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Bonsai Matsu - Scott Martin

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

Bonsai Stuff

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

The Decandling process on Japanese Black Pines can be very rewarding and often seen as the key to successfully developing them into magnificent bonsai. But it can also be disastrous. So you need to know when not to decandle. I recently had a long term student at Bonsai Matsu who undertook an immersive intensive learning program. And I must be honest and say I loved the experience and so did Aaron. We have a chat to him all about it. As we get well and truly into the Summer weather it's time to start increasing your daily watering frequency. Don't get caught by surprise!

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
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Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
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Season 6 Episode 48 - Decandling and When Not to, Aaron Curtis from Shiro, Watering Frequency

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

So you've got a beautiful tree, lovely trunk, great foliage but how and where do you start your design process? I've got a simple procedure I use that helps you get the result without possibly knowing what the design is before starting. Australia bonsai has taken another leap forward and I have a chat with Leigh Taafe the Curator of the National Bonsai and Penging Collection of Australia (NBPCA) about an agreement between the NBPCA and Omiya Bonsai Village. Based on a recent intensive immersion experience, I think it's really important to have access to high quality bonsai to refine and develop your skills.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 6 Episode 49 - Process for Design, Australian Bonsai and Omiya, Bonsai Immersion

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

With the holiday season upon us, now is the time to devote some special attention to our bonsai. I run through my pre-Christmas checklist of jobs that I look to have completed before the Summer break. With decandling now being completed, well for me anyway, I talk about sacrifice branches and how I looked at my Japanese Black Pines a little differently this year. How can I harness the strength of a new Spring candle to improve my bonsai? That was a question I asked myself constantly while decandling. 

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 6 Episode 50 - Pre Christmas Bonsai Work Checklist, Sacrifice Branches

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Well 2024 is done and there has been so many highlights for me personally as well as with my bonsai. I chat about a few of my podcast favourites and how small incremental improvements with my bonsai make me happy. During the year I travelled for bonsai, I travelled a lot! From one corner of Australia to the other as well as a trip to New Zealand and I loved it all. So many shiny, happy, bonsai people and so much bonsai love. It's nice to know we're not alone. Bring on 2025...

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 6 Episode 51 - Bonsai Matsu Highlights, Podcast Favourites, My Bonsai World

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Welcome to Season 7 of the Bonsai Stuff podcast! 2025 is going to be a brilliant year for bonsai and to kick things off I'll let you know my 3 step simple plan for the year and my bonsai commitment. Post holidays it is time to dust off the cobwebs and get back to bonsai. This is my time to work on my junipers too and I have a check list I work through to make sure I am thorough and don't have a need to rework the trees. I'll share this list with you as it may help or confirm what you are doing with your junipers. 

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
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Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 7 Episode 1 - My Process for Juniper work, Plans for 2025

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

When you are working on any of your bonsai, at any stage of their journey, you need to have focus. There are some key areas of my work I give particular attention to and they make all the difference. Remember it's the 1% that can have a massive impact. You need to respect the bonsai that is in front of you here and now. Be thorough, be focused, be accurate and be respectful. Simple.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 7 Episode 2 - Bonsai Work Practices, Bonsai Respect and Be Like a Forest

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

One of the most iconic Australian species of tree is the grand Banksia and there are 173 different species (according to natureaustralia.org.au). They make the most magnificent bonsai and there are 'rules' to their successful care and I think everyone should have at least one in their collection. The Banksia has so much to offer. We all have trees in our collection that just don't develop the way we have expected or that you just cannot see the future bonsai in. What do you do with those trees? I'll discuss a few strategies.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 7 Episode 3 - Banksia as Bonsai, When to Stop Persisting

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

We are in the last month of Summer and while there are certain trees I will fertilise, there are also trees I will not. I run through my program right now and how it could apply to your bonsai garden. I also have a tale of a poor pomegranate that almost made it to the green waste bin but didn't thank goodness! The lesson of sometimes you just need to wait a little longer was learnt. It's always worth waiting.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
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Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 7 Episode 4 - My Fertilising Program for Late Summer, Sometimes You Need to Wait

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

So what got you into bonsai initially? I bet it's not what keeps you in bonsai now. I find it is important to reflect back on the start of your journey as you can sometimes lose sight of what make you happy. Do the maintenance! And do it first!! Big decisions can wait and the maintenance work will clear the path for your decision making process. Remove the unnecessary, then into the structural decisions. Late Summer is a time to review your collection and see what species are not necessarily doing quite so well but also to focus on those that are. 

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 7 Episode 5 - Do the Maintenance, Why Do You Do Bonsai, Focus for Now

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Carving and bonsai seem to go hand in hand. I think everyone I have ever spoken to about bonsai over the years has mentioned carving at one time or another. And carving, good carving, takes skill and technique. Texture, the need to appear 'natural' and staying safe are all very important! How you work with an electric carving tool is crucial to your success and I'll let you know how I work with them to help minimise collateral damage to the rest of the bonsai.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 7 Episode 6 - Bonsai Carving Tips and Tricks

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu

Well it's now one year since turning a full time Bonsai Professional and I want to reflect on what has happened and what's planned. It has been a great year!! I also reflect on a Japanese Black Pine I recently worked on and discuss height reduction and pad height reduction, thinning and length reduction. As well as chatting about current work around the yard.

Support the show

Become a podcast supporter and show the Bonsai Love (it's really appreciated) ❤️
https://www.buzzsprout.com/263290/support

Where to find Bonsai Matsu:
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube 
Web

Season 5 Episode 22 - My First Year, the need to Thin and Reduce and What Now

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