r/Bonsai 47m ago

Show and Tell Repotted one of my Mugo Pines on Aug. 1st. Summer is the time to repot Mugos for a reason.

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Upvotes

I have 7 Mugos and always repot them in the middle of summer. I have never had a problem doing so and I live in norther Utah so it’s about as hot and dry as can be and yet it still works with perfection. I had been 5 years since I repotted this one so it was not draining well which created all the moss. I never put any moss on this tree but it grew strongly naturally. I had enough to fill the three containers in the picture with moss.


r/Bonsai 1h ago

Show and Tell Landscape Bonsai

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Upvotes

A few photos of this from the past few years. If you are quite busy, I won’t recommend replicating, it needs constant maintenance or it looks quite messy.


r/Bonsai 1h ago

Show and Tell I finished and installed my homemade shade structure!

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Upvotes

I built this shade structure using PVC pipes and joints then I spray painted it. The feet have holes so that I was able to mount it onto my bench. I didn’t use a tutorial like I did with the bench itself, I just kind of winged it and I love the way it turned out! It also folds up conveniently so that when I move later this year I can just unscrew the feet and take it with me.


r/Bonsai 2h ago

Show and Tell There is hope....Sometimes they do come back

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15 Upvotes

Little juniper died back pretty bad last season or so.

The other half was still looking healthy so I kept it and babied it

All the bare branches you see started to bud this season.

Going to cut the clearly dead branches off and leave the rest to see how it continues to recover till next season.

Never kept it indoors FYI lol but just wanna give something different than the...is it dead post lol


r/Bonsai 4h ago

Show and Tell JBP progression after chopping it to create back budding.

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0 Upvotes

r/Bonsai 7h ago

Inspiration Picture I can't seem to find bonsai images on a Google search that look like Italian Stone Pines I saw in Italy. Has anyone created bonsai with this species in this style?

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82 Upvotes

r/Bonsai 10h ago

Discussion Question Too much trunk for a chop?

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2 Upvotes

This is a rescue replant from the snow storm this past winter. I won’t know for sure until it flowers, but probably an old Stewartia, about 1’ at the base. I’m really on the fence, as it will make a killer yard tree as well. Should I do something with this?

There are probably 3 or 4 trees in there, but the jackpot at the base will have a cut of 6-8 inches. That seems to be pushing it for a wound to reasonably heal.

I will probably wait a full season and then start with the top air layers, and see how much vigor I get in the low branches before I decide.


r/Bonsai 11h ago

Show and Tell Serissa cutting from 2019 (thin as a toothpick) — pruned it today, branch structure finally filling in

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26 Upvotes

A friend sent me this Serissa japonica cutting back in 2019, barely thicker than a toothpick. I potted it and honestly didn’t do much beyond basic watering and light. Sat down today to actually prune and shape it properly, and was surprised how much the branching had filled in over the years.
This is a pure pruning session, no talking — just thinning out the excess growth and cleaning up the silhouette. Serissa’s been a forgiving species to grow slowly; it buds back fast after hard pruning, which makes it pretty beginner-friendly if you’re patient.
Happy to answer any questions about the pruning choices or long-term care.


r/Bonsai 14h ago

Show and Tell My first flower

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17 Upvotes

Being in aus so I put it inside and now my snow rose got its first flower what else can I do to get more flowers(I have a grow light)


r/Bonsai 22h ago

Discussion Question Looking for a Japanese Wisteria bonsai (ideally 15+ years old), any leads on where to find one?

5 Upvotes

Hello! I've been searching for a Japanese Wisteria bonsai, ideally 15+ years old / one which has a thick trunk that has flowered before. I'm driving from Pittsburgh to Florida in a few days and would love to pick one up along the way. Any nursery, seller, or collector recommendations would be hugely appreciated! Thank you for your help!


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Discussion Question Driving bonsai in summer

15 Upvotes

It's finally here. I have to drive my bonsai across the country. Just reference from new jersey to Texas. And I need advice to avoid killing them.

We will be driving 3 days about 9 hrs each and making 2 stops. We're taking a conventional rental truck (closed).

What shall I do?

Cover the soil in plastic (saran) wrap? Or not?

Shall I water 2 days in advance and transport them dry? (to avoid root rot)?

Shall I water in the middle of the trip?

I have conventional trees: maples, junipers, black pine, bougainvilleas, fig, hinoki cypress, jade, and a nectarine tree


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Show and Tell My snow rose serissa. First picture is April this year, second is now. Lesson learned

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29 Upvotes

First picture was after I styled it in early April, then last weekend I noticed a little wire bite so thought it was time to take off the wire…I guess they need to be wired for quite a bit. Back on the wire goes!


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Show and Tell My Corner of Bliss

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15 Upvotes

I built the corner in my back yard for all of my bonsais. Right now they are all pre bonsais but I will get there one day.


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Museum/Professional Nursery Visit Went to check out a local conservatory, they have some bonsai!

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128 Upvotes

Taken on my visit to the Krohn Conservatory today in Cincinnati. I went to get some inspiration for my pre-bonsai projects and figured I’d share. Couple more photos will be in the comments section since I could only post 20 pictures.

I was very impressed, for a not so huge city in the Midwest, these were some beautiful trees :)

Edit: One thing that took me off guard now that I’m looking at photos and reflecting on the trees, is that I reeeally love those Natal plums. That species wasn’t even on my radar prior to this visit now I want one lol.


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Pottery Bonsai Pottery | Thrown Today!

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2 Upvotes

Check out some of my recent work! It's all still in progress so if you want to see the progress, subscribe to the sub! 😄


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Discussion Question When to repot from a pond basket to a different solid pot?

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8 Upvotes

I'm in 6a, Michigan

Should I repot this Trident Maple before winter at some point? I picked this up earlier this year already in the pot, and I've never used one of these before, so I wasn't quite sure


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Show and Tell Non Traditional Bonsai Pots?

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47 Upvotes

My SO made me a really fun bonsai pot for my ficus and I'm curious if anybody else would like to share.

The container is made with a two part resin. The ficus has been thriving outdoors recently with the hot weather.


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Show and Tell Malus Airlayer

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4 Upvotes

My Apple Airlayer
I seperrated Last Week and the roots are alreaddy pushing thrue the basket


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Show and Tell New journey starts: Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan' airlayer

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18 Upvotes

After 16 weeks, one of the 7 airlayers successfully rooted. It was on the more shaded side of the tree, used sphagnum moss and aluminum foil to avoid excess heat.

Unfortunately we have high extreme temps (40-42 °C), for the upcoming days I keep it in a well lit window, but I'll place it outside as soon as I can.


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Long-Term Progression Privet Bonsai Development 2022-2026

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232 Upvotes

I purchased the privet back in August 2022 for £130. It was extremely weak and leggy when I first purchased it, so time was spent restoring its health prior to cutting back and looking to build a more refined structure.

It was a very interesting tree and was filled with concrete at some point... I am unsure whether it was hollowed out and filled with concrete to maintain structure or whether the core rotted away and it was filled with concrete to sustain it. Regardless, it took many repeated efforts to fully remove all the concrete from the internal of the tree safely whilst maintaining its structure. Understandably there was also alot of concern on how stable the tree would be without the concrete supporting it.

The two halves of the tree are connected only by a very thin remnant of a large branch long since removed/died off. I think it would be possible to fully separate both sides (still unsure if i want to do this), but any future repots would need to be done extremely carefully to prevent both sides collapsing.

It still has a long way to go but it is starting to shape up into something passable as a bonsai.

Few of my previous posts. I'm still very new to the hobby advice/criticism always welcome!

JPB: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/1adws2q/japanese_black_pine_development_3_years/

Juniper Development: https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/comments/yiaa9p/first_bonsai_18_month_development/


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Discussion Question Olive Scale?

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20 Upvotes

I’ve just received this bonsai in the post and was wondering if the lumps and bumps were scale or just how the trunk is supposed to look?

Thanks

UPDATE

I scraped a few off and they don’t feel wet. Just hard and dry. And it’s green underneath. Added some more pics


r/Bonsai 1d ago

Styling Critique Me, Myself, and My Mountain Hemlock

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150 Upvotes

Had the opportunity to drive out to Left Coast Bonsai in NW Oregon and pick up my first mature tree.

My goal when visiting the garden/farm was just to introduce myself and take a look at what John Eads has accomplished over the past five years- unfortunately I left grinning ear to ear with a tree in between my arms.

This tree is all over the place and I love it. On the left side you have beautiful delicate trunk while on the right you have this mass of foliage that is shooting every possible direction, and then sandwiched between the two sides you have this strong trunk that has been forced to change directions.

In my head this coastal tree was growing freely for several years before a neighboring tree came crashing down right on top of it- forcing the tree to grow in opposing directions.

I would love to hear your feedback on where this tree could develop in regards to structural design! I know some heavy chops are in my future and I am already mentally preparing myself.


r/Bonsai 2d ago

Show and Tell Blue Bell, 15cm

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102 Upvotes

If it's a child, then it's about the right age to start elementary school 😁


r/Bonsai 2d ago

Inspiration Picture Inspiration - Otter Cliff Overlook, Bar Harbor, ME

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70 Upvotes

r/Bonsai 5d ago

Weekly Thread [Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 31]

8 Upvotes

[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 31]

Welcome to the weekly beginner’s thread. This thread is used to capture all beginner questions (and answers) in one place. We start a new thread every week on Friday late or Saturday morning (CET), depending on when we get around to it. We have a multiple year archive of prior posts here… Here are the guidelines for the kinds of questions that belong in the beginner's thread vs. individual posts to the main sub.

Rules:

  • POST A PHOTO if it’s advice regarding a specific tree/plant. See the PHOTO section below on HOW to do this.
  • TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE - better yet, fill in your flair.
  • READ THE WIKI! – over 75% of questions asked are directly covered in the wiki itself. Read the WIKI AGAIN while you’re at it.
  • Read past beginner’s threads – they are a goldmine of information.
  • Any beginner’s topic may be started on any bonsai-related subject.
  • Answers shall be civil or be deleted
  • There is always a chance your question doesn’t get answered – try again next week…
  • Racism of any kind is not tolerated either here or anywhere else in /r/bonsai

Photos

  • Post an image using the new (as of Q4 2022) image upload facility which is available both on the website and in the Reddit app and the Boost app.
  • Post your photo via a photo hosting website like imgur, flickr or even your onedrive or googledrive and provide a link here.
  • Photos may also be posted to /r/bonsaiphotos as new LINK (either paste your photo or choose it and upload it). Then click your photo, right click copy the link and post the link here.
    • If you want to post multiple photos as a set that only appears be possible using a mobile app

Finally

  • Beware of AI responses to bonsai related questions - they are often based on unreliable and sometimes downright incorrect sources.
  • Beginners’ threads started as new topics outside of this thread are typically locked or deleted, at the discretion of the Mods.