Contests for the colder months

[Eckhoffw]

We should get @Bonsai Nut to formalize this. From what I can tell he formulated the 6 year JBP one.

Well I ask it more because for me personally I'd rather get something that would be good long term. So I don't want to get something crappy. But I'm new to this so I have no idea what popular commercial species of fir/Spruce works well. However I'm open to the "whatever tf we find" method too.

I think for me personally the challenge lies within the limitations.
Plants for sale-sourced from who knows where- to be cute decorations for the holidays.
I’ve seen Rosemary and sage Christmas trees at grocery stores. Could be nice one day!

 

[B.uneasy]

I feel if this contest is going to be Christmas themed, we should be getting conifers. You don't think of a deciduous tree when it's Christmas. If you all agree I will say it's got to be a conifer if you want to enter the contest. And do we want to do next Christmas, or maybe stretch it to the Christmas after next so we can actually get something done? If it resembles a Christmas tree when you purchase it, that's your ticket in. Even if it is a funny looking Christmas tree.

 

[PABonsai]

As a side note, I just wanted to share a thought. It's not related to this contest idea but I'm sharing only because it fits in the train of thought. We went out and grabbed our Christmas tree on Monday and it occurred to me that there are in fact "failures" on the tree farm. I noticed a few walking around the field looking for ours. And I am intending to ask the tree farm if I could maybe collect some of their gnarly, unsaleable trees. Just an idea for you guys. If you have a local tree farm maybe get in touch and see if they'd let you come take them.

 

[B.uneasy]

As a side note, I just wanted to share a thought. It's not related to this contest idea but I'm sharing only because it fits in the train of thought. We went out and grabbed our Christmas tree on Monday and it occurred to me that there are in fact "failures" on the tree farm. I noticed a few walking around the field looking for ours. And I am intending to ask the tree farm if I could maybe collect some of their gnarly, unsaleable trees. Just an idea for you guys. If you have a local tree farm maybe get in touch and see if they'd let you come take them.

They have small, maybe ran over at once, gnarly little trees in the field at our Christmas tree farm. Unfortunately, every size is the same price

 

[B.uneasy]

After thinking of a little more specifics, I will finalize a contest thread tomorrow. As of now, I am just a little worried about if one year is enough.

 

[PABonsai]

After thinking of a little more specifics, I will finalize a contest thread tomorrow. As of now, I am just a little worried about if one year is enough.

good luck. Sorry if we have blown the idea into a million directions!

 

[B.uneasy]

good luck. Sorry if we have blown the idea into a million directions!

It wouldn't be a community contest if the community couldn't express all their ideas! I want to try and create a thread by tomorrow giving everyone who wants to join a little bit of time to get their material. The 6-year contest got a month to preparate.

 

[TyroTinker]

I feel if this contest is going to be Christmas themed, we should be getting conifers. You don't think of a deciduous tree when it's Christmas. If you all agree I will say it's got to be a conifer if you want to enter the contest. And do we want to do next Christmas, or maybe stretch it to the Christmas after next so we can actually get something done? If it resembles a Christmas tree when you purchase it, that's your ticket in. Even if it is a funny looking Christmas tree.

I agree to the not deciduous thing but I the little rosemary and sage plants that are styled like a Christmas tree are not conifers, and I think those should be allowed. Your “...resembles a Christmas tree when you purchase it...” comment is what gets my vote. 1year would be a challenge but I don’t know enough to know if that would be pushing it to far or just enough to add a challenge. I’ll leave that to people who have more experience.
Good luck putting this together! I’m sure what ever you write will be fun

 

[Warpig]

I think getting to worried about the 'rules' will only push some away. I see these contests not as seeking a winner but seeing the path we all take. I will be adding my rosemary i got last week to the mix.



.

 

[leatherback]

Just keep in mind that the trees and especially decorations, that you get might be very regional / nationality bound. I do not know, but cannot remember consciesly seeing christmas trees wrapped in shiny paper or something.

 

[PABonsai]

I do not know, but cannot remember consciesly seeing christmas trees wrapped in shiny paper or something.

I think he just means like this. You'll see foil wrapped flowers and plants all the time in the US. Do they not do this in Europe?

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I think he just means like this. You'll see foil wrapped flowers and plants all the time in the US. Do they not do this in Europe?View attachment 273331

Nah, over here they're spray painted with fake snow. It's the new hype since a few years ago. You can pick up a couple dozen white-washed dwarf spruces for a few bucks at nearly every dollar store (euro store, but you catch my drift) right now.

 

[leatherback]

Do they not do this in Europe

I cannot remeber seeing this. Then again. I avoid big shopping places in December. I will get a tree, but on the side of the road. WIll do a beeline through the supermarket, carrying a list of what I need. For the rest.. Shops and me do not mingle, certainly not in december. I know. I do not like people. And people do not like me. I like trees.

 

[leatherback]

Nah, over here they're spray painted with fake snow. It's the new hype since a few years ago. You can pick up a couple dozen white-washed dwarf spruces for a few bucks at nearly every dollar store (euro store, but you catch my drift) right now.

Ofw yeah, that I have seen. That is next to the yellow / silver and gold spray painted Ercia!

 

[canoeguide]

Both Lowe's and Home Depot sell a lot of conifers in red pots (basically red nursery cans), which I presume are to be used as "living" Xmas trees. They have a mix of fir, spruce, and pine in various sizes. I don't actually recall seeing anything in "grocery" stores other than poinsettias, or norfolk island pines.

1 year is a nice human timeline for this, but I'm not experienced enough to say how viable of a timeline it is for the trees, assuming we're looking at an end goal of "styled and in a bonsai pot."

 

[Woocash]

I actually bought a Serbian spruce Christmas tree in a pot last weekend with the sole intention of attempting to bonsai it. So can I still use it or do I have to go through the TERRIBLE ordeal of more bonsai hunting?

 

[brentwood]

All I know is that I now have this

B

 

[Warpig]

I actually bought a Serbian spruce Christmas tree in a pot last weekend with the sole intention of attempting to bonsai it. So can I still use it or do I have to go through the TERRIBLE ordeal of more bonsai hunting?

Use it!

 

[PABonsai]

I actually bought a Serbian spruce Christmas tree in a pot last weekend with the sole intention of attempting to bonsai it. So can I still use it or do I have to go through the TERRIBLE ordeal of more bonsai hunting?

Thou shalt find more trees.

 

[B.uneasy]

I actually bought a Serbian spruce Christmas tree in a pot last weekend with the sole intention of attempting to bonsai it. So can I still use it or do I have to go through the TERRIBLE ordeal of more bonsai hunting?

Haha, as long as it's not an advanced amazing tree kicking everyone out of the ballpark already you are perfectly fine!