beginner bonsai

Hello all. I am getting into Bonsai; my husband and I have a double dwarf boxwood we are working on from a nursery. It is doing very well. My husband was born and raised in Oregon but moved away for work. I want to get him a Douglas fir to bonsai to remind him of home. Do they do well? Online...

I'm thinking of grabbing some, but have never tried a Japanese maple. Was told the Standard Japanese maple was stronger, faster growing and could handle cold better than others. Is Beni Maiko a good maple tree to start on? What are the differences? Are they cared for/pruned/ built the same...

Hello I have been wondering about this weirdly long and vertical branch at the end of one of the lower pads on my Chinese elm, but since its been there since way before I bought the tree I hadn't cut it, since I thought there must be a reason for it being there. Should I just cut this branch...

So mid autumn I wired up my first trees. Two junipers that I bought at a nursery. They then spent most of the winter ranging from -3 to -22 Celcius buried under snow on my apartments balcony as I protected them from the wind as best as possible One juniper I wired 3/4 branches, the other I...

Basically got a free Mops today and I am not sure what to do with it. I'm guessing I should develop it to make it thicker and put movement in it, but so far trying to move/bend the base it seems too short/thick to bend. Also not sure to do with all the foliage. I understand why it is called a...

I keep seeing Junipers like these and they look absolutely beautiful. First how do they make the trunks on Junipers so thick? All the ones I tend to see at nurseries are small and thin. Secondly what is all the dead wood called? How is it created? Is that old parts of the tree or have they...

New to Bonsai and trying to come up with a good alternative to Akadama as it is expensive to get it here in my Nordic country. I have also heard it breaks down really fast in the cold weather. I am currently growing conifers and have read that a 1:1:1 soil mix of Pumice, Lava Rock and Akadama...

Hello. Im new to the hobby. I’ve been watching a few yt videos on bonsais nothing specific just general videos. And I love the aesthetics of each work of art. Each one is unique I love how much character can be given to them. that being said I have a few questions. 1. What is the best tree to...

I just re-potted this Jacaranda from a tiny pot that I got it in. I’m just a little concerned about the color of the trunk as it looks a bit brown, should I leave it partially shaded or can I leave it out in the sunlight what would be best? Does it look healthy to you?

I’ve been a little concerned about the health of my jacaranda seedling since it’s been sitting in a tiny container for a week I just moved it into a big pot do you think it will be okay? Is there anything else I need to do besides sticking it into the pot?

Hi everyone, I am in need of some advice about my fukien tea bonsai. I acquired it early April and it wasn't in the best shape leaving the nursery, but once it dropped all of its leaves due to the new adjustment, I was able to get it to grow back beautifully. However at some point the leaves...

Hello! I’m a beginner (Zone 5a) looking for some insight on this Amur maple I picked up yesterday. I was thinking about where to chop it to have it build more taper, how to develop it properly, etc. Basically, I’m wondering what would you do with this? Thanks in advance! :)

Seeking guidance on an air layering question: I am a beginner and am trying to develop visible surface roots. I have tried the ‘ring’ air layering technique (cutting a ring through the bark and growing roots into moss). My question is, what should I do with the new roots once they have grown...

Does anyone have any recommendations for an affordable tool kit for beginners? Ideally, I am looking for a 6 or 7 piece set. I was originally thinking stainless steel, but am open to carbon steel, too. Admittedly, while I am experienced with growing plants, I am quite the novice at bonsai and...

Hello! I am so excited to have found this forum as I have been working a tulip poplar into a tiny little pot and have a dwarf eastern pine that I would love to bonsai as well. I understand that I have no idea where to start— my first attempt at root pruning may have been an epic failure, and I...

Hi all, first post! Total beginner, but enjoying the journey so far! I bought cheap Ficus Ginseng which I’ve had for over a year. Bought it and didn’t realise what I was getting into. Having now partially educated myself on some of the basics now I realise it is in completely the wrong pot. It...

Hi all, I purchased three 1-gallon trees from Evergreen Gardenworks. 1 trident maple and 2 elms. Following Brent's advice, I would now like to move them from the 1 gallon containers to larger grow boxes. Does anyone have recommendations on a pre-mixed soil that is good but also affordable...

Hi All. First, I’d like to take a moment to say how appreciative I am to be a part of the bonsa community. Although new to it I’ve learned SO much from reading this forum and loved every minute of it. This is my first post so thanks in advance for any/all responses. Since I’m new to bonsai, I...

Hello everyone! I am new to bonsai business and I am currently considering to attempt to grow a Snow Rose Bonsai mostly indoors **FROM THE SEED**. Location challenges: Canada, Quebec, close to Ottawa. Temperature: Constant around 68 degrees fahrenheit and 77 degrees fahrenheit (except in...

I've always been intrigued by the elegance and art of bonsai since I was a teen, and now that I'm in my 30's I realize that I've wasted the last decade not doing any research or even purchasing my first.. until now. I'm the typical excited, over-anxious, impatient, and nervous first time buyer...

Hey everyone! I've been enjoying taking care of my bonsai starting from the seed for almost 4 months now. However, I'm facing a problem and I don't want to do any drastic changes that may affect it even more. This month, the leaves of one branch started yellowing, then after a few days, they...

Seeking suggestions for my Norway Maple “foot” Yardadori. Zone 6b. Collected late summer 2020 clearing out the side yard. Should I wire these down or just let it grow? What do I do with the multiple buds coming off the stump and new branches. Future plan is to carve/hollow out the stump...

I have a Brazilian Rain Tree that was hurting when I got it a couple of months ago but has since recovered nicely. The tree is growing like crazy I’m just curious if I should let it keep going the way it is or prune some growing tips a bit or maybe try some wiring? I would like to get it into a...

Hi, total beginner here. Was greeted one day after work to see this little guy shooting up (chinese wisteria) I have actively kept him watered but not overly so and he spends his time on my windowsill not in direct sunlight but where its light. I was planning on repotting him soon but then I...

Nutters. Welcome to E.S.A.P. This thread is designed to bring to light the species people have in their own protected care, that THRIVE, and can best be used for our art. Please contribute by entering 2 deciduous or not species, and 1 evergreen, that are THE EASIEST EXOTIC SPECIES TO WORK...