Bonsai Stuff
A bonsai based podcast from Melbourne, Australia by Scott Martin from Bonsai Matsu. A diverse, informative and thorough podcast for everyone that loves bonsai! If you enjoy the podcast then become a podcast supporter, it's greatly appreciated. https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support
Episodes
I love meeting bonsai people! And recently I've been meeting a lot, at the Bonsai Open on the Central Coast and then in Sydney. I talk about how I judge a bonsai and what are the components of the trees that combine to make them a winner. I review the Bonsai Open and the great work that was done up there as well as chat about a demonstration for the Sydney City Bonsai Club that was really interesting. And I talk about what is ...
How good is bark! It is the one true symbols of age on a tree and it cannot be rushed. I love it and it needs to be protected. I also outline my process for protection techniques for major bending. Serious bends need serious protection to help the tree thrive after the bend is made. And I also cover my approach to deadwood on bonsai and why I am in no rush. Waiting gives a far superior result.
CODIT stands for the Compartmentalisation of Decay in Trees and I find it really interesting how this relates to bonsai. It just shows how smart and special trees really are and know this process helps us with wound management and repair. As bonsai lovers we could learn a little from this process too for ourselves... And now is the time (or close to) for deciduous pruning to occur prior to winter dormancy. I chat about the how and...
We are heading towards a significant time for pines and their design and balancing work. Part of this is needle removal and I'll run through the 2 techniques I use and how they apply to various pine species. As a follow on from the previous podcast where I talked about the visual weight of the foliage on your bonsai, I feel it is important to also discuss knowing when it is time to put your scissors down. Overworking your bon...
So this is the Bonsai Design podcast. The Visual Weight of your bonsai is a very important consideration when it comes to your design. If it's too big or dominant do you need to change it? And a debate rages on about Bonsai Designs and if bonsai is a static art form. I'll give you my opinion and some more reasons why I love bonsai. When designing your bonsai, I have 4 key factors I like to consider which I'll let you...
Well it's that time of the year again to start the fertilising engine! While the smell of fertiliser may upset your nearest and dearest I guarantee your bonsai will love you for it. I discuss my methods and processes as well as if we should be fertilising Japanese Black Pines at the moment after decandling. Sometimes yes and sometimes no. I also focus in on when is the right time for working on your pines, what are signs we s...
Cedars make brilliant bonsai! There is so much to love about them and they should be part of every bonsai enthusiasts collection, no excuses. They have certain requirements and I chat about their characteristics and techniques I use. Then there is the bud conveyor, one of the most important concepts in bonsai and everything we do with our bonsai will be to feed the bud conveyor. I chat about this concept and how we can use it to ma...
The love of bonsai is growing worldwide and so too are the online learning platforms. Oscar Jonker is the founder of Bonsai Empire which has become a household name for anyone with an interest in bonsai. But you don't often hear much about Oscar. I was fortunate enough to get to have a personal chat with him about bonsai all around the world, about Bonsai Empire and the piece of the bonsai puzzle that is online learning as wel...
When something goes wrong with your bonsai, you take action. But how do you know if what you have done has worked or if it's getting worse? I've got a process that will help. Also we have a connection with our trees, some more than others and Autumn is on the way, might not always feel like it with the final kick of Summer still in the air but it is. What can you expect, what should you do and what shouldn't you do? ...
I seriously love bonsai in New Zealand! And what an amazing place too, just so beautiful. Having just returned from a short trip I look back on my experiences, the native stock I came across and the people I met. One of my key objectives is to get and keep people involved with bonsai and to do this it needs to be simple, clear and inclusive. And you will not believe the story about my watering system failure....
How did your bonsai fair over Summer? Now is the time to review. I chat about what to look for and how to strengthen your system to make continual improvements as well as let you know where my system failed. And when working on bonsai, we all have the experience of indecision regarding a tricky section on the tree. I let you know how I manage this and move forward. Also, you know that feeling you get when the plan comes together? T...
Our Australian Natives make brilliant bonsai, I've said it before and I will say it again. They need to be a part of your collection without a doubt. I talk about the pruning process I use on them and what to look for to avoid swelling at branch junctions. Figs or ficus are also being worked at the moment. And as I head off to New Zealand for demonstrations and workshops I detail the process I go through in preparing to work o...
This is the tree lovers podcast and I like this time of the year to prune my junipers. In this podcast I discuss a technique I use for pad development. It is also a good time to check the wiring on your trees and make sure it isn't causing too much damage, remove it if needed. And if you are going to wire your bonsai please be careful. Mid Summer is a time where you will identify those trees that are struggling and this is nor...
This episode of the podcast is about my love for Australian Bonsai and Australia and why I honestly believe we have the capability to be the best in the world. And we are well on our way. We have the most incredible native species we can use that are unique and that develop so quickly. Link that with an annual bonsai show called the Bonsai Open that has some serious prize money on offer and it's in our backyard.
Welcome to 2024! This is going to be an amazing year for bonsai and it's great to start the year with a review. In the podcast I chat about a collection review as well as a bit of self reflection. Personal skill and technical improvements will make a massive difference to your bonsai. And look at your collection, the good, the bad and the ugly. I discuss why the ugly are so important. There is also a new Bonsai app on the mark...
Well that's 2023 done! What a great year and so much has been covered in the podcast and I go over a few of the important ones as well as throw in another surfing-bonsai connection. Thank you for all of your support and encouragement throughout the year and bring on 2024!!
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Well Merry Christmas!!! To help you celebrate Christmas this year I have put together a Decision Making Checklist for working on your bonsai. There are 6 questions I ask myself every time I work on my trees and in this podcast I run through and explain them all.
Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support
Where to find B...
So you've decandled your Japanese Black Pine, what do I do now? Or more importantly what don't you do. We remove the fertiliser at the time of decandling but when and when does it get reapplied. And while I'm talking about fertilising, some Australian natives have specific requirements and not getting it right can be quite disastrous. A really common species and often seen as one for the beginners is the Ficus. And I...
There is a sad but all too common tale that crops up time and time again. Watering System Failure...I chat about a recent occurrence as well as a success story and a few pieces of advice to help avoid some tears. Decandling season is upon us (well for me anyway) and I have a few technique reminders that should help anyone that is planning on decandling. Remember the 1% does matter. And is it ok to hold off making a change to your b...
Let me tell you why I love Australian Natives as bonsai in conjunction with non native species! They are perfect in so many ways and need to be celebrated. And in Australia we are creating history with our bonsai. We are the foundation for something pretty special and should be very proud too. We all have our own bonsai journey or path we follow and there needs to be a turning point that I call Bonsai Maturity. It's when your ...
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