Bonsai Tools

The range of bonsai tools is extensive, but you can start with just a few of them. Here I am listing the most basic bonsai tools with short description and links to sites where you can buy them. Always remember to buy good-quality tools, as they will last a lifetime.

Bonsai Pruning Tools

Traditional Bonsai Shears - Only $19.95!

These bonsai scissors are great for beginners. They have short thick blades and big bowed handles. You can use them to cut small bonsai branches and leaves. If you are just starting to bonsai and want to buy just one pair of scissors, traditional bonsai shears is a good choice. Made in China.

Professional Bonsai Shears - Only $69.95!

These professional quality bonsai shears, with its hand-forged, high carbon steel construction and laminated blades will give years of easy use and superior performance. A life-time tool designed for pruning branches, cutting capillary roots and for general bonsai trimming. 7-1/4" overall. Made in Japan.

Utility Shears - Only $14.95!

Small shears for pruning small branches and or foliage. Blades are very sharp and maintain their sharpness for many years, soft stainless steel blades; soft plastic handles. Made in China.

Satsuki Shears - Only $14.95!

Long narrow body which is great for trimming buds and reaching deep with minimum disturbance to the surrounding foliage. It's finger rings are also well suited for smaller hands. 3/4" blades, 7" overall. If you have only one pair of general-purpose scissors, I would recommend getting these for more detailed work. Made in China.

Concave Branch Cutter - Only $23.95!

This razor sharp tool is designed for cutting branches flush to the trunk. The resulting wound can then heal over quickly with very little scarring. Will keep a sharp edge indefinitely when properly used and cared for. The Concave Cutter is the single most important tool for bonsai use and for which there is no substitute. The 8" version is considered the basic size. 8" overall. Made in China.

Professional Concave Cutter - Only $69.95!

The high carbon steel of this concave cutter will keep a sharp edge indefinitely when properly used and cared for. This tool is designed for cutting branches flush to the trunk so that the resulting wound can heal quickly with little scarring. The concave cutter is the single most important tool for bonsai use and for which there is no substitute. 8" overall length (basic size). Made in Japan.

Bonsai Wiring Tools

Professional Bonsai Wire Cutters - Only $59.95

These wire cutters are designed specifically for removing bonsai wire. Although enthusiasts new to bonsai sometimes substitute standard wire cutters, these are designed with a rounded head to prevent damage to the trunk and branches when removing wires. The jaws of the cutters cut the wire symmetrically and cleanly. Highly recommended for bonsai enthusiast. 8.0" overall.

Bonsai Wire Cutters - Only 19.95!

These wire cutters are designed specifically for removing bonsai wire. Although enthusiasts new to bonsai sometimes substitute standard wire cutters, these are designed with a rounded head to prevent damage to the trunk and branches when removing wires. The jaws of the cutters cut the wire symmetrically and cleanly. Highly recommended for bonsai enthusiast. 7-3/4" overall. Made in China.

Bonsai Potting Tools

Professional Single Point Root Rake - Only $16.95

This tool is a must have. Used to separate small and medium sized capillary roots during transplanting and repotting. Has a single steel prong. Simple, yet a necessary tool for bonsai enthusiasts. Made in Japan. 8" overall.

Hemp Brush - Only $14.95

Used to smooth the top of the soil and is helpful with cleaning up a Penjing. Firm but not too stiff. I use it during bonsai repotting to smooth the soil. Than I water and add moss or another ground cover.

Stainless Steel 3 Piece Scoop Set With Screen - $29.95

Stainless steel 3 piece scoop set with screen. Handy for mixing bonsai soil and for scooping bonsai soil into bonsai pots. These scoops have fine built-in screens (17 meshes per inch) which sift out dust as you scoop.

Susan Brian

Bonsai Repotting Mistakes

A lot of bonsai beginners think that Bonsai Repotting is very difficutl process. A few days ago, I posted step-by-step instructions that make Bonsai Repotting the easiest thing you've ever done. Today, I will tell you what bonsai repotting mistakes you should avoid:

1. Using the same pot

Young bonsai grow faster than well established ones, so make sure to use a larger pot when repotting your bonsai tree. New pot should be clean and dry.

2. Cutting too much

When root trimming make sure to leave the root mass near the trunk undamaged. By keeping the inner root mass closest to the trunk unharmed, you bonsai will remain strong and healthy.

3. Cutting all the little roots

Removing all little roots and keeping only think roots will not benefit your bonsai tree. You need to remove only old and dead roots. Don't cut more than one-third of the root mass because it can place significant stress on your bonsai tree.

4. Making right cuts

When cutting think roots make sure to keep cuts facing down and not upward.

5. Feeding bonsai after repotting

Dont' feed your bonsai tree right after repotting. Fertilizing soil during repotting can burn and damage young and developing roots. It need some time to deal with stress after repotting. You can start feeding when you see some new growth.

6. Using unclean tools

Make sure to clean and dry all of your scissors before root pruning to avoid spreading the diseases.


7. Using wrong soil

It is very important to use right soil mix for you bonsai tree. Check plant profile before getting soil mix for you bonsai. Wrong soil mix can harm your bonsai tree and prevent it from growing.

Susan Brian

Juniper Bonsai Tree

Juniper bonsai has multiple varieties like Juniperus chinensis and Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' that can be used to make a great bonsai. Native to Japan, Juniperus chinesis, also called shimpaku, is the easiest of all the species to work with.

Because Juniper bonsai tree is hardy plant tolerant to severe pruning and wide varieties of soils, it is one of the most popular bonsai plants among bonsai growers. It is an evergreen with shredding reddish brown trunk and bluish green leaves that look like miniature branches.

Juniper bonsai tree is very tough plant with flexible branches that response very well to training and wiring. You can create any style with it except for broom. "Driftwood" is the most popular style used for Juniper tree.

Juniper Bonsai Watering

Water daily during growing season from spring to fall. Keep the soil moist during winter. Although Juniper bonsai is drought tolerant it does better in moist well drained soil during winter.

Juniper Bonsai Pruning

Branches should be pruned during spring and summer. Removing new shoots regularly will prevent the inner foliage from dying off. Sometimes one of the branches would die without any apparent reasons.

This is a natural process that happens once in a while, so there is nothing to worry about. To keep the branches clean, you need to cut all the shoots that are growing down from the undersides of the branches.

Juniper Bonsai Hardiness

Juniper bonsai tree likes cold temperatures but need to be protected in the winter from sever freezing. It does well in the temperatures from 20F - 90F. The ideal location is USDA Zone 4.

Juniper Bonsai Fertilizing

Juniper bonsai tree needs to be fertilized every two weeks during growing season with general bonsai fertilizer. No need for fertilizing during winter.

Juniper Bonsai Pets and Diseases

Juniper bonsai tree might experience problems with scale and spider mites. Fungal infections can develop on congested foliage. It can be controlled by pruning out affected branches and applying anti fungal treatment.

Juniper Bonsai Repotting

Juniper bonsai tree should be repotted every two years during spring when younger. Older specimens don't need to be repotted that often. For Juniper bonsai older than 10 years, repot every four or five years.

Buying Juniper Bonsai

There are a lot of different places you can get a Juniper bonsai from. My friends and I buy all of our bonsai trees online from "Bonsai Boy" Nursery located in New York. I tried buying bonsai trees from other sites, but they had much higher prices and the trees were not always properly trained. "Bonsai Boy" has the lowest prices and highest quality bonsai trees you can find. This family operated company has been in business since 1993. It has been really great experience for me.

Buy Juniper Bonsai - Only $19.95!

If you know other good places, please let me know so I can post them on my site. Have a great day.

Susan Brian

Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree

Chinese Elm is the best elm for creating a bonsai tree. Chinese Elm bonsai tree is native to China, Korea and Japan. The botanical name for Chinese Elm is Ulmus Parvifolia. Chinese Elm bonsai from China and Korea sometimes mistakenly named Zelkova sinica.

Chinese Elm bonsai tree has small glossy green leaves and corky bark. It responses very well to pruning by producing mass of new shoots. This is really a great tree for bonsai because you can use any style you like including slanting, straight-trunk, group planting, and broom styles.

Chinese Elm Bonsai Watering

Needs to be watered regularly during growth season, from beginning of the spring till the end of summer. Keep the soil moist with good drainage. Chinese Elm bonsai tree needs less watering during winter. Don't let the soil dry out completely.

Chinese Elm Bonsai Pruning

Chinese Elm bonsai tree pruning is very easy. Branches need to be pruned in spring before the growing season starts. At the end of spring cut back new shoots to one or two leaves as soon as they grow out of line. Two new shoots will grow at each leaf node.

Chinese Elm Bonsai Hardiness

Chinese Elm bonsai tree that comes from Japan is very hardy. It can tolerate freezing temperature for a short period of time when mature enough. It is best to protect Chinese Elm bonsai tree from sever cold during winter because it contains a lot of water in the roots that might get damaged when the water expands as it freezes.

It does the best in the temperatures from 30F - 90F. The ideal location is USDA Zone 4 or 5. Chinese Elm bonsai from China and Korea are hardy, but not acclimatized for freezing temperatures.

Chinese Elm Bonsai Fertilizing

If your Chinese Elm bonsai tree is growing outdoors, start feeding it with a general bonsai fertilizer every other week from when the tree leafs out till the end of the summer. If your Chinese Elm is growing indoors, fertilize it every week during growing season and every month during winter.

Chinese Elm Bonsai Pets and Diseases

Chinese Elm bonsai is a problem-free bonsai. Under stress can experience problems with aphids, scale insects, or spider mites if grown indoors. Powdery mildew might develop if the air circulation is poor and roots are dry.

Chinese Elm Bonsai Repotting

Chinese Elm bonsai tree needs to be repotted every year when younger and once every two years when the tree is older. The reason for frequent repotting is because Chinese Elm bonsai likes a lot of water which causes soil to break down over time. Fresh soil holds water better and also provides roots with more oxygen. Have a great day.

Buying Chinese Elm Bonsai

There are a lot of different places you can get a Chinese Elm bonsai from. My friends and I buy all of our bonsai trees online from "Bonsai Boy" Nursery located in New York. I tried buying bonsai trees from other sites, but they had much higher prices and the trees were not always properly trained. "Bonsai Boy" has the lowest prices and highest quality bonsai trees you can find. This family operated company has been in business since 1993. It has been really great experience for me. To buy Chinese Elm click on the links below:

Buy Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree-Extra Large - Only $129.95
Buy Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree Large - Only $59.95
Buy Chinese Elm Bonsai Tree-Medium - Only $49.95

If you know other good places, please let me know so I can post them on my site. Have a great day.

Susan Brian