The Complete Practical Encyclopedia of Bonsai: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Creating, Growing, and Displaying Bonsai with Over 800 Photographs

by Ken Norman

Bonsai

Genres: Gardening, Reference, Nonfiction, Design

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Mike Shultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, I have decided to quit my job and devote my life to growing bonsai. (I will have to, if I am to follow the detailed care instructions correctly.) See you later, friends.

Actually, since I will be growing mine from seed, I won't be quitting my job for another 5-10 years, since it will take that long for them to become anything resembling a bonsai. And I will screw up, so let's tack another 5 years on that. Heck, I'll screw up more than once. I think my bonsai collection will just be getting off the ground by the time I am set to retire anyway, so it's all good.

I gave the book 4 stars, but honestly, that's a stab in the dark. It has beautiful photographs and covers a wide range of information, from types of bonsai to suitable tree species to care and pruning instructions. It's just hard to tell how good the advice is when I know nothing. The advice of idiots sounds sage to the ignorant. But it sounded good. Mostly, anyway. I do sense some gaps. For example, there is a section on growing bonsai from seed, but it basically tells you how to sprout them. So suppose I get some tree seeds to grow. When do I start pruning them? Do I grow them in the ground, or a regular pot, for a few years, or do I put them directly into a shallow little bonsai pot? Some basic questions like this are left unanswered.

This brings us back to that "I'll screw up" bit.

Check back in 20 years for an update on the 4-star rating I gave this book. It could end up at anywhere from 1 to 5, unless by then I have given up the internet and am sitting in my bonsai garden in deep meditation.

[Andrew Pender-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The colourful photographs (all 800 of them) and the detailed discussions on various aspects of bonsai, will prove a wonderful asset to anyone interested in bonsai. It is clear that the author, a bonsai judge of long standing, has put a great deal into this book. The book is really worth a good 5/5 but, unfortunately, it has been printed in a font that is rather small. With so much on offer and, thus, to absorb, it would have made it easier for the reader if the book had been published in a larger format with bigger font.

[Jenifer]

i probably should have read this...my bonsai died.

[Kati · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference book, but is probably more suited for more experienced bonsai enthusiasts as a good chunk of the book deals with topics that are quite advanced and geared towards growing your own bonsai from scratch. Nevertheless, the last couple of sections are very helpful, especially the Calendar of Care and the more detailed descriptions of what to focus on in each part of the year. The actual encylopaedia part is extensive but does not include my particular type of bonsai, which I was hoping it would do (apparently I have bought a tree that is not commonly grown as a bonsai so I can only find vague references to it on the internet).

Overall, a good book to have if you are serious about keeping bonsai, but if you need a basic book abouut how to keep your tree alive when you are just starting out, then I would recommend Help! Someone Just Gave Me a Bonsai Tree!: The 7 Simple Steps to Keeping Your New Bonsai Tree Alive & Well

[Kirk Dobihal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good primer on the art of bonsai.

[Fons De Mey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice intro into the art of bonsai as far as I can see (knowing absolutely nothing about bonsai, except that they are small trees). Most of the images are really worth while and the step by step introductions seem very useful. Can't wait to shape my first bonsai.

For me it contained too much repetition, both in the text and in the images.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book where you will find so much info about growing and maintaining bonsai. Many photographs are added to make some steps easier.
The reason why I give this book 4 stars and not 5, is because quite a few things are repeated at least 3 times and some topics could have been more detailed.

[-Curious- · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgot to add when I got this...newly adopted hobby (sanity reasons)...treating as a reference book, not a read "start-to-finish" book...5 stars for value of content

[ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is basically the exact same book as this: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Philip Johansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veldig bra bok for den som interreserer seg for Bonsai trær og trær generelt, men mest Bonsai rettet. Lærte mye nyttig i denne formen for kunst/hobby. Anbefales!

[Björn Bengtsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are going to buy only one book about caring for bonsais, this is the one.

This encyclopedia covers everything! Yet it is suitable for both novices and experts alike.
The photographs are both inspiring and educational, and always relevant.

Some of the contents are repeated under different chapters, but that is only natural as some subjects belong in multiple places.

I cannot think of anything that is missing from this book, so it is a great go-to resource which covers everything. However, being a novice myself, I'm sure there is much more to most subjects that take decades to learn, but it is a good starting point for finding out more.

[Dustin · Rating 3 out of 5]

An aptly named book if ever there was one.

I just got a new "pre-bonsai" banyan and hope to have a few more trees soon. I expect I'll be reaching for this one a lot.

The book itself is also very nice: heavy, glossy paper; tons of step-by-step photos; well organized; and, of course, beautiful trees.

[Nuno · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every then and now I agree with other reviewers: Either the font size is too small or I need glasses...