnasium with perfect background and lighting for displaying bonsai.