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Josef Rauscher Studio

01 / Knowledge from practice

Bonsai knowledge.

Knowledge. Observation. Understanding.

Bonsai care, design, growing methods and fundamentals. Articles from practice.

17 practical articles

Bonsai basics

Bonsai basics

Tree analysis: assessing material before styling

In order to be able to shape a blank that was collected as a yamadori or comes from a tree nursery into a bonsai, it is essential to carry out a thorough tree analysis. Of course, you have already checked the characteristics of the blank as a future bonsai before you collected or bought it. The first preliminary analysis is usually based on the trunk movement and branching; if you take a little more time, you will also look at the roots. The pre-selection of the raw plant is a very important factor and you should really take the time to check the selected plant for its suitability for bonsai.

Josef Rauscher

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02 / From practice

Different approaches.

Practical examples, original photographs and clear steps.

Bonsai basics

Choosing the right bonsai pot

It doesn't matter which pot a bonsai is planted in. In the art of bonsai, the pot and the tree form a unit, just as a frame surrounds a picture. In Japan, a rule of thumb has been established for the size of the bonsai pot.

Josef Rauscher

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Bonsai basics

Mycorrhizal fungi

The term mycorrhiza refers to the direct coexistence of fungi with the roots of higher plants. The essential factor here is the mutual exchange of substances, which takes place for mutual benefit (symbiosis).

Josef Rauscher

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Bonsai basics

Understanding bonsai roots

In order to be able to optimally care for or design a bonsai, it is necessary to know its vital functions. There is a big difference between bonsai design and bonsai care, but it is important to know the physiology of the plant.

Josef Rauscher

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Bonsai basics

How to water bonsai correctly

The question of how often to water a bonsai comes up again and again. Well, no one can actually give a time or a quantity. There are a whole host of factors that make such an indication impossible. But there is a rule of thumb that can be applied to any plant, regardless of whether it is a bonsai in a pot or a houseplant in a container.

Josef Rauscher

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6 of 17 articles

Bonsai Kreativ / Knowledge

Observe.
Understand the choices.

The articles cover tree analysis, deadwood, repotting and pine grafting, connecting observation and technique with the long-term development of a bonsai.