New to forum

[Pugs]

Hello. Short time lurker, first time poster here. Not sure if there is a sub-forum for introductions. At least I can't find one. I found this forum while research air-layering JMs. I have 5, about 25 years old, that are growing in the wrong places. I want to get starts from them. Next spring is when I start that fun adventure.

Another (not one of the 5), a Mountain Maple, that was damaged when the city took down a tree near it, and then by two ice storms. Bracket fungus are now growing out of the trunk. I'll be taking many, many air-layers from it. I'd like to try a forest with some of them. The tree itself needs to come down. A friend suggested that when I take it down, I let it send up a new shoot from the trunk and let that grow back. Is this possible for a 25+ year old JM?

I'm not talented with bonsai, so I'll just be playing with the starts I take. More for personal fun that trying for a "perfect" tree. If this is offensive to you folks, I'll quietly exit, stage left and never darken you corner of the web again.

Thank you for your time.

 

[Carol 83]

Welcome to the forum! I'm sure someone with Maple expertise will chime in to help you.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I don't think this should offend anyone, especially since we don't have to ask where you're from; well done starting with your location in your profile! I can't seem to keep JMs alive here in the desert, so I can't really help with that, but as you introduced yourself, I wanted to welcome you to the most fun, most educational, most helpful bonsai folks you can possibly meet online! I'm very much a learning noob myself, but if you ask the right questions, maybe some day I'll be able to help you out.

 

[ShadyStump]

Totally the place for introductions. Welcome aboard!

I swear there's someone else around here from Salem, OR, but I can't recall who exactly.

 

[leatherback]

when I take it down, I let it send up a new shoot from the trunk and let that grow back. Is this possible for a 25+ year old JM?

Absolutely. Ideally due to all the work you are doing you will get some lower branches to sprout which you can use and cut back to. JM can show die-back from big reductions. So I would reduce first to a frame / main trunk of several feet tall, wait a year, see what comes and then go further. No guarantees though; I have had one not come back from a big chop, but that included a transplant.

I'm not talented with bonsai, so I'll just be playing with the starts I take.

Haha, there is only one way to GET talented.. TO get started.

I'll just be playing with the starts I take. More for personal fun that trying for a "perfect" tree. If this is offensive to you folks, I'll quietly exit, stage left and never darken you corner of the web again.

Anybody who finds that offensive should find another forum. Bonsai for most people is just having fun. And in the process, at some point, you might realize, hey, these little trees are actually starting to look like something cool.

 

[Zac]

Welcome. This is the right place to come to learn. These NUTS are the best most helpful people and are not rude snobs like on some other forums. Have fun make mistakes and learn because as someone said I can't remember who but there's no such things as mistakes just learning experiences.

 

[Pugs]

Thank you all for the welcome and advice. I've lurked enough to have seen the many requests of "what is your location?" to not forget to fill that in! Happens on another forum I'm on.

 

[JackHammer]

It sounds like you have some good ideas. You might look up thread grafting as a way to get shoots in different places, that might help you save your trees without using them exclusively for donor material. I have been trying for several years to get air layers from an ornamental JM in my yard and it has been really difficult. There are many many threads, on finding the best variety for propagating and also air layering. If you turn up an old thread, continue the conversation and add any questions.

 

[Ruddigger]

Welcome.

 

[ShadyStump]

If you turn up an old thread, continue the conversation and add any questions.

THIS is important to know around here: necroposting is not a huge concern. We all have things going on that can take YEARS or even decades to bare results, and sometimes we forget to update for a year.
Best to double check dates and make sure you're at least skimming through the whole thread before posting, though. Often a question has already been answered.
But just asking for an update is always cool, even if it's been a long time.

 

[Attmos]

I just realized that I never introduced myself, which I feel might help people understand me a little better.

My name is Matt. I lived in Vail, Colorado for nearly twenty years and have a passion for the outdoors.... the wild. Had I been aware of the hobby at the time, I would most likely have been able to eventually find and successfully remove some damned interesting Yamadori.

Family issues, and personal issues, forced me to move back to Columbus, Ohio. I am Bipolar. It's made life tough and I always preferred the solitude of nature.

Which leads me to maybe helping people understand me a little better. I have some pretty severe mood swings, which affect my perspective.... and because of that I can be volatile, sometimes rude.

It's always been a problem for me because, because... telling people I'm bipolar sounds like a bad excuse. Even I can see that. I chose my avatar to warn people that I am volatile, lol.

I would really love a bit of patience from the community, , but I understand that I rub people the wrong way and that it's not always possible.

Finally, lol, I would like to say that I really enjoy this site and the people posting.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I just realized that I never introduced myself, which I feel might help people understand me a little better.

You're human. We're never going to understand each other!

My name is Matt. I lived in Vail, Colorado for nearly twenty years and have a passion for the outdoors.... the wild. Had I been aware of the hobby at the time, I would most likely have been able to eventually find and successfully remove some damned interesting Yamadori.

Welcome to the mostly friendly wilderness! You'll find kindred spirits here. Like myself.

Family issues, and personal issues, forced me to move back to Columbus, Ohio. I am Bipolar. It's made life tough and I always preferred the solitude of nature.

Which leads me to maybe helping people understand me a little better. I have some pretty severe mood swings, which affect my perspective.... and because of that I can be volatile, sometimes rude.

There are plenty of people here who come across differently than the person they really are. Most of them are kind people with good intentions to share wisdom and experience. Some people are blunt, and tell it like it is (actually my preference), but they are misinterpreted as mean. I have a pretty thick skin, plus, I give it the benefit of the doubt.

It's always been a problem for me because, because... telling people I'm bipolar sounds like a bad excuse. Even I can see that. I chose my avatar to warn people that I am volatile, lol.

Exactly. It's not an excuse, it's a warning. You're just giving us a heads up in advance!

I would really love a bit of patience from the community, , but I understand that I rub people the wrong way and that it's not always possible.

You and I joined within the same week, basically. Considering how much patience these veterans have had with me...?
Who am I to not pass it along?

 

[Attmos]

You're human. We're never going to understand each other!

Welcome to the mostly friendly wilderness! You'll find kindred spirits here. Like myself.

There are plenty of people here who come across differently than the person they really are. Most of them are kind people with good intentions to share wisdom and experience. Some people are blunt, and tell it like it is (actually my preference), but they are misinterpreted as mean. I have a pretty thick skin, plus, I give it the benefit of the doubt.

Exactly. It's not an excuse, it's a warning. You're just giving us a heads up in advance!

You and I joined within the same week, basically. Considering how much patience these veterans have had with me...?
Who am I to not pass it along?

Thank you, for all of this. Especially the communication. Acceptance and validation actually means a lot to me.

 

[Wulfskaar]

Which leads me to maybe helping people understand me a little better. I have some pretty severe mood swings, which affect my perspective.... and because of that I can be volatile, sometimes rude.

If I'm not mistaken (?), you had a pretty rough start here. As far as I can tell, since then, you have come off as very respectful and nice. We all have our issues; it's nothing to be ashamed of. Many people out there don't understand they are being volatile, so you already have the upper hand in knowing that about yourself. It takes emotional maturity to admit that!

We just love trees here, and you obviously love trees too, so this is your place as much as it is anyone else's.

I look forward to seeing you move forward in your bonsai journey!

 

[Attmos]

If I'm not mistaken (?), you had a pretty rough start here. As far as I can tell, since then, you have come off as very respectful and nice. We all have our issues; it's nothing to be ashamed of. Many people out there don't understand they are being volatile, so you already have the upper hand in knowing that about yourself. It takes emotional maturity to admit that!

We just love trees here, and you obviously love trees too, so this is your place as much as it is anyone else's.

I look forward to seeing you move forward in your bonsai journey!

I did, and I feel bad about that. But yes, I'm very interested in becoming a welcomed part of this community.

 

[Wulfskaar]

I did, and I feel bad about that. But yes, I'm very interested in becoming a welcomed part of this community.

You already are! Just keep asking questions and showing off your trees!

 

[Attmos]

You already are! Just keep asking questions and showing off your trees!

Getting ready to show a few spring photos.

 

[Desert O'Piñon]

I did, and I feel bad about that. But yes, I'm very interested in becoming a welcomed part of this community.

First impressions are fickle. Second chances are more reliable.
As noobs, it feels we have been afforded the memories of the tenured members. That is, I think most of them remember starting out asking questions that are now things they don't even have to think about. And that is why most of them are so patient with us.

 

[Attmos]

First impressions are fickle. Second chances are more reliable.
As noobs, it feels we have been afforded the memories of the tenured members. That is, I think most of them remember starting out asking questions that are now things they don't even have to think about. And that is why most of them are so patient with us.

Well, I'm glad for that. I've learned that second chances are hard earned and rare.

 

[Attmos]

First impressions are fickle. Second chances are more reliable.
As noobs, it feels we have been afforded the memories of the tenured members. That is, I think most of them remember starting out asking questions that are now things they don't even have to think about. And that is why most of them are so patient with us.

I'm a pretty intelligent and friendly person.. my brain just gets in my way sometimes..