Any tips for a beginner?

[Deneb]

True. The horticulture is the easy part. Training your eye for future development is the HARD part. I have been looking at bonsai for 4 years now trying to get it to soak in and I still take forever to make decisions and then when I do make a cut etc... I am full of doubt. I am no stranger to art (I play classical/improv jazz guitar and paint) but bonsai is harder than either one. That is one thing I like about it...it is hard (at least for me)

I completely agree. I have a hard time with a blank slate of possibilities.

 

[Deneb]

Honestly, you are like the three hundredth person to post this question on this forum. A good place to start would be to spend hours reading all the old posts on this forum. Try species categories you like at first (elms or maples or what have you). Then search and read about specific horticultural techniques (trunk chops or ground growing or clip and grow). Just keep diving into the backlog of threads and when you find a few posters that you really like, go to their personal pages and read through all the threads they have created.

It may take you a long time, but this site is literally a grass roots style encyclopedia. learn to learn from it!

Slowly making my way through the threads. But as there are so many possibilities and options, it's nice to be pointed in a general direction.

 

[Deneb]

Also, if you plan on growing indoors near a window, I would focus on tropicals like the many types ficus and invest in some supplimental lighting. T5 fluorescent bulbs can be had for pretty cheap or you can experiment with Led lighting. I had pretty good luck with some 50watt led floodlights, but you'll likely need to do some tinkering or pay a lot for an unproven technology.

Do a search for indoor and you'll find that it is really a diferent sport of the same hobby. I just closed on my new yard.. Er, I mean house. So I am real excited about focusing on my outdoor material soon, but I will always have a spot for the tropicals, be it in the basement under a grow light, or perhaps in a new green house if I can piece one together. Plus outdoor temperate trees have such a long slow dormancy, how else are you going to keep your clippers sharp over the winter?

Awesome. I guess tropical plants would make sense if I'm not able to put it outside. Thanks!