Bonsai Expert Academy
The Mă-Kè Bonsai Way
The Bonsai Expert Course is for Bonsai Enthusiasts who feel they would like to build on their Bonsai Skills quickly and rapidly by committing to the additional time and effort required to achieve it. Bonsai Expert candidates attend a minimum of 48 sessions covering Core, Advance, Specialist, and Open Modules.
This course is conducted in structured modular sessions that are usually spread out over a two-year period. You can join the Expert Academy at any time in the year, as you will be starting off working on modules and sessions relevant to the particular season you start in. After that, each module builds on the skills sets required to successfully care for and grow a healthy, vibrant, world-class bonsai.
Course Structure
The sessions are held on most 1st., 2nd. and 3rd. Sunday's of the month. To complete the Course Students need to complete 48 Modules including presenting 12 projects over the 2-year duration.
Each year 24 Modules including 6 projects must be completed. Project modules are worked on at the Open Workshops. Academy Students are required to attend at least 12 Project Workshops a year, the remaining 12 may be made up of Core, Advance and Specialist Modules.
Dates for Sessions and Open Workshops are published in the calendar please register for your sessions there.
Year 1: 2nd. Sundays of Month
Core Modules
10:00 am
3101: Bonsai Origins and Care
3102: Understanding Bonsai Aesthetics
3103: Botany for Bonsai Artists
3104: Bonsai Pruning
3105: Bonsai repotting
3106: Seasonal Care for Bonsai Trees
Year 1&2: 2nd. Sundays of Month
Advance Modules
10:00 am
3201: Propagating and growing
3202: Watering and fertilising
3203: Creating forest groups
3204: Bonsai pot selection
3205: Root-On-Rock Bonsai
3206: Root Over Rock
3207: Bonsai By Design
3208: Bonsai Wiring
3209: Photographing Bonsai
3210: Bonsai Display
3211: Tool Care and Sharpening
3212: Soils/Growing Mediums
Year 2: 3rd. Sundays of Month
Specialist Modules
10:00 am
3301: Bonsai Deadwood
3302: Japanese Maples
3303: Japanese Pines
3304: European Pines
3305: Mediterranean Species
3306: Tropical Bonsai Species
3307: Bonsai Lighting and Heating
3308: Kokedama
3309: Grass Bonsai
3310: Chinese Penjing
3311: Native Broadleaf Species
3312: Junipers Bonsai
Sat, 15 Feb15 Feb 2025, 09:00 – 14:00Discover the art of bonsai and learn essential techniques to nurture and shape a thriving tree. Join us for a hands-on course that builds confidence and creativity—register below to begin your journey!
Sun, 16 Feb16 Feb 2025, 10:00 – 15:00As the season transitions, our bonsai trees demand special attention. Join us as we delve into essential tasks tailored for this growth stage - to ensure your bonsai flourishes amidst the changing landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and cultivate a masterpiece.- Sat, 05 Apr05 Apr 2025, 10:00 – 15:00Discover the art of bonsai and learn essential techniques to nurture and shape a thriving tree. Join us for a hands-on course that builds confidence and creativity—register below to begin your journey!
RSVP ClosedSun, 06 Oct06 Oct 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTAs the season transitions, our bonsai trees demand special attention. Join us as we delve into essential tasks tailored for this growth stage - to ensure your bonsai flourishes amidst the changing landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and cultivate a masterpiece.- RSVP ClosedSat, 05 Oct05 Oct 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTIt equips you with the skills and confidence to nurture and sculpt your bonsai. The course will teach the essential techniques to maintain a healthy and vibrant bonsai. If you want to attend, please click the RSVP button, and I will send you the details.
Sold OutSun, 18 Aug18 Aug 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTIt equips you with the skills and confidence to nurture and sculpt your bonsai. The course will teach the essential techniques to maintain a healthy and vibrant bonsai. While it is aimed at absolute beginners, even seasoned enthusiasts will find the course grounding and enlightening.
RSVP ClosedSun, 04 Aug04 Aug 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTAs the season transitions, our bonsai trees demand special attention. Join us as we delve into essential tasks tailored for this growth stage - to ensure your bonsai flourishes amidst the changing landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and cultivate a masterpiece.- RSVP ClosedSat, 03 Aug03 Aug 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTIt equips you with the skills and confidence to nurture and sculpt your bonsai. The course will teach the essential techniques to maintain a healthy and vibrant bonsai. If you want to attend, please click the RSVP button, and I will send you the details.
Sold OutSun, 23 Jun23 Jun 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTIt equips you with the skills and confidence to nurture and sculpt your bonsai. The course will teach the essential techniques to maintain a healthy and vibrant bonsai. While it is aimed at absolute beginners, even seasoned enthusiasts will find the course grounding and enlightening.
Sold OutSun, 02 Jun02 Jun 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTAs the season transitions, our bonsai trees demand special attention. Join us as we delve into essential tasks tailored for this growth stage - to ensure your bonsai flourishes amidst the changing landscape. Don't miss this opportunity to refine your skills and cultivate a masterpiece.- RSVP ClosedSat, 01 Jun01 Jun 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTIt equips you with the skills and confidence to nurture and sculpt your bonsai. The course will teach the essential techniques to maintain a healthy and vibrant bonsai. While it is aimed at absolute beginners, even seasoned enthusiasts will find the course grounding and enlightening.
RSVP ClosedSun, 19 May19 May 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTIt equips you with the skills and confidence to nurture and sculpt your bonsai. The course will teach the essential techniques to maintain a healthy and vibrant bonsai. While it is aimed at absolute beginners, even seasoned enthusiasts will find the course grounding and enlightening.
RSVP ClosedSun, 05 May05 May 2024, 10:00 – 15:00 BSTJoin us at the Open Bonsai Workshop for Mid-Spring Preparation! As Spring progresses, our bonsai have embraced the spring's rhythm—flowers are fading and fruits are forming, but long shoots are swiftly asserting control. Now's the perfect time to shape your bonsai's journey towards fruitful growth.
RSVP ClosedSat, 09 Mar09 Mar 2024, 10:00 – 15:00Our bonsai are beginning to show the blush of spring and buds and early flowers are flushing. We need to look are all the spring jobs building up to give our bonsai a great, balance start for our bonsai.
RSVP ClosedSun, 18 Dec18 Dec 2022, 10:00 – 15:00Autumn and your bonsai are beginning to dress down for the year. For many beginners, this is a confusing time of the year. This session helps you understand bonsai dormancy, and how to ensure that you get your bonsai ready for autumn and the winter beyond.- RSVP ClosedSun, 11 Dec11 Dec 2022, 10:00 – 15:00 GMTThe Bonsai Course for Beginner - Intensive Boot Camp gives you the skill and confidence to care for and train your bonsai. It teaches you the skills necessary to keep your bonsai healthy and vibrant. Aimed at absolute beginners but even practising enthusiasts find it grounding and enlightening.
- RSVP ClosedSun, 20 Nov20 Nov 2022, 09:00 – 21 Nov 2022, 09:00Autumn and your bonsai are beginning to dress down for the year. For many beginners, this is a confusing time of the year. This session helps you understand bonsai dormancy, and how to ensure that you get your bonsai ready for autumn and the winter beyond.
What our students say!
I have approached the bonsai world around 3 years ago, since 2, I decided to follow a course because my interest was becoming bigger. After a couple of experiences I met Mark and I have to say that I found the perfect person. He driven me through the beginners an then to the advanced course with the simplicity and professionalism that just few people have. He's not just a lovely person, he's also a really prepared bonsai teacher. During the Mark course You find yourself surrounded by so many lovely bonsais, result of so many love and knowledge for the bonsai's world. Alessandro De Maria.
One of the things I like the most about MaKe bonsai is the family atmosphere that can be enjoyed there. While sipping a nice coffee and indulging on the myriads of bonsais Mark has in his nursery, I learnt about the basic techniques every bonsai enthusiast need to master to be able to improve his/her collection. Mark is very friendly and his passion for bonsai makes him a great teacher as well as a fun person to chat with.
Venue
Ma-Ke Bonsai, 66 Harvey Road, Whitton, Greater London, TW4 5LU
Dates and Duration
The Beginners Expert Course modules are run at least twice a month, usually Sundays. In addition, you can find all scheduled academy modules below.
Timings
The 10 am - 4 pm. Please arrive 10 min earlier for registration.
Course Fees
Please call for Course Fees as this depends on the Modules chosen. The Taught modules start from £250 per module. Please remember that a few modules will require you to get your own materials.
Bonsai and Tools
Students are responsible for getting their bonsai, tools and supplies for the practical sessions and projects. You can purchase them from Ma-Ke Bonsai Nursery. All modules have a hands-on element to them.
General Information
Tea and Coffees will be available throughout the day. Please bring a packed lunch, and there will be a short break between morning and afternoon sessions. Please dress yourselves warmly as we work both in the studio and outdoors in the nursery and London weather can be very changeable.
Enrollment
The intensive hands-on nature of the Expert Course there are only a few places in the Academy, please call to discuss.