Category: Favorite Things

Building My Bonsai Cold Frame In Minnesota

By Celina Blandford

My first year starting bonsai, winter care seemed the most intimidating aspect of keeping trees in Minnesota. 

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Unless you only keep tropicals, outdoor winter protection for your trees is a necessary part of caring for bonsai in Minnesota. My first year of bonsai I stored my tree with Lionel Flood (he offers this great service, lionelflood2@gmail.com) for the winter, but I knew I had to build a cold frame if I wanted to expand my collection. I toured a lot of members cold frames at the member tour and got a lot of great tips from experienced members. I hope this article helps and you find that winter care isn’t scary or intimidating at all.

Indoor Greenhouse

by Scott Vanderlinde

As the number of tropical trees that I have has grown, I have run out of south facing window space in my house so I use this greenhouse for some of my tropical trees during the winter. It is approximately 4 feet wide by 5 feet long by 7 feet high. It is tall enough for me to walk inside.

Chopsticks

by Dale Krueger

Check these out. One of my favorite new tools for bonsai are the homemade chopsticks I make for re-potting trees.