How have you or your trees progressed this year? What have you learned?

I sometimes hear people say that they or someone else has never moved past their first year of bonsai. So, a person that has been doing bonsai for 20 years has the same quality of trees and the same knowledge as when they first started.

Rather than focus on this, how have you or your trees progressed this year? What have you learned?

Sometimes it's good to reflect and see the strides you've made! For example, this year I learned what pseudomonas syringae looks like on j. maples. I successfully treated the tree with phyton 35 and saved the tree! (thanks to one of my bonsai friends in the club). This was outstanding because I don't know if I'll find another j. maple like this one ever again!

I have other things that I'll post on here, but what about the bonsainut community?

I learned that I have a tendency to style trees with the front almost flat. Green helmet. Vance pointed this out to me this year. It's helped immensely. Except now all of my trees need to be reworked.
I also learned how to use raffia and do some big bends. Another thing I learned from Vance.
I also learned that every tree doesn't necessarily need a pointy apex or apex at all. Another thing I learned from Vance.
Without that guy I would still only have a years experience.

I always learn tons every year. Part of learning involves doing... you have to actually DO the things that you read about in books or see on Internet streams.

I executed a bunch of air-layers on different species this summer. I experimented with the use of shade cloth over my deciduous (great results). I continued to mess around with some plants from seed (cacao, Texas ebony, magnolia, calamondin). I have tons of propagated material from cuttings and have stopped taking cuttings because I have too much stuff to grow out.

This in addition to standard summertime maintenance and development tasks.

I am also experimenting with some tender trees that you normally can't keep in Southern Cal - certain spruce, pine, maple species - to see if I can provide the proper care to get them to thrive.

I learned the hard way that Japanese maples really can get fungal infections, and that it's probably a good idea to treat them for it if you're doing a major re-pot. Also, I was running low on soil at the time and just needed to get it done, so I augmented my soil supply by re-using some old bonsai soil that had been sitting in a bucket in my basement for about a year. Wouldn't be surprised at all if that contributed to the problem. I'll be more careful in the future.

Also, I have a number of trees that I've been building from scratch, and each year that they fill in more, I get a bit more in-depth experience with that specific phase of development.

I decided back in ~2005 that I wanted to learn how to develop trunks and major branches, so I've built my collection around that idea. The past 12 years has been learning how to develop trunks. The next 10 will be practicing applying the lessons that I've learned.

Next year will probably be a deep dive on air layering. I've got quite a few good candidates to practice with at this point. Always something new to learn and practice.

Bonsai Nut said:

Part of learning involves doing... you have to actually DO the things that you read about in books or see on Internet streams.
.

Click to expand...

This!!!! Seems to be an influx of people here lately that seem to do a lot of reading but haven't actually done anything. And i don't consider myself someone who knows much of anything at all! but I try to do things.

As for myself. I too learned about fungal infections in japanese maple. I have used a granular systemic fungicide/pesticide, but it didn't seem to help. Several of my J. Maples developed what i believe is leaf curl. Leaves emerged, some dwarfed in size, then turned ugly and growth just stopped. I've since been spraying with other products but this season's growth is a wash with no progress made. Lesson learned. Turns out I have an enormous old oak in the yard exhibiting leaf curl on some lower branches. I will have to really be on top of treatments going forward.

I've also learned some more about decandling black pines, 2nd season growth in black pine seedling cuttings, the necessity of yearly repotting with some tridents and how several species react to big chops and how their scars heal.

Books are cool, but there is no substitute for trying techniques yourself.

It's exactly one year since I started delving in this world.

I learned a lot about watering, soil and repotting.
I learned a lot about the specific requirements of each of my trees. Specifically I learn watering needs and positioning within the space available. I learned that my Ficus, Juniperus, olive and Chinese elm pretty much like the most sunny position I can afford, whilst all my deciduous (maples, linden and mulberry) may benefit from some protection against the harsh summer and need reposition, at least seasonally, into a less exposed position.
All my trees are really inexpensive, developing stages, bonsai-to-be, and none is worth any thing but I am proud that all of them have survived and seem to be thriving so far.

I think that's quite a bit for one year

Wow, great thread.

As for myself... I am back, after "taking off" almost 20 years from the hobby (life/work/hot rods) got in the way.
Being that I'm currently planning for retirement within the next 2-4 years (by getting everything I need NOW), I am totally re-energized with respect to Bonsai, and my learning curve is quite steep.

Most of my learning comes from the usual channels, ie: here, YT, books, DOING,etc..
I'm building my collection of workable Bonsai materials, and laying the groundwork for enjoying myself both now as well as during retirement years.

I've learned a LOT about Bonsai trees and their care (been focusing on my Wisteria lately), tools & equipment, and naturally the learning continues.
My original tool set is a starter set that I've had for decades, so with my expanded tool knowledge I purchased quite a large set of Kaneshin SS tools for myself. I will also be adding the extra duplicate tools I purchased, to our business website soon.

Thanks again for everyone's help I really appreciate it, and I am also looking forward to being able to assist others here!

BigBen

I have learned so much this year it's hard to know where to begin... I would say one of the most important things is getting a better sense of when and why to do what to different species. I have collected my first yamadori, of which 5/6 are doing wonderfully, and hoping for an upturn of the 6th come spring. I have spent a lot of time working on my wiring, and learning that unwiring is just as important to practice as it can do just as much damage if not done carefully. I have done a few big trunk chops for the first time, learning about aftercare and wound healing, and waited on a few others to encourage some back budding for better results when I take the plunge. I have learned a lot about styling, and how important creating a good three dimensional layout is. My early attempts at styling were very flat and not nearly as dynamic as they could have been. I have learned to be patient and begin by getting vigorous growth before hacking away at things. I have learned more lessons this year than I could recount without boring you all, and I so look forward to all of the lessons and experiences to come in the next year. Thank you to everyone here who has answered questions of mine and others and so willingly shared your knowledge and experience. This is such a wonderful addiction and you are all great enablers. Thanks again!

I learned the importance of waiting....
Patience is king.
Doing trunk chops too late in the season....and too early too!
My early chopping was in my crape myrtle, which is doing well. But if I had waited a few more weeks, I wouldn't have had the amount of dieback on each trunk.
My late chop was my Kousa which I chopped in May, which didn't seem too late to me, at the time....but I did know there was some risk....
Well, it never came back.
Did a scratch test the other day...it's a dead stick now.

I have also learned the importance of dormant spraying and general maintenance, for bugs and fungus.
In the past, I had no issues like this, but this year, fungal problems on elm and maples...and aphids galore on my crape myrtle....got em all handled, no prob

Major thanks to all our experts here on Bnut....maybe I'll be an expert in a decade or 2

I learned -



Grimmy

I already know it all

yawn.

I learned that automation leads to greater success when you're busy with life/wife/kids/etc.
I learned that my bench is a hostile environment for junipers
I learned that my yard is best for deciduous trees.
I learned that a year to rest is not a year lost.

Cheers,
B

0soyoung said:

I already know it all

yawn.

Click to expand...

I am glad you're here then.

I learned to look closer at trees that were just not growing like they "should". I found, with a magnifying glass, tiny insects that were eating many of the tiniest buds as they emerged. From 3 feet away, I didn't pick that up. Since I've built higher benches and the trees are closer to eye level, I pick up on insect damage sooner.

Sifting out more fines cuts down on roots staying wet during periods of heavy rainfall. Stressed trees are dessert to hungry insects.

I've learned there are a lot of great people on this forum!

And I learned to make wood stands, and got a lot of help from the aforementioned people with it. I'm finishing my fifth. Hardly all past tense however as I still have a lot of skill to acquire there.

I think I also learned that patience may be my strongest skill when it comes to bonsai, an attestation which some people who have known me for many years will still laugh at . But along with that comes the realization that having a long range plan for a tree and executing it step by step is a great thing, right up there with not having a plan and letting the tree dictate what will happen!

I need a different approach to approach grafting.

Also to side grafting, especially when the scion is much smaller than the stock.

I learned that it's less scary to layer and chop when you have a ton of trees and none of them are worth a damn.
Trying to learn the art with a handful of trees is a great way to progress slowly

I learned that not being prophylactic with fungicides can cause a point of no return.
I learned how to collect American hornbeams.
I learned to measure twice when mixing antifungal sprays =(
I learned that not making cuts deep enough on air layers will result in some crazy bridging on elms.
I learned how to build an automatic watering system.
I learned that red maples can't tolerate as much work as green varieties.
I learned how to better adjust my watering schedule.
I learned how to approach graft.

Bonsai Nut said:

I always learn tons every year. Part of learning involves doing... you have to actually DO the things that you read about in books or see on Internet streams.

I executed a bunch of air-layers on different species this summer. I experimented with the use of shade cloth over my deciduous (great results). I continued to mess around with some plants from seed (cacao, Texas ebony, magnolia, calamondin). I have tons of propagated material from cuttings and have stopped taking cuttings because I have too much stuff to grow out.

This in addition to standard summertime maintenance and development tasks.

I am also experimenting with some tender trees that you normally can't keep in Southern Cal - certain spruce, pine, maple species - to see if I can provide the proper care to get them to thrive.

Click to expand...

I got my first air layer to work this year And started some stuff from seed!

Lars Grimm said:

I learned that not making cuts deep enough on air layers will result in some crazy bridging on elms.

Click to expand...

ya, I had an elm this year bridge 2.5 inches over the air layer, even though the diameter of the trunk is only about 1.5 in. I mean, DAMN!