Cheap garden center material.

[ChrisV]

I see a lot of expensive trees passing by on the forums.
Most of them yamadori or bonsai nursery material.
In spring I always buy heaps of cheap plants that cost around 15 euro's that's about 20 dollars.
Back home I put them in pots and leave them to grow. So every time I have the urge to create something or if I want to try out new things I grab one.

Just like to show you some of them as an example that bonsai doesn't have to be expensive to enjoy.

Chameacyparis practice tree for a talent contest


Mame needle juniper (1 euro coins are 1 inch)


Cherry blossom


Spruce was shaped as dense pyramid of green.

 

[edprocoat]

They are all very nice. The mame juni, the needles look very dried out ?

ed

 

[ChrisV]

Thanks!
Oh no worries it's just the light I had to use to take the picture it's doing fine.

 

[cmeg1]

That is great.The word cheap especially rings through.Seems you are enjoying the hobby with some great trees.That cost next to nothin'.

 

[ChrisV]

It's a great way to enjoy your hobby and as a beginner it's really easy to stay motivated when you can also get results from cheap shrubs etc.
I also have some really expensive trees and it's just as fun to work on them as it is to work these trees, but with them i'm always more careful.

I heard a quote once from a japanese masters saying; 'Western Bonsai will never reach the level it has in Japan, because western people are to polite to they're trees and don't take risks.'
With cheap stuff like this you can try out anything without feeling bad if it goes wrong.

And I think the times are over were everyone thinks bonsai is a hobby only for the rich.

 

[Cadillactaste]

I am extremely impressed! How long have you been doing bonsai? They are all lovely trees...but the last two are my favorite! Thanks for sharing...

 

[Lazylightningny]

I buy all my plants from home depot. They are healthy and many have fat trunks, but thsy rarely have growth close to the trunk. As a beginner though it teaches me how to prune for growth.

 

[october]

These are all very well done. In regards to the hinoki cypress. I think another styling option might be to tilt the tree up and to the left a bit and remove the branch on the right and/or make a jin. Something like this. However, both styles suit the tree well.

Also, this is a hinoki that I have been training for about 11 years. It came from a local garden center.

Rob

 

[ChrisV]

@darlene Thanks and i'm doing bonsai since 2011

@rob also Thanks, I used this tree to practice for The New talent contest. Did it in 2,5 hours and probably next season I Will change it. Although when I remove The branch it's going to be so straight forward. But The option is there.
Nice hinoki you got there by The way.
Another great example trees don't have to be expensive to become Nice bonsai

 

[Poink88]

ChrisV,

I like what you've been posting and your attitude/approach.

When I started 2 years ago, I was told several times and in different forums that I can never get decent materials from box stores. Thankfully, I see less and less similar (discouraging) posts now. Like you, I have been playing with cheap materials too but mine are not nearly as nice as yours yet. Hopefully in time.

Good job!

 

[ChrisV]

Enjoying bonsai doesn't have to be like only working on yamadori or expensive nursery material.
Not everyone can affort such trees and everyone experience The Joy of his hobby in his own way.
Thanks for The comment by The way.

A lot of The expensive trees are also field grown. Container plants are just a lot younger when potted and sold and not been worked on in The field.
You tube has a lot of movies with Japanse nursery's who have heaps of trees growing and worked on in The field for several years. Ready to be exported and sold sometimes as yamadori.

I have a tree that's real Japanse yamadori and is worth about 4000 dollar when it's ready. And to be honest it scares Me to work on it.
Cheap stuff let's you experiment and enjoy bonsai far more as a beginner.
And it's not true that ordinairy garden center stock cant become great trees some of The most famous artists have had trees on exhibitions that came from there.
One last thing The way to learn and to progress is making mistakes and you dont want that to happen to expensive trees.

 

[Poink88]

I agree and if I may add...having several also helps you build that courage. I mangle and re-style my trees much easier just because most are cheap or free and I have lots. The (personal) pressure is less and in a way, lets your creative juices (if there is any LOL) flow more freely.

 

[tmmason10]

Really impressve work Chris. You have a knack for this hobby if you've only been in it for two years. These trees all look better than what is on my bench for more money.

 

[MidMichBonsai]

I understand the whole, "the problem with most beginners is the material they are working with" but I tend to disagree. I think the problem with most beginners is that they need to learn to keep trees alive! Whether it's watering, fertilizing, pest control, or overwintering, the last way I want to learn these lesson is on $500+ material.

My goal is to learn how to keep my material as healthy and vigorous as possible and to experiment with new techniques on cheap material. Once I am able to keep trees alive, healthy and style wisely, I will be able to properly handle high-quality material.

What is better for learning? To fail once with a $500 tree or to have 25 opportunities to learn with $20 trees? I tend to land in the 2nd camp.

 

[sikadelic]

My goal is to learn how to keep my material as healthy and vigorous as possible and to experiment with new techniques on cheap material. Once I am able to keep trees alive, healthy and style wisely, I will be able to properly handle high-quality material.

I feel the same way. I am really comfortable working on everything I have because nothing cost me more than $40. If somebody were to give me a tree that's been training for 50 years and in beautiful condition I would be scared to even get near it..lol.

I plan to buy one nice tree per year once I get more established and feel like I really know what I am doing without having to consult others for advice on everything I do. That will probably be in about 10 more years...

 

[sikadelic]

And nice work Chris! I have some of your stuff on the Bonsai Empire forum as well. I just recently joined here.

I would have never guessed you had only been working in Bonsai since 2011. Now you have given me a bit of confidence in knowing that it won't take me a lifetime to get where I want to be. I can really tell you aren't just a hobbyist and truly love your work. It shows in your trees. Again, great job!

 

[ChrisV]

Thanks for the nice comments really inspires me to make more projects like these.

And yes i'm just a hobbyist all my life I have been creating things and that is what I love to do.
Always try to put my soul in my creations and I must admit this one is by far the most satisfying it provides some peace of mind.
Although I do wish I started out earlier.
Good to see people get motivated and inspired by my work, that's probably the biggest compliment to get. Thanks!

 

[Lazylightningny]

I have about 20 pieces that I either found on my property or bought from HD. I just started in bonsai this year, so I'm in a steep learning curve right now. These inexpensive or free trees allow me to experiment and learn without fear of killing an expensive tree. As stated above, my prime objective is to learn how to keep the trees alive and care for them, since living in a pot is such an artificial environment. I have yet to battle any major insect infestations, but I do battle white mildew. So, that is a learning experience for me too. Pre-treat? Systemics? Spray and pray? I don't know yet, haven't really learned enough. But these guys allow me to learn properly. I have a couple that I feel can become nice bonsai in the future, and the men and women on this site really inspire me to try my hardest to improve and become the bonsai artist I know I can become. I want to thank all of you for sharing your hard-earned knowledge gained over many years of hard work and a lot of money spent.

 

[ChrisV]

That one spruce was part of a forest planting I wanted to do. But... The pot would only fit 7 so if I find a bigger pot or slab it will get larger.
The picture taken outside not to good quality and the forest is still al little sloppy and in need of some refinement which I will do end of the week.
Than I will post more better pictures.

 

[ChrisV]

Little update;
Today I added more trees as it's total is now 10. When I get a new slab or pot I will add more.
From now on i'm mainly focussing on detail wiring.