The Clark Bonsai Museum
Artist Studio Series: Advanced Training Course
Branch Structure and Foliage Management
Class is full
Course Overview
Course Instructor – Julian Tsai
This Bonsai Training Program is designed to develop a very specific and focused set of skills in a select group of participants. Using Bonsai assets of the Clark Bonsai Museum the Program will cover foundational knowledge, and advanced understanding essential for correctly assessing general health, branch structure, and foliage status of deciduous and Juniper Bonsai. Participants will be presented with the opportunity to learn proper horticultural support, development and refinement techniques to maintain health and aesthetic status of established Bonsai. By the end of the course, participants will confidently manage branch structure and refine foliage on both deciduous and Juniper bonsai.
Personal Development
In addition to the specific focus of branch and foliage management, participants will also be provided with instruction on general horticultural care and aesthetic development of a Bonsai. Each participant will be required to obtain one medium sized (18” to 24”) deciduous plant and one medium sized Juniper and bring them to each session. These plants will be used by participants to engage in practical homework assignments and progress assessment throughout the course.
Costs and Attendance
Each participant will be required to pay a non-refundable tuition fee of $500 on the initial March session. Due to intensive nature of the training and instruction for this course, each participant must attend every session. Missed sessions may result in being dropped from the course. Each session will follow a regularly scheduled two-day workshop at the Clark Bonsai Museum. It is expected, but not required, that participants attend the workshops to increase their abilities to absorb the knowledge offered in the course sessions.
Program Structure
- Duration: 10 months, March to December 2026
- Format: 6 one-day sessions following regularly scheduled workshops at the CBM
- Delivery: In-person workshops with hands on participation.
- Assessment: Practical assignments with increasing performance responsibility.
Session Breakdown
Session 1 – March 7th :
Winter session, repotting on applicable conifers and deciduous Bonsai.
- Learn how good root systems and nebari are made
- Difference between conifer and deciduous branch structures and foliage
- Last round of conifer wiring before growth starts
- Establish learning principles and perspectives on the practice of Bonsai
- Initial discussion regarding personal Bonsai development and assignments
Session 2 – May 9th :
Spring session, heavy deciduous focus.
- Timing of deciduous cuts and understanding when and why to make a cut
- Defoliation techniques
- When and how to apply partial defoliation techniques
- Assessing and understanding strength and vigor in Bonsai trees
- Assessment of progress on personal Bonsai, assignments
Session 3 – June 13th :
Summer session, pine focus.
- Pine foliage management-needle plucking, decandling, timing and energy balance
- Wiring techniques for pines
- Discussion of the difference between aesthetic and structural decision making
- Assessment of development of personal trees and continuing work.
Session 4 – July 10th :
Juniper focus session.
- Juniper foliage management
- Thinning Vs cutting
- Development vs refinement
- Managing length vs volume
- Juniper wiring technique
- Assessment of the development of personal trees and continuing work.
Session 5 – Nov. 14th:
Continuing application of conifer technique, begin fall work as applicable.
- Pines with fully hardened needles will receive a seasonal application of the technique
- Deciduous trees showing fall color transition will receive seasonal technique
- Junipers will receive secondary foliage management
- Wiring if applicable
- Assessment and development of personal Bonsai
Session 6 – Dec. 19th :
Final deciduous focus.
- Application of deciduous dormant technique
- Discussion and practical application of dormant vs active growing season cuts
- Assessment of bud condition and strategy for the next growing season.
- Final wire work as needed
- Assessment of the development of personal trees and work needed to continue the development for the next growing season.
Assessment & Certification
- Practical assignments
- Increasing proficiency assessment and independent work assignments
- Certificate awarded upon successful completion
- Induction as Clark Bonsai Museum Assistant Curators