San Diego Bonsai Club
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Beginner's Classes Overview

Picture

Beginning Classes (See Schedule)
The club offers Beginning Classes 3 times per year. Each class consists of 3 sessions that take place over 3 months. 
  • Winter Class: Sessions are in January, February, March
  • Spring Class: Sessions are in April, June, July
  • Summer Class: Sessions are in August, September, November

​What Day and Time?
Beginning classes occur on the same day as the regular meeting (unless otherwise noted), which is generally the 2nd Sunday of the month. Check the schedule on the Calendar for the exact date of each month's meeting.  Classes typically start at 8:30 am in room 104 at Casa del Prado in Balboa Park.

Provided to the Student:
Each student is given their own bonsai starter stock plant, shears, soil, wire, screen, bonsai pot, and "Bonsai Pocket Guide" by Jason Chan, owner of
Eastern Leaf.   Other goodies may be given at the discretion of the instructor.

The class is led by a qualified bonsai instructor along with several bonsai experts who provide additional hands-on help. Everyone in the class gets individual attention.  Each student will finish the class after three sessions with a potted bonsai.

 Session One
  • Students select a tree from the stock offered for the class. The variety is generally based on the season and when it will be transplanted.
  • Basic tools and how they are used
  • Discussion of the 5 basic bonsai styles
  • Discussion of plant growth and care, particularly as it applies to Bonsai, including watering
  • Initial clean-up work of bonsai material, finding the line and the front of the tree, by 
    studying the trunk and roots
  • Finding main branches and discussing styling possibilities.

Session Two
  • Proper pruning, thinning and pinching techniques.  
  • Styling the tree with wiring techniques
  • Best time of year to wire and when to remove wire

Session Three
  • Basic soil and proper soil mixes, good drainage and soil aeration
  • Bonsai pots and how they are chosen.
  • Repot the tree where you will be shown proper root preparation, potting techniques and securing the tree in the pot


How to Enroll
​You must be club member and have annual dues up-to-date to enroll in classes.  You can join online or at club meetings.  


Two months before the start of the first session for that class, enrollment will open during the monthly meeting. At this meeting, members may sign up for the class. If enrolling in person, you will need to pay for the class with either a check or credit card. Your spot is not reserved until payment is received.

​If there are still open positions after the meeting, members will be able to enroll through the SDBC website. A
 button will appear on the beginner's class schedule page which will allow you to enroll and make payment via PayPal.

Once the class enrollment is full, the enrollment button for the class will be removed from the website and you will need to wait until enrollment opens for the next class.  

​Sign up early as Beginning Classes are very popular and fill up quickly. 
Updated: May 16, 2025
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  • Home
  • Activities
    • Next Meeting
    • 2025 Calendar
    • 2025 Spring Show
    • Bonsai Show Maps
  • Education
    • About SDBC Education
    • Beginner's Classes Overview
    • Beginner's Class Schedule
    • Workshops & Skills Classes
    • Study Groups >
      • Shohin Study Group
      • All About Bonsai Study Group
      • Ficus Study Group
    • Private Lessons
    • The Larry Ragle Scholarship
  • Resources
    • Newsletter
    • Seasonal Task Schedule >
      • Newsletter
    • Club Forms
    • Club Library
    • Vendors
    • Photos >
      • Tanuki Creation By John Jackson
      • 2023 California Shohin Conference
      • 2020 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2018 Fall Show
      • 2018 SD County Fair
      • Spring 2018 Show
      • 2018 Cal Shohin Seminar
      • 2017 GSBF Convention #40
      • 2017 Fall Show
      • 2017 Spring Show
      • 2016 Fall Show
      • 2016 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2016 Spring Show
      • 2016 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2016 Winter Silhouettes
      • 2015 Fall Show Photos
      • 2015 Nisei Week Trip
      • Bonsai Stolen from San Gabriel Nursery
      • 2015 Spring Show
      • 2015 Bonsai-A-Thon
      • 2014 Fall Show
      • 2014 Nisei Week Trip
      • 2014 July Bus Trip
      • 2014 Spring Show
    • Articles >
      • Charlie's Corner
      • Lime Sulfur
      • Bougainvillea Bonsai
      • Soil: It's What Goes in the Pot
      • 'Lyn's Bonsai Soil Mix
      • Back-Budding
      • Fertilizer
      • Wiring
      • REBS 2014 Show
      • 2014 Boxwood Dig
      • Club History
      • Club Logo
      • Time Traveler
      • First Show May 1966
    • Remembering... >
      • Remembering Big Dave Rochester
      • Remembering Marty Mann
      • Remembering Ko Tsushima
      • Remembering Harry Hirao
      • Remembering Bob Meyer
    • Video >
      • 2019-2021 Videos
      • 2015-2018 Videos
      • Video
      • More Video
  • Membership
    • Membership Form
    • Membership Benefits
    • Volunteer
  • Safari Park Bonsai Pavilion
    • Overview and History
    • Bonsai Pavilion Trees
    • Stolen Bonsai
  • About
    • Overview of Club
    • By-Laws
    • Past Presidents
  • Contact