VIDEO LIBRARY
WINTER
Japanese Red Pine styling
Japanese Red Pines are not as usual in the western part of the bonsai world as they are in Japan.
The JRP has softer, longer, and lighter green needles than the Jap. Black pine and other differences make it worth looking into this species. Here in Shohin size.
This episode focuses on styling and how to manage the Japanese Red Pine when trimming and pruning this species.
Creative deadwood grafting
Focus on deadwood techniques—a traditional art form that adds age, drama, and character to bonsai.
Deadwood features like jin and shari are inspired by nature’s own forces—wind, snow, and time—that shape trees in the wild. They reflect the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, celebrating imperfection and resilience.
Defining a tree
Shaping Bonsai with Vision and Technique
Defining a tree as bonsai is about more than just its size—it’s about the experience of observing. From the gentle foliage pads to the spaces between branches, from appreciating the silhouette at a distance to studying the fine details up close, every element matters.
This harmony depends on the bonsai artist’s mastery of technique and their artistic vision.
In this week’s episode, Morten works on a Chinese juniper, creating new foliage pads, rearranging branches, and sharing insights on how to view a bonsai so it resembles a natural tree.
Scots pine, Pinus Live Q&A December
The last Live Q&A this year
Some topics we touched on this time were how to take care of Eleangus pungens,theclosingof the Bonsai FocusMagazine, successful revitalisation of trees resisting leafing out after winter, and more. The Live Q&A always are recorded and can be watched in full, unedited length.
Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris – second step
This tree started as a small, cheap bargain at an ordinary garden centre.
It was previously styled by cutting back growth to develop new growth further back. After backbudding, it’s time to arrange branches and secure the new growth developed. It’s crucial to understand the balance of energy and how to take the right steps to create a good bonsai from this type of material.
Branches are thinned out and arranged with wiring, and slowly the tree is decreased in size.
AUTUMN
Chamaecyparis elwodii restyling
The ongoing progress of creating a small bonsai from ordinary material
A cheap bargain can be the beginning of a beautiful bonsai in the future.
In this tutorial, I take the next step with Chamaecyparis elwodii. Going from the basic establishment of a tree into a bonsai pot, it’s now time to arrange the main branches to improve the overall structure and allow light inside for backbudding, and prepare for foliage pads.
2
Hornbeam
Episode 2: Korean & Oriental Hornbeam as Bonsai
In this 2-part series on styling and growing Hornbeam as bonsai, we continue the steps we started in episode 1.
We look at the differences between two bonsai styles and the beauty within each.
Styling a small shohin bonsai is about creating something beautiful while accepting its horticultural limits. These two must go hand in hand to create a piece that is both healthy growing and an artistic pleasure.
1 Hornbeam
Episode 1: Korean & Oriental Hornbeam as Bonsai
In this episode, we explore the subtle beauty and bonsai potential of two remarkable species: Korean hornbeam (Carpinus turczaninowii) and Oriental hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis).
Both trees offer stunning seasonal transitions, fine branching, and strong character—but they differ in growth habits, leaf texture, and styling suitability. Korean hornbeam is ideal for shohin bonsai, with its naturally compact form and small leaves.
Oriental hornbeam is often said to thrive in larger bonsai styles, offering vigorous growth and powerful trunk development, but there I show it also goes excellent as Shohin Bonsai.
Autumn and Spring
Live Q&A – October: Preparing for Winter and Embracing the Autumn Mood
As the seasons shift and the vibrant hues of autumn settle in, this month’s Live Q&A dives into the essential tasks and philosophies surrounding bonsai care during this transitional time of year.
Topics we’ll explore include:
🍁 Overwintering Bonsai
Learn how to protect your trees from the challenges of winter. We’ll discuss techniques for overwintering, including cold frame setups and species-specific considerations.
🌱 When Trees Don’t Leaf Out in Spring
What should you do if a tree didn’t push new growth this year? We’ll talk about possible causes, how to assess viability, and whether or not to keep trying to revive a struggling bonsai.
🍂 The Japanese Approach to Autumn Mood
Autumn is more than just a season—it’s a feeling. We’ll explore how Japanese bonsai culture embraces the aesthetics of ageing, decay, and seasonal change, and how you can reflect this in your own approach.
🌨️ Winter Preparation Tips
From pruning and wiring to soil care and pest management, we’ll cover the key steps to ensure your bonsais are healthy and ready for the colder months ahead.
.
Japanese maple: 20 years of development
This episode is autumn-related, and it delves into the careful planning and long-term development of a Japanese maple. First brought home from Japan in 2005 as a very primitive material, it is now reaching a stage where refinement is on the table.
We look into how such a small shohin bonsai develops, and how to deal with the styling and caretaking.
Autumn Trimming of Deciduous Bonsai: Timing and Techniques
As the vibrant colours of autumn settle in, it’s time to prepare your deciduous bonsai for the coming winter. In this episode, we dive into the essential steps of autumn trimming—why timing matters, and how the right techniques can set your trees up for healthy growth in the next season. You’ll learn how to balance structure and vigour, manage energy distribution, and avoid common mistakes that can weaken your bonsai. Whether you’re refining ramification or maintaining overall shape, this guide will help you make informed decisions during this critical stage of bonsai care.
Part Two: “Neagari Style – The Patient Path Continues”
Three years after the initial styling, we return to the Pinus mugo bonsai to take the next step in its Neagari journey. This episode focuses on refinement, root exposure, and the slow, thoughtful process of developing character through time.
Part One: “Creating Neagari from a Nursery Pinus Mugo”
In this first episode, shown 3 years ago, we begin the transformation of a nursery Pinus mugo into a bonsai in the Neagari style – the art of exposed roots. Follow the first steps of styling and shaping, as we lay the foundation for a tree that will tell a story of age and resilience.
Barberry – Mission Impossible
This week’s bonsai tutorial takes us into the wild territory of the unexpected. An old, neglected Barberry—forgotten and not well-grown—becomes the centre of attention. At first glance, it might seem like a mission impossible. However, in bonsai, the most challenging material can sometimes hold the greatest potential for creativity and transformation.
In this session, we explore how to approach raw, unconventional bonsai material with fresh eyes. The Barberry, with its thorny character and stubborn growth, demands a different kind of patience and vision. It’s not about perfection—it’s about possibility.
You’ll see how to:
- Assess neglected material with an open mind
- Find hidden structure and movement
- Make bold decisions to bring life back into the tree
Whether you’re working with refined specimens or wild garden finds, this tutorial reminds us that bonsai is as much about storytelling as it is about technique. And sometimes, the story begins with a tree that everyone else gave up on.
Roots
The major topic of this Q&A Live session was focused on roots and fertilising.
We dived into creating a dense healthy root system over years of growth, soil types and their impact on root development, and the challenges this adds for the growth above ground level.
Creating a Mixed Forest with Yew and Maple
In this week’s video on Shohin Europe, we explore the art of creating a medium-sized mixed bonsai forest using European Yew (Taxus baccata) and Japanese Maples (Acer palmatum). This unique combination brings together the rugged elegance of native European species with the delicate seasonal beauty of Japanese foliage.
You’ll follow the step-by-step process of designing a forest composition that balances structure, movement, and harmony. Learn how to position trees for natural flow, manage root systems, and enhance depth and perspective in your forest planting.
Thickening branches and trunks
In this episode, we take up a classic theme on how branches and trunks are thickened on bonsai. We dive into the right techniques and strategies and horticultural knowledge behind this specific topic.
Azalea wiring and shaping
Azaleas are broadleaf evergreens, and in the first days of autumn, it’s a good time to make some structural work, wiring and shaping for the next season.
We go through all the decisions on the go, and how to take care of growing Azalea and especially taking care of the future development.
SUMMER
BONSAI Q&A Live August
We covered a lot of interesting subjects tonight, or we dove into a few topics so much that we couldn’t complete them all; that’s closer to the truth.
Oak as a bonsai was a main subject, as was how to grow bonsai on a level that fits enthusiasts.
We discussed climate and its influence on bonsai growth, among other topics. Watch and learn, and get inspired.
We also covered bonsai styling of and directions of growth on a Cotoneaster and more. Please enjoy.
Growth Control And Bonsai Life
This week, we dive into a question that often stirs debate and reflection among bonsai enthusiasts:
What truly defines a bonsai—and how do we know when a tree isn’t quite there yet?
A bonsai is more than a miniature tree. It’s a living artwork shaped by time, care, and intention. It tells a story of age, resilience, and harmony between nature and human expression. But not every tree in a pot is a bonsai. In this week’s episode, we explore:
- 🌿 What characteristics make a tree a bonsai
- 🪴 Why design, proportion, and maturity matter
- 🔧 How to recognize a tree still in training
- 🎨 The importance of artistic vision and horticultural balance
- Several examples of start, middle and refinement shown in this video
Natural Bonsai Inspiration
In this episode, we explore a bonsai style that’s as poetic as it is organic. The natural and loose form invites us to see trees not as objects to control, but as living stories shaped by time and environment.
This style embraces:
- Gentle curves and asymmetry
- Minimal intervention
- A deep respect for nature’s own rhythm
Whether you’re cultivating bonsai or capturing them through your lens, this approach offers a quiet elegance that speaks to the soul.
Berries and Bonsai
This week at Kisetsu-en, we turn our attention to a charming and rewarding aspect of bonsai cultivation: growing bonsai with berries. Few things capture the seasonal beauty of bonsai like the delicate flowers and vibrant berries of species such as Cotoneaster.
Cotoneaster is a favourite among Shohin bonsai artists for its small leaves, fine ramification, and the delightful transformation it undergoes through the seasons—from spring blossoms to autumn berries. But growing Cotoneaster with the goal of flowering and fruiting requires a thoughtful approach to care and styling.