Elm or Boxwood for a Beginner?

[Betula1]

just get a living elm and work it to the best of your abilities. They are crazy forgiving, grow like the devil is chasing them and nothing can kill them [except for the Dutch].
Push yourself.

Or grow your own from cuttings. Theyre very easy to root , then you will have the satisfaction of actually creating your own tree from scratch and learn more about the whole growing process

 

[Mats Hagström]

I'm glad the Elm is an option. They are ideal for bonsai. So are Trident Maples.

 

[minkes]

Elm is easier, but if you are serius about bonsai hobby go for both and much more like maple, spruce, pine…

 

[leatherback]

Or grow your own from cuttings. Theyre very easy to root , then you will have the satisfaction of actually creating your own tree from scratch and learn more about the whole growing process

and if they fail people starting off are straight disappointed. Beginners should not start with seed or cuttings.

This whole idea of starting a tree from scratch by seed or cutting is really misinterpreting growing bonsai tbh

 

[Bonsai Nut]

This whole idea of starting a tree from scratch by seed or cutting is really misinterpreting growing bonsai tbh

I think it really comes down to time - how to get the best results in the fastest time - within the context that trees live much longer than frail little humans. You can collect a tree from the wild, and perhaps have an amazing bonsai in under five years, while five years after starting a tree from seed you will still have a five year-old seedling that you could have simply purchased from a nursery, and saved yourself five years of effort.

However some people like the horticultural aspect of growing from seed... or do so because they can't obtain stock any other way. If that is you, go crazy!

 

[oranjeaap]

You can buy "mallsai" Chinese Elms in most big stores and they're fairly cheap. Usually they all have the same boring S-shape and an ugly trunkchop near the apex. But you can use most of the common bonsai techniques on them. And most have enough trunk thickness to create potential for a future trunkchop above the first branch. Basically you can reset the tree, create a new apex and you can shape it how you like from there. Also one of the few trees you can keep inside (under certain conditions).

 

[leatherback]

However some people like the horticultural aspect of growing from seed... or do so because they can't obtain stock any other way. If that is you, go crazy!

of course. I am the first to recommend people should -also- grow from seed or cutting. But for someone just starting I do not believe it is a recommended route. Too many hurdles before one gets to the stage of doing bonsai.

 

[rockm]

I am opinionated. if you want to do bonsai DO BONSAI. Don’t grow seedlings. The care for either is far from the same. Seedlings remain mostly uninteresting for a very long time.

Sure if you like growing seedlings grow them. It’s about as challenging as watching grass grow. Won’t teach you anything about bonsai or much of anything but well….. Zzzzzzzzzz…….oh. sorry nodded off there

Ground growing CAN be similar but once a trunk reaches the diameter you want it may have to be pulled up and roots shortened and sorted and/or trunk chopped.