Bonsai Rebel Tool Reviews

I am the Bonsai Rebel, and I have my own way of potting bonsai.

You can read about that in my book, Bonsai Rebel.  Here I review what I think makes these tools more useful than other tools I've used.

 

Atlas Nitrile Gloves

The very thin layer of nitrile on these gloves makes them easier to work with than other styles. The nitrile is smooth so it doesn't damage the delicate plants you are working with.  And because it's smooth, you can feel the delicate roots and fine stems of plants while using these gloves.

 

 

 

 

Root Rakes

I use all 3 of these rakes, but mostly the top two.  The wooden handled 2-prong rake works well for woody roots.  The all steel rake is the one I use most, the flat end helps get the pot off the root-ball and the rake is a good size for most plants in 3 inch to gallon sized pots.  I use the green handled rake mostly for small house plants.

 

 

 

Kitchen Knives

I make it a point not to walk around the garden with the kitchen knives in my hand.  For my own personal safety, I think it's best to put the knives in a garden bag before I take them to another area of the garden, just to make sure no one thinks I'm coming after them with a knife.  I usually only use them in my potting shed, but when I need a sharp  knife to cut through roots, I don't want a serrated garden knife, I need a straight edge kitchen knife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil Scoop

I use this scoop to get soil and amendments out of potting soil bags.  It's heft and handle makes it useful to cut into bags of both soil and lava rock.  It's heavy but worth it for some jobs.  I usually put a scoop of each ingredient I'm using in a large bucket, then stir with a smaller scoop until mixed. The large bucket makes it easier to mix the soil.  If I need more soil than that, I pour the mixed soil into a different container so I can start fresh, with a small amount in a large bucket.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soil Screens

I use these mostly to clean dust out of small lava rock and they work great for that because they are so strong, they can handle the weight.  If my mobility issues improve to the point I can water plants two times a day, I'll use these screens to sift very small pieces of soil to use in the tiniest of bonsai pots.

 

 

 

 

 

Soil Scoops

These are so cool! I like the plastic version over the metal because they are light weight.  In the past, I've used whatever was handy to scoop soil, but it was usually messy.  These are firm enough to cut through soil in the bag, and if you don't overfill them, not messy at all.  I love the different sizes and use them all.

 

 

 

 

Mallet

I use this to gently tap the new pot to settle the new soil while I'm re-potting.  I use it to level each layer of soil in the pot, before adding another layer.  That way I don't need to use sticks.

 

 

 

 

 

Cutters and Nippers

The large red handled pruner is my most used tool for pruning the outside garden plants, and cutting larger branches of bonsai plants.  I got it from Costco. The nipper with the orange button is a Fiskars piece that I use a lot while re-potting small plants to cut off roots and dead leaves and for deadheading flowers.  And the smallest nipper is used to remove the smallest leaves or branches.  I wish these smaller, pointier nippers had a matching version with a rounded tip because I sometimes accidentally stab other leaves with the point as I'm working my way inside a plant. 

 

 

Bonsai Tool Sets

There are a lot of Bonsai tool sets to choose from.  I picked this one because I have small hands and they are smaller than most.  The one tool I use the most is a curved, angled nipper.  It was a separate purchase, and is shown here with the cable zip ties I put on it to make it more like scissors .  I'm about to put the cable ties on the other tools, too, because they are also slippery.  I made the loops just big enough to slip my fingers and thumb through easily, then I loosely connected them to the handles.  I tightened the cable ties after I put the tool in my hand, and could feel where the right position was.  That took a while to get right.  I think I hold each tool differently, too, some higher up the handle than others, so that can complicate things.  Cable zip ties are so inexpensive, it was worth wasting a few to get it right. 

 

Copper Wires

I bought a copper wire set, and this is one of the coils from the set.  That coil holds a lot of wire.  I was surprised when I first went looking for a good collection how many sets have such short lengths of wire for each thickness.  I did a lot of shopping before I found this set, but it was really worth it.

 

 

 

 

Branch Benders and Lazy Susan

A great set of benders because they are different sizes.  Amazon usually has a great selection of these in  combo packs.  My lazy susan is really a piece of exercise equipment, meant to stand on and do the "twist", but I use it to turn my bonsai when I'm pruning and potting.

 

 

 

 

Haws Large Watering Can

I love this can! I have a lot of watering cans, and have this one in three sizes.  This big one is too heavy for me to carry these days, but I used it for precision watering during the drought.  I put a sprinkler system connector with a 90 degree bend on it which slowed down the flow just enough to handle and aim easily.  It's kind of hard to get that connector on there, but once I got it on, it didn't leak while using it, and the connector kept the flow from making a divit in the soil, even for ground garden plants.  But with my disabilities, now I use it mostly to make a large container of water with Eleanor's VF-11 in it, that I use to fill my smaller cans. 

 

Haws Large Rose

This rose fits on the two larger size Haws Watering Cans and is great for delicately watering newly re-potted bonsai with nutrient filled water.

 

 

 

 

 

Mosquito Bits

These are small corn-cob bits that are coated with Bti, a naturally occurring chemical that kills the larvae of mosquitoes. Once a month I put it in the water in the bottom of the bucket that I keep a roll of 24" tall slatted fencing in, to keep from having mosquitoes. Once a month I carry this container with me while I water plants, and I put some of these bits in the saucers of the plants as I go.  This stuff does not hurt frogs, I know because I've seen a small tree frog spend a summer in the saucer of a plant where I put the bits.  The frog backed it's way into the space behind a hole in a gallon size plant, and would come swimming out to see me when I watered.  I have a picture of that somewhere, I'll post it when I find it.