Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving

Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving
by Colin Lewis

Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving
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Book Summary Information

Author: Colin Lewis
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1996-01-10
ISBN: 0882668536
Number of pages: 160
Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC

Book Reviews of Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving

Book Review: This is an A to Z book on bonsai that will be a sure fire winner with anyone interested in this art form!
Summary: 5 Stars

If you've spent a lot of time working with your bonsai plants, but are having a problem with them, it's very difficult to simply give up on them and throw them away without trying to find something that will help you. You can take your bonsai to a place where they sell them and the gardeners will more than likely tend to your plant for a price, but in this "survival manual" you may just find out what you are looking for . . . in most cases where you may be going wrong. If you've invested a lot of time in your plants, you certainly want to be successful with them. Of course the best place to start is with someone who has experience. Colin Lewis, without a doubt, is just the person you are looking for!

According to Lewis, "The most important horticultural information required is the knowledge needed to keep the bonsai alive." Any beginner can easily become frustrated and discouraged when a cherished bonsai plant begins to shrivel and die. You will learn how to purchase a plant, what its needs are, where to put the plant, what kind of plant will work well for you, what to look for in a plant, what kind of plant to avoid, how to care for your plant, how to shape your plant, how to identify and treat problems, and you'll get to take a look at fifty commercial species.

Each species is comprehensively profiled. You will receive a brief history, you'll be told what to look for, and points to watch. Each plant has a sidebar which tells the bonsai source, the needed light levels, the temperature range, pests and diseases that affect it, the type of soil needed, its water needs, how to feed, and prune the plant. Each specimen is accompanied by a photograph of a healthy, vibrant plant. The species, separated by an asterisk, are listed below.

Acer Buergerianum (trident maple) * Acer Palmatum (Japanese maple) * Acer Palmatum `Deshojo' or `Chishio'(Japanese red maples) * Acep Palmatum `Kiyohime' (Kiyohime maple) * Acer Palmatum `Seigen' (Seigen maple) * Arundinaria and similar species (bamboos) * Bougainvillea * Carmona Microphylla (Fukien tea) * Carpinus Species (Hornbeama) * Celtis Sinensis (Chinese hackberry) * Chaenomeles (flowering quince) * Chamaecyparis Obtusa (Hinoki cypress) * Cotoneaster (Cotoneaster) * Crassula (Jade tree/Money tree) * Cryptomeria Japonica (Japanese cedar) * Cycas (cycad) * Fagus Crenata (Japanese "white" beech) * Ficus (Fig varieties) * Fuchsia (fuchsia) * Ginkgo Biloba (maidenhair tree) * Ilex Crenata (Japanese holly) * Jasminum Nudiflorum (Winter jasmine) * Juniperus Chinensis Sargentii (Sargent's juniper) * Juniperus Rigida (Needle juniper) * Juniperus Squamata `Meyeri' (Meyer's juniper) * Lagerstroemia Indica (crape myrtle) * Ligustrum Sinense (Chinese privet) * Malus (crab apple) * Murraya Paniculata (jasmine orange) * Myrtus (myrtle) * Nandina Domestica (sacred bamboo) * Olea Europaea (European olive) * Picea (spruce) * Pinus Densiflora (red pine) Pinus Parviflora (white pine) Pinus Thunbergii (black pine) * Pistacia Terebinthus (pistachio) * Podocarpus Macrophyllus (plum-fruited/Chinese yew) Prunus Mume (Japanese flowering apricot) * Pseudocydonia Sinensis (Chinese quince) * Punica Granatum (pomegranate) * Pyracantha (firethorn) * Rhododendron Indicum (Satsuki azalea) * Sageretia Theezans (sageretia) * Serissa Foetida (tree of a thousand stars) * Stewartia Monadelpha (Stewartia/Stuartia) * Taxus Cuspidata (Japanese yew) * Ulmus Parviofolia (Chinese elm) * Wisteria (Wisteria) * Zelkova Serrata (Japanese gray-bark elm)

This is an A to Z book on bonsai that will be a sure fire winner with anyone interested in this art form. I purchase this book along with a couple other ones as a "starter" gift for a family member. Each one generates a lot of interest in the hobby, but this one will prove to be the most useful in the long run. It sends the message that your plants will not grow themselves and must be tended to carefully. The most applicable sentence states, "buying a bonsai is a commitment - very much like buying a pet - as it will need daily attention." This step-by-step book is detailed, thorough, and well written. If you are a beginning or intermediate bonsai aficionado, this is one book you should certainly consider adding to your library!

Summary of Bonsai Survival Manual: Tree-by-Tree Guide to Buying, Maintaining, and Problem Solving

From advice on evaluating and selecting plants, to assessing plant health, and troubleshooting, this comprehensive guide is any readers step-by-step entry into this ancient and beautiful living art. Covers over 50 varieties of plants and trees which can be cultivated into captivating miniatures.

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