Bonsai Stuff

By Bonsai Matsu - Scott Martin

What's Bonsai Stuff about?

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

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Bonsai Stuff episodes:

06.23.2024
Season 6 Episode 24 - Making Split Decisions, Confusing Times, Look at What's in Front of You
When you're pruning it is very common that you will need to make a split decision based on the branching structure you are working through. The angle of the bud is very important as is the strength of the growth...
06.16.2024
Season 6 Episode 23 - Trick to Removing Buried Wire, Buying Time, Is it Unique?
When wire is left on too long (and it will be), what is the best way to remove it? I discuss a few tricks and techniques I use which help minimise the damage to your bonsai. Important decisions shouldn't be...
06.09.2024
Season 6 Episode 22 - Beauty is a Perspective, Was the Cut Correct and Speeding Up
Beauty is such an individual thing and it's fantastic that we all see beauty differently. Imagine how boring it would be if we all thought the same way?? But care and respect needs to be shown as well as some...
06.02.2024
Season 6 Episode 21 - Bonsai Height Reduction, Plan Variation and Soil Mix Expectations
The impact of the trunk on a bonsai cannot be underestimated and there are things we can do to make them appear more powerful or dynamic. In this podcast I'm talking about height reduction. There are two techniques I use...
05.26.2024
Season 6 Episode 20 - Creating a Second Problem, A Bending Technique, Azalea Flower Removal
When you are working with a living form, that changes and grows, sometimes fixing one problem can create a second problem. Having the foresight to pick this up before taking irreversible action can be difficult. Ever heard the saying check...
05.19.2024
Season 6 Episode 19 - My Checklist for Working Pines and End of Autumn Watering
While this podcast grew from my current work on a large number of pines, it applies to all work you do on your bonsai regardless of the species. I have made a checklist of things to look out for, how...
05.12.2024
Season 6 Episode 18 - Setting up Stock for the Future, The Mundane and Building on Mishaps
There is one major consideration you must take when working on young stock for the future. I chat about my approach and offer a few tips to make it a little easier in the long run. Also bonsai isn't always...
05.05.2024
Season 6 Episode 17 - Annual Olive Bonsai Dig, Now Better Than Never, Things to Watch for Now
So an idea has grown into reality with the first Annual Olive Bonsai dig hosted by the South Australian Bonsai Society and all the details are in this podcast. What it is, how you can get involved and when. Get...
04.28.2024
Season 6 Episode 16 - What would I tell a some at the start of their Bonsai Journey?
This podcast follows from a recent question at a demonstration/presentation I made and it really was refreshing to go through the process for myself and I think you'll enjoy it too. It provided reminders for me for how I care...
04.21.2024
Season 6 Episode 15 - Judging Bonsai, Bonsai Demonstrations and Foundation of Good Bonsai
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...
04.14.2024
Season 6 Episode 14 - The Beauty of Bark, Major Bending Protection, Deadwood Approach
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....
04.07.2024
Season 6 Episode 13 - Compartmentalisation of Decay, Deciduous Pruning and Wound Management
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...
03.31.2024
Season 6 Episode 12 - Needle Removal Techniques, When to Stop and Your Skill Set
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...
03.24.2024
Season 6 Episode 11 - The Bonsai Design Podcast - Visual Weight, Is Bonsai Static Art?
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...
03.17.2024
Season 6 Episode 10 - Fertilising Process and Overview, Pine Work - waiting or starting
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...
03.10.2024
Season 6 Episode 9 - Cedars, The Bud Conveyor and Mental Preparation
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...
03.03.2024
Season 6 Episode 8 - A Chat with Bonsai Empire about all things bonsai around the world
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...
02.25.2024
Season 6 Episode 7 - A Plan for Managing Problems, Bluetooth Connectivity and Autumn
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...
02.18.2024
Season 6 Episode 6 - New Zealand Bonsai and Natural Beauty, Keeping it Simple and OMG Watering System
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....
02.11.2024
Season 6 Episode 5 - Working on a Tricky Section plan, How was Summer and Ah-hah!
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....
02.04.2024
Season 6 Episode 4 - Australian Native Pruning, Preparing for a Demonstration in NZ
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...
01.28.2024
Season 6 Episode 3 - Junipers and Mid Summer, Pad Making Process, Wiring and Repotting Preparation
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...
01.21.2024
Season 6 Episode 2 - Bonsai in Australia, How it's Getting Stronger and The Bonsai Open
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...
01.14.2024
Season 6 Episode 1 - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! Review Time and Bonsai Care App
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....
12.30.2023
Season 5 - Episode 47 - The Yearly Wrap and Recap
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...
12.24.2023
Season 5 Episode 46 - Your Bonsai Decision Making Checklist
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...
12.17.2023
Season 5 Episode 45 - Post JBP Decandling, Australian Native Fertilising, Why I love Ficus
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...
12.10.2023
Season 5 Episode 44 - A Sad but Common Bonsai Tale, Decandling Technique and Holding Off is Ok
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...
12.03.2023
Season 5 Episode 43 - Australian Natives as Bonsai, Creating History and Bonsai Maturity
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...
11.26.2023
Season 5 Episode 42 - Will you Decandle your JBP, Deadwood Creation and Air Layer redo
With Japanese Black Pine decandling season just around the corner, now is the time to decide IF you are decandling or not. And if you are not, what should you do? Also following on from a recent Intensive weekend, I...
11.19.2023
Season 5 Episode 41 - Watering System Mods, Yellowing Foliage and Summer, Defoliation
Every year I pride myself on fine tuning my watering system and I've done it again this year. Although this mod has nothing to do with the watering. A common issue at this time of the year is the yellowing...
11.12.2023
Season 5 Episode 40 - Bonsai Care Guide, Framing and How Important is Patience
Bonsai Care Guides are like a cheat sheet! But use them with extreme caution, there are always other considerations that you need to make and I run through them in this podcast. I also chat about the design concept of...
11.05.2023
Season 5 Episode 39 - Sourcing Bonsai Stock, How to Manage Growth Clusters and Intensives
We all love to source new stock for our bonsai collections! I chat about a few key elements that need to be first and foremost when you are acquiring new stock that will make your choice a little easier. Also,...
10.29.2023
Season 5 Episode 38 - When is the Right Time, Bonsai Passion and The Network
It's often difficult to know when is the right time to do that work on your bonsai, is it strong enough? Will I kill it by doing this work now? This is a really common worry and I discuss strategies...
10.22.2023
Season 5 Episode 37 - Balance, Intensives and More Balance
When planning for this podcast and working on bonsai, a common thought kept running through my head. Balance. It's how we reach perfection with our trees. This podcast is pretty much dedicated to that thought and process. I also chat...
10.15.2023
Season 5 Episode 36 - Foliage Density Management, Spring Daily Routine and Documenting
Leaf or foliage density management is a vital task in Spring for the health and well-being of your bonsai, it's not defoliation though. I also chat about my (boring) daily routine with my bonsai. While it's nothing exciting it is...
10.08.2023
Season 5 Episode 35 - Are there Hard and Fast Rules for Bonsai? Bonsai Shows and New Soil Mix
Are there hard and fast rules for bonsai? Why not? Whether it's styling, timing, the soil we use or how we water, why cannot we just set some standards and stick to them? Easy, because we all have a completely...
10.01.2023
Season 5 Episode 34 - A Plan for Tackling Issues, Being in the Moment and Bonsai Security
What's wrong with my bonsai? It's the most common question I get asked and in this podcast I discuss my plan I recommend and also that it's probably best not to just to the worst case scenario initially. I also...
09.24.2023
Season 5 Episode 33 - Don't be distracted, Plans for a hot Summer and Preparation Work, Fertilising (again)
Spring is a busy time for bonsai and due to the nature of the beast, you can damage your bonsai very easily so it's best not to be distracted. Here's a few tips and tricks I use to avoid any...
09.17.2023
Season 5 Episode 32 - The Fertiliser Plan, Hidden Life of Trees, Forest Bathing and Some Maintenance
Fertilising and Bonsai needs to be measured and monitored. Understanding what stage your bonsai is at, as well as developing a 'plan' will help guide you when it comes to fertilising. I discuss my approach and reasonings for bonsai in...
09.10.2023
Season 5 Episode 31 - Internodes and Bonsai, Genetics and Planning for the Worst
With all bonsai there are stages of development and I believe that internodes and how (what) we can use them with our bonsai to achieve the highest level is really important. I chat about what internodes are, why they're important...
09.03.2023
Season 5 Episode 30 - Pine Spring Candle Breaking, Decision Paralysis, Perspective and a Nursery Visit
Spring has sprung! And with it comes plenty of work and decision making. I discuss my approach to Spring Candle breaking on pines and where it's used as well as why. I understand it can be very difficult to know...
08.27.2023
Season 5 Episode 29 - Bonsai Repotting Lessons, To Cut or Not to Cut and It's always the Weakest Link!
At the end of a long repotting season it's time to reflect on what I have learnt and to say goodbye to Winter. Which means a big hello to Spring!!! With Spring comes a fresh burst of growth and you...
08.20.2023
Season 5 Episode 28 - Consistency, Reliability, Predicability, After Repotting Care and Angle Change
Three golden rules I live and die by with my bonsai. Consistency, Reliability and Predicability. Also I dig into how I look after my trees once they have been repotted and why. One of the task when repotting is to...
08.13.2023
Season 5 Episode 27 - Does Bonsai Need to Change or Evolve? Early Spring Checklist
To me Bonsai is a form of art and as such it's very personal, but does it need to change? I discuss the traditional and modern approaches as well as limiting factors that need to be considered. And I ask...
08.06.2023
Season 5 Episode 26 - Forest Bonsai Setup and Design Concepts and Late Winter Plans
Forest Bonsai are amazing! And one of the most difficult to design. In this podcast I chat about a range of considerations you should take into account when initially designing a forest bonsai setting. Also how do you take a...
07.30.2023
Season 5 Episode 25 - Repotting Adventures, Dave Grohl and Bonsai and How Serious Are you?
This is the return episode after a short mid year break for repotting and there's tales to be told. Good techniques matters - especially with your repotting, it must stand the test of time. And I've got a story on...
07.02.2023
Season 5 Episode 24 - The First Focus with Repotting, The Mindset of Design Vs Maintenance and Why Wiring is so Important
Start your repotting engine! With that in mind, I chat about my first and most important focus when I start repotting any bonsai. I also discuss the mindset you need as a bonsai enthusiast for design versus maintenance and how...
06.25.2023
Season 5 Episode 23 - Watering System Setup and Maintenance, Finishing Off Pines and Training for Repotting
One of the most common questions I receive is what watering system do I use. In this podcast that's what I chat about as well as my plan for redundancy with the lines I run. I also talk about how...
06.18.2023
Season 5 Episode 22 - My First Year, the need to Thin and Reduce and What Now
Well it's now one year since turning a full time Bonsai Professional and I want to reflect on what has happened and what's planned. It has been a great year!! I also reflect on a Japanese Black Pine I recently...

What's Bonsai Stuff about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Bonsai Stuff episodes:

Season 6 Episode 24 - Making Split Decisions, Confusing Times, Look at What's in Front of You

Season 6 Episode 23 - Trick to Removing Buried Wire, Buying Time, Is it Unique?

Season 6 Episode 22 - Beauty is a Perspective, Was the Cut Correct and Speeding Up

Season 6 Episode 21 - Bonsai Height Reduction, Plan Variation and Soil Mix Expectations

Season 6 Episode 20 - Creating a Second Problem, A Bending Technique, Azalea Flower Removal

Season 6 Episode 19 - My Checklist for Working Pines and End of Autumn Watering

Season 6 Episode 18 - Setting up Stock for the Future, The Mundane and Building on Mishaps

Season 6 Episode 17 - Annual Olive Bonsai Dig, Now Better Than Never, Things to Watch for Now

Season 6 Episode 16 - What would I tell a some at the start of their Bonsai Journey?

Season 6 Episode 15 - Judging Bonsai, Bonsai Demonstrations and Foundation of Good Bonsai

Season 6 Episode 14 - The Beauty of Bark, Major Bending Protection, Deadwood Approach

Season 6 Episode 13 - Compartmentalisation of Decay, Deciduous Pruning and Wound Management

Season 6 Episode 12 - Needle Removal Techniques, When to Stop and Your Skill Set

Season 6 Episode 11 - The Bonsai Design Podcast - Visual Weight, Is Bonsai Static Art?

Season 6 Episode 10 - Fertilising Process and Overview, Pine Work - waiting or starting

Season 6 Episode 9 - Cedars, The Bud Conveyor and Mental Preparation

Season 6 Episode 8 - A Chat with Bonsai Empire about all things bonsai around the world

Season 6 Episode 7 - A Plan for Managing Problems, Bluetooth Connectivity and Autumn

Season 6 Episode 6 - New Zealand Bonsai and Natural Beauty, Keeping it Simple and OMG Watering System

Season 6 Episode 5 - Working on a Tricky Section plan, How was Summer and Ah-hah!

Season 6 Episode 4 - Australian Native Pruning, Preparing for a Demonstration in NZ

Season 6 Episode 3 - Junipers and Mid Summer, Pad Making Process, Wiring and Repotting Preparation

Season 6 Episode 2 - Bonsai in Australia, How it's Getting Stronger and The Bonsai Open

Season 6 Episode 1 - The Good, The Bad and the Ugly! Review Time and Bonsai Care App

Season 5 - Episode 47 - The Yearly Wrap and Recap

Season 5 Episode 46 - Your Bonsai Decision Making Checklist

Season 5 Episode 45 - Post JBP Decandling, Australian Native Fertilising, Why I love Ficus

Season 5 Episode 44 - A Sad but Common Bonsai Tale, Decandling Technique and Holding Off is Ok

Season 5 Episode 43 - Australian Natives as Bonsai, Creating History and Bonsai Maturity

Season 5 Episode 42 - Will you Decandle your JBP, Deadwood Creation and Air Layer redo

Season 5 Episode 41 - Watering System Mods, Yellowing Foliage and Summer, Defoliation

Season 5 Episode 40 - Bonsai Care Guide, Framing and How Important is Patience

Season 5 Episode 39 - Sourcing Bonsai Stock, How to Manage Growth Clusters and Intensives

Season 5 Episode 38 - When is the Right Time, Bonsai Passion and The Network

Season 5 Episode 37 - Balance, Intensives and More Balance

Season 5 Episode 36 - Foliage Density Management, Spring Daily Routine and Documenting

Season 5 Episode 35 - Are there Hard and Fast Rules for Bonsai? Bonsai Shows and New Soil Mix

Season 5 Episode 34 - A Plan for Tackling Issues, Being in the Moment and Bonsai Security

Season 5 Episode 33 - Don't be distracted, Plans for a hot Summer and Preparation Work, Fertilising (again)

Season 5 Episode 32 - The Fertiliser Plan, Hidden Life of Trees, Forest Bathing and Some Maintenance

Season 5 Episode 31 - Internodes and Bonsai, Genetics and Planning for the Worst

Season 5 Episode 30 - Pine Spring Candle Breaking, Decision Paralysis, Perspective and a Nursery Visit

Season 5 Episode 29 - Bonsai Repotting Lessons, To Cut or Not to Cut and It's always the Weakest Link!

Season 5 Episode 28 - Consistency, Reliability, Predicability, After Repotting Care and Angle Change

Season 5 Episode 27 - Does Bonsai Need to Change or Evolve? Early Spring Checklist

Season 5 Episode 26 - Forest Bonsai Setup and Design Concepts and Late Winter Plans

Season 5 Episode 25 - Repotting Adventures, Dave Grohl and Bonsai and How Serious Are you?

Season 5 Episode 24 - The First Focus with Repotting, The Mindset of Design Vs Maintenance and Why Wiring is so Important

Season 5 Episode 23 - Watering System Setup and Maintenance, Finishing Off Pines and Training for Repotting

Season 5 Episode 22 - My First Year, the need to Thin and Reduce and What Now