Newbie help and questions.

[Pleechford]

Hey guys,

I am new to this forum and Bonsai in general. I have always been so interested in the hobby / art as a child and young adult and now I finally have the means to finally start! I have not bought any tools or anything such as that yet because I do not exactly know what I need. As far as trees go, I have a couple of Acer Rubrum (Red Maple) that are young and I could dig up out around the house to begin with. But do I just transplant into a bonsai pot and then cut the trunk to a desired length? Also, what are some beginner plants I can start with that are hardy and that require partial sun (my deck doesn't receive full sun?) One last thing, what is a good all around soil to use? I can make my own or purchase pre made. Sorry for all the questions but we all gotta start from somewhere!

Thanks!

 

[crust]

I would find a local bonsai supplier (Adams?) and go see them with your questions and buy a few suggested starter plants, soil etc. Any suggestions we make are mote relative to whats available. Doing this rather randomly buying crappy nursery plants will really save you money, time and heartbreak in the long run. Collecting could come later if you want but not now--a couple of small Japanese maples will probably be of infinite enjoyment to train and grow compared to the red maples.

Hey guys,

I am new to this forum and Bonsai in general. I have always been so interested in the hobby / art as a child and young adult and now I finally have the means to finally start! I have not bought any tools or anything such as that yet because I do not exactly know what I need. As far as trees go, I have a couple of Acer Rubrum (Red Maple) that are young and I could dig up out around the house to begin with. But do I just transplant into a bonsai pot and then cut the trunk to a desired length? Also, what are some beginner plants I can start with that are hardy and that require partial sun (my deck doesn't receive full sun?) One last thing, what is a good all around soil to use? I can make my own or purchase pre made. Sorry for all the questions but we all gotta start from somewhere!

Thanks!

 

[milehigh_7]

Don't worry about asking a bunch of questions, you are at the perfect point to ask because you have not spent any money or wasted any time. We have a few members on here from your neck of the woods and hopefully they will chime in with good nurseries to visit and good plants for your area. A local club is also a great idea. Welcome!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Welcome!


About the use of the Red Maples you have, I'd strongly avoid it. Red Maples make poor bonsai due to their large leaves and long internodes. There are many nice Maples out there, but Red Maple isn't one of them.

 

[Gene Deci]

Welcome!


About the use of the Red Maples you have, I'd strongly avoid it. Red Maples make poor bonsai due to their large leaves and long internodes. There are many nice Maples out there, but Red Maple isn't one of them.

Just as an example of what you can expect, and learn from, on this forum, my take is different from Redwood Ryan. I am not saying Red Maples are great material. They certainly have the drawbacks RR mentioned. But about 15 years ago I started out just as you are (execpt no web then). I dug up a ton of Red Maple seedlings and over the years I learned a lot from them. I have two left that are not bad at all. But here is the main thing. They were abundent, free and whatever you made of them was your work because there was nothing there to start with. If you need immediate gratification they are not the way to go but there is a lot to be said for someone just starting out working with starter material.

 

[daygan]

... and Red Maples are native trees. Using native trees is good because you know they're adapted to your climate(of course there are a lot of other non-native trees that are also adapted, but not so free ) , and cool because you're working with local material with local character, so you're making American bonsai, or North Carolinian bonsai, if you want to get even more local, and not just some cookie cutter Japanese bonsai just because that's where bonsai came from

 

[Pleechford]

Thanks for all the input! I definitely value everyone's opinion. I think I will keep a red maple just to experiment with a local free tree. I think I am going to get a Japanese maple, some sort of juniper, and maybe a Chinese elm. Does that sound like a good combo? My trouble that I face here is that I cannot find a place that sells bonsai stuff such as soil, pots, plants. I looked at a nursery today and they had junipers and jap. Maples but the maples were well over 8 ft tall. I just don't know what to do about soil and pots?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Thanks for all the input! I definitely value everyone's opinion. I think I will keep a red maple just to experiment with a local free tree. I think I am going to get a Japanese maple, some sort of juniper, and maybe a Chinese elm. Does that sound like a good combo? My trouble that I face here is that I cannot find a place that sells bonsai stuff such as soil, pots, plants. I looked at a nursery today and they had junipers and jap. Maples but the maples were well over 8 ft tall. I just don't know what to do about soil and pots?

Yep, the trees are free so experiment away!

There's nothing wrong with the Japanese Maples being over 8 feet tall, that probably means they have a decent trunk (hopefully). With bonsai, you grow the trees to chop them down. You want the appearance of an old tree in nature, but in a pot.

 

[Pleechford]

Okay sweet! So is there a special time of year that I would chop the tree if I bought one?

 

[cmeg1]

It was great for me to finally just take the day trip to a real bonsai nursery.It may be a long trip,but you can buy a ready made bonsai and start from there.Bonsai nursery's are few and far between on the east coast,but if you commit to make the day trip or so you can start with a real bonsai.And if you have off on weekends you could visit and join a club and ask advise.I could not do that.As far as beginner material,I would reccomend a dwarf elm such as 'yatsubusa'.If you could buy stone lanterns 'Pines' book,you will soon learn that there is no real mystique to growing black or white pines.I like black pine and dwarf elm because they are easier to water.I keep the elm constantly moist and the black pines can dry a little.
EDIT:I have read that full sun is 5 or more hours of direct sun.Part sun is between 2-5 hours direct sun.Full sun can also be filtered all day.I was glad to learn this because I found I could grow pine with my 5 hour sun back yard.Elms can go part sun or full sun.Pines definately need to hit that 5 hour mark.

 

[rockm]

You're not very far from some pretty decent bonsai nurseries in N.C.

Julian Adams in Lynchburg, VA is extremely good and has excellent plant material, wire, tools and some pots;
http://www.adamsbonsai.com/

You might want to hustle over to Randy Clark's Bonsai Learning Center in Charlotte. His Web site says he is about to retire to Fla. at the end of the month:
http://www.bonsailearningcenter.com/

For more sources, you should get in contact with the closest local bonsai club. Here's a list from the American Bonsai Society's page of the N.C. clubs:
North Carolina

NORTH CAROLINA - Asheville

Blue Ridge Bonsai Society. We assemble around 1:30 with the program starting at 2pm. Bring a tree for show and tell or to ask questions. Beginners are especially welcome! Yearly membership is $25. Meets at the Botanical Gardens at Asheville, 151 W.T. Weaver Blvd., Asheville,NC. For further info about our club contact Bob Thatcher at 828-667-9563 tman15@earthlink.net

NORTH CAROLINA - Charlotte

The Bonsai Society of the Carolinas, the oldest bonsai club in the Carolinas, normally meets the second weekend of each month at the Bonsai Learning Center at 4416 Beatties Ford Road in Charlotte, NC. Meetings vary between Saturday and Sunday, depending upon the availability of the speaker. Both beginner and advanced programs are offered. Out of state artists are frequently featured. Annually, the society sponsors a bonai pavillion at the Southern Spring Show in Charlotte, NC. This event is usually the last week in February. For more information, visit the society web page - http://www.bonsaicarolina.com For more info contact: Bob Wymer, 8328 Kapplewood Ct., Charlotte, NC 28226, tel: (704) 541-5776 or Tel: (24 hour bonsai hotline) - (704) 552-6551

NORTH CAROLINA - Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill

Triangle Bonsai Society. Meets at The Commons Building, Wake County Office Park, 4011 Carya Dr., Raleigh, NC. Meeting dates vary by month, please check the website for current information - Contact Harold Johnson. 6806 Knotty Pine Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27517 email

NORTH CAROLINA - Winston-Salem

North Carolina Bonsai Association. Contact: Terry W. Brandsma, 4208 Brentonshire Ln., High Point, NC 27265

 

[milehigh_7]

Wow! That is some great info!

 

[sean f]

I would recomend shimpaku juniper and chinese elm, pretty forgiving material for learning.