What are your bonsai goals for 2024?
- Thread starter 19Mateo83
- Start date
NateDyk47
Shohin
I like how @pandacular divided up their goals, so I'll do similar.
Education: I'd like to get a deeper level of understanding on a variety of topics. I've watched about all the useful content on YouTube, Mirai Live, & Bonsai U, but there's only so much you can learn without touching trees. I'm attending Bonsai Central in May and possibly also the ABS Learning Seminar. I'm signed up for workshops with Bjorn & Mauro. I'd like to get involved with my local bonsai club, possibly two of them. This past year, toddler stuff always seemed to get in the way.
Garden: 2023 was my first full year of bonsai, so a lot of my yard is put together haphazardly. I plan to reporpose a couple unused areas of garden bed under a medium size tree and rebuild my benches there. One will be good for part sun, one for mostly shade. I'm also planning to make my full sun bench larger, or add a second.
Workshop: I've repurposed my shed/barn as a bonsai workspace, but it could be a lot more organized. Nothing concrete here other than make it more user friendly.
Trees (finally):
1. Dig up amd pot a few yardadori. I have 4 or 5 large yews and a few big boxwood. Not sure any will result in excellent bonsai, but I'm removing them anyway and wouldn't mind collecting experience.
2. Get at least a couple trees into bonsai pots. Almost everything in my collection is being grown out... I'd like to practice refining something, even if it's premature for the individual tree.
3. Keep everything alive, or at least learn from the deaths.
4. Don't buy (too many) more trees... I added over 100 in 2023, and I'm running out of space.
Education: I'd like to get a deeper level of understanding on a variety of topics. I've watched about all the useful content on YouTube, Mirai Live, & Bonsai U, but there's only so much you can learn without touching trees. I'm attending Bonsai Central in May and possibly also the ABS Learning Seminar. I'm signed up for workshops with Bjorn & Mauro. I'd like to get involved with my local bonsai club, possibly two of them. This past year, toddler stuff always seemed to get in the way.
Garden: 2023 was my first full year of bonsai, so a lot of my yard is put together haphazardly. I plan to reporpose a couple unused areas of garden bed under a medium size tree and rebuild my benches there. One will be good for part sun, one for mostly shade. I'm also planning to make my full sun bench larger, or add a second.
Workshop: I've repurposed my shed/barn as a bonsai workspace, but it could be a lot more organized. Nothing concrete here other than make it more user friendly.
Trees (finally):
1. Dig up amd pot a few yardadori. I have 4 or 5 large yews and a few big boxwood. Not sure any will result in excellent bonsai, but I'm removing them anyway and wouldn't mind collecting experience.
2. Get at least a couple trees into bonsai pots. Almost everything in my collection is being grown out... I'd like to practice refining something, even if it's premature for the individual tree.
3. Keep everything alive, or at least learn from the deaths.
4. Don't buy (too many) more trees... I added over 100 in 2023, and I'm running out of space.
pandacular
Masterpiece
I think they’re still looking for some TAs! It’d be a few one off sessions, and you could take it from there. DM me if interested, and I can put you in touch!
One of my goals for being a docent is to make time in my schedule to do it 2-3 times per month. I also don’t have a consistent schedule, but it’d be good for me, and this would be a good building block because it’s something I so value.
pandacular
Masterpiece
I hadn’t heard of Ridgeways, but I’m definitely open to learning more! I’m studying with Michael Hagedorn, Andrew Robson, and Todd Schlafer in the new year, but someone close to home would be great!
I have a great deal of respect for Dan Robinson, but his trees just don’t speak to me. In short, my learning goals are entirely different.
edit: wait, i think i met Victrina at the PSBA fall sale, but just now made that connection!
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pandacular
Masterpiece
Forgive me for the triple post, but I remembered an interesting goal for this year. I have a (long term, aspirational, moonshot) goal of making some sort of career out of bonsai. In the interest of breaking that down into something do-able, my plan for 2024 is to survey the archetypes of bonsai pros. Various things like curators, growers, teachers, content creators, and capital A Artists. Ideally, I’d love to talk to some of the people in these various roles, and get an idea of what it takes to do the job.
Michigan Tree Murderer
Masterpiece
Planning to read more books this winter, while continuing to develop my Tropical trees. This spring I'll do every repot that I missed doing last spring due to not being home. Put some pines & junipers in the ground, and develop a better outdoor work area. Summer seems a ways off & I'm tired from all the spring work so we'll see what happens. 
BrightsideB
Omono
My main goal is in late winter and early spring to collect older tree’s and have a better success rate. Also make a ton of pots!
Weta
Shohin
Design and source materials for benches or gazebo.
Expand my collection of New Zealand natives.
Turn next pot idea into a reality.
Expand my collection of New Zealand natives.
Turn next pot idea into a reality.
Kievnstavick
Chumono
Sounds like a great line up for learning. I considered doing a learning session with John Eads.
I can understand that opinion of Dan Robinson. Only on of his trees really spoken to me.
You might have met Eric and (more likely) Victrinia at the PSBA. They had their own table in the back right.
Eckhoffw
Masterpiece
Love it. I often have the same ideas, thoughts about finding some kind of niche where Acquiring and selling plants could be a Real supplementary income.
One goal I have for this next year, is to be way more active bonsai in my club, the Minnesota bonsai Society.
NashsMan
Shohin
1. Grow. Grow. Grow
2. NOT buy anymore trees (well....maybe a Chi Chi Gingko?)
3. Build more wood boxes for growing trees rather than jumping right into pots.
4. Get some direction and design ideas for the yamadori, crabapples, Princess Persimmons, and Schoodic pines I got in October.
5. TLC for my almost 1 year old JBP & JRP seedlings.
6. Take more classes with visiting guests at my bonsai club.
7. Continue to volunteer as docent at my club's exhibit and our local botanical garden.
2. NOT buy anymore trees (well....maybe a Chi Chi Gingko?)
3. Build more wood boxes for growing trees rather than jumping right into pots.
4. Get some direction and design ideas for the yamadori, crabapples, Princess Persimmons, and Schoodic pines I got in October.
5. TLC for my almost 1 year old JBP & JRP seedlings.
6. Take more classes with visiting guests at my bonsai club.
7. Continue to volunteer as docent at my club's exhibit and our local botanical garden.
Joe Dupre'
Masterpiece
1. No more sticks in pots. Going for decent trunks to start with.
2. Up-potting trees that need a bit more canopy.
3. No more cuttings.
4. Some slow trees going back in the ground.
5. Experiment with 70/30 or even 80/20 percent Napa 8822/pine bark mix along with my normal 50/50 mix.
2. Up-potting trees that need a bit more canopy.
3. No more cuttings.
4. Some slow trees going back in the ground.
5. Experiment with 70/30 or even 80/20 percent Napa 8822/pine bark mix along with my normal 50/50 mix.
GGB
Masterpiece
1. try to enjoy the hobby (again)
2. try not to spend any money on it
2. try not to spend any money on it
BonsaiPoppie
Mame
I have a Trident Maple in my front yard that I no longer want. So I thought late January or early February I would try to do a number of air layers on the tree. I will do a whole bunch and see what happens. I have never done an air layer on a tree. School me on any tips one might have.
Happy New Year
Happy New Year
I have a few dozen starters that are going to get "started" this spring. Lots of pots are ready and waiting for them to move on to the next phase. I am excited about learning more and applying it to my trees. Also looking at setting up an expanded display area in the garden for the larger trees...
D
Deleted member 47471
Guest
In terms of education goals, I’m attending tree, shrub, and horticulture conferences with my nursery in January and February, attending workshops with D. Coffey immediately after the New Year, and recently became a student under Todd Ellis.
I spent the first year reading and learning horticulture, applying developmental growth and structural pruning/styling, and am currently undergoing my first Winter season with my first 11 trees. Rather than accumulating more trees, I want to focus on my current 11 trees’ survival, response to initial work, Winter 2023, and continued development into 2024, and document each phase with print-outs/pics/portfolios to keep in binders.
I spent the first year reading and learning horticulture, applying developmental growth and structural pruning/styling, and am currently undergoing my first Winter season with my first 11 trees. Rather than accumulating more trees, I want to focus on my current 11 trees’ survival, response to initial work, Winter 2023, and continued development into 2024, and document each phase with print-outs/pics/portfolios to keep in binders.
Maiden69
Masterpiece
Not a lot for 2024, keep the trees I have alive since I am at an apartment for the next 6 months. Build the garden on the new construction with separate sections for grow-out and pre-bonsai trees. Work on sowing and propagating some species for possible sale ( I wish I had an acre to dedicate for this... ugh). I have very limited space this winter, but if possible I would like to start some of the seeds I ordered before the wife decided to move.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Sounds like you have a lot going on next year to me. Building a garden is a big project.
Maiden69
Masterpiece
I guess... it will be a long process, but I see it mostly house related not bonsai specific. It will be similar to the set up I had in the house we moved out of, just with more space and hopefully better organized. This time I have a few mature trees I have to take into consideration, as we can not take them down unless we ask permission to the city. Thankfully the area further back in the yard is cleared out and should get full sum most of the day.
Funny tough, when I saw the space this house have for a yard I thought about the Karate Kid Mr Miyagi's garden... wife said hell no, too much work to maintain. That would have been A LOT OF WORK for sure.
