Michael Hagedorn

Deadwood on bonsai often sits there under the bark, waiting for us to discover it. Here’s a Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa. You might think this small patch of yellow deadwood is all there is. Tapping the bark around the deadwood sounds hollow, and suggests airspace beneath. Slipping the tool beneath the bark uncovers a large […]

It doesn’t take more than a year or two in bonsai to learn that wire can cause damage to branches. If left too long the wire can disappear beneath the bark, leaving bulges and sometimes weakened branches. But there’s another thing often wrapped around branches: raffia. And left on too long, raffia can resemble forgotten […]

Given that many of us were taught to never cross a wire, suggesting that we could might sound treasonous. There are, however, situations where crossing a wire can be the right move (and yet hopefully not get you kicked out of the local bonsai club). Many of you who have studied with me know I […]

Due to warping in firing, or poor planning, some bonsai pot drainage holes don’t do their jobs. A pot that doesn’t drain well may make bottom roots sit in water, which isn’t ideal for species like pines. A willow or wisteria wouldn’t mind. You might also wish to address antique pots, which often have tiny […]