Learn Bonsai

Introduction to Bonsai Course

This is a course of six workshops organised in two sessions. The first session is four weekly workshops in the spring and the second session is two weekly follow up workshops in the autumn. The course, on Tuesday evenings, starts on 1 September 2026.

The cost of the course is $130 and includes:

Six one hour instructional sessions
Guidance from experienced bonsai practitioners at each session
A tree to create your own bonsai
Use of bonsai club tools and supply of wire for shaping branches
A training bonsai pot and soil to pot your bonsai
Membership of the Otago Bonsai Society for one year

Venue

The workshops are held at the Mercy hall St Andrew Street South Dunedin from 6.30pm – 7.30pm. The first and last meetings will close 10 minutes early to enable the setup of the Otago Bonsai Society meeting to which you are invited to attend as part of the course.

Registration

The course is limited to a maximum of 10 participants and we anticipate demand will exceed this capacity. Expressions of interest must be received by Monday 20 July.

Notification will be sent to those accepted by Monday 27 July and those not successful will be placed on a waiting list.

Course objectives are to:

Enable an understanding of the principles of the art of bonsai
Create your own bonsai
Provide advice and support for the ongoing care of your bonsai

Your bonsai will grow and change with the seasons. As such it is never finished and you will have a treasure for a long time that will require care and attention throughout the year. Membership of the Otago Bonsai Society will provide advice as to how to continue with the development of your tree and its ongoing care.

Why two separate sessions?

The first session creates the style and shape of your bonsai. This places stress on the tree and the intervening period allows recovery before potting the tree, which again causes further stress. By this means your tree will be healthier at the end of the process and more likely to thrive.

FIRST SESSION

Week 1 – 1st September 2026

Orientation to the art of bonsai –such as the basic concepts, history, general principles and bonsai styles
Select a tree from the group of trees provided by OBS
Attend the Otago Bonsai Society meeting starting at 7.30pm

Week 2 – 8^th September 2026

Design – a discussion of bonsai styles and the initial design of your bonsai
Preparing the tree for week 3

Week 3 – 16^th September 2026

Wiring the tree and initial branch placement

Week 4 – 23 September 2026

Refining the design of your bonsai
Discussion on tree care over the summer & early autumn

SECOND SESSION

Week 5 – 23rd February 2027

How to choose and prepare a pot
Potting your tree

Week 6 – 2 March 2027

A review and recap of sessions 1-5
Guidance on the ongoing care and development of your tree
Display of your tree at the Otago Bonsai meeting starting at 7.30pm (display of your tree is optional)

OBS Introductory Bonsai Registration Form

Course starts Tuesday 1st September 2026. Expressions of interest to be received by Monday 20 July 2026. Those accepted on the course must pay the course fee ($130) by Monday 3 August 2026.

First Name

Last Name

Phone

Postal Address

Sometimes bonsai fail to thrive or die and this happens even to experienced practitioners from time to time. While every effort is made to ensure that the bonsai you produce is healthy there can be no guarantees that it will thrive and in signing this form you accept this condition.

I Accept

Payment Payment by bank transfer is to be made after your application has been accepted when you will be notified of the account name and number.

Confirmation of your place on the course will be notified as soon as payment is made. Payments must be made by Monday 3 August 2026 or that place will be offered to those on the waiting list.

For further enquiries and information, please email otagobonsai.workshop@gmail.com