Bonsai Stuff
A bonsai based podcast from Melbourne, Australia by Scott Martin from Bonsai Matsu. A diverse, informative and thorough podcast for everyone that loves bonsai! If you enjoy the podcast then become a podcast supporter, it's greatly appreciated. https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support
Episodes
129 episodes
Season 6 Episode 40 - An Alternative to Windswept, Mid Spring Chores
I don't like windswept bonsai. It's nothing personal and I want to chat about why. But more importantly I want to propose an alternative. While we manipulate trees to our will, nature is more often than not a great influencer of design and what...
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Season 6
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Episode 40
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32:29
Season 6 Episode 39 - After the Spring Burst What's Next and Ants....
As we head towards the middle of the Spring period, it's time to think about what's next. Planning for what you need to do in 3-4 weeks now allows you to take steps to ensure your bonsai continues to take steps forward. There's nothing worse th...
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Season 6
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Episode 39
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28:46
Season 6 Episode 38 - Is Bigger Really Better? When Bonsai Size matters
While there are lots of size classifications I prefer small, medium and large for my bonsai. Each size has its benefits but also a down side. Large bonsai always seem to take the chocolates at shows, why? Are they really better? Is bigger bette...
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Season 6
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Episode 38
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40:13
Season 6 Episode 37 - Spiders and Bonsai, AI Images of Bonsai and Your Plan
Spring has well and truly sprung and with that comes a morning faceful of spider webs as I walk through the yard. Can spiders damage our bonsai? No and yes. I talk about my approach and what they are a trigger for me to do and check. In an age ...
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Season 6
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Episode 37
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28:07
Season 6 Episode 36 - Bonsai in the Tropics, Bonsai Educators and Collected Trees
I have been fortunate to travel recently again and this time up to Far North Queensland to Cairns and to Brisbane with a fantastic club called Bimer Bonsai Club. I not only enjoyed myself but learnt quite a lot about growing different species i...
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Season 6
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Episode 36
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36:00
Season 6 Episode 35 - Fertilising and the Link to Repotting, Pinching, Candle Breaking and Spring
Fertilising your bonsai is a must but how much and how frequent? As there are different stages of development which affect the fertilising of your bonsai so too does the period since the tree was repotted. It is a complex situation and being cl...
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Season 6
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Episode 35
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27:36
Season 6 Episode 34 - Pruning Prunus, Fertilising Raw Stock in Development
Flowers on a prunus variety bonsai are just incredible! And to achieve these flowers I prune them in a very specific way. I discuss the method I use to successful help have my prunus flower yearly. And it's that time again where repotting has f...
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Season 6
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Episode 34
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26:12
Season 6 Episode 33 - Nebari Work, Large Cuts and 'Chipping' In, Watering Systems
Is it wrong to use an automated watering system? You must decide what is best for you and your bonsai. Here's a bit of a chat about living with bonsai. The nebari on your trees is one of the most beautiful features and it is developed over a ve...
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Season 6
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Episode 33
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35:53
Season 6 Episode 32 - Repotting Learnings, What Happens Post Repotting, Spring Preparations
As the main repotting season comes to a close it is time to reflect upon my learnings. Developing stock and the soil mix you use, does it make a difference? What if you don't repot but are worried, what should you do? There is a procedure you c...
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Season 6
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Episode 32
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35:15
Season 6 Episode 31 - The Great Olive Dig!
What started as a laugh and a chat over a meal turned into The Great Olive Dig which included 1600km round trip, some blood loss, loads of laughs and tales as well as some pretty spectacular olives being harvested to become magnificent bonsai i...
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Season 6
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Episode 31
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41:46
Season 6 Episode 30 - Hit the Reset Button, Planning and Expectations, Large Root Removal
When undertaking significant procedures with your bonsai, planning is the key to success as is the expectation of the outcome. I tell a story about an informal upright juniper that was made into a cascade with some serious bends. In order to im...
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Season 6
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Episode 30
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44:06
Season 6 Episode 29 - Bonsai Related Injuries you should try and avoid
Over the years of 'doing' bonsai or more like being obsessed by them, I must say I have had my fair share of 'love related' injuries. From the old finger slice numbers 1, 2 and 3 through to high speed injuries. This podcast has something I thin...
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Season 6
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Episode 29
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34:56
Season 6 Episode 28 - The Styling Edition! Design Compromise, Styling Consideration for Australian Natives
Why must there be a compromise when it comes to the design of your bonsai? Is it better to live with it or start again? Can you split the difference? Should you? All questions I ask myself and sometimes I ignore my own advice. Australian native...
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Season 6
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Episode 28
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45:22
Season 6 Episode 27 - Bonsai Pot Considerations, To Tie or Not to Tie, Yard Work in Winter
With bonsai repotting season well under way the pot or container you use for your bonsai is a serious consideration and I have some thoughts on sizing and design of the pot. And when you repot, in order to avoid damage or wasting the tree's res...
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Season 6
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Episode 27
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44:37
Season 6 Episode 26 - Talk About Soil, Wiring Once and Bonsai Etiquette
With repotting season officially kicking off I want to start with talking about removing old soil and an experience I had recently. Wiring your bonsai to style them takes time and skill and I have a little tip that will help you do it once only...
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Season 6
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Episode 25
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33:38
Season 6 Episode 25 - Interview with Marcela Ferreira about Australian Native Bonsai
Marcela is seriously one of the nicest bonsai people you will ever meet and her passion for Australian Native trees being used as bonsai is unmatched. I have a chat with her about the Victorian Native Bonsai Club, its inception and growth as we...
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Season 6
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Episode 25
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30:22
Season 6 Episode 24 - Making Split Decisions, Confusing Times, Look at What's in Front of You
When you're pruning it is very common that you will need to make a split decision based on the branching structure you are working through. The angle of the bud is very important as is the strength of the growth but you need to consider what is...
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Season 6
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Episode 24
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20:17
Season 6 Episode 23 - Trick to Removing Buried Wire, Buying Time, Is it Unique?
When wire is left on too long (and it will be), what is the best way to remove it? I discuss a few tricks and techniques I use which help minimise the damage to your bonsai. Important decisions shouldn't be rushed either, you need to buy yourse...
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Season 6
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Episode 23
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35:43
Season 6 Episode 22 - Beauty is a Perspective, Was the Cut Correct and Speeding Up
Beauty is such an individual thing and it's fantastic that we all see beauty differently. Imagine how boring it would be if we all thought the same way?? But care and respect needs to be shown as well as some special bonsai love. I chat about a...
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Season 6
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Episode 22
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39:41
Season 6 Episode 21 - Bonsai Height Reduction, Plan Variation and Soil Mix Expectations
The impact of the trunk on a bonsai cannot be underestimated and there are things we can do to make them appear more powerful or dynamic. In this podcast I'm talking about height reduction. There are two techniques I use and I discuss the...
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Season 6
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Episode 21
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44:00
Season 6 Episode 20 - Creating a Second Problem, A Bending Technique, Azalea Flower Removal
When you are working with a living form, that changes and grows, sometimes fixing one problem can create a second problem. Having the foresight to pick this up before taking irreversible action can be difficult. Ever heard the saying check twic...
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Season 6
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Episode 20
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42:00
Season 6 Episode 19 - My Checklist for Working Pines and End of Autumn Watering
While this podcast grew from my current work on a large number of pines, it applies to all work you do on your bonsai regardless of the species. I have made a checklist of things to look out for, how to do certain tasks as well as a mindset I u...
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Season 6
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Episode 19
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47:50
Season 6 Episode 18 - Setting up Stock for the Future, The Mundane and Building on Mishaps
There is one major consideration you must take when working on young stock for the future. I chat about my approach and offer a few tips to make it a little easier in the long run. Also bonsai isn't always about world class trees being on...
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Season 6
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Episode 18
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28:21
Season 6 Episode 17 - Annual Olive Bonsai Dig, Now Better Than Never, Things to Watch for Now
So an idea has grown into reality with the first Annual Olive Bonsai dig hosted by the South Australian Bonsai Society and all the details are in this podcast. What it is, how you can get involved and when. Get your hands on some true, legal Ya...
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Season 6
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Episode 17
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39:55
Season 6 Episode 16 - What would I tell a some at the start of their Bonsai Journey?
This podcast follows from a recent question at a demonstration/presentation I made and it really was refreshing to go through the process for myself and I think you'll enjoy it too. It provided reminders for me for how I care for my bonsai now ...
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Season 6
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Episode 16
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49:24