The Sphagnum Moss Bonsai Method
Summary
Genre: BookPros:
Highlights a different way of raising your bonsai trees.Cons:
Could have been organized differently to make more readable.When The Sphagnum Moss Bonsai Method arrived at my house, I was initially disappointed by the picture on the cover. It is a photo of a lonely little tree looking quite young and undeveloped. I wondered why Gerald M. Levitt would choose that of all trees to be the first thing the reader would see. [...]
When The Sphagnum Moss Bonsai Method arrived at my house, I was initially disappointed by the picture on the cover. It is a photo of a lonely little tree looking quite young and undeveloped. I wondered why Gerald M. Levitt would choose that of all trees to be the first thing the reader would see. I was interested in the book, however, as soon as I read the title. I found myself wondering, “What in the world is the Sphagnum Moss Method?”
I immediately began skimming over the pages. I found that the “method” was all about replacing the standard potting media with nothing but sphagnum moss. Again I was intrigued because I had never heard of this style of growing bonsai.
Although most of the pictures in this book are in grayscale, I did appreciate the section of color plates. The Sphagnum Moss Bonsai Method follows the typical style of bonsai books as it covers growing techniques, pots, tools, etc. Regarding the growing of bonsai, much of what I’m used to reading in publications has been replaced with instructions unique to growing with sphagnum moss. The author writes about the specific needs for growing with the sphagnum moss method. Including watering, fertilizing, trimming and pruning, anti-fungicides and insecticides, bonsai styles and diagnosing problems.
I would have preferred the book to be totally devoted to the sphagnum moss method but the author chose to compare that method to the more common methods of growing bonsai. At times I found myself confused about which method Levitt was referring to and it would have been helpful if the book had been sectioned into the sphagnum moss method and the “popular” method.
I did learn some new things about growing bonsai from reading this book. If you feel that you have read everything you possibly can about bonsai and are looking for something different, this book might be for you.
Disclosure: I agreed to write this review and received the book for free. I will always tell you the truth about anything I review, free or not.
