Mastering the Art of Bonsai: Growing and Shaping Techniques

The Anatomy of a Bonsai Tree

A course by Alex Mendoza , Bonsai artist and nursery owner

51 students

Audio: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Portuguese

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About the video: The Anatomy of a Bonsai Tree

Overview

“Let's talk about the anatomy of a bonsai tree, from its roots to its foliage. You'll also dive deeper into the structure of a leaf and how each part contributes to the overall health and design of the tree.”

In this video lesson Alex Mendoza addresses the topic: The Anatomy of a Bonsai Tree, which is part of the Domestika online course: Mastering the Art of Bonsai: Growing and Shaping Techniques. Master bonsai art with step-by-step techniques for pruning, wiring, and repotting to create stunning miniature trees.

Partial transcription of the video

“The shape and the aesthetics of a tree is very important, but just as important, if not more important, is the health of your tree. But to understand the health of your tree, you're gonna need to understand the anatomy of a tree. And what you see here is a tiger bark ficus. And in this lesson, we're going to be discussing the anatomy. Of a bonsai tree. So every tree has a root system. The ROO system serves two purposes. The first purpose is for stability. In nature, you're gonna see a lot of these roots on the trees and they elongate parallel and they go very, very far so that the tree can ...”

This transcript is automatically generated, so it may contain mistakes.

Course summary for: Mastering the Art of Bonsai: Growing and Shaping Techniques

Level: Beginner
51 students
4 units
15 lessons (2h 27m)
4 downloads

Category
Craft
Areas
DIY, Floral & Plant Design

Alex Mendoza

A course by Alex Mendoza

Teacher Plus

Bonsai artist and nursery owner

Alex Mendoza is a bonsai artist and nursery owner based in Miami, Florida, originally from Guatemala. His journey began in childhood with a fascination for miniatures, which later evolved into a deep connection with the art of bonsai. What started as a therapeutic practice during the pandemic soon became a thriving business, drawing a wide audience through social media and earning recognition at state-level exhibitions.

Alex blends artistic intuition with horticultural expertise, guiding enthusiasts through the creative and technical aspects of bonsai cultivation. His approach emphasizes harmony with nature and long-term tree development, supported by a deep understanding of species care, pruning, wiring, and design. Influenced by artists like Peter Chan and Bjorn Bjorholm, he continues to share his knowledge through hands-on instruction, social platforms, and workshops aimed at building confident, thoughtful bonsai creators.