The Bonsai Beginner's Bible

A comprehensive beginner’s reference by Peter Chan, founder of Herons Bonsai, the UK’s leading bonsai nursery. Chan has won 21 Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medals for his bonsai displays and has been teaching the craft since 1986. This book collects decades of practical experience into a thorough guide aimed squarely at people picking up their first tree.

Why Consider This Book

Where Dupuich’s book is compact and focused, Chan’s Beginner’s Bible is expansive. At 320 pages, it covers considerably more ground, including a directory of over 90 popular bonsai species with photographs and care requirements for each. If you want a single reference book that you can return to as questions arise over your first few years, this is the one to get.

Chan covers all the fundamentals: shaping with wire, pruning for structure and refinement, watering, feeding, repotting, and dealing with common pests and diseases. The species directory is the highlight, giving you specific guidance on which trees work well in different climates and experience levels. The book is well illustrated throughout with photographs that show techniques at each stage.

What to Expect

This is a book you will dip into repeatedly rather than read cover to cover. Its encyclopedic approach makes it an excellent desk reference once you have the basics down. The trade-off is that it can feel less focused than a shorter guide when you are just getting started. For many growers, the ideal approach is to begin with a concise introduction and then move to Chan’s book as their collection grows and they need species-specific advice.