Botany for Bonsai

Castano de la Serna, Enrique

In Botany for Bonsai: The Science Behind the Art, Enrique Castaño de la Serna brings together his academic background in biology and his expertise as a bonsai practitioner to deliver a unique resource for bonsai enthusiasts who wish to deepen their understanding of how trees grow, respond to stress, and can be guided deliberately through horticultural and design interventions. The volume covers topics ranging from cellular structure, meristematic activity and hormone regulation to root and shoot interactions, substrate and environmental factors, and how these influence the aesthetic and structural decisions made in bonsai. With the goal of helping bonsai‑artists ‘predict, and to some extent control’, tree behaviour over weeks, months and years, the book acts as a bridge between botany and bonsai — making it especially valuable for those in climates such as Manitoba who must work with species challenging to maintain under non‑native conditions.

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