Hello from the desert

Arnaut

Seedling
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United Arab Emirates
USDA Zone
10b
Hello there!
Just a little introduction. I am new to the forum and fairly new to growing little trees (I won't disgrace the fine art of Bonsai by pretending that's what I am doing). I have been into Bonsai as a teenager for a couple of years, had a couple decent trees and was in a club, but then pretty much forgot about the hobby until covid lockdown made me turn to the garden once again. From propagating plumerias as desert roses I added chilli growing (because apparently that's hip these days?), and then the old forgotten hobby popped up when I saw a beatiful acacia with a gorgeous root system sprawled over rocks, up in the mountains. I left that acacia there - it's too beautiful in its natural habitat to risk ruining it by claiming it as a yamadori. But it did spark some inspiration.
I have been trying my hand at growing myself some pre bonsai material, acquiring some others from nuseries, but do not as of yet possess a tree that I would call a bonsai - I am planning on changing that in the future, possibly after summer (because living on the Arabian Peninsula, summer is the thing that kills plants, not winter). In the meantime I am experimenting - messing around with the native trees, playing with fusing a bunch of ficus cuttings and rescuing a poor near dead mallsai elm.
Is there anyone here who could maybe help me with figuring out calendar for work? What I learned back in Europe as a teenager about when to do pruning repotting etc likely does not apply to the Middle Eastern coast at all. I know or assume a few things from pure observation but would love to know if there's someone here who might know better. Alas, there are no bonsai clubs anywhere around me to draw on knowledge.
We'd probably fall somewhere around zone 10b-11, summer humidity is quite high (think mangroves), contrary to what most people think when they think about the region.
 

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
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I won't disgrace the fine art of Bonsai by pretending that's what I am doing

Please reconsider owning this feeling, as I think it can be detrimental to your growth.

We all start somewhere and doesn't matter where, none of us will live to see the end.

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce
 

Tieball

Masterpiece
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Michigan. 6a
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Welcome...and I don’t have answers for you. I hope some of the members in the dry, hotter, low rainfall, high sunshine areas around the world comment. At least that’s what I think your climate is like. But I don’t know for sure. Their calendar is very different than mine, but in some ways not so far off really....however, I’m not picturing you having snow and freezing temperatures. Winter may be a different experience for you than for me.

I have never been where you live. How would you describe your climate for growing?
 

Shibui

Imperial Masterpiece
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Yackandandah, Australia
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9?
We have hot dry summer here but some things may transfer to your area. Happy to help if you think it appropriate.
Your situation sound more like sub tropical climate so maybe look for tips from growers who live in those areas - Queensland, Australia or Florida USA, tropical Asia????
@maroun.c is relatively close to your area (in Beirut I think?) but still finding his way in relation to timing and technique.

I have found that timing is far more flexible that some teachers allow for. I have pushed the boundaries of repotting, pruning, etc and discovered the windows can be quite a lot broader than previously thought.
 

maroun.c

Omono
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Hell Arnaut,
Where in UAE are u based ? I just relocated a year back to Beirut from dubai where I was for 3 years.
Indeed a different weather that calls for different plants, timing and technique.
There is a good place to buy half decent/decent trees but pricing is on the high side as all things there. The advantage is u get trees that are already in bonsai pots so losses/time from moving from nursery pot to bonsai pot are spared.
Haven't seen any junipers, cedars, pine there and doubt they'll make it .
Yet u can get away with olives, elm, and many others.
Soil is another challenge but u can find seramis which Robert (bonsai dubai) seems to be having good success with.
High humidity in summer is another struggle with fungal diseases and lack of a real cold season is a no for trees that need dormancy.
Guess its about finding trees u like that will make it there and working out your technique and timing.
Robert does run courses and workshops but I haven't been in any so can't really tell if they are worth it or not.
Good luck there and hope u find nice trees to get started with. The forum here is quite helpful so make sure to check before u get a tree and work out a plan before u start working with it.
 

Arnaut

Seedling
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Location
United Arab Emirates
USDA Zone
10b
Thanks for the warm welcome! And thanks maroun.c for all the tips, they're very helpful!

I have never been where you live. How would you describe your climate for growing?
Hot and humid over the summer - averages are around to 100F/40C mark. Warm and dry over the winter (75F/25C average), with reasonable fluctuations in temperatures so nights are not too cold. Many plants seem to have two distinct growing seasons in spring and autumn, ie the tamarinds in my street enjoy two harvests, but the one in autumn is very much on the lean side. From my little experience of growing trees in pots, tropicals like button mangroves, tamarinds, banyans, jujube, almond trees, acacias, the few native trees etc can do fairly well with minimal intervention beyond regular watering.

Where in UAE are u based ?
Currently Dubai!

There is a good place to buy half decent/decent trees but pricing is on the high side as all things there.
Would that be Richard's place?

Haven't seen any junipers, cedars, pine there and doubt they'll make it .
I was wondering about the junipers - there's the native ones you can sometimes see growing up in Hatta, or more frequently on the Oman side of the mountains, but I am not sure how those would translate to the west coast. Something to try mayhaps!
 

AZbonsai

Masterpiece
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Welcome. Dry heat here so not much help to offer. Good luck!
 

maroun.c

Omono
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Believe it was Richard or Robert not sure:) its a villa in jumeira.
Hatta and oman is a bit different as far as I recall as it gets colder in winter if I remember correctly.
Haven't seen native junipers in dubai but might be worth a try for sure.
Need to be observe how trees behave as any advice u get here will be different especially the timing.
Shading your trees in hit summer I assume is a must and watering multiple times a day when in well draining soil will be necessary.
 

Bonsai4life

Sapling
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42
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Location
Tucson, Arizona
USDA Zone
9
Hello there!
Just a little introduction. I am new to the forum and fairly new to growing little trees (I won't disgrace the fine art of Bonsai by pretending that's what I am doing). I have been into Bonsai as a teenager for a couple of years, had a couple decent trees and was in a club, but then pretty much forgot about the hobby until covid lockdown made me turn to the garden once again. From propagating plumerias as desert roses I added chilli growing (because apparently that's hip these days?), and then the old forgotten hobby popped up when I saw a beatiful acacia with a gorgeous root system sprawled over rocks, up in the mountains. I left that acacia there - it's too beautiful in its natural habitat to risk ruining it by claiming it as a yamadori. But it did spark some inspiration.
I have been trying my hand at growing myself some pre bonsai material, acquiring some others from nuseries, but do not as of yet possess a tree that I would call a bonsai - I am planning on changing that in the future, possibly after summer (because living on the Arabian Peninsula, summer is the thing that kills plants, not winter). In the meantime I am experimenting - messing around with the native trees, playing with fusing a bunch of ficus cuttings and rescuing a poor near dead mallsai elm.
Is there anyone here who could maybe help me with figuring out calendar for work? What I learned back in Europe as a teenager about when to do pruning repotting etc likely does not apply to the Middle Eastern coast at all. I know or assume a few things from pure observation but would love to know if there's someone here who might know better. Alas, there are no bonsai clubs anywhere around me to draw on knowledge.
We'd probably fall somewhere around zone 10b-11, summer humidity is quite high (think mangroves), contrary to what most people think when they think about the region.
I live in Arizona. Summers are hot as hell, dry and not much rain. Check the Phoenix Bonsai Society website for ideas.
 

Deep Sea Diver

Masterpiece
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Bothell, WA
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Welcome aboard! We wish you the very best in bonsai in the UAE!

Check out this link on Bonsai in the UAE. Looks like they even offer workshops and classes there. Hope this helps!

Good luck and let us know how things go in photos and words. We’d love to hear how you are doing.

cheers
DSD sends
 
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