Four Things The Karate Kid Got Right About Bonsai
For a generation of Americans and Europeans, the 1984 movie "The Karate Kid" was an unexpected introduction to bonsai as a hobby and a mindfulness activity. We think the movie g...
3 Things The Karate Kid & Cobra Kai Got Wrong about Bonsai
The first time Eric ever saw a bonsai tree was when he watched "The Karate Kid" in 1984. While he still holds this as a beloved introduction to bonsai, there are two bonsai-re...
OUR MISSION
Bonsai for You
Our mission is to educate and facilitate enjoyment of bonsai as a hobby sustainably, with a carbon neutral impact to the planet. We are committed to producing modern mini-bonsai that anyone can easily care for and enjoy
Is That Mold on My Bonsai, or is it Mealy Bugs?
Mealy bugs are soft-bodied insects that suck on plant sap like aphids. Read this article to learn how you can tell if your bonsai tree is suffering from these bugs, or from mold...
Incremental Progress in Trident Maple Bonsai
Inspired by some amazing stories of Maples in Japan, Eric has tried his hand at developing more than a few deciduous trees from scratch over the last ten years. What he has to s...
You Can Grow Red Japanese Maple Bonsai from Seed
Starting trees from seed is one of our favorite things, and we want to encourage you to give it a try, too! You can pick seeds from a red-leaf Japanese Maple and sow them, and ...
Bonsai Show Prep
Show prep starts with the decision to show a tree. From there, the focus is on styling the tree - wiring, fine branch setting, and trimming. The next major hurdle is finding an ...
The Finer Points of Making a Bonsai Stand
Eric's desire to design his own bonsai stands for his show trees lead him to a woodworking epiphany - some woodworking projects can only be created with hand tools. Learn what i...
Introducing the Pacific Bonsai Expo
Here's a sneak peek into the first Pacific Bonsai Expo, "An Exhibition of Extraordinary Bonsai". We are proud and excited to be co-creators and sponsors of this event with Jonas...
Making Bonsai Stands Creates Lots of Sawdust
A step-by-step walk through of Eric's design and build of his own bonsai stands, using typical mortise and tenon joints as well as the more intricate and complex joints that hav...
Blue Atlas Cedar Saga
While not a traditional bonsai species, Blue Atlas Cedar seem to be good subjects for bonsai. They have short needles naturally; grow quickly under good conditions; and seem to ...
Working with Collected Ponderosa Pines for Bonsai
Among American native pine species, Ponderosa is perhaps the most popular species to collect and train as bonsai. This species grows quickly in the wild but very slowly in bonsa...
Small Black Pine Progress
In the San Francisco Bay Area, Fall is the ideal time to work on Japanese Black Pines. This article examines three small black pines before and after Eric worked on them, focuse...
When is Less, More?
Eric uses a little pine as a case study to address his internal debate between "bonsai by subtraction" and growing trees into bonsai via seeds and cuttings. There is a school of...
When a Bonsai Tree Dies
It’s an emotional blow to lose a bonsai. Even seasoned growers will experience tree death. It's reality; everyone loses bonsai trees. I've had rough experiences, and the thing t...
Four Ways to Get Closer to Nature Every Day
If you live in an urban environment, maintaining a connection to the natural world may not be as simple as walking out your front door. While city apartments and lofts are a gre...
Is My Water Good for My Bonsai?
Tap water is commonly used for drinking, cooking, and bathing. It's generally provided for and regulated by a governmental agency for the purpose of keeping people - not bonsai ...
Finding Inspiration for Bonsai from the California Coast
“The power of imagination makes us infinite” - John Muir. A few weeks ago we published an article, "Finding Bonsai Inspiration in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountains of Californ...