Thread: Bonsai. Split from 'Question about camellia oil'

Here are some pics of what I have going now.

All of this talk about bonsai has made me want to get some more or start getting ready to work on my trees in the ground. Here is a link of some awesome trees by walter pall: Bonsai Gallery of Walter Pall

for those bonsai gurus out there:

I have been interested in bonsai for a while, but don't know what is a good tree to get started with. I live in a very hot place (for instance, although it is October, it was 95f at my house yesterday) that is usually dry, although I can water at least once a day. The guy at the nursery told me that a good starter bonsai is the juniper... did he know what he was talking about?

Basically, what is a good tree for a newbie to get? (a newbie with weather like mine) Also, since it's so hot here 9 months of the year, should I keep the tree inside (very dry, but much cooler) during the hottest months? I have a grow light for some of my other plants, I could put the tree under that to keep it alive during the summer.

Any input is very much appreciated.

Thats a very good idea to find a tree that is already growing outside. I would look for one with a real old looking bark. You would have to dig it up so you have all of the rootbal and just plant it in a large pot at first. I would also try and get some very quick draining soil to put in with its original rootball.Get a pot with a hole in the bottom so the water can drain and put a screen so the soil won't fall out.Also, try and keep it in its same environmental conditions. If it was in the shade find a shady spot etc.. I was just hiking in the woods yesterday and saw an awesome tree on the top of this cliff. It was about twenty feet tall and had fallen sideways and had old withered bark and everything. I could not make it a bonsai because the trunk alone was about 2 feet across but it showed a great example of what a bonsai is supposed to look like.

Also, keep the tree in the shade for the first week or so that it can adjust to the transplanting. Cutting roots can be very stressfull for a tree.Also, get a good bonsai book that gives you good info. I gave reference to one earlier.The good thing about digging up your own trees is they are free.

I've got a couple of branches from two different on native junipers that I've been figuring on air layering for about the last 5 years. That's one way to get a decent start. That's what i remember reading anyway.

There's a bunch of junipers that have been domesticated as nursery stock. or a Japanese boxwood- you know, shrubberies lol. fairly inexpensive starter material, a few fence slats to make a box? Stuff like that and small pine trees are what i tried.

They're all dead now. My biggest loss was in cutting a plastic pot with scissors. That was the first time I learned about tool specialization, like so many razors with shards clanked off the edge. tsk tsk. That was very disappointing. I've also noticed it's hard to keep pots alive unless you have a tree in it. I broke a few of those too.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Ha ha, I didn't mean go digging one up yourself, just finding what is native, then buying a baby one at a nursery. But I guess digging one up works as well.

Getting nursery stock may be an even better approach. What I suggested earlier requires some skill in taking care of trees in order to keep it alive. I would say too go to a nursery and get something native to your area. If it is hot and humid you may consider a ficus. They make nice bonsai.

Originally Posted by jockeys

for those bonsai gurus out there:

I have been interested in bonsai for a while, but don't know what is a good tree to get started with. I live in a very hot place (for instance, although it is October, it was 95f at my house yesterday) that is usually dry, although I can water at least once a day. The guy at the nursery told me that a good starter bonsai is the juniper... did he know what he was talking about?

Basically, what is a good tree for a newbie to get? (a newbie with weather like mine) Also, since it's so hot here 9 months of the year, should I keep the tree inside (very dry, but much cooler) during the hottest months? I have a grow light for some of my other plants, I could put the tree under that to keep it alive during the summer.

Any input is very much appreciated.

I've heard Wisteria makes a decent bonsai tree. Quick search for images: WISTERIA : Bonsai Care Guide

There's one in my backyard (similar climate to yours, though a little cooler this time of year) that has nearly taken over an awning over our patio. We cut it back severely in the fall, and before the end of spring it's back to being overgrown. I actually just planted a half dozen seeds this week, so we'll see how they turn out.

Originally Posted by Russel Baldridge

I've heard Wisteria makes a decent bonsai tree. Quick search for images: WISTERIA : Bonsai Care Guide

There's one in my backyard (similar climate to yours, though a little cooler this time of year) that has nearly taken over an awning over our patio. We cut it back severely in the fall, and before the end of spring it's back to being overgrown. I actually just planted a half dozen seeds this week, so we'll see how they turn out.

Wisteria are beautiful. I tried one of those one year and they have the most beautiful flowers.Their flowers smell wonderful too. They make very nice bonsai.They have the most delicate flowers.

The wisteria is in the ground where I used to live. It was doing great when I moved about 5 years ago now.

You do have to be careful. This bonsai thing gets you wanting more and more and before you know it you have a lot of trees. That is why I stopped buying them and just purchased small trees and planted them into the ground. That way they can get as big as the pricey trees then I can make bonsai out of them.Plus if you get tired of doing bonsai you can plant them into the ground and they are a lot easier to take care of.Its all about fun though. Either way.In the ground I am doing japanese gardening.