Adapted from "In My Garden" issue 2, April 8, 2002
special edition re-issued July 19, 2004
picture: my balcony Easter 2002
This little tree, called Braveness, which is a full 18" tall, marks the seasons on my balcony with bright red leaves in the spring, green in the summer, and orange in the fall. In winter, it's covered with tiny red buds. As you can see, it has declared Spring.
picture: Braveness in fall
An outdoor bonsai is good company. And they aren't that hard to maintain.
Here’s what I recommend to get started with Bonsai. (Why Amazon links? I’ve been an avid Amazon fan since they were a start-up, and I have become an Amazon Associate, so I use their links. A small part of the profits of any sales made through my site helps support the site and my work. You don’t have to buy here – do you own web search or go to a local store – but you can get a good idea what you want by looking at Amazon’s pictures, pricing and other information. )
BOOKS
Number one choice: Herb Gustafson has written several great bonsai books; try this one first: Keep Your Bonsai Perfectly Shaped
Inexpensive paperbacks that I like:
Bonsai (101 Essential Tips)
Indoor Bonsai (Plants & Gardens : Brooklyn Botanic Garden …Autumn 1990)
Bonsai In Your Home: An Indoor Grower's Guide
A must have, if only for the pictures: The Miniature Palms of Japan: Cultivating Kannonchiku and Shurochiku
For all trees, big and small, Lee Reich’s The Pruning Book is what you need to know.
A new book that looks interesting: Totally Bonsai: A Guide to Growing, Shaping, and Caring for Miniature Trees and Shrubs
TOOLS
I’m all for “keep it simple” with tools, but a root rake is an absolute must. I use mine for all potting and in the garden too. Brussel's 10" Root Rake with Spatula Bonsai Tool
If you’re working with trees, you need concave cutters for pruning: Brussel's 8" Concave Branch Cutter Bonsai Tool
If you’re going to be doing any wiring to shape the plant, you need special wire cutters to get the wire off again: Brussel's 7" Wire Cutter Bonsai Tool
A good pair of scissors are nice to have, try one of these:
Brussel's 7" Bonsai Scissors Bonsai Tool
Brussel's 8" Butterfly Scissors with Black Finish Bonsai Tool
A turn table is very helpful to see all sides of the plant when pruning; you don’t need in expensive one. Lazy Susan 18"
Inexpensive stainless steel bowls are great for transplanting, mixing soil and the like: ULTRONICS Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
And, of course, you need pots, which are to potted plants what shoes are to the fashion conscious. You can’t have too many on hand to choose from and the right one makes all the difference. You can start looking for pots here: Bonsai Pots
Here’s a nice general purpose pot that’s reasonably priced: REB 08 Korean Mica Bonsai Plant Pot
Lastly, it’s fun to start your plants from seed. You’ll also save a fortune and the plants won’t suffer from a change in environment as greenhouse-grown ones do when you bring them home.
Ginko aren’t too hard for an outdoor bonsai for a sunny spot. Bonsai Seeds: GINKO BILOBA ( MAIDENHAIR FERN )
picture: Bravenss in Winter 2003
Photo credits: Sue Sweeney
© Sue Sweeney 2002, 2005