Beginner--New Mallsai Given to me as gift

[BonRy_an]

Region 7C Central, Kansas USA

Hello all I am new to the path of making bonsai, and just had a Juniper gifted too me (by sister, and mother who had good intentions). I saw a funny post on how a person called the pre-bonsai they had someone give them from walmart a Walsai. Pretty funny. Well that is my story I was originally going to start down this path doing a few seedlings of juniper I found growing wild, and trident maple from seed. I pretty much had this tree unexpectedly enter my life >.< So I am doing my best to make it work with the materials that are locally available.

With that being said after I got the mallsai I cleaned off all the glued decorations >.<' and found that the dirt underneath was some what moist (shoo). Some of the branches that were lower on the tree (not thick or woody at all) were very limp to the point that they would drag in the dirt. I ended up pinching these off (three in all).

I decided to re-pot after I saw how thick the roots were, and that the pot did not have any drainage holes on the bottom. When I dug the juniper out from around the sides I discovered it had a really thick root ball (the plastic pot it was in was square and three inches deep which the root ball completely took up). From previous re-potting videos I saw on youtube I tried to get as much of the previous soil out from the roots as possible and eventually gave up and rinsed it under filtered water (worked well). I was still unable to remove the soil directly under the trunk of the tree. I did trim the longer roots in order to make the root ball have more shape. I do not feel I cut off any more than a third of what was there maybe even less than that.

Previously I wanted a soil mixture of potting soil, crushed pumice stone, pavers sand, and Decomposed granite. Unfortunately I was unable to find crushed pumice or the granite in my area. I had to settle (for now since I dont have a bonsai nursery nearby) with marble nuggets 20%, Pavers sand 30%, and Miracle grow potting soil for the remainder.

These pictures are the result of my work. I watered it really good to check the drainage and within 2 minutes of the top of the pot being full of water the majority was coming out the bottom of the pot.

If there is any advice, suggestions, or things you can visibly see I am doing wrong please let me know. If there is also any ideas on if this is a good shape for a future bonsai please let me know.

Many thanks!

 

[Adair M]

Well... generally speaking, a bonsai will have a single trunk line. There is a "clump style" forest that you could develop this into.

I suggest that you locate the nearest bonsai club and join it. You will learn from other members what grows well in your climate, and maybe get a chance to aquire some material that has a better start than this one.

Poke around on the threads here and look at what others have posted, and see what the responses are. You can learn a lot. I have.

Welcome to the hobby!

 

[milehigh_7]

The saying is, one insult per year to junis. So I would do nothing further. Learn to keep it alive as it is. Looks like you have done pretty good so far. Let's see what the more experienced folk tell you

 

[Ang3lfir3]

If there is any advice, suggestions, or things you can visibly see I am doing wrong please let me know.

time to put ur helmet on ... this is gunna sting a little ..... (its for ur own good i promise)

I watered it really good to check the drainage and within 2 minutes of the top of the pot being full of water the majority was coming out the bottom of the pot.

when we say you need an open soil mix with good drainage .... this is NOT what we mean ..... honestly there should be little to no "soil" in the pot (that idea takes some getting used to) .... you should have access to some alternative like Dri Stall or Oil Dri or the like .... the best thing to do is contact a local club or find some local bonsai growers and ask them what they use in their mix and where to buy it from....

now for an example (sorry its dark out or I would make a video or something) --- when I water the trees.... the water almost immediately comes out the bottom of the pot... its hard to tell that its even getting in the pot.... our mix is open and drainage is nearly instantaneous ....

as for the tree.... put some wire on the branch/trunks and bend them in to some interesting shape.... let it grow like mad for a few years.... wash rinse repeat... in 10 yrs it should be interesting .....

save yourself a long road of pain and don't bother with seeds ( seeds are an advanced class ... ur not ready ) .... save some money up and get something nice to work with.... learn from people who have been doing it a while ... have some fun and realize this is something you are in for the LONG haul....

welcome to the lifestyle .....

 

[BonRy_an]

All great advice.

I was actually perplexed when you said that there should be almost no soil that is kind of shocking I understand what you mean by being instantaneous though it is pretty much like pouring into a bucket with no bottom.

That is some crazy flow... so these trees need no soil? It seems counterintuitive, but it makes sense. I have read some blogs that said it doesn't matter what you plant in or what mixes that you use because the most important part is the person who waters to make sure it is time to water, and doesn't over water.

I have also read the benefits of root production because of pure pumice soil mixes so I can understand that difference.

So should I re-pot with a better mix asap or leave it as it is?

Also I hope that at least the sand was a good idea because I bought .5CU of it But I think the only thing making it workable currently is the sand mixed in with the stones it would be one big mud ball if it didn't have those.

Also thanks Glad to add it as apart of my lifestyle it seems today people are so out of touch with their world. I finally within the last couple years started re-gaining my fascination with nature. Re-kindling my love to grow things and plant husbandry.

 

[Bill S]

At this stage of the game leave it where it is, many nurseries use a sandy mix like this, just be careful with watering, and let it grow for a while.

No offense intended except to whoever sells this stuff, but that has got to be one of the worst Mallsai I have seen. nice of your family though to think of you at least you know they listen to you.

Welcome to the world of bonsai, good growing.

 

[BonRy_an]

At least I wont feel bad if it decides to kick it(or I kick it) I mean hey it was a $10 plant what can be expected I was just hoping my green thumb could transform it and maybe 100 years later from now it will start looking like a pre-bonsai .

Sad thing is there were other mallsai there that had way better structure one that even looked wind blown... sigh ohh well >.<'