Bonsai Stuff

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuAs we head towards the end of the southern hemisphere Summer period, it is a great time to pat yourself on the back for helping your bonsai make it through another tough period. Have a look at what has done well and accept the satisfaction as to why. Where trees have not faired quite so well it is time to review why and take steps to correct it for next Summer. Formal upright bonsai are very difficult to develop and I have a range of consideration for the tree before I start down that path.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuCarving and bonsai seem to go hand in hand. I think everyone I have ever spoken to about bonsai over the years has mentioned carving at one time or another. And carving, good carving, takes skill and technique. Texture, the need to appear 'natural' and staying safe are all very important! How you work with an electric carving tool is crucial to your success and I'll let you know how I work with them to help minimise collateral damage to the rest of the bonsai.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuSo what got you into bonsai initially? I bet it's not what keeps you in bonsai now. I find it is important to reflect back on the start of your journey as you can sometimes lose sight of what make you happy. Do the maintenance! And do it first!! Big decisions can wait and the maintenance work will clear the path for your decision making process. Remove the unnecessary, then into the structural decisions. Late Summer is a time to review your collection and see what species are not necessarily doing quite so well but also to focus on those that are. Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuWe are in the last month of Summer and while there are certain trees I will fertilise, there are also trees I will not. I run through my program right now and how it could apply to your bonsai garden. I also have a tale of a poor pomegranate that almost made it to the green waste bin but didn't thank goodness! The lesson of sometimes you just need to wait a little longer was learnt. It's always worth waiting.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuOne of the most iconic Australian species of tree is the grand Banksia and there are 173 different species (according to natureaustralia.org.au). They make the most magnificent bonsai and there are 'rules' to their successful care and I think everyone should have at least one in their collection. The Banksia has so much to offer. We all have trees in our collection that just don't develop the way we have expected or that you just cannot see the future bonsai in. What do you do with those trees? I'll discuss a few strategies.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuWhen you are working on any of your bonsai, at any stage of their journey, you need to have focus. There are some key areas of my work I give particular attention to and they make all the difference. Remember it's the 1% that can have a massive impact. You need to respect the bonsai that is in front of you here and now. Be thorough, be focused, be accurate and be respectful. Simple.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuWelcome to Season 7 of the Bonsai Stuff podcast! 2025 is going to be a brilliant year for bonsai and to kick things off I'll let you know my 3  step simple plan for the year and my bonsai commitment. Post holidays it is time to dust off the cobwebs and get back to bonsai. This is my time to work on my junipers too and I have a check list I work through to make sure I am thorough and don't have a need to rework the trees. I'll share this list with you as it may help or confirm what you are doing with your junipers. Create Harmony This is a podcast about setting an intentional rhythm, savoring life’s blessings and...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuWell 2024 is done and there has been so many highlights for me personally as well as with my bonsai. I chat about a few of my podcast favourites and how small incremental improvements with my bonsai make me happy. During the year I travelled for bonsai, I travelled a lot! From one corner of Australia to the other as well as a trip to New Zealand and I loved it all. So many shiny, happy, bonsai people and so much bonsai love. It's nice to know we're not alone. Bring on 2025...Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuWith the holiday season upon us, now is the time to devote some special attention to our bonsai. I run through my pre-Christmas checklist of jobs that I look to have completed before the Summer break. With decandling now being completed, well for me anyway, I talk about sacrifice branches and how I looked at my Japanese Black Pines a little differently this year. How can I harness the strength of a new Spring candle to improve my bonsai? That was a question I asked myself constantly while decandling. Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuSo you've got a beautiful tree, lovely trunk, great foliage but how and where do you start your design process? I've got a simple procedure I use that helps you get the result without possibly knowing what the design is before starting. Australia bonsai has taken another leap forward and I have a chat with Leigh Taafe the Curator of the National Bonsai and Penging Collection of Australia (NBPCA) about an agreement between the NBPCA and Omiya Bonsai Village. Based on a recent intensive immersion experience, I think it's really important to have access to high quality bonsai to refine and develop your skills.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai MatsuThe Decandling process on Japanese Black Pines can be very rewarding and often seen as the key to successfully developing them into magnificent bonsai. But it can also be disastrous. So you need to know when not to decandle. I recently had a long term student at Bonsai Matsu who undertook an immersive intensive learning program. And I must be honest and say I loved the experience and so did Aaron. We have a chat to him all about it. As we get well and truly into the Summer weather it's time to start increasing your daily watering frequency. Don't get caught by surprise!Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

So you're given some advice about your bonsai. What should you do with it? Will it have a positive or a negative effect on your bonsai? It is possible that well meaning advice may well be the completely wrong thing for you and your bonsai. I also get to have a chat with Oscar Jonker from Bonsai Empire about an entirely new course that is very interesting as it isn't about techniques for bonsai development but rather about how we display and enjoy our bonsai. Filmed in a few locations including at the garden of Shinji Suzuki, which I consider to be the pinnacle of bonsai display. And finally what to do if you break a pot outside repotting time.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

The very first focus when 'building' a bonsai should be the trunk and the nebari. If you do not have the correct plan in place then you will never achieve the bonsai that you desire. Working on ramification will not result in trunk development. Let's have a look at what the difference is. Summer is nearly here and you need to be prepared, for the sake of your trees. We've been given fair warning and the weather has shown us what to expect, so what will you do to ensure your bonsai not only survive but thrive? And we've all made mistakes, especially when using power tools on our trees... Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

One of the most important processes I use with my single flush pines is Candle Cutting, not decandling and in this podcast I explain the process as well as the difference between these two tasks. I also chat about the species I use this technique on and more importantly which I do not. It's a must for any pine lover. We all have that moment in our bonsai journey where we ask ourselves, when does it become about quality and not quantity. We've all been there.Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Here's a little behind the curtain look at podcasting while travelling! After 8 weeks on the road it has meant being 'resourceful' about how and where to record this podcast. Fungal issues in trees are a bit of a nightmare and so much worse for bonsai. They are often best avoided, but you need to know what to look for, where they come from, a treatment plan and then most importantly how to try and prevent them in the first place. I'll run you through my approach and recommendations.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

Western Australia is a beautiful part of the world and in particular the south west corner as a pretty special place for bonsai. They have incredible local native species which are perfect for bonsai. I have been fortunate to be involved with the clubs in Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury and Albany for over 4 weeks and have loved absolutely every second of it. So what did I learn? They grow their trees so well that there was plenty to take on and there is so much bonsai love in the west, as well as some pretty cute little quokkas.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

We it's official! Summer is just around the corner and being prepared is the best approach to caring for your bonsai during a period of extended extreme heat. Planning now for that time is the only way. I also have a final word on bonsai design and to clarify it's up to you and absolutely no one else. The only real consideration I am concerned with is tree health as well as your bonsai love. And a nice story where tragedy turned into triumph for a beautiful bonsai.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

So let's talk about defoliation, it's a great technique but needs to be used with extreme caution. I discuss the various types of defoliation, the reason for the timing as well as most importantly, why. And that term Bud Conveyor gets a work out again. What should you do if you lose your bonsai spark? This is really common and happens to us all. I have a few tips that can help fan your bonsai flame.Support the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

I don't like windswept bonsai. It's nothing personal and I want to chat about why. But more importantly I want to propose an alternative. While we manipulate trees to our will, nature is more often than not a great influencer of design and what 'looks right'. So stick with me and hear me out. Also, mid Spring has a few gentle reminders of what must be done and not left any longer. Act now for the future.Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott AllenPhronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders offers a smart, fast-paced discussion on all...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web

As we head towards the middle of the Spring period, it's time to think about what's next. Planning for what you need to do in 3-4 weeks now allows you to take steps to ensure your bonsai continues to take steps forward. There's nothing worse than getting to a time when you need to take action but have missed the boat because of what you didn't do in the past. Ants are a nuisance, plan and simple but they are also an indicator that there are certain issues with your bonsai. We can use them to fix a problem before it becomes a problem.Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott AllenPhronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders offers a smart, fast-paced discussion on all...Listen on: Apple Podcasts   SpotifySupport the showBecome a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/supportWhere to find Bonsai Matsu:InstagramFacebookYouTube Web