Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving (Paperback)
From Booklist
Survival is the key word here, for these delicate plants are difficult to care for. Lewis, founder of Bonsai magazine, has written a guide to buying and maintaining a bonsai. There are instructions on shaping, pruning, repotting, and pests and diseases. Lewis lists 50 popular species, with specific information on growing each tree–maple, bamboo, hornbeam, hackberry, quince, cypress, cotoneaster, cedar, beech, ficus, juniper, myrtle, pine, etc. Four-color photographs throughout, primarily for beginners. George Cohen
Product Description
From advice on evaluating and selecting plants, to assessing plant health and troubleshooting, the BONSAI SURVIVAL MANUAL provides the comprehensive information every bonsai gardener needs for success. Includes detailed horticultural profiles of 50 popular commercial varieties, with at-a-glance information on their specific requirements.
January 13th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
As a new convert, I have been frustrated by most books on bonsai. They are filled with wonderful information, but the author often takes for granted that you are an experience bonsai enthusiast. Mr. Lewis does not do that. With excellent pictures and color graphics, he explains in great detail what to look for (and look OUT for!) when buying a tree, as well as detailed advice on pruning and shaping techniques. I wish I had bought this sooner.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I’ve found the advices the book gives for buying a bonsai very helpful. On the other hand it helped me and my friends understanding why we did not succeded in keeping our little trees alive. After reading the brief but thoroughly information about “trees necessities” I decided to try again and my ume(plum)-bonsai look now quite happy.
January 13th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
The Bonsai Survival Manual contains just about everything you need to know about growing and keeping Bonsai. It is well organized with sections on general care and techniques followed by sections on specific species. There is information in here that I have not seen in other books on Bonsai. The writing is terse, concise, and easy to read and understand. The Bonsai photographs show off the beauty of this art form.
All in all, I found this book to be the most useful and fun to read of any Bonsai book I have read.