The Burn Pile. Newbie Graduation.

What is easier for a newb to keep alive?

  • A local tree dug in spring.

    Votes: 62 76.5%

  • A Juniper with new growth, recieved as a gift in winter.

    Votes: 19 23.5%
  • Total voters
    81
sorce

sorce

Nonsense Rascal
Messages
32,970
Reaction score
45,807
Location
Berwyn, Il
USDA Zone
6.2
Let's face it Newbs....

There comes a day when Everyone who will ever take this seriously realizes their material is terrible.

S- shaped anything, anything with painted green moss, glued rocks, anything in a pot with an attached drip tray, 90% of Fukien Tea's, every Walmart ficus, anything that came with an ID tag that reads "bonsai", and anything that ever came within 3ft, (1M) of a rock that reads, "peace", "hope", etc...., 75% of van/streetside purchased material...

It's a waste of time, and sometimes even a detriment to better material...

Surely as applied to your level of confidence.

See Poll.

Even with little or no experience, a local tree you dig yourself will be easier to care for than any mass produced "bonsai", stuck in clay, already half dead.

Not only that, but if you chose wisely, it can offer you a leap forward in terms of qualities actually desireable for bonsai....like a fat trunk, good root spread.

So......

Rather than be embarassed that you may have, or have started with a "stick-in-a-pot".....
Rather than stay in the frustrating world of following the "bonsai man's" advice....
Or worse.....
Keeping them alive yourself, or selling them, or any other manner of keeping them in circulation....

I want to help you celebrate your enlightenment on your path to better bonsai....

By offering this thread to post pics and videos of you burning that crappy tree.

Smash an electric blue pot with an attached drip tray.

Snap a stick.

Feel free to @anyone you feel needs to Graduate.

Couple of you know I'm itching to @you...
Don't make me do it...
Someone kick it off.....

Need a better reason?

The more creative you get.....
The more creative I'll get with getting our community to help get better material in your hands.

A lot of generous folks came out of the woodwork offering prizes for the Contest, maybe some of those folks will be willing to send Graduation gifts.
Books, Cuttings, old tools, magazine subscriptions, etc....

As it stands....
If I get impressed, I can probly get a care package out by spring.

Welcome to Crazy righteous.
Fat trunks and small leaves.

So long to Crazy insane.
Caring for half dead plants with lies for care instructions.

Flick your Bic.

Sorce
 
I'm hanging in there with my Fukien Sorce! But I just took a trek through my local state land to look for some young saplings. Next time I get out I'm going to bring some orange flags to mark off some Elms or Oaks.
 
What is easier for a newb to keep alive?
  1. A local tree dug in spring.
  2. A Juniper with new growth, recieved as a gift in winter.
    Your poll did not include the proper amount of choices. Of the two neither one is easy to keep alive.
 
Is the contest still open? I received a juniper stick in a pot that I suspect was dead when I received it for christmas this year. I tried putting it in a shed for the few really cold days, and have had it in the sun on the mild days. The branch tips are starting to fade. I'd gladly run it over with my Honda Civic as long as you don't tell my sister.
 
Crabman said:
Is the contest still open? I received a juniper stick in a pot that I suspect was dead when I received it for christmas this year. I tried putting it in a shed for the few really cold days, and have had it in the sun on the mild days. The branch tips are starting to fade. I'd gladly run it over with my Honda Civic as long as you don't tell my sister.
Click to expand...

Up the ante.

Burn the Civic!

Sorce
 
Ok Sorce I'm gonna call bullshit on this one... because it is a false argument :)

The question isn't (for a newb) which tree is easier to keep alive. The question should be (in my opinion) which tree will launch the recipient on a lifelong journey of enjoyment/appreciation of bonsai. If you gift someone a tree and it dies... but it ignites a passion for bonsai in the recipient, I view it as a "win". In fact, I would almost argue that the first bonsai you give anyone should be expected to die... because then there is no guilt and it puts someone on the path to bonsai enlightenment :)
 
Crabman said:
Is the contest still open? I received a juniper stick in a pot that I suspect was dead when I received it for christmas this year. I tried putting it in a shed for the few really cold days, and have had it in the sun on the mild days. The branch tips are starting to fade. I'd gladly run it over with my Honda Civic as long as you don't tell my sister.
Click to expand...

The contest is always open at my house...
 
Bonsai Nut said:
Ok Sorce I'm gonna call bullshit on this one... because it is a false argument :)

The question isn't (for a newb) which tree is easier to keep alive. The question should be (in my opinion) which tree will launch the recipient on a lifelong journey of enjoyment/appreciation of bonsai. If you gift someone a tree and it dies... but it ignites a passion for bonsai in the recipient, I view it as a "win". In fact, I would almost argue that the first bonsai you give anyone should be expected to die... because then there is no guilt and it puts someone on the path to bonsai enlightenment :)
Click to expand...

Nut, you may have a point there...
 
Bonsai Nut said:
"win".
Click to expand...

Correct!

Bonsai Nut said:
expected to die.
Click to expand...

And this is OK!

That is what Newbs need to know!

I don't want people to give up.

The way I see it...
Civilians expect their "bonsai", from Wal-Mart or a gift shop, to work, same as a clock would, or an ashtray that reads "California".

Why wouldn't the "instructions" work?
(keep by window, water once a week, scrub the "peace" rock)

Folks expect the instructions to work same as the ones for their particle board PC desk. ( PC meaning ML is under it!)
Think cigars!

So when the simple instructions don't work for them.....
They don't feel they can go out and "build a whole desk from scratch".
Or....dig a wild tree!

Now folks can see that it IS easier to dig and keep a wild tree. (generally)

So they don't give up when their gift dies!
Especially when failure with them is nearly imminent.

You bringing this up, and in this manner, makes it work so much better.
I had to just post the question without much more to get honest answers.

Just as these posts.....
We are on the same page....
Now when I post this....I hope it isn't on the next page!

Sorce
 
I have a pile of dead bonsai out back.
Not a little one either. I would ignite it and take a picture for you guys but the flames would be so large the fire department would probably show up.
Killing trees isn't just for newbies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Atom#28
Tonight: On The Burn Pile
Replies
4
Views
521
Bonsai Nut
Bonsai Nut
Cajunrider
Interior leaf burn
Replies
4
Views
304
namnhi
namnhi
S
Shin deshojo with leads burn help
Replies
3
Views
732
Shibui
S
August44
Zelcovia burn?
Replies
7
Views
513
nuttiest
N
Scrogdor
Drilling for thread grafts? Prevent wood burn?
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
Scrogdor
Scrogdor
Back
Top Bottom