Customer Reviews

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping Bonsai

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In short, my opinion is that this is an excellent book if you are serious about bonsai and would like to get started, or to complement your knowledge from other books.

Before I purchased this book, I checked out several books from my local library. Some books seem to show many pictures of finished bonsai without really getting into details and I feel as if I still don't have the knowledge to even start on a bonsai. This book is a bit more helpful with step-by-step pictures from repotting to pruning, diagrams of undesirable branches, and methods of propagation.

There is a lot of information in this book that I read in this book that other books brush by, but I found helpful to me. Without a doubt, it is important to read different books because each author has their own views on certain issues.

Other books that you might want to look into are "Bonsai (101 Essential Tips)" by Harry Tomlinson and "The Bonsai Workshop" by Herb Gustafson.

I do not recommend this book to the beginner who is just getting into Bonsai care-taking. This is more of a comprehensive book explaining how to create, shape, and nurture Bonsai trees. This book is very well written for and advanced level Bonsai owner. It goes into detail about how to start Bonsai trees, wire them, how to pick out the right environment, etc.
So if you're beginning, I think you should pass this book by at first. If, however, you have been into Bonsai trees for a while, this is the book to go with.

This is a fine work on Advanced Techniques for the Bonsai enthusiast, in particular giving full particulars on specialty tools and pruning shears in Bonsai Culture. It is kind of surprising the great tips one can get, from just the one paragraph tips that the authors son added after his father death. Very concise and precise is a great summary for this book.

Actually it was my first book about Bonsai. As I have some background with plant propagation I was very interested in the methods the book advises with very nice pictures and step by step growing etc.
But I believe, it not the perfect one for a beginner as it gives some supplementary information about bonsai on top of some basic knowledge. I could not find explanation about some basics like some more simple technics for growing, pruning and taking care.

I raise Japanese Maples, many in containers, but not really bonsai. I found it such a loving presentation and writing about bonsai that a had to read the whole book. I liked the information too.

The book was everything and more. Because of the book I bought Bonsai tools and am looking forward to starting my own plants.

This is a great little book for the beginner because it explains everything simply but thoroughly.

Here's the positive: Whatever limited information is discussed in this book, at least it is discussed well.

And the not so positive: I wished the book has more extensive information/ discussion about specific trees and bonsai techniques. But for USD20, you get what you paid for.

Well is not a bad book, it has a lot of info about bonsai trees. However, is written in a way.... let's say is a page turner, the only thing is that there will not be more information in next page.Explanations are short and the author does not develop or expand on the concepts or ideas. This book will not give you step by step instructions but instead and overview of the basics and techniques.

I bought this book at the same time as Bonsai (101 Essential Tips) by Harry Tomlinson and am very impressed. It gives lots of detail on how to do different techniques. Everything i need to know to get my Bonsai's going. I already have a Fig and am planning to start a Crepe Myrtle from a cutting (since they are running rampant at my house). I also want to do a Murraya, my Murraya cutting is growing well. I feel that this book will give me the knowledge i need to make great Bonsai.