Bonsai Workshops

Upcoming In Vivo Bonsai Workshops in Columbus, OH:

  1. April 12, 2025 - 4TH Annual Columbus Bonsai Society INVASIVE Alliance / Yamadori Study Group Dig. I am organizing this free event for the 4th year in a row. As I have written about previously, come out and learn your native vs invasive plant ID, get some advice on digging trees and getting them to live, and on turning our home-grown species from wild trees/yamadori into successful bonsai. RSVP here by 4/11.
  2. May 3, 2025 - 9am-11am - Bonsai and Coffee. Introduction to Indoor Bonsai Workshop with succulents at Casa Cacao
    1. In addition to receiving a tough prebonsai succulent plant, hand-built Ancient Art Bonsai bonsai pot, soil, loaner tools, and personal instruction on how to care for, prune, style, wire, and propagate your bonsai. Sign up here.
  3. 06/14,21/2025 Bonsai Demystified (Indoor Bonsai) at Franklin Park Conservatory
    1. Details coming soon
  4. 6/18/2025 - Presentation, Demonstration, and Workshop on Advanced Clip and Grow Styling (indoor bonsai with succulents) with Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society. Sign up coming soon.
  5. 7/19 or 20 /2025 - Topic TBD for Columbus Bonsai Society Show. Leaning towards yamadori/wild dug Boxwoods.
  6. 9/6/2025 - Stages of Bonsai from Seed workshop at Franklin Park Conservatory. Details TBD.

Public/Private Bonsai Workshops Menu Available by Request

            Past workshops I have hosted are displayed below. I have the educational and physical materials to repeat these classes, but in some cases may need time to source a few items before we can do the class. Prices vary based on # of participants and are cheaper for larger classes. Other factors include whether it is a public or private class and whether there are any fees associated with the venue/ticket hosting service. Contact me to discuss any requests!
  1. Intro to Rock Slab Outdoor Bonsai Creation, Pruning, and Care (for 10 students/plant materials = ~$42/student).
    1. Learn how to repot, prune roots, mix your own muck, select a suitable rock, marry the rootball to the rock, top with moss, and care long-term for this unique style of "slab rock planting" bonsai. Slab rock plantings more than most styles exude a powerful, rugged tree in nature at any size due to the visual impact of the rock. I will also provide basic information on how to propagate from cuttings, and style via directional pruning, and how to wire branches if desired. All students receive 1x outdoor-suitable bonsai tree; choice of suitable slab rock for planting on, pre-mixed muck for binding the roots to the rock, moss, wire and twine if needed to tie the tree to the rock, and a printed handout of the key lessons to care for and maintain your bonsai and how to replicate this method in the future. Expected time 1-2 hours.
    2. Sample pictures of the technique here on a larger piece of material - In Vivo Bonsai: The Slabby Evolution of My Truckstop Elm with John Geanangel


  2. Intro to Indoor Bonsai Repotting, Pruning, and Care Using Succulents (for 10 students/plant materials = ~$52/student).
    1. Learn how to repot, prune roots, propagate from cuttings, and style via directional pruning. All students receive 1x 1-3-year-old rooted jade, gollum jade, dwarf jade, or other appropriate bonsai-able succulent; 1 ceramic bonsai pot (and a plastic pot to root any cuttings in), bonsai soil, and a printed handout of the key lessons to care for and maintain your bonsai. Expected time 1-2 hours.
    2. Sample pictures here -  In Vivo Bonsai: 4 Tips to Pick the Right Species for Your First/Next Bonsai

  3. Intro to Indoor Bonsai Repotting, Pruning, Wiring, and Care Using Ficus (for 10 students/plant materials = $~49/student).
    1. Learn how to repot, prune roots, propagate from cuttings, and style via directional pruning and wiring of branches and trunks! All students receive 1x 1-3-year-old rooted ficus tree, 1 ceramic bonsai pot (and a plastic pot to root any cuttings in), bonsai soil, bonsai wire as needed, and a printed handout of the key lessons to care for and maintain your bonsai. Expected time 2 hours.
    2. Some of the pictures in this image are similar sample pictures -  In Vivo Bonsai: 4 Tips to Pick the Right Species for Your First/Next Bonsai
  4. Intro to Outdoor Bonsai Pruning, Wiring, and Care Using Yew (or similar species) (for 10 students/plant materials = ~$40/student)
    1. Learn how to prune a unkempt bush and safely bend branches to transform the beginner-friendly yew into a beautiful outdoor-hardy bonsai. All students receive 1x 4-year-old yew tree, bonsai wire as needed, and a printed handout of the key lessons to care for and maintain your bonsai. Expected time 2 hours.
    2. Sample picture here -  In Vivo Bonsai: The Humble Yew's First Styling - A Case Study for Trunk-line, Primary Branch, and Foliage Pad Development
  5. Yamadori Privet - Naturalistic, Gnarly Branch Wiring and Manual Carving Methods to enhance Deadwood Workshop
  6. Juniper Intermediate Styling and Care Workshop
  7. Tanuki (Phoenix Graft) Workshop
  8. Yamadori (wild stunted tree) Digging

Workshops in development

  1. Kintsugi Gold Joinery Ceramic Repair

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