Tropical bonsai book suggestions?

[Steve C]

Since I'm still a novice and out of the five bonsai I currently have four of them are tropical I interested in picking up a book that deals strictly with tropicals. Something that deals with things such as soil requirements and needs of each species in the tropical family etc etc. Nothing that gets too "advanced" but mainly some of the basic info plus some info on basic pruning/wiring/chopping of tropicals would be nice as well.

I just finished reading "indoor bonsai" by Paul Lesniewicz which is a very good book and gives some good info, but it did not go too in depth about each species etc etc. So wondered if anyone here could suggest a good tropical book for me that is current in production/easy to get and not cost an arm & leg either.

Thanks.

 

[cascade]

Steve,

this is the best reference guide on tropicals written by my good friend Martha Goff. I am using it almost daily. It's a how to and when to plus tree index and pics:

http://www.amazon.com/Tropical-Green-Sheets-Martha-Goff/dp/1467569801

This is part 2, the updated part one.

Best,
Dorothy

 

[A Random User]

"Green Sheets" by Martha Goff
She, along with the help of just about anyone in the
Who's who here in Florida have composed this book
Regarding just about every question you might need to
Know regarding the horticultural of tropical bonsai...
My golden dewdrop (durantra erectra) is in the second
Pg 40

 

[A Random User]

Me and Dorthy posted at same time

 

[cascade]

"Green Sheets" by Martha Goff
She, along with the help of just about anyone in the
Who's who here in Florida have composed this book
Regarding just about every question you might need to
Know regarding the horticultural of tropical bonsai...
My golden dewdrop (durantra erectra) is in the second
Pg 40

Yep! However, please consider this guide was written for trees beeing grown in Florida. So you may have to climate translate ( transclimatise?..) pending on your location.

Best,
Dorothy

 

[Cadillactaste]

Steve,

this is the best reference guide on tropicals written by my good friend Martha Goff. I am using it almost daily. It's a how to and when to plus tree index and pics:

http://www.amazon.com/Tropical-Green-Sheets-Martha-Goff/dp/1467569801

This is part 2, the updated part one.

Best,
Dorothy

So with the purchase of part 2...one doesn't need the first volume then I take it?

 

[jk_lewis]

Lesniewicz's books are best sellers, but they make some very strange recommendations as to trees and their indoor care. He was not a grower of bonsai, as I understand, and the book was ghost written by someone else.

Jerry Meislik's "Ficus: the Exotic Bonsai" is as good as it gets for growing tropicals in the north. Goff's material is great, but it is for growing plants outdoors in South Florida, and would have little applicability to indoor growing in the north.

Still the best booklet on the subject that I know of is:

Bonsai for Indoors: A Handbook (C. Derderian Ed.) Brooklyn Botanic Record 1976. Paperback, 77 pages, U.S. $7.95. A compilation of 23 essays on various bonsai subjects by leading American growers of Indoor bonsai (e.g. Derderian, Stowell, Alstadt, Okamura, Naka, Ballard). Topics range from Mame bonsai, to wiring, Light Gardens, Kingsville Box,Ficus, Myrtle, Camellias and Gardenias, and Herbs and Succulents. Has a suggested list of plants suitable for Indoor bonsai. Inexpensive. Good range of topics covered by leading American Indoor bonsai growers. Worth
having for Indoor bonsai fans. Essays are short but complete.

The above was from: http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t...ediate-advanced-mini-bonsai-indoor-bonsai-etc

 

[Steve C]

Thank you for the quick replies and suggestions everyone. I will look into all the ones suggested.

jkl that one you suggested "Bonsai for Indoors: A Handbook " ...I just did a quick search and actually found a used copy of that one on Amazon for $1.46+$3.99 shipping Needless to say I placed the order, couldn't beat that price. 2-3 week wait because it's media mail but heck for that price I can't complain. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[ericN]

I highly recommend Jerry Meislik 'Ficus: The Exotic Bonsai'. This is my indoor growing bibble.

Hope that helps
Eric

 

[A Random User]

Yep! However, please consider this guide was written for trees beeing grown in Florida. So you may have to climate translate ( transclimatise?..) pending on your location.

Best,
Dorothy

True...
But, really is a phenomenal amount of wealth in these...
especially if one is just starting out with Trops...
A must Have !!!

 

[A Random User]

So with the purchase of part 2...one doesn't need the first volume then I take it?

No...
Actually, you would be better off starting with the first...
The second just picks up more with what's new, and what got
somehow left out.

 

[jkd2572]

Thanks guys. Just ordered both. I had never heard of these. Also just ordered Peter morales's new book on stone lantern. .
http://www.stonelantern.com/NEW_Tropical_Bonsai_Trees_Book_Pedro_Morale_p/b1trop.htm

 

[mat]

Thanks guys. Just ordered both. I had never heard of these. Also just ordered Peter morales's new book on stone lantern. .
http://www.stonelantern.com/NEW_Tropical_Bonsai_Trees_Book_Pedro_Morale_p/b1trop.htm

Let me know how that one is. It's on my wishlist. It's not very long, but I'm hoping it has some useful info packed into it. Thanks.

 

[Steve C]

Thank you for the quick replies and suggestions everyone. I will look into all the ones suggested.

jkl that one you suggested "Bonsai for Indoors: A Handbook " ...I just did a quick search and actually found a used copy of that one on Amazon for $1.46+$3.99 shipping Needless to say I placed the order, couldn't beat that price. 2-3 week wait because it's media mail but heck for that price I can't complain. Thanks for the suggestion.

That one came today. While it is a thin book the info in it looks pretty good (just thumbed through it when it came so far). I'll be diving into it fully this weekend. Thanks again for the suggestion.

 

[jk_lewis]

Well, I did say it was a "booklet."

Morales book should be very good. I haven't seen it. Just remember, he is from Puerto Rico, which is even more tropical than Miami, and I wonder how applicable it will be to you in the north.