Best Bonsai Matsu Scott Martin Podcasts (2025)

1
Season 7 Episode 21 - Developing Bonsai in Bite Size Chunks, Trunk Selection and Perspective 29:09

Play Pause

3d ago29:09

29:09

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Seeing the end target for your bonsai in the developmental stage can be challenging. Breaking the development of your bonsai into bite size chunks can be so helpful in keeping everything on track. Perspective in any form of design is so important. When reviewing your bonsai, your perspective will allow you to see com…

1
Season 7 Episode 20 - Yamadori Vs Nursery Stock, Terminal Issues with your Bonsai and Leaf Removal 32:11

10d ago32:11

32:11

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu After recently visiting a bonsai show and seeing some amazing bonsai that were collected trees or yamadori, I think it is important to chat about expectations when comparing these nature impacted trees with nursery or 'man grown' stock. Can we compete with Mother Nature?? Terminal issues like wilt can and do occur an…

1
Season 7 Episode 19 - Styling Considerations for Conifers, Right Now and Bonsai Moss 33:10

17d ago33:10

33:10

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Right now is a very important time for your bonsai, they are heading towards dormancy and how you manage their needs is critical to their future development. It is also a time to be neck deep in needles while styling your conifers. I have a styling consideration checklist for you to consider that I find a valuable to…

1
Season 7 Episode 18 - My Time with Salvatore Liporace in Italy 31:19

24d ago31:19

31:19

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu What an experience! I was fortunate enough to spend some one on one time with the Italian bonsai master Salvatore Liporace in Milan in the north of Italy at his property. Salvatore, who originally studied under Mr Kimura in Japan, has travelled the world extensively demonstrating and presenting and is renowned for hi…

1
Season 7 Episode 17 - Is Too Much of a Good Thing Bad, Time for Pines! 28:20

1M ago28:20

28:20

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Is too much of a good thing bad for you? Maybe if it’s chocolate, but does that apply if it’s bonsai?? I don’t think so…and there’s a good reason for that too. Every tree provides you with the opportunity to learn and develop both personally and for your approach to future bonsai. We always have so much to learn from…

1
Season 7 Episode 16 - Bonsai Fear, When Short Cuts Take Longer 28:40

1M ago28:40

28:40

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu How do you overcome the fear of working on your bonsai? One backward step can shatter your confidence but you must get back on the horse and keep moving forward. Bonsai confidence comes with experience and seeing the results of your hard work over long periods of time. Only you can change you! You remember the old sa…

1
Season 7 Episode 15 - The Bonsai Easter Edition, Tool Care, Where Would I Be Without Bonsai 30:57

1M ago30:57

30:57

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Your bonsai are only as good as the tools you use and the maintenance you undertake. Over time your tools will deteriorate and you can feel it as it happens. I run through the maintenance of my tool kit and how to ‘test’ your tools for wear and tear. It might be time for an upgrade! Bonsai for me is everything and I …

1
Season 7 Episode 14 - Mid Autumn Work, Cedar Maintenance 29:12

2M ago29:12

29:12

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu It’s time for a mid Autumn or Fall check in. There are lots of jobs that need to be done at this time of the year and plenty to keep an eye on too. I like to run through a final checklist before it’s too late to make a difference. Cedars as bonsai are just brilliant, with so many variations on styling and colour of t…

1
Season 7 Episode 13 - Pines and Autumn/Fall, What Work is Needed 30:24

2M ago30:24

30:24

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Understanding when to commence the Autumn/Winter work on your pines as well as the work to undertake is extremely important if you are going to manage their needs correctly. There are also considerations to make if you plan on showing your pine at a later point in time. Different species of pine need different techni…

1
Season 7 Episode 12 - Creative Days, The Story Behind the Bonsai 28:39

2M ago28:39

28:39

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu There is nothing I enjoy more than letting my creative bonsai juices flow! It is never at the expense of the tree in front of me but it’s nice to think outside of the square every now and then. What is the story behind your bonsai? Does it have one? Is it important? What if there is no story? Every great story has a …

1
Season 7 Episode 11 - Branch Cutters, Perfect Practice, Apex Design and Proportion 30:56

2M ago30:56

30:56

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Branch cutters are an essential tool when it comes to bonsai but they are commonly abused and misused. I love them and have them in a range of different sizes and shapes. I want to run through how I use them to get the best results. And the old saying of ‘Practice makes Perfect’ isn’t necessarily correct. It should b…

1
Season 7 Episode 10 - Bonsai Wire and Bonsai, The Bonsai Mosh Pit 33:46

3M ago33:46

33:46

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Bonsai wire and bonsai go together like Vegemite and hot buttered toast! We use wire for design and horticultural requirements for our bonsai and quite honestly I believe we would be lost without it. In this podcast I chat about all things wire, wire removal, reusing, copper versus aluminium, bending, time frames, st…

1
Season 7 Episode 9 - Early Autumn and Your Bonsai, Branch Selection Puzzle 33:55

3M ago33:55

33:55

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Autumn is a brilliant time for your trees. They may be starting to show some colour or they may not but they are already working very hard to become a better version of themselves and they need your care and assistance. Understanding the process they go through will help you become a better practitioner. Feeding, pes…

1
Season 7 Episode 8 - Autumn Fertilising - my strategy, Design Tip for Top Down View 30:36

3M ago30:36

30:36

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Autumn or Fall is an extremely important time for your bonsai and you have a key responsibility to ensure you do your bit. Fertilising is really important and now is the time to get started. The why, how and my strategy for fertilising is really simply and easily replicated. When I design or work on bonsai, one of th…

1
Season 7 Episode 7 - Formal Upright Bonsai Considerations, Weaknesses Exposed by Summer 32:41

3M ago32:41

32:41

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu As we head towards the end of the southern hemisphere Summer period, it is a great time to pat yourself on the back for helping your bonsai make it through another tough period. Have a look at what has done well and accept the satisfaction as to why. Where trees have not faired quite so well it is time to review why …

1
Season 7 Episode 6 - Bonsai Carving Tips and Tricks 45:55

4M ago45:55

45:55

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Carving and bonsai seem to go hand in hand. I think everyone I have ever spoken to about bonsai over the years has mentioned carving at one time or another. And carving, good carving, takes skill and technique. Texture, the need to appear 'natural' and staying safe are all very important! How you work with an electri…

1
Season 7 Episode 5 - Do the Maintenance, Why Do You Do Bonsai, Focus for Now 36:31

4M ago36:31

36:31

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu So what got you into bonsai initially? I bet it's not what keeps you in bonsai now. I find it is important to reflect back on the start of your journey as you can sometimes lose sight of what make you happy. Do the maintenance! And do it first!! Big decisions can wait and the maintenance work will clear the path for …

1
Season 7 Episode 4 - My Fertilising Program for Late Summer, Sometimes You Need to Wait 31:39

4M ago31:39

31:39

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu We are in the last month of Summer and while there are certain trees I will fertilise, there are also trees I will not. I run through my program right now and how it could apply to your bonsai garden. I also have a tale of a poor pomegranate that almost made it to the green waste bin but didn't thank goodness! The le…

1
Season 7 Episode 3 - Banksia as Bonsai, When to Stop Persisting 34:59

4M ago34:59

34:59

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu One of the most iconic Australian species of tree is the grand Banksia and there are 173 different species (according to natureaustralia.org.au). They make the most magnificent bonsai and there are 'rules' to their successful care and I think everyone should have at least one in their collection. The Banksia has so m…

1
Season 7 Episode 2 - Bonsai Work Practices, Bonsai Respect and Be Like a Forest 35:16

5M ago35:16

35:16

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu When you are working on any of your bonsai, at any stage of their journey, you need to have focus. There are some key areas of my work I give particular attention to and they make all the difference. Remember it's the 1% that can have a massive impact. You need to respect the bonsai that is in front of you here and n…

1
Season 7 Episode 1 - My Process for Juniper work, Plans for 2025 39:39

5M ago39:39

39:39

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Welcome to Season 7 of the Bonsai Stuff podcast! 2025 is going to be a brilliant year for bonsai and to kick things off I'll let you know my 3 step simple plan for the year and my bonsai commitment. Post holidays it is time to dust off the cobwebs and get back to bonsai. This is my time to work on my junipers too and…

1
Season 6 Episode 51 - Bonsai Matsu Highlights, Podcast Favourites, My Bonsai World 29:52

5M ago29:52

29:52

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Well 2024 is done and there has been so many highlights for me personally as well as with my bonsai. I chat about a few of my podcast favourites and how small incremental improvements with my bonsai make me happy. During the year I travelled for bonsai, I travelled a lot! From one corner of Australia to the other as …

1
Season 6 Episode 50 - Pre Christmas Bonsai Work Checklist, Sacrifice Branches 31:21

5M ago31:21

31:21

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu With the holiday season upon us, now is the time to devote some special attention to our bonsai. I run through my pre-Christmas checklist of jobs that I look to have completed before the Summer break. With decandling now being completed, well for me anyway, I talk about sacrifice branches and how I looked at my Japan…

1
Season 6 Episode 49 - Process for Design, Australian Bonsai and Omiya, Bonsai Immersion 44:14

6M ago44:14

44:14

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu So you've got a beautiful tree, lovely trunk, great foliage but how and where do you start your design process? I've got a simple procedure I use that helps you get the result without possibly knowing what the design is before starting. Australia bonsai has taken another leap forward and I have a chat with Leigh Taaf…

1
Season 6 Episode 48 - Decandling and When Not to, Aaron Curtis from Shiro, Watering Frequency 34:16

6M ago34:16

34:16

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu The Decandling process on Japanese Black Pines can be very rewarding and often seen as the key to successfully developing them into magnificent bonsai. But it can also be disastrous. So you need to know when not to decandle. I recently had a long term student at Bonsai Matsu who undertook an immersive intensive learn…

1
Season 6 Episode 47 - Bonsai Advice, Bonsai Empire and Shinji Suzuki, Broken Pots 38:44

6M ago38:44

38:44

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu So you're given some advice about your bonsai. What should you do with it? Will it have a positive or a negative effect on your bonsai? It is possible that well meaning advice may well be the completely wrong thing for you and your bonsai. I also get to have a chat with Oscar Jonker from Bonsai Empire about an entire…

1
Season 6 Episode 46 - Trunk Development Strategy, Summer Plans and Mishaps 31:39

6M ago31:39

31:39

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu The very first focus when 'building' a bonsai should be the trunk and the nebari. If you do not have the correct plan in place then you will never achieve the bonsai that you desire. Working on ramification will not result in trunk development. Let's have a look at what the difference is. Summer is nearly here and yo…

1
Season 6 Episode 45 - The Candle Cutting Procedure for Single Flush Pines, Quality Vs Quantity 36:55

7M ago36:55

36:55

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu One of the most important processes I use with my single flush pines is Candle Cutting, not decandling and in this podcast I explain the process as well as the difference between these two tasks. I also chat about the species I use this technique on and more importantly which I do not. It's a must for any pine lover.…

1
Season 6 Episode 44 - Podcasting on the Road, Fungal Issues and Bonsai 35:25

7M ago35:25

35:25

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Here's a little behind the curtain look at podcasting while travelling! After 8 weeks on the road it has meant being 'resourceful' about how and where to record this podcast. Fungal issues in trees are a bit of a nightmare and so much worse for bonsai. They are often best avoided, but you need to know what to look fo…

1
Season 6 Episode 43 - Western Australian Bonsai Love and Quokkas 29:04

7M ago29:04

29:04

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Western Australia is a beautiful part of the world and in particular the south west corner as a pretty special place for bonsai. They have incredible local native species which are perfect for bonsai. I have been fortunate to be involved with the clubs in Perth, Mandurah, Bunbury and Albany for over 4 weeks and have …

1
Season 6 Episode 42 - Pre Summer Planning, Your Design, Oh No to Oh Yes! 38:45

7M ago38:45

38:45

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu We it's official! Summer is just around the corner and being prepared is the best approach to caring for your bonsai during a period of extended extreme heat. Planning now for that time is the only way. I also have a final word on bonsai design and to clarify it's up to you and absolutely no one else. The only real c…

1
Season 6 Episode 41 - Let's Talk Defoliation, Reignite Your Bonsai Spark 37:07

8M ago37:07

37:07

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu So let's talk about defoliation, it's a great technique but needs to be used with extreme caution. I discuss the various types of defoliation, the reason for the timing as well as most importantly, why. And that term Bud Conveyor gets a work out again. What should you do if you lose your bonsai spark? This is really …

1
Season 6 Episode 40 - An Alternative to Windswept, Mid Spring Chores 31:43

8M ago31:43

31:43

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu I don't like windswept bonsai. It's nothing personal and I want to chat about why. But more importantly I want to propose an alternative. While we manipulate trees to our will, nature is more often than not a great influencer of design and what 'looks right'. So stick with me and hear me out. Also, mid Spring has a f…

1
Season 6 Episode 39 - After the Spring Burst What's Next and Ants.... 28:00

8M ago28:00

28:00

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu As we head towards the middle of the Spring period, it's time to think about what's next. Planning for what you need to do in 3-4 weeks now allows you to take steps to ensure your bonsai continues to take steps forward. There's nothing worse than getting to a time when you need to take action but have missed the boat…

1
Season 6 Episode 38 - Is Bigger Really Better? When Bonsai Size matters 39:27

8M ago39:27

39:27

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu While there are lots of size classifications I prefer small, medium and large for my bonsai. Each size has its benefits but also a down side. Large bonsai always seem to take the chocolates at shows, why? Are they really better? Is bigger better? I have lots of bonsai and lots of various sizes and I want to explain w…

1
Season 6 Episode 37 - Spiders and Bonsai, AI Images of Bonsai and Your Plan 27:22

8M ago27:22

27:22

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Spring has well and truly sprung and with that comes a morning faceful of spider webs as I walk through the yard. Can spiders damage our bonsai? No and yes. I talk about my approach and what they are a trigger for me to do and check. In an age of AI generated information and images, I talk about what we should do to …

1
Season 6 Episode 36 - Bonsai in the Tropics, Bonsai Educators and Collected Trees 35:14

9M ago35:14

35:14

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu I have been fortunate to travel recently again and this time up to Far North Queensland to Cairns and to Brisbane with a fantastic club called Bimer Bonsai Club. I not only enjoyed myself but learnt quite a lot about growing different species in a completely different environment to what I am used to. I love learning…

1
Season 6 Episode 35 - Fertilising and the Link to Repotting, Pinching, Candle Breaking and Spring 26:50

9M ago26:50

26:50

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Fertilising your bonsai is a must but how much and how frequent? As there are different stages of development which affect the fertilising of your bonsai so too does the period since the tree was repotted. It is a complex situation and being close to your bonsai is the key. The arrival of Spring comes with a list of …

1
Season 6 Episode 34 - Pruning Prunus, Fertilising Raw Stock in Development 25:26

9M ago25:26

25:26

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Flowers on a prunus variety bonsai are just incredible! And to achieve these flowers I prune them in a very specific way. I discuss the method I use to successful help have my prunus flower yearly. And it's that time again where repotting has finished, the sun is shining and it's time to actively fertilise your bonsa…

1
Season 6 Episode 33 - Nebari Work, Large Cuts and 'Chipping' In, Watering Systems 35:07

9M ago35:07

35:07

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Is it wrong to use an automated watering system? You must decide what is best for you and your bonsai. Here's a bit of a chat about living with bonsai. The nebari on your trees is one of the most beautiful features and it is developed over a very long period of time. You must work it and make it happen. When removing…

1
Season 6 Episode 32 - Repotting Learnings, What Happens Post Repotting, Spring Preparations 34:30

10M ago34:30

34:30

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu As the main repotting season comes to a close it is time to reflect upon my learnings. Developing stock and the soil mix you use, does it make a difference? What if you don't repot but are worried, what should you do? There is a procedure you can use the may help. After repotting, there are times you need to be caref…

1
Season 6 Episode 31 - The Great Olive Dig! 41:00

10M ago41:00

41:00

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu What started as a laugh and a chat over a meal turned into The Great Olive Dig which included 1600km round trip, some blood loss, loads of laughs and tales as well as some pretty spectacular olives being harvested to become magnificent bonsai in the future. What a weekend it was! Listen in for this adventure before t…

1
Season 6 Episode 30 - Hit the Reset Button, Planning and Expectations, Large Root Removal 43:20

10M ago43:20

43:20

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu When undertaking significant procedures with your bonsai, planning is the key to success as is the expectation of the outcome. I tell a story about an informal upright juniper that was made into a cascade with some serious bends. In order to improve the structure of your bonsai sometimes you need to take drastic step…

1
Season 6 Episode 29 - Bonsai Related Injuries you should try and avoid 34:10

10M ago34:10

34:10

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Over the years of 'doing' bonsai or more like being obsessed by them, I must say I have had my fair share of 'love related' injuries. From the old finger slice numbers 1, 2 and 3 through to high speed injuries. This podcast has something I think everyone can relate to. I hope you enjoy and more importantly learn from…

1
Season 6 Episode 28 - The Styling Edition! Design Compromise, Styling Consideration for Australian Natives 44:36

11M ago44:36

44:36

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Why must there be a compromise when it comes to the design of your bonsai? Is it better to live with it or start again? Can you split the difference? Should you? All questions I ask myself and sometimes I ignore my own advice. Australian natives are increasing in popularity and I want to chat about some styling consi…

1
Season 6 Episode 27 - Bonsai Pot Considerations, To Tie or Not to Tie, Yard Work in Winter 43:51

11M ago43:51

43:51

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu With bonsai repotting season well under way the pot or container you use for your bonsai is a serious consideration and I have some thoughts on sizing and design of the pot. And when you repot, in order to avoid damage or wasting the tree's resources, you really should securely fasten your bonsai to the pot. There ar…

1
Season 6 Episode 26 - Talk About Soil, Wiring Once and Bonsai Etiquette 32:53

11M ago32:53

32:53

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu With repotting season officially kicking off I want to start with talking about removing old soil and an experience I had recently. Wiring your bonsai to style them takes time and skill and I have a little tip that will help you do it once only. Don't wire light as you'll pay the price. I recently went along to a bon…

1
Season 6 Episode 25 - Interview with Marcela Ferreira about Australian Native Bonsai 29:37

11M ago29:37

29:37

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu Marcela is seriously one of the nicest bonsai people you will ever meet and her passion for Australian Native trees being used as bonsai is unmatched. I have a chat with her about the Victorian Native Bonsai Club, its inception and growth as well as what it offers to members around the country (and world). They are a…

1
Season 6 Episode 24 - Making Split Decisions, Confusing Times, Look at What's in Front of You 20:17

12M ago20:17

20:17

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu When you're pruning it is very common that you will need to make a split decision based on the branching structure you are working through. The angle of the bud is very important as is the strength of the growth but you need to consider what is horticulturally the best choice. And in a world full of noise, it's impor…

1
Season 6 Episode 23 - Trick to Removing Buried Wire, Buying Time, Is it Unique? 34:58

12M ago34:58

34:58

Contact Scott from Bonsai Matsu When wire is left on too long (and it will be), what is the best way to remove it? I discuss a few tricks and techniques I use which help minimise the damage to your bonsai. Important decisions shouldn't be rushed either, you need to buy yourself some time. I have a range of different things that I do to help take th…