Grow Your Own Bonsai

by Colin Lewis, Neil Sutherland

Part art, part horticulture, a properly shaped, trained, and potted bonsai becomes more beautiful with age. Covering every key technique and style, plus cultivation, maintenance, and display, these right-from-the-beginning basics go from root to leaf to bud€”the entire lifecycle of a tree. In large, close-up photos, see how they grow, and how to buy and propagate them from seed or cutting. Trim, shape with wire, repot, root prune, and do summer pinching. Most spectacular are the displays, shown in detailed pictures, with information on preparing them, including choosing a pot. Successfully nurture a micro-forest on a slab; a simple, but wonderfully effective raft planting; a dramatic tree with its roots wrapped around a rock; and other breathtaking bonsai.

141 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 2005

About the author

Colin Lewis has been growing bonsai for almost 30 years and has gained an international reputation as an artist and author.
He teaches regularly throughout the UK, Europe and the United States and in 2001 was awarded second prize in the Japan Airlines World Bonsai Contest for his work with Scots pine.

Reviews

[Tandava Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a different edition of this as a kid—different title and cover but basically the same content—and I loved it, even though I never had any actual bonsai myself. Now that I actually have a couple little trees starting, it was fun to revisit it. Nice layout, beautiful pictures, good overview of information—all around a good starter book for beginners.