Calling all newbs

[Ollie]

Fellow newbs, I have new(b)s! Thought I would share some lesser-discussed species I have found to be great (i.e. very easy) for bonsai. Both can be obtained very inexpensively as nursery stock.

Our more experienced friends: please share your thoughts/pictures/experiences on these species, and suggest any other less prevalent species for newbs!

 

[jeremy_norbury]

FIeld maples : Vastly underrated and easy to find and/or propagate. They grow fast, their leaves become smaller, back-bud easily.
Lonicera nitida: Probably the easiest shrub to propagate - thus they are really cheap. Nice small leaves, super fast growing, twiggy, backbud profusely, once you have one, you can grow another 20 from cuttings the same year.

 

[Ollie]

Crassula sarcocaulis:
Kind of a cheat, as it naturally grows as a miniature tree in a naturalistic deciduous style - but still requires maintenance to keep it in shape.

Responds well to clip-and-grow, use minimal wire as new branches are fragile (learnt my lesson). Branches thicken fast, so monitor wire closely. Back-buds readily. Pick off flower buds as they appear (practically a daily task when growing!) Cuttings strike easily, so you get a forest every time you prune. Don't be fooled by 'crassula' - these guys are thirsty! Full sun, hardy. Tasty to insects: easily controlled with dish soap solution.

Pics show 1 year's progress. Will start reducing the rootball next year.

 

[Ollie]

Darn you Jerry, beat me to lonicera!! Thanks for nothing!!

Agreed, I'd add they wire pretty well but can largely be clip-and-growed. Crazy growth up top is mirrored in the roots. Dig around at your local nursery for one with some trunk movement.

Pics show pruning and a month's recovery. Anyone know how well scars heal over?

 

[leatherback]

privet
taxus

 

[sorce]

#1 Ficus.

I've only killed em when I knew they were gonna die, and sometimes when I thought they would die, they don't.

Anything else you think might die, always does.

Fun all winter.

Never had anything grow faster.

Sorce

 

[Clorgan]

Great idea for a thread, thanks for creating!

Still a newbie, but I'm enjoying potentilla! Can find them really cheap and with good start to trunks. Here's one I found for £8 - apple pie apparently! Flowers go on and on too. Needs a lot of work of course! Leaving growth for now because I want to see the flowers.



Also here's a more developed one

 

[Ollie]

Very nice tree clorgan, how many years in training?

 

[Clorgan]

Very nice tree clorgan, how many years in training?

Bought it recently, all I've done was wire the branches, so can't take credit for its training! Not sure how old it is tbh