Chinese Elm Help

[joneyyy1981]

hey,
im wondering if anyone can help me with a few questions, iv done a little search of the forum and it has some great info, anyways my little girl walks in from school asking if she can grow a bonsai tree, yea yea sure you can i reply... how hard can it be....

those was my famous last words hahaha

iv heard its not even worth bothering to buy seeds is this true? or should i buy her a book and small plant and let he go from there etc..

any help would be great guys, much apprciated..

p.s she already has the seeds?

 

[lordy]

getting a tree to train as bonsai starting from seed will not keep her attention at all. Even with a small tree that is already several years old, this is a pastime which requires much patience. Since she has the seeds, go ahead and plant them and see if she has a green thumb. If so, perhaps vegetable or flower gardening will give her more immediate gratification. When the seeds emerge she can learn what happens and how long growth takes in a tree. I would definitely not try to discourage her interest though, just try to "plant the seed" that this is a long-term obsession.

 

[rockm]

You don't say what country or state you live it. That can be helpful in helping us help you.

Forget planting seeds. Doing that for bonsai is literally about as exciting as watching grass grow--although grass grows much more quickly than a tree.

THe best way to get your daughter involved in bonsai is to GET A BONSAI. It needn't be expensive. A bonsai from the mall would work. The cheaper the better, as she will probably kill it--everyone doing bonsai has done so. It's part of the deal. You learn from the first tree you have.

This is the most active time in the "bonsai season" in the Northern hemisphere with spring in full swing. There are many bonsai shows happening across the U.S. right now. Most have vendors who sell every level of bonsai, from stock to finished trees at prices well below what you'll shell out at the mall stands.

Also, there is probably a local bonsai club near you. Clubs are very interested in getting younger people interested in bonsai.

 

[joneyyy1981]

hey thanks for the replys, im from the uk...

 

[Bill S]

An inexpensive Ficus or Chinese Elm would be a good place to start, they respond rather quickly, and are fairly forgiving. No seeds.

 

[milehigh_7]

There is no reason you can't have some fun germinating the seeds and get a tree that is further along. Definitely get in with a club, it would give you and her something to do together that would have a multitude of benefits! The locals can help with material, supplies and choosing the trees that do best in your area. Let us know how it goes!

 

[joneyyy1981]

thanks guys your help is much appreciated... i think ill look for a cheapish elm starter tree, ill give the seeds a go instead of wasting them..

 

[joneyyy1981]

sorry last question guys, at what age can you not shape itt, i mean can you only shape them up to a certain age etc?

 

[Bill S]

I have seen bonsai from 2 " to 2 meters, get one and take pics, we can offer tips from there. A lot depends on size, species, and what you expect to have as to what and when do you do it. Lots of good beginner knowledge here do a bunch of reading and you will naturally come up with some more questions for us. The plants horticultural needs are the number one thing that needs to be taken care of, the rest of bonsai is artform.

 

[Poink88]

Shaping is a continuous process. The sooner you start the better but depending on your means & methods, you can shape a tree that is 100 years old (by carving). If you are talking about bending, it depends on the species, size, and means & methods. Of course the larger & harder they are the more difficult they become.

 

[linlaoboo]

sorry last question guys, at what age can you not shape itt, i mean can you only shape them up to a certain age etc?

This question has so many different answers. I'd suggest reading some bonsai books and here's what I think in short:

Depends on what stage of progress the bonsai tree is in. Finished trees in expensive pots are considered finished to me who's just trying to get to that point but others will tell you a bonsai will never be finished.

If the tree is young like a stick in the pot and you are growing for size and thicker trunks then you should not shape it until it's much further along because any chopping or trimming will slow down the tree's growth.

If it's already a starter tree a few years old, there's nothing wrong with wiring it, triming it to shape it a bit.

Once the bonsai is ready for a formal display pot, triming it will maintain the shape and design you created or else any tree will overgrow if not maintained.

To grow good bonsai, you need to first grow a tree according to its horticultural needs. A wise man said you don't grow a tree like a bonsai but grow a bonsai like a tree.