Bonsai Stuff

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

There is nothing I enjoy more than letting my creative bonsai juices flow! It is never at the expense of the tree in front of me but it’s nice to think outside of the square every now and then. What is the story behind your bonsai? Does it have one? Is it important? What if there is no story? Every great story has a start and you can be part of history.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Branch cutters are an essential tool when it comes to bonsai but they are commonly abused and misused. I love them and have them in a range of different sizes and shapes. I want to run through how I use them to get the best results. And the old saying of ‘Practice makes Perfect’ isn’t necessarily correct. It should be ‘Perfect Practise makes Perfect’. The apex on your bonsai can make or break your design and I have a few ‘guidelines’ that may help. As I always say, these are not rules and your design is personal but hopefully it may help provide some clarity if your design is not quite what you want just yet.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Bonsai wire and bonsai go together like Vegemite and hot buttered toast! We use wire for design and horticultural requirements for our bonsai and quite honestly I believe we would be lost without it. In this podcast I chat about all things wire, wire removal, reusing, copper versus aluminium, bending, time frames, storage and the dreaded 1mm wire roll. Our bonsai community is beautiful in every way, just like our trees. I’ve got a story on how mosh pits and bonsai are very similar, or they should be any way.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Autumn is a brilliant time for your trees. They may be starting to show some colour or they may not but they are already working very hard to become a better version of themselves and they need your care and assistance. Understanding the process they go through will help you become a better practitioner. Feeding, pest management, and most importantly pruning are important tasks you need to undertake. When working a new tree or reworking one that you might be a little stuck on can be daunting. I’ve got a strategy for branch selection to get things rolling for you as well as a few back up plans.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Autumn or Fall is an extremely important time for your bonsai and you have a key responsibility to ensure you do your bit. Fertilising is really important and now is the time to get started. The why, how and my strategy for fertilising is really simply and easily replicated. When I design or work on bonsai, one of the final steps I take is a top down view of the tree. A very common mistake is flattening the structure so your bonsai 'looks good' from the front viewing angle at the expense of the tree's overall future strength. This top down view gives you another perspective and makes you consider what is best for the bonsai.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

As 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 show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Carving 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 show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

So 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 show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

We 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 show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

One 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 show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Web