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In this video, we take you through the full transformation of a Juniperus communis (Common Juniper) from an ordinary garden center plant into a refined bonsai. We originally bought this juniper for around $10 at a local garden center. Over the next two years, we worked step by step to develop it into a bonsai, showing all the key techniques in detail — including initial styling, pruning decisions, wiring, repotting, and long-term planning. Study these techniques in detail with our online courses, for free lessons see: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses/explore Chapters: 0:00 - Fall 2023 7:15 - Fall 2024 14:08 - Summer 2025 Not everything went smoothly. About halfway through the process, the top of the tree died off, forcing us to rethink the original design. Instead of giving up on the tree, we adjusted the plan, worked with what the juniper gave us, and ended up creating something unique and satisfying. This video is a realistic look at bonsai: ✔ Working with inexpensive nursery stock ✔ Making design decisions over time ✔ Handling setbacks and changing direction ✔ Letting the tree guide the final result Whether you’re new to bonsai or already working with junipers, this video shows what’s possible with patience, flexibility, and a willingness to adapt. https://uppbeat.io/t/yawnathan/orimasu License code: YFUS0YPPAJYWLKN0 https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/cold-brew License code: ABGFRDWYA7V1E5MQ https://uppbeat.io/t/night-drift/light-mist License code: RZAUY3LSEMJSR5S3 https://uppbeat.io/t/yawnathan/weightless-evening License code: GAOU3UDFTIDMAFAH We thank the Japanese garden Clingendael, and our two technical supervisors Bob Ruitenbeek and Christiaan Yeh for their help. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

On a recent cold rainy morning prior to the start of the 100th Kokufu exhibition fellow bonsai professional Andrew Robson joined us to discuss the potential for expansion of display opportunities at the next Pacific Bonsai Expo. This show has rapidly risen as the premier exhibition of bonsai in North America, and the efforts of Eric Shrader, Jonas Dupuich (mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloaka837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addya837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f = 'jonas' + '@'; addya837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f = addya837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f + 'bonsaitonight' + '.' + 'com'; var addy_texta837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f = 'jonas' + '@' + 'bonsaitonight' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloaka837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f').innerHTML += ''+addy_texta837afa9f4503c21bb0742514d09884f+''; ) , and Andrew Robson to create a destination to display bonsai at the highest level, opening the door to ideas that might allow people to think outside the box and do something special. Without any context for the discussion, Andrew and Ryan sat down to discuss the possibilities of what an artistic display could look like, how spaces could be created for contextual display, and ideas both professionals might have to transform a space into something that could conjure creativity. It was exciting to say the least.  Beyond bonsai, Andrew and Ryan discovered their shared love of the art of suiseki and discussed Andrew’s stones that were presented in the recent Kokufu exhibition. It was a nice way to celebrate such a milestone of bonsai on a global level and to open the door for future discussions around stones and an art form that is under-appreciated, yet so powerful in its ability to transport practitioners. We invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy! You can find Andrew’s work here (https://www.rakuyobonsai.com) .  Explore the Pacific Bonsai Expo (https://pacificbonsaiexpo.org/?srsltid=AfmBOor65IYtklhcwd4yshJUrwx9RMAWzx8fX-Uh3xiWRQYr69pZuieR) for upcoming dates as well!

Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

Watch bonsai master Kunio Kobayashi at the 45th Japan Bonsai Taikan Exhibition (Taikan-ten 2025) in Kyoto as he and his apprentices transform a Japanese pine in a live demo. Kobayashi, owner of the Shunka-en Bonsai Museum in Tokyo and one of the world’s most respected bonsai artists, shows his approach to shaping a large tree with precision and speed. In this video you’ll see Kobayashi use a chainsaw alongside traditional tools to quickly reduce and refine the pine’s structure, with help from his team, all within a few hours of work. You’ll also get a sense of the energy and skill involved in a high-level bonsai styling session at one of Japan’s premier bonsai events. The tree was also repotted off-season (in late fall). With proper preparation and after care, and performed by an expert, this should be no issue. We do advise to repot in early spring whenever possible. https://uppbeat.io/t/soundroll/all-the-things-you-love License code: YXYRWBY1GJOI5OAT https://uppbeat.io/t/avbe/kitchen-sunbeams License code: PXQ4CIEI5LQNJSQN https://uppbeat.io/t/jeff-kaale/new-chapter License code: FTD3Y0OMIUZCTGAQ Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

It might be an American thing to try and define how culture impacts bonsai, or it might just be a reality of this very deep artform we all love. Aarin Packard, curator of the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, Washington, joins Ryan to discuss the subject and interviews Ryan about his thoughts for an exhibition the Pacific Bonsai Museum is working on in conjunction with this year’s World Cup. Aarin selected seasoned and respected bonsai personalities from around the globe to see just how present culture is in bonsai. His insights and shared tidbits are a tasty appetizer for what he’s got brewing later this year. We are excited to see what Aarin and his team discover, and honored to be involved.  Take a look at some of the Pacific Bonsai Museum’s past exhibitions (https://pacificbonsaimuseum.org/on-view/exhibits/) .  Find out how you can contribute and take part (https://pacificbonsaimuseum.org) .

Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses https://uppbeat.io/t/avbe/night-in-kyoto License code: GERRMRTR81BUDFBF

In this video, I work on a young Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum) and begin developing it into a shohin-size bonsai. We start earlier in the year with a spring repot, setting up the root system and nebari for future refinement. Then, in summer, I come back to the tree to prune, wire, and style it—focusing on structure, taper, and movement while keeping the tree healthy and balanced. This is a great example of mid-stage bonsai development and seasonal timing, especially for deciduous trees like trident maples. If you’re interested in shohin bonsai, trident maple care, or learning when and why to do certain techniques, this video should be helpful. Thanks for watching, and feel free to like, comment, or subscribe if you enjoy bonsai content ? https://uppbeat.io/t/josh-stewart/tempest License code: D73J9AAVPYACCUXW We thank the Japanese garden Clingendael, and our two technical supervisors Bob Ruitenbeek and Christiaan Yeh for their help. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

From slangin’ exotic plants out of the back of a Lexus to architecting a budding plant-centered design movement taking southern California by storm, the Plant Daddies are a breath of fresh air and inspiration. Leaning on their long-standing friendship and dedication to bringing people happiness through the compositions they create, the trio has rapidly risen in the design world of Southern California and beyond. Dane, Macy, and Kenny bring intense passion for both the plants they cultivate and the projects they serve as they pursue their dreams with impeccable taste and fearless commitment. Their boundary pushing aesthetic and defiance of the dogmatic norm have created a vision and aesthetic in the world of arborescent succulents and interiorscapes garnering the attention of leading designers and architects in the sphere of the modern aesthetic.  It was a pleasure getting to sit down with the master minds of a growing empire and discuss the nuts and bolts of their endeavor. From getting Plant Daddies off the ground to expanding the walls of what’s possible in their field, we enjoyed the conversation and are excited to see what the future has to offer this trio of creatives. See their work at theplantdaddies.com (http://theplantdaddies.com) or follow them on Instagram to be a part of their journey. Enjoy!

Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

The Crespi Bonsai Museum, located near Milan, Italy, is home to one of the most impressive collections of bonsai trees in the world. The museum, established by the Crespi family, is dedicated to preserving the art and tradition of bonsai, which is a centuries-old practice of cultivating miniature trees in containers. The collection represents a wide variety of species. Among the most notable are pines, junipers, and maples, with some of the trees being hundreds of years old. These trees are displayed in a way that highlights their unique characteristics—like twisted trunks, dense foliage, and intricate root structures—showing how the trees have been carefully shaped over time. The museum also serves as a place of learning for both beginners and experienced bonsai enthusiasts. It offers insights into the techniques used to grow and maintain these miniature trees, including pruning, wiring, and repotting. Many of the trees at Crespi have been trained using traditional Japanese methods, which emphasize the natural beauty and balance of each tree. Serious about growing your own Bonsai trees? Then consider enrolling in one of our online Bonsai Courses, taught by expert teachers. For the curriculums and free lectures, go to: https://www.bonsaiempire.com/courses