Lately I've been completely hooked on the mini bonsai terrarium trend. It combines the traditional art of bonsai with the modern terrarium — a miniature ecosystem inside a glass jar that looks beautiful and takes up almost no space. After a while of tinkering, I've picked up a few core lessons I'd like to share with fellow beginners.
First is choosing the plant. Not every plant suits an enclosed environment. I find Ficus (mini fig varieties) to be the number one choice: nice woody trunk, small leaves, and good tolerance for humidity. Jade plant should only go in an open terrarium, while mai chiếu thủy (Wrightia religiosa) does well in a lidded jar. Avoid cacti and succulents in closed jars because they need dry conditions.
The base layers are extremely important, so don't skip them: at the very bottom a 3–4 cm layer of drainage gravel, then activated charcoal to filter bacteria, then a mesh fabric separator, then an 8–12 cm layer of potting soil, and finally a covering of moss. The biggest mistake beginners make is leaving out the drainage layer or overwatering — a terrarium naturally retains moisture, so a lidded jar only needs watering 1–2 times a month.
For care, I keep the jar in indirect light (an east- or north-facing window is perfect) and avoid harsh sun through the glass, since the greenhouse effect can easily scorch the leaves. Every week I open the lid for 30–60 minutes to air it out and check for mold or pests. Light, frequent pruning is better than one heavy cut.
Honestly, the best part isn't the finished piece, but watching the tiny garden live and change every day.
Source: InBonsai
Some trees are bought with the trunk in mind, and this nursery juniper is a good example. Bonsai Empire documents six years of work on a tree that was about 20 years old when they bought it, and had already spent roughly ten years growing in the nursery to build up material. It cost around 200 USD, a serious investment that the authors feel was justified by the thickness and movement of the trunk.
The first styling was the most aggressive. They removed one branch that had grown too thick and replaced it with younger branches that bend more easily, and they removed between 30 and 40 percent of the foliage because the tree was healthy. They then cleared the hanging growth, paired branches of similar thickness, and wired them from the main branches toward the tips, using finer wire on the thin branches.
During repotting they covered the drainage holes with mesh and fixed two long wires to anchor the tree. They removed part of the nursery's organic soil and some old, dark roots, and used a mix of akadama, volcanic rock and pumice. The old soil is replaced gradually over several repottings so the roots are not stressed.
In years 2 to 4 they did very little beyond light pruning twice a year. In year 5 came a second styling with small branches and angles, plus another repotting. Today the tree is nearly finished, with denser foliage pads.
What I like most is the idea that a bonsai has no fixed goal: it gets refined every season. A curious detail is that the video title mentions 26 years, which probably also counts the earlier years in the nursery.
Source: Bonsai Empire
Kokedama is a Japanese technique that combines gardening and craft: a ball of substrate covered in moss, in which the plant grows, without a pot. JardineriaOn publishes a guide to making one at home.
For choosing a plant, it advises slow-growing species, which avoid frequent repotting, and ones that prefer shade or partial shade so the sun does not burn the moss. Among the recommended options are ferns, succulents, orchids and bonsai.
The materials are universal substrate, peat or worm castings, akadama (a Japanese volcanic soil that retains moisture and can be replaced with soaked crushed tiles or bricks left for 24 hours), moss such as sphagnum, fishing line or string, scissors, a sprayer and a large bowl.
The process starts by mixing substrate and akadama with water until you get a compact mass. Form a ball with a hollow in the center, place the plant with its roots well covered, and finish by wrapping it in moss. The article notes that even if the ball isn't perfectly round, that wild look is part of its charm. I find it an accessible project for getting into the world of moss and bonsai.
Source: JardineriaOn
Terrariums have become a decorative and educational trend in Spain and across Europe, especially among people looking for low-maintenance options. JardineriaOn looks at why they are taking over homes and offices.
The article distinguishes two types. Open terrariums need regular watering, while closed ones recycle their own water and nutrients. For open ones it recommends succulents and cacti, and for closed ones mosses, ferns and fittonias; it also mentions carnivorous plants.
To build one, it suggests choosing a glass container: a wide mouth for large plants, or a sealed jar for a self-sufficient ecosystem. Then comes a drainage layer of stones or gravel, activated charcoal to filter the water and prevent odors, and a suitable substrate. It should be placed away from direct sun, which can overheat the glass, and watered sparingly: closed ones barely at all, open ones every one or two weeks.
Among the benefits it cites educational use in schools to explain natural cycles and photosynthesis, and the therapeutic effect of contact with plants, with workshops for older people. I like the idea of a small world under glass that teaches patience and observation.
Source: JardineriaOn
Jonas Dupuich of Bonsai Tonight shares an honest update on a Cryptomeria that spent several years mostly left alone. The previous update was in 2020, when the tree got its first wiring, and after that it grew largely unattended.
In October 2023, while writing the Essential Bonsai Book, he used the tree as a case study. One session of pruning and wiring cleaned it up well because the basic structure was already in place. Then it went shaggy again over the next three years. He had left branches long in the earlier styling to avoid cutting too much at once, and by July 2026 it was clear the silhouette needed a big trim.
Volunteers Nicole and Gianne did most of the pruning. The tree was photographed from four sides to judge trunk shape and branch depth, and three large branches were removed, one on the left and two on the right. After that the tree was wired, with branches needed to fill in the sides and back so the shape works from every angle.
The takeaway is that Cryptomeria ideally needs one or two prunings a year, depending on growth. Regular maintenance is simple but tedious, and consistent work eventually pays off. I appreciated the candid tone about neglect, which many of us can relate to.
Source: Bonsai Tonight
Sometimes you buy a tree mainly for its trunk, and this juniper is a case in point. Bonsai Empire followed the tree over six years. It was about 20 years old when bought, and had already spent roughly ten years in the nursery being grown as material. It cost about 200 USD, a serious investment that the authors feel was justified by the strong trunk and its beautiful movement.
In the first year, a branch that had grown too thick was removed and replaced with younger, still flexible branches. Because the tree was healthy, around 30 to 40 percent of the foliage was taken off. Hanging shoots were removed, pairs of branches of similar thickness were chosen and wired upward from the main branches, using thinner wire for thinner branches.
When repotting, the drainage holes were covered with mesh and the tree was anchored with two long wires. Old, dark roots were removed, and the new substrate was akadama, lava rock and pumice. The old organic nursery soil is only replaced gradually at later repottings.
In years two to four there was little to do beyond maintenance pruning twice a year. In year five came fine work on the branching, rewiring and a second repotting. By year six the tree looks almost finished.
What I like most is the idea that a bonsai is never truly finished. Interestingly, the video title speaks of 26 years, which presumably includes the years in the nursery.
Source: Bonsai Empire
Sometimes you buy a tree mainly for its trunk, and that is exactly what happened here. Bonsai Empire followed a juniper of about 20 years old, which had already had roughly ten years of preparatory growth in the nursery. The tree cost around 200 USD. The makers call that a real investment, but they feel the thick trunk with its beautiful movement made it worth it.
At the first styling, a branch that had grown too thick was removed and replaced with younger branches that still bend well. Because the tree was healthy, around 30 to 40 percent of the foliage was taken off. Then hanging shoots and downward-growing twigs were cleared, branches of similar thickness were wired in pairs, and work proceeded from the main branches upward, with finer wire for finer branches.
The pot got attention too: drainage holes were covered with mesh, and two long wires were attached to anchor the tree firmly. Old, dark roots were removed, and the new soil was made of akadama, lava rock and pumice. The old organic soil disappears step by step at later repottings, to limit stress.
In years 2 to 4 little happened, apart from maintenance pruning twice a year. In year 5 came refinement of the branching, rewiring and a second repotting. In year 6 the tree looks almost finished.
What I personally like is the message that a bonsai is never really finished. The video title, by the way, mentions 26 years, presumably including the years in the nursery.
Source: Bonsai Empire
Cheap nursery stock is where most of us start, so this beginner-friendly spruce project caught my eye. Bonsai Empire took a five-year-old Picea abies from a local garden center, which cost about 15 USD, and followed it for roughly four years until it looked like a real bonsai.
The first step was repotting. The tree sat in poor, mostly organic soil, so it went into a mix of akadama, lava rock and pumice. They picked a round pot on purpose, so the tree's front could be decided later, and they did not style it yet. I like that patience: the tree gets time to settle before anyone starts cutting.
About six months later came the first styling, with pruning and wiring that left plenty of branches in place to keep options open. A year after that the branches were pruned again and detail-wired, which meant around two years of work had gone in. Then the tree was simply left to grow for about two years while the roots filled the pot and the branches thickened and ramified.
The second repotting removed old soil, trimmed the roots and moved the tree into fresh substrate and a pot chosen for the final design. The authors say that doing a little work per session, rather than one big overhaul, kept the project moving and developed the tree faster.
Personally, I find this reassuring. You do not need an expensive pre-bonsai to get started, and spruce is a species many beginners overlook. The lesson is mostly about restraint and timing.
Source: Bonsai Empire
Bonsai fans on the Côte d'Azur should mark their calendars. The Art Bonsaï Club association is holding a regional exhibition in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on Saturday, October 24 and Sunday, October 25, 2026.
The event takes place at the Espaces Les Néréides et Neptune in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. Entry is free, which makes it a good chance to discover this art without any commitment, whether you are simply curious or already passionate about it.
The program includes exhibitions, a competition, sales, demonstrations and lectures. The guest of honor is Jean-Pierre Cardinal. The event page does not list exact opening hours and says they are not guaranteed, so it is worth checking with the association before you go.
Personally, I like these regional shows: you get to see up close trees that have been shaped over decades, and the demonstrations show how a simple shrub slowly takes form. It is also a good chance to talk with the local enthusiasts.
Source: Côte d'Azur France
The World Bonsai Convention is one of the rare events where the bonsai world meets on a truly international scale. For the 10th edition, held in Kuala Lumpur, Bonsai Empire travelled to Malaysia and came back with a report on an exhibition unlike what we usually see in Europe or the US.
The convention is organised by the WBFF, whose guiding idea is World Peace Through Bonsai. It takes place every four years, with earlier editions in Japan, the United States, Korea, Germany, Puerto Rico, China and Australia. This edition's theme was Unity in Diversity, and the next convention in 2030 is planned for Maastricht in the Netherlands.
The exhibition was the centrepiece, with well over 150 bonsai on display. Tropical species such as Ficus, Wrightia and Bucida showed massive trunks, aerial roots, naturally powerful bases and finely developed crowns. There was also an International Suiseki Exhibition with 63 stones from 10 countries.
I find it exciting that a tradition so tied to temperate species looks this different in the tropics. The article shows the winning trees along with photos and a full video of the event.
Source: Bonsai Empire
At the end of July, the grounds of the Pendopo Ronggo Djumeno in Caruban, Madiun Regency, were full of tiny trees. The third Madiun Nyawiji Bonsai Festival ran for eight days, from July 25 to August 1, 2026, and I read the coverage with a smile.
The numbers are impressive for a regency-level festival. There were 404 bonsai entered, made up of 254 in the regular class and 150 in the golden small class. Participants came from Madiun itself and from across East and Central Java. The event wasn't just judging: there was an open public exhibition, sessions on how to shape bonsai, and a market for ornamental plants.
What I liked most were the words of two people there. One visitor, Lulu Humaira, said she was most drawn to mature bonsai, because caring for them takes time, patience, and persistence. The line I wrote down: enjoy the process, because no process is instant. It seems a perfect fit for this hobby, and also for those of us who like arranging terrariums or growing moss slowly.
The committee chair, Yanuar Ristianto, said the festival is not just a contest. In his view, it is a way to introduce the art of bonsai while opening economic opportunities in creative ornamental plants in Madiun Regency. He also hopes the enthusiasm of bonsai fans in the area will come back to life.
For me, news like this is encouraging, because it shows that local bonsai communities are still alive and slowly growing, not only in big cities. I hope this festival becomes a yearly event.
Source: RRI.co.id (Madiun)
