{"id":71390,"date":"2026-05-23T23:45:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T21:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/how-do-i-get-started-with-bonsai-by-talking-trees-at-a-bonsai-show"},"modified":"2026-05-23T23:45:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T21:45:11","slug":"how-do-i-get-started-with-bonsai-by-talking-trees-at-a-bonsai-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koiquestion.com\/en\/how-do-i-get-started-with-bonsai-by-talking-trees-at-a-bonsai-show","title":{"rendered":"How do I get started with bonsai? By talking trees at a bonsai show!"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

Bonsai Show Leersum: in search of Jeroen’s very first Bonsai<\/h1>\n

Anyone who thinks that KoiQuestion<\/abbr><\/strong> is all about koi may be missing the most beautiful part of the hobby: the door to broader Japanese culture. Because sooner or later the paths of koi and bonsai cross. During the Bonsai Show in Leersum<\/strong>, organized by the Bonsai Vereniging Midden-Nederland<\/strong>, we delved with Jeroen into a world of miniature trees, tranquil landscapes and people who sometimes have been working on one living composition for forty years. <\/p>\n

In the Sports and Cultural Center De Binder in Leersum,<\/strong> hundreds of bonsai were carefully presented. Not as plants, but as living works of art. Complete forests on a scale, weathered trunks reminiscent of ancient mountain landscapes and subtle “front gardens” – the so-called kusamono<\/em> or accent plants; which completed the story around the tree. <\/p>\n

From koi to bonsai: same passion, different form<\/h4>\n

What struck us immediately was how similar the bonsai world is to the koi world. Again, it’s all about patience, development, aesthetics and above all: passion. Like koi, trees are judged on balance, appearance, character and presentation. Some bonsai were on raised tables in almost theatrical arrangements, as if you were watching a miniature set from a Japanese movie. <\/p>\n

\"Frank
Frank and Glenn work together in the demonstration of a bonsai transformed from wild bush to beautiful bonsai in a few hours<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And just like at a koi show, we met professionals here. People who talk for hours about proportions between trunk and pot, the direction of a branch or the right moss covering around the root base. Because yes, we learned that too this day: a bonsai pot is never just a pot. The height of the pot must be proportional to the thickness of the trunk and the look of the tree. A powerful tree requires stability. An elegant tree, on the contrary, requires subtlety. <\/p>\n

“A bonsai is not actually a tree … but a feeling that you are trying to hold on to,” he said.<\/h3>\n

Jeroen looks for his first Bonsai<\/h4>\n

The adventure began with one simple question: where do you start as a beginner?<\/em> Together with Jeroen, we toured the stands in search of his first bonsai tree. Along the way we talked to members of the organization, experienced growers and passionate hobbyists who took us into the world of styles such as Chokkan<\/em> (formal upright), Moyogi<\/em> (informal upright) and forest plantings that suggest entire landscapes. <\/p>\n

We also learned about popular starter species such as the Acer palmatum<\/strong> (Japanese maple), Chinese elm, Juniperus and various pines. The Acer in particular managed to impress with its sophisticated leaf texture and seasonal colors. A tree that looks beautiful, but also requires attention in terms of location, pruning and water management. <\/p>\n