From its origins as a Chinese art form some 2000 years ago through today, the bonsai tree remains an object of fascination that embraces both nature and art. Now, gardeners can participate in the wonderful tradition of bonsai cultivation with the help of this definitive, pocket-size yet extremely thorough guide, written by an expert. It’s all here: where and how to begin a collection, growth and feeding processes, maintenance techniques, and a listing of the required tools and equipment. Each page is packed with color photos and offers valuable information on the history, anatomy, and growing environments of these tranquil and beautiful miniature trees. Complete with a directory of suitable species, this is the perfect reference for owners and enthusiasts at any level.

This simple guide for first-time bonsai growers, with easy instructions and more than 200 full-color photos and drawings, covers selecting a hardy specimen; the essentials of pruning, wiring, and aging; and keeping your bonsai healthy. Learn the many styles of bonsai shaping, important tree forms, forest groupings, and more.

Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai–including pruning, wiring and stretching it. An A-to-Z guide of all the popular species showcases varieties that range from a flowering Camellia Japonica, with its beautiful smooth stem, to an easy-to-care for Olive tree. Each entry gives some background on the plant, and includes suggestions for acquiring the bonsai and directions on how to position it in the room for best results.

It’s big and beautiful, and the only course you need to cultivate bonsais successfully. From the author of the acclaimed Bonsai for Beginners, this comprehensive, easy-to-follow instructional guide covers the basics and way beyond. One step at a time, he helps gardeners develop the necessary skills to create and maintain a beautifully shaped miniature potted tree. Everything imaginable is here, from choosing a suitable plant to wiring, pruning, and aging techniques, and finally expert tips on care. With its impressively large format, pages brimming with photos of dozens of specimens at different stages of growth, and preferred design techniques from world-famous bonsai artists, this is without a doubt the definitive reference on the subject.

 

PRAISE FOR BONSAI FOR BEGINNERS:
“A thoroughly illustrated reference that will captivate and educate newcomers to the art…a wealth of personal insights accompanied by illustrations that are refreshing in their clarity and in the depth of the accompanying explanations.”—Bonsai Online.