cedarcanvas
Sapling
Hi Nuts,
I’m pretty keen on getting into bonsai. I’ve kept houseplants for years and had veggie gardens in the past, but trees are rand new to me. I’ve spent the last three or four weeks doing tons of research on Bonsai Nut, Bonsai Empire, Mirai, other blogs, the Bjorn Bjorholm podcast, library books, YouTube, Reddit, etc.and I think I’m ready to pull the trigger on my first tree. The following is a summary of where I’m thinking of heading...am I on the right track?
First off,my initial ideal of having a coffee table-top conversation piece that I can immediately tinker with has been long since crushed...mildly disappointing, but I’ve quickly learned that’s not really what this is about.
Immediate Plans:
I’m smitten by junipers, so that’s what I’m gonna get. I’m think I’ll be working towards something on the shohin side size-wise. After some phone calls, I found a nursery that’s both open to the public (easier said than done given current isolation restrictions) and has a broad and diverse stock of reasonably priced junipers of differing species and cultivars. Depending on what I see when I get there, I intend on picking up one or two trees. I like the aesthetic of slant and windswept forms so I’ll be keeping this in mind while shopping (also keeping in mind I’ll be lucky to make it to the styling stage). Informal upright may be a little more beginner-friendly, so I’ll be keeping that option in mind too.
My (pre-)bonsai will be living outdoors on my sun-drenched, south-facing condo balcony for now, with a move to a house with a property in the not-too-distant future.
From there, my initial focus will be on letting the tree(s) adjust to a new environment, learning specific lighting and watering needs (by monitoring and watering as needed to keep soil moist, rather than on a fixed schedule) and admiring form, foliage and characteristics. This way, I can learn about the species and individual tree(s)’s needs and start considering design ideas.
Depending on what I get, I may consider repotting as it sounds like it’s still early enough in the spring here to get that done. Perhaps into a larger terracotta pot that’s nicer to look at, heartier than a plastic nursery pot and still allows for growth. If this is the case, I’ll need to do a shit-ton of reading of reading on soil for moisture, drainage and nutrient requirement info.
Near-term Plans:
Continue research.
Monitor through the spring and summer, learning what processes happen during growing season.
As my tree(s) adjust(s) I need to research fertilization. This is a topic I’m yet to really dive into, but my understanding is that growing season is when I should be feeding?
I’d like to pick up a couple of tools. PATIENCE will be my mantra,with only very minimal pinching/pruning. The major styling will have to wait until at least the fall depending on repotting, tree health and what I wind up with. That said, despite he fact that tools could wait, I think picking up a couple of pieces could help scratch some of the itch. Lots of debate out there on what beginners should be getting but I was honking a decent set of shears and a concave branch cutters are a good start. Recommendations here would be much appreciated. Root tools, more varied shears, wire and cutters, etc. can come later?
Long-term Plans:
Continue to learn.
I’ve considered joining a club (not an option right now given what’s going on in the world). I’m lukewarm on the idea, but I’ll continue to consider it.
Transform tree(s) into a bonsai if I can get one to live long enough...styling, repotting, nebari, shari, jin, etc.
Try not to spend my mortgage payments on trees, pots and tools.
That’s what I’ve come up with so far. So...what am I missing? I imagine I’ll harm some trees on my journey but I hope to learn from my and your mistakes and enjoy myself along the way.
Thanks for all the knowledge here and any insight you’re willing to share!
I’m pretty keen on getting into bonsai. I’ve kept houseplants for years and had veggie gardens in the past, but trees are rand new to me. I’ve spent the last three or four weeks doing tons of research on Bonsai Nut, Bonsai Empire, Mirai, other blogs, the Bjorn Bjorholm podcast, library books, YouTube, Reddit, etc.and I think I’m ready to pull the trigger on my first tree. The following is a summary of where I’m thinking of heading...am I on the right track?
First off,my initial ideal of having a coffee table-top conversation piece that I can immediately tinker with has been long since crushed...mildly disappointing, but I’ve quickly learned that’s not really what this is about.
Immediate Plans:
I’m smitten by junipers, so that’s what I’m gonna get. I’m think I’ll be working towards something on the shohin side size-wise. After some phone calls, I found a nursery that’s both open to the public (easier said than done given current isolation restrictions) and has a broad and diverse stock of reasonably priced junipers of differing species and cultivars. Depending on what I see when I get there, I intend on picking up one or two trees. I like the aesthetic of slant and windswept forms so I’ll be keeping this in mind while shopping (also keeping in mind I’ll be lucky to make it to the styling stage). Informal upright may be a little more beginner-friendly, so I’ll be keeping that option in mind too.
My (pre-)bonsai will be living outdoors on my sun-drenched, south-facing condo balcony for now, with a move to a house with a property in the not-too-distant future.
From there, my initial focus will be on letting the tree(s) adjust to a new environment, learning specific lighting and watering needs (by monitoring and watering as needed to keep soil moist, rather than on a fixed schedule) and admiring form, foliage and characteristics. This way, I can learn about the species and individual tree(s)’s needs and start considering design ideas.
Depending on what I get, I may consider repotting as it sounds like it’s still early enough in the spring here to get that done. Perhaps into a larger terracotta pot that’s nicer to look at, heartier than a plastic nursery pot and still allows for growth. If this is the case, I’ll need to do a shit-ton of reading of reading on soil for moisture, drainage and nutrient requirement info.
Near-term Plans:
Continue research.
Monitor through the spring and summer, learning what processes happen during growing season.
As my tree(s) adjust(s) I need to research fertilization. This is a topic I’m yet to really dive into, but my understanding is that growing season is when I should be feeding?
I’d like to pick up a couple of tools. PATIENCE will be my mantra,with only very minimal pinching/pruning. The major styling will have to wait until at least the fall depending on repotting, tree health and what I wind up with. That said, despite he fact that tools could wait, I think picking up a couple of pieces could help scratch some of the itch. Lots of debate out there on what beginners should be getting but I was honking a decent set of shears and a concave branch cutters are a good start. Recommendations here would be much appreciated. Root tools, more varied shears, wire and cutters, etc. can come later?
Long-term Plans:
Continue to learn.
I’ve considered joining a club (not an option right now given what’s going on in the world). I’m lukewarm on the idea, but I’ll continue to consider it.
Transform tree(s) into a bonsai if I can get one to live long enough...styling, repotting, nebari, shari, jin, etc.
Try not to spend my mortgage payments on trees, pots and tools.
That’s what I’ve come up with so far. So...what am I missing? I imagine I’ll harm some trees on my journey but I hope to learn from my and your mistakes and enjoy myself along the way.
Thanks for all the knowledge here and any insight you’re willing to share!