Bonsai Tree 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.
I did some research and found products that have reasonable prices and high quality.
Always remember to buy good-quality tools, as they will last a lifetime.
Bonsai Pruning Tools
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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
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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. |
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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
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Professional Single Point Root Rake – Only $16.95This 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. |
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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. |
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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 is not as difficult as many bonsai beginners think. A while ago, I posted 
The Trident Maple Bonsai, botanical name Acer buergerianum, is native to eastern China and Japan. The Trident Maple got its name because it has leaves with three-pointed lobes.
Trim new shoots during growing season keeping one pair of leaves on old trees and two pairs of leaves on young trees. You need to keep only one pair of leaves per shoot when they grow at each leaf node. Leaf cutting ensures that leaves are small. During summer cut back weak branches by 1/3. That will strengthen the branches and encourage new growth.
Established Trident Maple bonsai tree needs to be repotted once every two years. Younger tree needs to be repotted yearly during spring before buds open. The best soil for Trident Maple is Japanese Akadama clay.
Botanical name for Japanese Maple bonsai is Acer palmatum. Native to Japan, Japanese Maple is one of the most popular deciduous bonsai trees. It has flexible branches that response very well to training and wiring.
Japanese Maple bonsai tree can tolerate freezing temperature for a short period of time when mature enough. I would recommend protecting it from sever freezing to avoid frost damage. Japanese Maple bonsai tree does the best in the temperatures from 30F – 90F. The ideal landscape is USDA Zone 5 or 6 depending on the variety.
Fertilize every other week from spring to the end of summer. Use nitrogen-free fertilizer during fall. There is no need to fertilize during winter.
There are a lot of different places you can get a Japanese Maple 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 and I feel lucky finding them. To buy Japanese Maple click on the links below:
The 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.
The 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.
Juniper Bonsai Watering
The Juniper Bonsai tree needs to be fertilized every two weeks during growing season with general bonsai fertilizer. No need for fertilizing during winter.
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.
