3.99

4

Jul 22, 2016

Yesterday, I got a medium sized pot, three small cuttings, and a moss patch at my local greenery while browsing on a whim, and only thought to pick up this book once I was near the register. Bad idea. Turns out I've picked the wrong type of pot and should have gotten several tools.

This book covers all of the design principles valued by the art of bonsai, the styles of bonsai planting that mimic different phenomenons in nature, the tools that you need to do all of the care explained in the book, Yesterday, I got a medium sized pot, three small cuttings, and a moss patch at my local greenery while browsing on a whim, and only thought to pick up this book once I was near the register. Bad idea. Turns out I've picked the wrong type of pot and should have gotten several tools.

This book covers all of the design principles valued by the art of bonsai, the styles of bonsai planting that mimic different phenomenons in nature, the tools that you need to do all of the care explained in the book, different types of bonsai species, techniques of pruning and cutting depending on tree type, and how to grow a bonsai from the beginning whether in seed, cutting, or ready-made form. It was surprisingly very thorough despite the size of the book.

I really appreciated the explanations of the design principles the most. To cultivate bonsai is to shape a small piece of nature in the most natural way possible, that is, to mimic the natural growth of an actual sized version of the bonsai tree. Because bonsai is often kept indoors by most beginner cultivators, the tree easily grows upright and symmetrical - however, this is not the goal for bonsai, because it is meant to be a portrait of nature, of it's inherent imperfections as a result of changing weather and terrain. The cutting and pruning is not meant to be a restriction of growth or to have it fit into a small space and look aesthetically pleasing, but to continuously mold it into an artistic depiction of the species' or forest area's true form.

Upon realizing this small fact, the art of bonsai became a very beautiful thing for me.

In addition, the bonsai tree you will cultivate will certainly outlive you, given proper care. I was incredibly surprised when I found the phrase: "Leave for a year" in several paragraphs throughout the book. The patience and dedication one must have for the art also heightened my appreciation for it.

I'm sure I'll struggle with my new patch, though I hope this little whim will turn into a discipline as I spend more time with it.

...more

4

Oct 27, 2012

Short, simple and a fast read. Great pictures. Now I'm going to trim my Bonsai, wish me luck.

4

Nov 16, 2014

Gorgeous and inspiring for the absolute novice/ bonsai-curious.

2

Nov 08, 2010

Not very enlightening but it was only $5 so I can't complain. Written like lecture notes: does not give any details but reminds you of what you already learned in depth from other sources.

2

Jun 15, 2007

part of my "someday i want to grow my own bonsai" thing. i guess i learned some things, but overall not a great book. perhaps when i know more it might be a useful quick reference though.

3

Jun 22, 2012

i don't usually enjoy how to reading... this proved no exceptiuon but our bonsai is alive still.....

3

Mar 30, 2014

The very basics of bonsai; excellent, clear photos, as DK is known for.

3

Jul 19, 2016

Easy to manage and digest. Considering how few pages there are and how many wonderful pictures it includes one must really appreciate the author's ability to inform with brevity.

3

Nov 07, 2015

Really simple read on bonsai. Slightly interesting, as a quick dive into the topic but likely if you wanted to know how to actually do anything in the book, you'd need something more comprehensive on the subject. Totally worth $3 on amazon an an hour of time.

4

Feb 23, 2014

Really super fast read, gave quick and dirty advice for wiring, long-term wiring, root pruning, and some before and after stem pruning and potting tips. I thought it was a good high-level view of this difficult plant art form.

3

Feb 17, 2015

An easy to digest little guide. I was looking for more tips on bonsai care, rather than design and display, so this book was not a perfect fit; nonetheless, the tips here will still be helpful for me as a bonsai beginner.

4

Aug 14, 2015

DK Publishing has once again put out a beautiful and cleanly designed book, that is a joy to read. Harry Tomlinson's 101 tips are concise and informative. Both seasoned practitioners and newcomers will walk away with a better understanding of Bonsai. Not surprisingly, there are plenty of beautiful specimens presented throughout!

3

Jan 03, 2016

This book was a good starter book for me to learn about Bonsai but it isn't as detailed as I need to really get started with my own. The book is small so it is hard to clearly see details in some pictures. It gave me a better understanding of how they are grown and how they need to be cared for. I enjoyed the book.

4

May 22, 2014

This book is actually the best quick guide to bonsai that I have seen. I am giving it four stars because of its beautiful design and its wonderful simplicity.

I have a number of other books I use as references, however despite the fact that they are much larger they don't seem proportionately more thorough! This book manages a concentrated delivery of knowledge and recommendation. If you are serious about bonsai you will obviously want to read more than just this book but it serves as an This book is actually the best quick guide to bonsai that I have seen. I am giving it four stars because of its beautiful design and its wonderful simplicity.

I have a number of other books I use as references, however despite the fact that they are much larger they don't seem proportionately more thorough! This book manages a concentrated delivery of knowledge and recommendation. If you are serious about bonsai you will obviously want to read more than just this book but it serves as an excellent resource to refresh yourself. ...more

2

Feb 02, 2018

i was hopping for more. lots of details that are useless. missing lots of good details.

3

Apr 24, 2019

A simple guide for Bonsai growing, good for a beginner to learn about what bonsai entails.

4

Jan 10, 2019

Very short and concise, read it to see if I would be interested in getting into Bonsai. Not sure maybe some other indoor plant care I might do, or if I buy a Bonsai wait until I live on my own.

4

Jan 16, 2018

This short book provides a great detail of information on all aspects of the care of bonsai. Easy to read and with simple instructions this is very helpful for any beginner.

3

Aug 24, 2019

Good book for beginners. Good information on understanding the fundamentals of bonsai. This book helped me better grasp some of the key concepts like root pruning, positioning etc.

5

Aug 30, 2018

Its a quick read and gives straightforward insight into cultivating bonzai. I took a lot of the directions in here and applied it to mine. I like the photos too. It has some Japanese red maples in it. I just pulled the trigger on some to grow.

5

May 14, 2019

As a beginner at bonsai cultivation, this book was exactly what I needed. It was short, concise, and contained tons of photos to illustrate the information. Great overview of bonsai. I highly recommend this book

5

Apr 03, 2018

Beautifully photographed book of 101 tips to grow and maintain a bonsai tree. Great to pick up and read if you are either interested in the art of mini trees or need a quick reference when caring for your plant.

3

Jan 22, 2019

DK Books are the OG wikipedia and if you need to learn a lot about bonsai in a hurry (i.e. you bought some bonsai plants in the morning and they might end up sitting on a table at a beer festival that nite) this book will get you there.

4

Jul 09, 2017

Good little book on how to raise Bonsai. I'm always of fan of DK Publishing because of the concise way they present information. I love the use of informative diagrams, and they always make sure to clearly illustrate the topics they cover. This book could have used a little more information, but overall it was very helpful on the basics.

4

Dec 23, 2016

This book is ideally for the beginner. All subjects are pictorially diagrammed and well illustrated. A comprehensive descriptions of several types of Bonsai and their characteristics. Descriptions on how to prune and train the Bonsai along with planting instructions. I recommend this book for any beginner that desires to get started.