Many thanks, Leo! I was honestly thinking that tree rotation was possibly a needful thing, indeed, however. I stumbled upon something in one of my beginners Bonsai books (don't remember which one) that stated Bonsai trees should never be moved, except for temporary exhibition purposes, then put back just as they were, before. The so called proof was stated somewhat similar to the following;.. "Look at trees growing naturally in the wild. They are beautiful and do not move. "Trees are NOT designed to be moved!" That bothered me, but being as green as I am, I began to wonder if there was any truth to that. Then came further research regarding ramification, shrinking leaf sizes, etc. Things were not logically computing. I've since purchased more advanced reading materials, but have not yet been able to go through those books. Needless to say; "It's tough being a newbie to the world of Bonsai!" There is soo much to learn, just to get started on a good foot... and obviously a lot of misinformation out there. I'm thinking that a lot of books need to be viewed as 'reference-only'... and the words from folks like you taken as sound advice! Thanks, again!
There is a natural arc that at least in my experience, most people follow when learning a new hobby, artform, trade or craft. We all start out as beginners, somewhat analogous to being an apprentice. This period in bonsai usually lasts about 5 years. Then we become analogous to ''journeymen'', where we know the basics well enough to go out on our own. Either work privately without continually running to the books to look things up or literally ''out'' in terms of offering others advice or even doing work for others. At this point we usually feel we ''mastered'' the craft. However, for the better craftsmen the learning continues, until they really become a ''master craftsman''. This is when the art really becomes art.
Unfortunately, in my surveys of bonsai books. Most, but not all, bonsai authors write their first book at about 5 to 10 years into the art and craft of bonsai. While they are mere ''journeymen'', well before they truly have mastered the art. There is a lot of bad information in bonsai books and in articles on the internet. Be particularly skeptical of bonsai books that are the ''one and only'' bonsai book the author has written. Those are pretty much guaranteed to have mis-information. Some really great authors, their first book will have issues, but authors like Colin Lewis will write many books over their career. Colin Lewis's more recent books are fabulous. Well researched and written from a lifetime of bonsai experience.
If you go back in time, not all of my posts are accurate and insightful. Trust me. Take anything I say with a grain of salt. Be at least cautious about all advice, evaluate it in your own context and setting. And the more my terms are ''absolute'' the higher the probability I'm unknowingly spouting bullshit. Yes, sometimes I myself am completely off base.
But I'm pretty sure I am spot on about turning your trees. I've seen enough other people that turn out good bonsai do it, that I don't even have to point to were I did it and where it did not do it.
Growing a tree in a pot is completely unnatural. It is an artificial environment. You can never replicate ''nature'' in a pot, so don't even try. DO try to meet the metabolic needs and environmental needs of the tree in the pot. IF moving the pot around is required to do so, then move the pot. I turn my pots regularly, well, at least as regularly as I can. Sometimes I only turn them once or twice a month, but Ideally, I try to turn them every week.
