In Vivo Bonsai

31/03/2026

To my followers in SE Ohio, check out The Taproot Collective in Athens! They are a new local houseplant, art, and flower shop! They have some of my indoor bonsai for sale as well. You'll see which on my website.

https://www.invivobonsai.com/p/bonsai-trees-for-sale.html

NEW UPDATE! We now have punch cards✨ for every $10 spend a punch will be given. Once completed a 10% discount will be yours!

This post features a purple passion plant, string of pearls and a gollum jade!

Come take a closer look at 14 W Stimson Ave. in Athens Ohio. See you soon!

20/03/2026

Which planting angle do you prefer for my larch?

I've put a lot of things on hold lately while I move my nursery and focus on my real work this spring. I discontinued my Etsy seed/guide sales for now (meant to make a post announcing that), less things, handed off the treasurer role, less time for private workshops/study groups this spring, and I haven't dug many trees this spring for the first time in a while. But some things in bonsai need more immediate attention, and that is our limited repotting window in early spring. This tanuki larch which I planted a few years ago into a kintsugi pot (and is a subject of a prior article on InVivoBonsai.com) has a new crack appearing in the pot, so it should be repotted before frost expands it and breaks it again next winter.

I briefly considered a more traditional unglazed pot but wasn't particularly interested in that combination for this tree. Instead, my focus has gone to this Colin Lewis pot I got at the last US National Bonsai Exhibit. I just have to decide on the planting angle. Originally last year, I restyled the tree thinking it would be more upright at the next repot, but the crescent evokes for me a cliff and could give a naturalistic reason for the slant design. Maybe a rock fall hit the tree and nearly made it fall over in its past... or maybe upright looks better. What do people think?

I think the curve of the trunk reiteration looks better in the slant position, but the deadwood carving is not as visible there. Bonsai is full of tradeoffs. The tree still has a ways to go in the future as the canopy is just starting to ramify and further adjustments are needed there. It is probably about a 9 year old seedling now.

16/02/2026

I mentioned it to a few people at the meeting yesterday, but I am moving my nursery locally and therefore downsizing a bit. I've got pots, indoor/outdoor trees, cool deadwood specimen, pumice, bonsai soil, tools, some books. Some pots and trees and tools are added to my website/Etsy but a good amount you have to see in person. There's a 15% discount code in the 3 recent episodes and I'll make available locally too. Sale runs through 4/1 in Columbus with delivery possible to Cincinnati later this week or to Ann Arbor in mid-late April.

Also, I have a 20'x10' metal greenhouse I used the last 2 winters that I want to give away for free. It is spacious inside and holds up well to wind but needs support for heavy snow. I took the cover off before our big snow so it wouldn't get crushed by the weight. My bonsai club or followers gets first dibs before I post it more widely locally.

Trees
https://www.invivobonsai.com/p/bonsai-trees-for-sale.html
Pots
https://www.invivobonsai.com/p/pots-for-sale.html
All sale products. Message me if you have questions beyond what is on the website or are looking for anything in particular!
https://www.invivobonsai.com/p/sales.html

If you are in the Cincinnati or Ann Arbor bonsai clubs and want me to bring anything to you when I visit, let me know!

17/01/2026

13/01/2026

One of our recent guests was John Geanangel of Gaston, South Carolina. Over the years, John has shown his creativity and horticultural mastery in many areas of bonsai practice, including azaleas, wild-collected trees native to his area (broadleaf, pines, and bald cypress), growing from seed, and forest and slab plantings. In our chat though, before we got into his methods, we first focused on his background in bonsai and how he became to be the headliner artist for the Bonsai in the Blue Ridge 2026 American Bonsai Society Learning Seminar in Asheville, NC. We also discussed what you can expect as an attendee and the behind the scenes for John's 3 bald cypress workshops.

Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts, on our Youtube, or our website. Full show notes with more pictures of John's works and links to the ABS show information is on our website.
https://www.bonsaitimepodcast.com/2025/12/from-school-teacher-to-bonsai-in-blue.html

20/12/2025

Have you always wanted to know the right way to care for and train a bonsai tree? Gift yourself or a friend the gift of knowledge, relaxation, and fun with tickets to my next Bonsai on Tap event Nocterra Brewing Co. on Saturday, 1/17/2026. We will cover the essential basics for bonsai watering, light requirements, fertilizer, repotting, pruning, and designing with a long-term plan in this Intro to Indoor Bonsai workshop. Sign up at the GA bargain tier for a plastic bonsai pot, the GA Ceramic tier for a locally made Ancient Art Bonsai pot, or just come as a silent observer for free to learn the art! All participants receive one 2-3 year old tropical indoor bonsai (jade, dwarf jade, ficus, etc.), 2 pots, hands-on instruction, a care guide to take home, one drink of your choice, and 50% off the Bonsai Society and Central Ohio Cactus and Succulent Society Annual memberships. As I mentioned in my last post, some of the species options do well with watering as little as 1x/month, while others I water more like 2x/week, so we can pick a tree that will be right for you and your home.

Sign up by 12/31 for the early bird discount at the link below or at the link in bio!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bonsai-on-tap-at-nocterra-brewing-co-relax-sip-learn-and-make-a-bonsai-registration-1977734309559

27/09/2025

I will be back vending and styling trees at my booth for the 3rd year in a row at the Cincinnati Bonsai Show October 4-5. Let me know if you want me to bring anything in particular!

30/08/2025

Damn Ohio Koi has a pretty intense operation! They are expanding their greenhouses and japanese garden in the coming year and they also have their own permanent bonsai collection. Pretty sweet place for me to set up for a few hours. Come say hi while I'm here in Sunbury, OH today for their labor day weekend sale.

The will be back here for our October meeting (potluck and member tree sale/swap) on 10/19.

28/08/2025

If anyone wants to hang out and work on trees, I will be at Ohio Koi this Saturday for a labor day sale event they are having. I'll be selling some starter trees and working on some too. I can save extra space if someone else wants to work on trees and help rep CBS. Let me know! I will be there in Sunbury ~9am-5pm.