If you’re wishing that you had a good bonsai book to review while staying home, then give me a call and request a book, pamphlet, periodical or DVD. We’ll make arrangements for it to be sanitized and delivered (or picked up). – Mike Blumenberg
General books on bonsai techniques
Bonsai Techniques I by John Naka
(widely viewed as the best bonsai guidebook available)
In this book there are many detailed diagrams and tons of information that any serious bonsai artist should have. Naka de-mystifies the art of bonsai and gives clear cut diagrams that are easy to understand and (even more important) easy to apply to your own trees. The text is very clear and easy to understand, and the complexities of bonsai are slowly revealed through the quantity of the content provided instead of the complexity. The author, John Naka, was considered one of the top 5 bonsai artists of the late 20th and early 21st centuries (John died recently in 2004). The display pavillion of the National Bonsai Collection in the National Arboretum in Washington D.C. is named after him, and he is considered the “founding father” of American Bonsai. For many Americans, John humanized the art of Bonsai, and opened a window to what is for many people a new art form and a new culture.
John Naka’s Sketchbook by John Naka
For fifty years, John Naka travelled the world teaching the art of bonsai. Each sketch in this unique book was drawn for just one person as a guide for future development. Now you can appreciate their artistic and educational value. The nearly 100 drawings showcase Master Naka’s artistic talent and matchless sense of design and proportion. They also provide simple examples of a technique you can use to improve your own trees.
The Masters Book of Bonsai by the Directors of the Japan Bonsai Association
Created by a number of highly experienced Bonsai artists, this book has a wealth of information and photographs of some of the finest examples in this discipline.
This is less of a coffee table browse book and more of a manual for the beginning and intermediate bonsai enthusiast.
Practical Bonsai by Paul Lesniewicz and Hideo Kato
This is a very accessible guide to bonsai, written by two acknowledged masters of the ancient art. Moving smoothly from history to practical instructions, Lesniewicz and Kato explain how to select, cultivate, train, and care for bonsai. Twenty-four color photographs and numerous diagrams illustrate each step of the process. The result is a primer that contains everything a beginner needs to know to get started on this fascinating hobby.
The Art of Bonsai by Peter Adams
Successful bonsai growing is not simply the technique of growing miniature trees; it is the art of growing them in forms based on the natural growth habit of various species. This is a book on the aesthetics of bonsai. In this revised edition, various additions have been made. It contains photographic updates of those trees featured in the first edition, has a new chart to help clarify the suggested feeding programmes and contains style and refinement sequences, as well as photo-essays on pine prunig, a glass-fibre rock construction sequence, and a selection of photographs of the author’s Gold Award-winning bonsai display at the Chelsea Flower Show.
The Living Art of Bonsai by Amy Liang
Professor Amy Liang, a world-renowned bonsai artist and lecturer, offers a practical guide to the fine art of cultivating bonsai. This extravagantly produced volume, filled with hundreds upon hundreds of lavish full-color photographs, showcases the very best and most beautiful specimens from her collection. Liang surveys the history of bonsai in its many schools and styles, and offers techniques and highly detailed instructions for those who want to shape and nurture their own trees. The remarkable images display everything from dazzling miniature evergreens to flowering and fruited trees.
Bonsai Ideas by Marty Mann
Marty Mann is a well-known bonsai lover and is a friend to many in the world of bonsai. This unusual new book is an expression of Marty’s experience, tastes, and views. It is based on his thirty years of observation, practice, and study.
The Complete Book of Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson
The origins and development of bonsai are traced, and the underlying principles of this fascinating art clearly explained. The classic styles are listed and illustrated, together with full descriptions of how they were derived from models in the world. Outstanding examples of plantings in all of the various styles are shown. The types of containers are detailed, and the importance of their use for different trees or styles explained. Advice is given on placing and exhibiting your completed bonsai.
The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Bonsai by Ken Norman
Starting with a fascinating introduction to bonsai, the book defines and describes this ancient craft, explaining the best trees and shrubs to use as well as the importance of bonsai size, proportion and aesthetics. The art of displaying bonsai is also examined in some detail, with useful advice on pots and containers, display stands, accessories and accent planting, as well as how to display bonsai indoors and outdoors. A beautifully illustrated section on the bonsai year looks at growing seasonal bonsai, from the glory of cerise azaleas in spring to the flaming colours of autumn acers, while a photographic gallery provides stunning images of over 40 mature bonsai specimens, with statistical information on their age and the method of training.
The Bonsai Handbook by David Prescott
The Bonsai Handbook is packed with in-depth information and illustrations detailing every facet of this classic hobby, from aesthetics and anatomy to cultivation, propagation, and pruning, covering both indoor and outdoor varieties. All the tools and the skills needed are described, and a beautiful photographic compendium displays the top 24 species, both outdoor and indoor. This book is a guide both for newcomers to the art as well as for bonsai gardeners or home decorators with some knowledge of the subject.
The handbook describes, in clear, helpful text along with step-by-step illustrations and finely detailed photographs, the anatomy and the art of this classic hobby. It describes the rules—and also describes how those rules can be broken. It will enable a beginner to start your own bonsai collection—whether of home-grown or bought trees—and to keep your bonsai healthy and in good shape. It will also answer questions for bonsai enthusiasts who already have some experience with the art.
Keep your Bonsai Alive & Well by Herb Gustafson
Noted bonsai artist Herb Gustafson provides the answers to commonly asked care and maintenance questions, creating an invaluable handbook for bonsai gardeners. Explore the needs of indoor and outdoor plants, watering, weeding, seasonal care, repotting, how to control pests and diseases, and more. Consult handy checklists for tasks to be done in each season; and for over 150 species from Abelia to Ziziphus a convenient chart provides information on the soil requirements, pruning techniques, sunlight tolerance, whether it’s an indoor or outdoor plant, and the most common pests it attracts.
Bonsai Survival Manual by Colin Lewis
In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai. Providing detailed profiles of 50 popular varieties of bonsai plants and trees, Lewis offers expert advice on selecting suitable species and step-by-step guidance on feeding, watering, shaping, maintaining proper temperatures, and troubleshooting common problems. Discover the joys of the ancient and fascinating world of bonsai.
Species specific books
Pines, Growing & Styling Pine Bonsai from Bonsai Today
Japanese white and black pines are the crown jewels of bonsai. Their natural elegance and beauty, combined with challenges that are specific to pines, make them perfect candidates for bonsai. Understanding the challenges and subtleties involved makes it possible to style and maintain beautiful black and white pines. Includes: galleries, needle reduction and energy balancing (candle pinching, shoot pruning, needle plucking and bud removal), styles and styling, nebari development, branch development, sacrifice branches, bending large branches, shari and jin, rock plantings, transplanting, choosing a pot, plant positioning, growing from seed, care and maintenance, superfeeding, winter-care and much more.
Junipers, Growing & Styling Juniper Bonsai from Bonsai Today
The definitive book on junipers. Learn a range of techniques and tips from the masters-Masahiko Kimura, Noboru Kaneko, Kunio Kobayashi, Harry Hirao, Tomio Yamada, Shinji Suzuki, and others. Varieties featured are: Shimpaku, Needle juniper, Procumbens juniper, California juniper and more. The techniques featured are applicable across the range of junipers. This unique book also features a wonderful gallery of bonsai by great Japanese masters and prominent Westerners like John Naka, Boon Manakitivipart, Ernie Kuo and others.
Bonsai Techniques for Satsuki (Azalaes) by Naka, Ota & Rokkaku
Covers the basic techniques for “Satsuki” or azalea flowers that bloom in May and training Satsuki azaleas as bonsai. Subjects covered include: history and classification, sources of Satsuki material, styles, front and back, yearly wiring, pruning, soil, partly watering, propagation, insects and diseases, nebari, trunk line, apex, branches, suitable Sasutki, training, shaping, trimming, pots, fertilizer and soil. 32 pages are in full color photographs and numerous black/white photographs and drawings.
Landscape Style Books
Saikei and Art, Miniature Landscapes by Lew Butler
Lew has created a unique book, one any beginning or advanced enthusiast can use as a guide in making plantings that reflect an almost timeless sense of place. Mountain meadows, desert outcroppings, jungles, deciduous forests–no matter where you live, or where your heart resides, with this book and a little patience, you can enjoy building wonderful natural landscapes. 11″ x 9″ 100+ Photos
Creating Bonsai Landscapes by Su Chin Ee
Western home and garden design has been increasingly influenced in recent years by ancient Eastern traditions. In CREATING BONSAI LANDSCAPES, the spirit of the East is recreated in 25 stunning miniature landscapes that not only are a delight to look at but also lend a harmonizing and soothing force to any environment. Su Chin Ee works with a Chinese form of bonsai art known as penjing – which literally translates as “landscape in a pot or dish” – to create her designs.
Each landscape is presented in project form, with clear advice on how to select suitable plants, plant and position them, and nurture them successfully to full maturity. Each project is thoroughly illustrated with a color photograph of the completed landscape, cross-section drawings to show how the landscape is put together, and practical advice on choosing the equipment and materials for creating special features. Tips on construction techniques and shortcuts, and a visual materials list of required items, round out the detailed instructions. And to ensure long-lasting success, Su provides pruning and trimming tips, solutions to common problems and diseases, and a directory of the most popular bonsai trees and shrubs.
Pamphlets
Shaping Pines by Peter Adams
Basic Wiring by George Buehler
Indoor Bonsai by Jerry Meislik
DVDs
Bonsai Gallery of Walter Pall (8,000 images)
The Growing Art of Bonsai
Finding the Bonsai Within, Ponderosa Pine Wiring Techniques
Repotting: Japanese Black Pine
Wiring & Styling: Japanese Black Pine
Decandling: Japanese Black Pine
Japanese Maples
Repotting deciduous trees
Periodicals
20 editions of Bonsai Today, from 1994 through 2001
