Indoor Bonsai for Beginners: Selection · Care · Training

by Werner M. Busch

Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual

With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring and stretching it.

An A-to-Z guide of all the popular species showcases varieties that range from a flowering Camellia Japonica , with its beautiful smooth stem, to an easy-to-care for Olive tree. Each entry gives some background on the plant, and includes suggestions for acquiring the bonsai and directions on how to position it in the room for best results.

Genres: Nonfiction, Reference, Plants, Nature

112 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2005

Reviews

[Björn Bengtsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many books of bonsai basics out there. This is one of them, with two exceptions.

First off, this is focusing on indoor bonsai, which is great! It contains an A-Z index of suitable species with tips specifically for how to care for your indoor plants.

The second exception is both good and bad; some parts of the book digs a little bit deeper into details on things I haven't read in other bonsai books. Other parts of the book just skim quickly by topics that should be covered in more detail.

I would not recommend this book as the only bonsai book for beginners - however, it is a great complement to other books if you are interested in specifically indoor bonsai.

[Jeff Finlay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its short but concise not overly in depth but its not supposed to be as its for beginner's. It complements my other bonsai books as the second half is listing tree species and individual care and they cover trees not mentioned in my other books. Also the information is still quite relevant to today's theories on bonsai so all in all not a bad place for a beginner/ novice to start

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

More detail than other beginners indoor bonsai books, but not intimidating - very accessible.

[-Curious- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgot to add when I got this...new hobby (for sanity)...treating as a reference book, not a start-to-finish book for me...5 stars for value of content

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this brief book, the author discusses different ways to start a bonsai, from seed, starter plants (seedlings), and nursery stock. A few pages outline the important pruning techniques but not in very much detail. There are more pages dedicated to common pests and the type of water and soil to be used. The second half of the book is an “A to Z” guide to the specific needs of different tree species used for bonsai. However, of the 7 different types of trees I have for potential bonsai, including 5 from a bonsai growing kit, none were listed.
Honestly, I learned more from watching a couple of YouTube videos. I still want to get deeper into shaping and pruning, but this is not the book for that, although it does illustrate the various styles of bonsai including broom, raft, and cascading.

[Chloe Coombs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written book, perfect for beginners. Not so much a reading book as it is a reference guide. Not five stars because of a lack of material: it's VERY basic, only covers a few methods of trimming your bonsai, and doesn't have a very exhaustive list of bonsai species.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

In conclusion, bonsai are fucking complicated and I am never going to have one, holy crap.