Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

We have all had the experience of looking at a particular branch or section of a bonsai and thought, I don't like that and I should cut it off but you hesitate or just slide the bonsai back on the bench thinking 'I'll do it next time'. Me included! I have just had this very thing happen on an old Scots Pine but this time I took action. Pine season is coming to a close for me and it's time for me to reflect on what I learned and what I have done slightly differently.

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

You might start your bonsai journey loving the artistic side of the hobby but you must grow to love the maintenance side. This is where you will end up spending nearly 99% of your bonsai time. I also have a little tip for you too regarding the direction you work on your bonsai. Think of a chicken...don't worry it will all make sense in the podcast I promise.

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

In order to make or develop beautiful bonsai, you must be able to work at both a macro or big picture level as well as at the micro level which deals with the branch that you're looking at right now. It is easy to become distracted by the future and miss the opportunity to work in the now for your tree. I also think bonsai confidence and bonsai overconfidence need to be managed. A lack of confidence means nothing happens, overconfidence means something bad may happen! How do we fix that? Have a listen and I'l see if I can help.

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

The concept (or mistake) of one of all species of bonsai in your collection can really make life difficult for you. Sometimes we need to curb our enthusiasm and make sound decisions. Easier said than done right?? I know it's a very difficult thing to walk out of a bonsai nursery without any new acquisitions but hear me out. Not everything has potential and are you certain it will thrive in your yard? We've all been there and I want to offer some practical first hand advice from someone who knows only too well the fact that filling your yard with bonsai may become a nightmare...

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Winter is a great time to see your deciduous bonsai in their naked glory. It is also a time where their structural issues are more apparent than ever. So what should you do? Remove it? Hide it? Live with it? Yes, yes and yes. I will talk through the various options you have and some considerations for you to answer this question. I like to work on my bonsai in a 'mode'. That is, if I'm doing maintenance work then that is all I'm doing. If I'm wiring, then I'm wiring. This singular focus can really help you achieve a great result.

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Late Autumn around your bonsai collection will show you signs of potential issues that may be significant in Winter. So if you know what to look for you can make changes or take appropriate action to avoid these issue. This time of the year is a necessary time for pine work, on all variety of pines. But there's no need to put yourself under the pump, we have time and I'll explain why.

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

When I am working on any of my bonsai but especially my pines at this time of the year I ask myself a few simple questions for every branch that I work on. The integrity of the design I either have built or the design I am working towards rely on me making the correct decisions about removal or reduction. And that applies for all species and every time they are in front of you. The flow and movement of the bonsai is very important and so too is the design and flow of each branch.

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Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Styling your pines (or any of your bonsai) requires a dedicated focus. So before working through your bonsai and wondering where it's going to end up I have a few areas for you to focus on. Building pad height and volume, avoiding flattened structure, length reduction as well as talking about the ski jump effect and an approach to wiring while avoiding the trunk. There's always so much to chat about at this time of the year and while this episode specifically relates to pine bonsai it can also be applied to all of your trees.

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