new to this site, new to bonsai

[JerryMcconnel]

Hi alI, I am new here and new to bonsai. I started getting interested in bonsai some years back from a guy I used to work with and who did bonsai. Since then I have just been looking at images of plants on Google and reading articles on the couple of different types of plants that bonsai are made of. I am not to good at taking of plants, most of the plants I have had over the years always keel over.

I went by a nursery this weekend to pick up some pea gravel to put in the yard and they had classes on how you do the bonsai so I decided to take one so I could make a bonsai. They have a plant they provide.with the class, which I think is a Juniper, that most bonsai are made of. I was told I would need a pair of special scissors, that are different than the kind you use to cut paper with. I bought them for seven dollars. I was told I needed one more tool to use to make a bonsai plant a cutter for nobs, but that for the moment I could use one of there's if needed until the Bonsai is finished.
I am looking forward to the class and hopefully learning to not kill plants.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Awesome! Welcome to the site, and welcome to the world of bonsai. One thing that will help is if you put your general location in your profile, because so much of the advice people provide is based on where you live (USDA growing zone, etc).

We need to start a betting pool until you have 100 trees. I say two years.

 

[moke]

Be careful, you do realize a small Juniper is a gateway shrub. Next thing you know you’ll be feeling up bushes checking for nebari!!!
Welcome, enjoy this awesome hobby/life!!!

 

[queenofsheba52]

Hi Jerry, glad you found this awesome bonsai site!

Signing up for a class is smart. Where are you located?

 

[PeaceLoveBonsai]

Good luck at your class, that’s a really good way to learn. Over the next several months and years you will learn a lot about the “rules” of bonsai, but there is really only one to remember and never break...

“Always take a before picture”

Happy Bonsai!

 

[sorce]

Apparently y'all are not familiar with ALL the "classes"!

Welcome to Crazy!

So far it sounds like the only thing they taught you is how to spend $ in their store!

Pics Pics!

Sorce

 

[JerryMcconnel]

Thank you everybody for the post of replies. I was very sick with a cold for about a week and couldn't attend the class for bonsai, but I let them know I was and now have me scheduled for a class after the New Years. As well I have run into my friend that makes bonsai he came by the bar i work at and I told him I was going to start a Bonsai tree and take a class to make one, he said that was awesome, we talked about bonsai for a little while. I ask him about pots he makes for the trees and if he ended up sending his pots to japan to be in the show he was talking about and he did. That they will in the show in January. I commented before about this on a category about pots, but cannot find it now. Till my class I am just looking at and reading the internet on how to make the bonsai.

 

[eb84327]

Thank you everybody for the post of replies. I was very sick with a cold for about a week and couldn't attend the class for bonsai, but I let them know I was and now have me scheduled for a class after the New Years. As well I have run into my friend that makes bonsai he came by the bar i work at and I told him I was going to start a Bonsai tree and take a class to make one, he said that was awesome, we talked about bonsai for a little while. I ask him about pots he makes for the trees and if he ended up sending his pots to japan to be in the show he was talking about and he did. That they will in the show in January. I commented before about this on a category about pots, but cannot find it now. Till my class I am just looking at and reading the internet on how to make the bonsai.

Taking a class will be fun. If something happens again and you can't make the class at fukubonsai.com they sell a workshop package for around $60, comes with a small dwarf schefflera, everything you need to plant it, lava rock, wire, and small plastic training pot. Good step by step instructions also. I live in a rural area without any bonsai rescources so I bought one and I am glad I did. Their stock is great and dwarf schefflera are a great starter tree because honestly you have to try to kill em, and they grow fair inside compared to other that just don't. They advertise it as a true indoor bonsai idk if I completely agree I put my outside during summer. Welcome and good luck.

 

[JerryMcconnel]

Taking a class will be fun. If something happens again and you can't make the class at fukubonsai.com they sell a workshop package for around $60, comes with a small dwarf schefflera, everything you need to plant it, lava rock, wire, and small plastic training pot. Good step by step instructions also. I live in a rural area without any bonsai rescources so I bought one and I am glad I did. Their stock is great and dwarf schefflera are a great starter tree because honestly you have to try to kill em, and they grow fair inside compared to other that just don't. They advertise it as a true indoor bonsai idk if I completely agree I put my outside during summer. Welcome and good luck.

Thank you for this information, I am definitely going to try and make the class I have been spending a lot of time reading on the internet and I am very excited. But, if for some reason I don't I will check it out, thanks for the tip.