Bonsaimotorworld

10/06/2026

Lydia is a lady whose love for bonsai has been a part of her life for more than half of it. She has a special passion for junipers, and it truly shows in her work.
What makes Lydia stand out is her incredible attention to detail. Like very few people, she can work on fine details at a level that rivals many professionals. On both of these junipers, she carefully cleaned and refined the foliage pads, bringing out the beauty of each tree. No wiring was needed on either of them, and none of them has any wire on … yet both trees now look absolutely fantastic.

Bravo to Lydia for her immense dedication, patience, and the remarkable skills she has developed over the years. Her passion and commitment are inspiring to see.

09/06/2026

An update of Lydia’s Taxus baccata.

A bonsai teaches us that the most meaningful transformations happen slowly. With dedication, patience, and love, a tree finds its form, and so do we. Let your passion guide your hands and your heart, for it is often love and commitment that determine where life takes us and who we become along the way.

09/06/2026

My last day at Bonsai Plaza was the perfect moment to prune this fantastic Taxus, a tree admired by so many visitors.
This year’s growth on all the trees at Bonsai Plaza has made me very happy. Everything is healthy, lush, and green, with long, vigorous shoots. Once these shoots are pruned, they will respond by producing new buds and lots of them. Of course, good fertilization, proper watering, and favorable weather all help achieve these results.

A clean, sharp cut is just as important. Wherever I travel and work, I use my Matsu scissors (yes, they need to be sharpened before use!). They are an incredibly durable tool and fit my hand perfectly.

My days here have come to an end, and there is still so much work to be done. Next time, I promise to stay longer I’ll be back in November.

The Taxus is now shining after its pruning. No wiring is needed anymore, and you can see it on display while visiting Bonsai Plaza.

See you on November 8th and 9th!

🤗Mario

08/06/2026

Maarten from Bonsai Plaza has a deep connection to this tree. Anyone who loves bonsai should know it one of the oldest European bonsai, with a long and fascinating history.
A few years ago, Maarten asked Mario’s Bonsai World to undertake a complete transformation of the tree and change its foliage through grafting. The tree was sent to Spain, where it was grafted with finer juniper foliage in carefully selected areas, allowing us to preserve its original character and style.
Just two years ago, we carried out the first wiring session here at Bonsai Plaza. Yesterday, the tree was cleaned up and all the wire was removed. There is still a long journey ahead before it regains the powerful image it once had, but we are definitely moving in the right direction.

Many of you have been asking for more in depth knowledge about junipers. That’s why Bartek and I have decided to start recording a dedicated series of episodes for Mario’s Bonsai World focused entirely on Juniperus bonsai.

Just as we did with our Sylvestris pine series, we will do our best to cover all the essential knowledge and practical techniques to make every bonsai enthusiast’s life a little easier.

The first recording session is planned for two weeks from now.

See you on ShuHaRi!

07/06/2026

At Bonsai Plaza, you can find many outstanding bonsai trees, and one of them is impressive very old Japanese Red Pine (Akamatsu).

Over the last two years, this tree has made great progress and now looks much better than in the previous image. Developing and maintaining red pines requires a deep understanding of their growth habits. Like Japanese Black Pines and Red Pines, they can produce a second flush of growth within the same season, but achieving the best results depends on applying the right techniques at the right time.

There are several different approaches to balancing growth and refining these pines, each with its own purpose and timing. Proper maintenance is essential to build ramification, maintain vigor, and create a balanced silhouette.

One day, we will cover the complete process and explain how to handle these pines for the best possible outcome on Mario’s Bonsai World. For now, enjoy a few photos of this beautiful Akamatsu and the progress it has achieved over the years.

06/06/2026

I am currently visiting Bonsai Plaza, and this is the perfect time for pruning demonstrations.
Have you ever performed mekiri on Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), a single flush pine?
This tree has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. It started with a root graft in the lower part of the loop, followed by removing half of the trunk to reduce its height. The branches were then wired and bent, gradually creating the image you see today. After many years of unrestricted growth, the final refinement was achieved during this spring’s work session.
Now, after an exceptionally strong spring flush, I have pruned it.

This technique was applied to improve future ramification. But why do it? How does it work? When is the right time? And how can different mekiri techniques be combined on single flush pines?
These are topics that are much easier to understand through dedicated lessons. That’s why several episodes on single-flush pines are available in Mario’s Bonsai World / ShuHaRi.

No matter where you live, you can apply the techniques I teach to your own trees.

While visiting Bonsai Plaza, you can find many excellent examples of bonsai that demonstrate the results of proper maintenance and long term development.
See you and have a good 😊 weekend !

04/06/2026

The backyard of the Luis Vallejo Bonsai Garden, which is not accessible to the public, is home to hundreds of bonsai trees…

This whole garden is home to hundreds of trees that absorb CO₂ and return to us the oxygen that is essential for life not only for humans, but for every breathing species on our planet.
The museum itself is a true oasis, housing hundreds of remarkable bonsai that can be enjoyed on display throughout most of the year. During the summer months, part of the exhibition is closed due to extreme heat. At that time, the trees must be protected and moved to shaded areas to ensure their health and survival, so the display is temporarily dismantled.

There is still time to visit and enjoy this extraordinary collection until July. The trees are truly amazing, each one representing decades and often centuries of dedication, care, and artistry.

Rather than focusing on what is hidden from view, we should appreciate the living treasures that make this garden such a unique and valuable place.

03/06/2026

Mario’s Bonsai World is not only Mario’s huge knowledge and experience - it is also conversations, different perspectives, and small details that can completely change the way we work with trees.

In this reel, Mario talks with Rinaldo about one very practical question: what kind of bag should we use for air layering?

Because sometimes the success of a technique is hidden not only in the big steps, but also in the simple materials we choose.

This is another fragment from Episode 95: How to make air layering like Mario part 2, now available in our Bonsai Encyclopedia.

Join ShuHaRi and keep learning bonsai with us.

31/05/2026

The time has come for piceas.

They are starting to build new buds on the elongated growth, which means this is the perfect moment to prune them back.
This technique is the opposite of pinching, which is used only on more developed trees. Here, we choose carefully what to cut and what to leave, following the future frame of the tree.

Done at the right moment, it helps ramify branches faster and fill empty spaces exactly where branches are needed.

So… to cut or to pinch? That is the question.

Find out more at Mario’s Bonsai World / ShuHaRi.

31/05/2026