Best beginning Bonsai recommendations

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

Hey guys...so to preface...I suck at bonsai lol...trying my hand at it again and was wondering who has some good recommendations for a good beginning bonsai, one that won’t die too easily if I mess up. I currently have a basic little juniper ( you know those cheap ones at the store, my wife bought it for me to try to cheer me on) and I recently got a brush cherry, it’s just a small little guy. I want something I can easily care for. I sadly don’t have any south facing windows are area to place it but I do have a little back yard in the north that would have a lot of shade from the house as well as a large pine tree behind. I do have some LED grow lights inside for now, but they were just some cheap 30 dollar lights. I’ll attach a pic of it. As well as I have a fan to help circulate some air.

LanceMac10 · Mar 1, 2018

If indoors is the best you can do, do you have anyplace near you that you can find a Brazilian Raintree? It's "indoor hardy"!!!!!!

It can grow fine outdoors, even with your suspect light availability due to the shadow cast over your backyard.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

LanceMac10 said:
If indoors is the best you can do, do you have anyplace near you that you can find a Brazilian Raintree? It's "indoor hardy"!!!!!!
It can grow fine outdoors, even with your suspect light availability due to the shadow cast over your backyard.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unfortunately I don’t think there is any place here that has that...sadly there isn’t a real Bonsai Nursery around here. Just some normal nursery’s that have some small bonsai that are usually overpriced and dying.

LanceMac10 · Mar 1, 2018

http://wigertsbonsai.com/

If mail order is the only way to acquire new material, this vendor has a good reputation and should provide sufficient customer service. If the price and quality of the material is palatable, contact them for availability.

https://www.nebonsai.com/

A nursery in a location that has a similar climate to yours. Some of their material/advice would be a little more "zone appropriate" for your conditions.

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

LanceMac10 said:
http://wigertsbonsai.com/

If mail order is the only way to acquire new material, this vendor has a good reputation and should provide sufficient customer service. If the price and quality of the material is palatable, contact them for availability.

https://www.nebonsai.com/

A nursery in a location that has a similar climate to yours. Some of their material/advice would be a little more "zone appropriate" for your conditions.

Thanks for the help, I appreciate it

GGB · Mar 1, 2018

eastern hemlock, tsuga canadensis is extremely cold hardy and shade tolerant. That species is lacking in great traits but it could be your gateway into other trees that lend themselves better when you have more skill. I know some of the western hemlocks make great bonsai but am not certain of there requirements as I only have canadensis myself.

LanceMac10 · Mar 1, 2018

Hey I suck too, less than you, but, there it is!!

First rule of bonsai? Suck less in season two!!!!!!!!!!!

Less crazy, more experienced growers should chime in soon. If for nothing else, to save you from me!!!!!

Bonsai901 · Mar 1, 2018

It may not be popular among the purists but I like P. Afra for an indoor "tree".
James Smith proved that they are a legitimate bonsai specimen as shown here https://www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org/garden-rooms/james-j-smith-bonsai-gallery/\
Or just google his trees.

My favorite source for bonsai is https://brusselsbonsai.com/
Brussel is a genuinely great guy and bonsai artist, he has a group planting at the National Arboretum in DC

dirk hoorelbeke · Mar 1, 2018

Grow bonsai outside, Trees Will be and make you happy.

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

GGB said:
eastern hemlock, tsuga canadensis is extremely cold hardy and shade tolerant. That species is lacking in great traits but it could be your gateway into other trees that lend themselves better when you have more skill. I know some of the western hemlocks make great bonsai but am not certain of there requirements as I only have canadensis myself.

Thanks, I’ll try looking those up and see if they are something I may like.

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

LanceMac10 said:
Hey I suck too, less than you, but, there it is!!

First rule of bonsai? Suck less in season two!!!!!!!!!!!

Less crazy, more experienced growers should chime in soon. If for nothing else, to save you from me!!!!!

Yeah I guess it’s a learning process, can’t expect to be amazing it right away...but damnit I wanna be lol

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

Bonsai901 said:
It may not be popular among the purists but I like P. Afra for an indoor "tree".
James Smith proved that they are a legitimate bonsai specimen as shown here https://www.heathcotebotanicalgardens.org/garden-rooms/james-j-smith-bonsai-gallery/\
Or just google his trees.

My favorite source for bonsai is https://brusselsbonsai.com/
Brussel is a genuinely great guy and bonsai artist, he has a group planting at the National Arboretum in DC

Wow I checked out that link and those were some amazing bonsais. I’d obviously like something like those but I gotta learn not to kill it yet lol

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

dirk hoorelbeke said:
Grow bonsai outside, Trees Will be and make you happy.

I’m worried about growing it outdoors since 1. It still has been hitting freezing outside at night here and 2. I need to find something that handles being in the shade more since I don’t have a spot that would get a lot of sunlight

Bonsai901 · Mar 1, 2018

Karmage said:
I’m worried about growing it outdoors since 1. It still has been hitting freezing outside at night here and 2. I need to find something that handles being in the shade more since I don’t have a spot that would get a lot of sunlight

I have several outdoor bonsai (Juniper, Pine, Maple, etc), but I do love having plants indoors that I can enjoy no matter the weather.
I can't speak for how easy all of them are but some more indoor options are Ficus, Hibiscus, Hawaiian Umbrella, or most anything tropical.

Carol 83 · Mar 1, 2018

Lavender Star Flower, Natal Plum, bougainvilleas, Brazilian Rain Trees (like Lance suggested) are all easy care trees, and do fine all winter indoors for me. (And I suck WAY worse than @LanceMac10 , lol) Once it's consistently over 50 degrees at night, put them out, in the sunniest spot you have. If you're looking for starter plants @milehigh_7 has a burgeoning trees business. I'm sure he could help you find something to start out with, and you'll get a discount for being a member here.

LanceMac10 · Mar 1, 2018

I like to whip these out......

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

Carol 83 said:
Lavender Star Flower, Natal Plum, bougainvilleas, Brazilian Rain Trees (like Lance suggested) are all easy care trees, and do fine all winter indoors for me. (And I suck WAY worse than @LanceMac10 , lol) Once it's consistently over 50 degrees at night, put them out, in the sunniest spot you have. If you're looking for starter plants @milehigh_7 has a burgeoning trees business. I'm sure he could help you find something to start out with, and you'll get a discount for being a member here.

I’ll have to try to contact him and see if he has any available. Thank you

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

LanceMac10 said:
I like to whip these out......

View attachment 179871 View attachment 179872 View attachment 179873

Wait are those yours?

LanceMac10 · Mar 1, 2018

No, I just like to look at the picks from a fun trip!!! They were for sale, though.

Good plant that will not die indoors, 'specially up North!!!

Karmage · Mar 1, 2018

Oh and this is my current setup...I have the little LED grow light as well as another “normal” grow light...not sure which is best to use

Best beginning Bonsai recommendations

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