Bonsai Basics: A Pyramid Paperback

The title is accurate. Everything you need to know is explained in clear, concise and simple language. Yet there were growing tips that I have not seen in any other book on bonsai. Excellent.

Having tried and miserably failed to grow any bonsai many years ago, I had thought that would be it - a bonsai free household. Taking courage on both hands, I decided to try again, but this time with a tree that would not need specialist management that as a complete amateur I would clearly not have, as well as with a tree that was already growing well and established. Next notion was to find a guide book for someone like me, a novice to the craft but someone who likes to think they're not utterly moronic and can understand if given the necessary information. A book that would give me sufficient information to keep me interested - I like and perhaps need to know the 'why' of something, the underlying reason and explanation, in order to then maybe fulfil the instruction more fully... This little gem of a book was discovered at a super bargain price, and is clear enough using pictures to show techniques as well as narrative and technical info to keep both the utter newbie and the slightly more advanced beginner engaged. This is a Book of Basics, a starting point from which a person may proceed further if they wish in due course, but it is a Basic book. It shows and tells how to look after an already growing tree, what equipment you will require, and also gives a section on the different trees that can be bought along with how tricky they may be to keep well and healthy. It does not include anything about how to grow from scratch - I might imagine the time required to nurture a tree from a seed could well turn off a beginner and perhaps might involved technical that are rather more in the realm of advanced practitioners... A good starter book with enough detail to keep a novice referring back time and again. Thank you.

A great little book for beginners, just a bit overwhelming coming into this new area of knowledge. The steps are made to look simple and hopefully that turns out to be the case in the long run.

Bought as a present, very informative, lots of useful information.

Has all that's required , lovely book

This book is built on the assumption that you begin bonsai with a shop-bought specimen, and the instructional aspect of the book is completely focused on routine care and maintenance of such a tree. Similarly the tree-directory, which forms the bulk of the book, focuses almost solely on the species that are commonly used to make bonsai for sale. Within these limits, the book covers the basic procedures thoroughly, with excellent illustrations and very clear text, and with detailed instructions for each species covered. There is an above-average level of explanation, with a very good chapter on how a tree works, and relating maintenance procedures to explanations of how growth occurs and how the tree responds to pruning, etc. But for someone who is interested in creating their own bonsai, either from their own seedling or from a container plant from a garden centre, or from a wild-growing tree, there is no help at all. Similarly, for anyone who has or wishes to create a bonsai from a European species, there is no direct help, only the possibility of adapting, for example, what is said about chinese junipers to european junipers. The lack of anything on how to create bonsai from collected trees is particularly striking given that some of the book's most impressive illustrations are of just such bonsai.

Being new to having a Bonsai tree, I found that this book is very helpful and informative.

This is the perfect book for those who are interested in bonsai tree growing. It covers all the basic knowledge required to care for a bonsai plant, followed by a thorough guide to some of the most common bonsai's available on the market. The Bonsai I was interested in however (American Red Maple Tree) was not covered. But with the extensive index It's well worth it.

nice book

A good primer / introduction to Bonsai. I read this after reading Bonsai 101 Essential Tips. It expands upon all the key parts of getting into bonsai with some nice pictures. After reading this, you should be able to start doing some of the things discussed in the book.

Excellent book for beginner or intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. Detailed information without being overwhelming. Definitely a must for your library if you're interested in learning about or growing bonsai trees.

As a beginner to Bonsai, this is the perfect book to have in your library Also provides a list of suppliers you can order from online.

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