Good? or trash?

[Vance Wood]

Just remember: Opinions are like noses; everybody has one and they all smell. First of all; this little tree was not a lost cause and it would not have taken a life time to make it into a decent bonsai. If I had run into it in a nursery I would have bought it, but you have to do what works for you. There are quite a few people on this site that come from the position that unless you buy, acquire or otherwise obtain old trees worth many hundreds of dollars you are wasting your time.

If that fits your financial make up and you can spend a couple of hundred dollars on a piece of material that you will probably lose within two years due to inexperience or stupid ignorant error, then by all means go for it. This happens with a frequency I wish did not exist but that's the way it is.

This little Mugo cost me $2.98 ten years ago. Is it a masterpiece? I don't know, I like it and it is my own work and own vision. It started with a tree that was not as good as the one you threw out.

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

I'll give you the other side of the arguement. The tree was ugly, awkward, and life is too short to spend the amount of time it would require to make this into anything passable. I only have so much time to spend on bonsai. I'm not into lost causes, so I want my time to count toward making beautiful trees.

Good move @Jarod Perdichizzi, now go find a decent trunk and try again. And remember, odd, unusual, and funky aren't good adjectives you should apply when finding a good trunk. Instead, consider taper, good base, nice bark, no scars, and foliage nearby.

Gosh.. Both you guys are right.. A) I should've kept for a simple trail and error tree. But not an excuse. But right now I live in an apartment. ( of course all my trees are outside) but I just don't have the room for it. I would of sold it if I knew someone would have bought it... But it is what is it...,this is how I'm going to learn I'm in for the long haul with bonsais. I can learn from every mistake... next time I won't throw a tree away. Lol. I'm sorry for those that didn't want it thrown away.. But I'm grateful I have all you guys to learn from... It's beginning to feel like you guys are all family... ) thank u..

 

[bumblebee]

You just threw it out....Go back and get it! It didn't die overnight.

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

You just threw it out....Go back and get it! It didn't die overnight.

You might be right.!!! Ugh... Okay.. I'm going to go dumpster diving...!

 

[jeremy_norbury]

Too late guys... Out of the many posts... I decided to trash it and start a new one. However, since I'm still new.. I was wondering what the difference between " wrapping" or "wiring"... Do they do the same thing...? Whatis the difference ?

We wrap the branches prior to wiring to prevent (or at least reduce the negative effects of) the branches from breaking.

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

Okay I managed to pull it out of the dumpster!!!!!... It was still looking good.. I decided to then cut off the front trunk that was blocking the main trunk.. and wa-la!

It actually looks like a pretty cool WINDSWEPT bonsai huh??

.. I attached another pic in which Im not sure what do about those ugly "node thingy", its soo ugly .... Is that something I can shave off to made it look cleaning with the flow of the trunk/branch??

 

[petegreg]

Okay I managed to pull it out of the dumpster!!!!!... It was still looking good..

I think we have a new technique. If you don't like a tree, toss it to the dustbin and next day you will find it improved and looking good. Sorry, joking.

 

[just.wing.it]

Nice save

 

[Dalmat]

Okay I managed to pull it out of the dumpster!!!!!... It was still looking good.. I decided to then cut off the front trunk that was blocking the main trunk.. and wa-la!

It actually looks like a pretty cool WINDSWEPT bonsai huh??

.. I attached another pic in which Im not sure what do about those ugly "node thingy", its soo ugly .... Is that something I can shave off to made it look cleaning with the flow of the trunk/branch??

Let it heal those "node thingy", till sap stops and then you can cut it flesh to branch,trunk.. On mugo you usually leave on purpose even longer piece beyond a cut of a thick
branch in order to avoid die back.
Well it was worth it to pick it back. If it survives I think you'll always have a special thing for that one.

 

[michaelj]

I'm in for the long haul with bonsais. I can learn from every mistake... next time I won't throw a tree away. Lol. I'm sorry for those that didn't want it thrown away.. But I'm grateful I have all you guys to learn from... It's beginning to feel like you guys are all family... ) thank u..

Part of the long haul, especially in a forum like this, is to wait for replies. You can't post "should I do X?" and get a full response from the brain trust in an hour or two. Don't be like the wino eating grapes....

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

:/

 

[amcoffeegirl]

From one newbie to another.
Just ask questions next time before you chop everything off.
Try to keep the tree alive and healthy for a few years. Maintaining an ugly tree for a few winters will give you a ton of experience. If you can over winter an ugly tree then you're ready to advance to a less ugly tree. As stated earlier you may after 1 season see potential for further work. Learn how to keep them alive first!

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

Yes. Im Not going to touch at all, besides maintenance for at least a good year. Then i will revisit.

 

[petegreg]

Seriously, I like you have saved it. When you don't like a tree, do not buy it. If you do and stop liking it give / sell it to somebody. Or put it in the ground without the pot, somewhere where the grass is not cut.
Now you've got a big chance to learn from this lil' pine. Look how it grows, learn it's live cycle, watch how it responds to your insults. I'm sure you will love this tree very soon.

 

[armetisius]

Okay I managed to pull it out of the dumpster!!!!!... It was still looking good.. I decided to then cut off the front trunk that was blocking the main trunk.. and wa-la! It actually looks like a pretty cool WINDSWEPT bonsai huh?? .. I attached another pic in which Im not sure what do about those ugly "node thingy", its soo ugly .... Is that something I can shave off to made it look cleaning with the flow of the trunk/branch??

Wait about those nubbies you have plenty of time to get around to that. Right now the plant has "compartmentalized"
that damage--no need to rush /to damage more tissue until you are certain it will make it past this last trauma. In a
few weeks it will be cool to just lightly and very carefully slice them off a little bit at a time to smooth it up. But for now?
You got the extra cut off preventing inverse taper from forming. Besides it might just decide to show you, "hey look Dad--splat--gone."

Good. Now you have something that is a piece of shyte--must be, you threw it away--that you will not mourn if it dies
or if you snap a limb on, or any number of things. BUT something you can live with and learn from. Right now; get its
health back--you stressed it while throwing it out of the pot and into the dumpster. Then next year or the one after you
will have a cool little tree to practice on that you have already learned/practiced on and learned to keep alive and healthy.
That last bit is the hard part. Any idiot with a pair of shears can chop up a tree--sometimes quite artistically--but it does
you no good until you can keep it alive, happy, and healthy before/during/after chopping it up. Lot of people laugh but I
always tell someone "new to plants" that wants to start bonsai, "buy a nursery plant and live with it a year. At the end of the
year, if it is still alive and healthy, come back and we'll talk." My reasoning is this; if you don't have the temperament/dedication
to keep a tree alive and well in a nursery pot you damn sure won't have it when the roots are in less than half the volume
of soil. Also weeds out those that want me to waste my time teaching/working with them to keep it alive when they will
just throw their hands up and quit when they realize it "takes too much time/effort" for them.
The dedication requirements of bonsai is kind of like having a new baby in the house--forever--instead of three, or more,
bottles throughout the night you have watering; instead of a few diapers' changes you have re-potting, fertilizing, grooming,
& spraying; instead pre-school you have wiring; instead of first day of school you have first time anyone else sees it after you
have worked on it; instead of football you have local/club shows; and graduation is walking off with best in show. BUT always
with a child that is still on the new-born's bottle requirements -- FOREVER. or at least as long as you have it or as long as it lives.

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

Wait about those nubbies you have plenty of time to get around to that. Right now the plant has "compartmentalized"
that damage--no need to rush /to damage more tissue until you are certain it will make it past this last trauma. In a
few weeks it will be cool to just lightly and very carefully slice them off a little bit at a time to smooth it up. But for now?
You got the extra cut off preventing inverse taper from forming. Besides it might just decide to show you, "hey look Dad--splat--gone."

Good. Now you have something that is a piece of shyte--must be, you threw it away--that you will not mourn if it dies
or if you snap a limb on, or any number of things. BUT something you can live with and learn from. Right now; get its
health back--you stressed it while throwing it out of the pot and into the dumpster. Then next year or the one after you
will have a cool little tree to practice on that you have already learned/practiced on and learned to keep alive and healthy.
That last bit is the hard part. Any idiot with a pair of shears can chop up a tree--sometimes quite artistically--but it does
you no good until you can keep it alive, happy, and healthy before/during/after chopping it up. Lot of people laugh but I
always tell someone "new to plants" that wants to start bonsai, "buy a nursery plant and live with it a year. At the end of the
year, if it is still alive and healthy, come back and we'll talk." My reasoning is this; if you don't have the temperament/dedication
to keep a tree alive and well in a nursery pot you damn sure won't have it when the roots are in less than half the volume
of soil. Also weeds out those that want me to waste my time teaching/working with them to keep it alive when they will
just throw their hands up and quit when they realize it "takes too much time/effort" for them.
The dedication requirements of bonsai is kind of like having a new baby in the house--forever--instead of three, or more,
bottles throughout the night you have watering; instead of a few diapers' changes you have re-potting, fertilizing, grooming,
& spraying; instead pre-school you have wiring; instead of first day of school you have first time anyone else sees it after you
have worked on it; instead of football you have local/club shows; and graduation is walking off with best in show. BUT always
with a child that is still on the new-born's bottle requirements -- FOREVER. or at least as long as you have it or as long as it lives.

Great point. Thank you...1 question though; I noticed even prior to dumping it that the branches were very very very pliable/bendable and softer than normal, almost as if I could bend it 120 degrees and never break.. What is this a sign of?? Im nervous...

 

[Vance Wood]

Great point. Thank you...1 question though; I noticed even prior to dumping it that the branches were very very very pliable/bendable and softer than normal, almost as if I could bend it 120 degrees and never break.. What is this a sign of?? Im nervous...

This is the way Mugo are, they are very pliable, especially when young and the branches you are utilizing are second level and not primary.

 

[Jarod Perdichizzi]

This is the way Mugo are, they are very pliable, especially when young and the branches you are utilizing are second level and not primary.

I see, thanks

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Just remember: Opinions are like noses; everybody has one and they all smell. First of all; this little tree was not a lost cause and it would not have taken a life time to make it into a decent bonsai. If I had run into it in a nursery I would have bought it, but you have to do what works for you.

Clearly you think your "nose" don't stink; I'll be eager to see the masterpieces spring forth. No jab at the OP himself, I just don't see potential in every tree. Carry on.

 

[Vance Wood]

You have to get the metaphor right Brian; it is "smells" not stink, and of course my nose smells, I never claimed that it did not.