Where to begin?

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duderubble

Seedling
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Hi, first post, I've been lurking for a couple weeks. I'm sure that everything I want to know has been covered somewhere, but I'm hoping some helpful souls will be able to point me in the right direction.

I've been watching a lot of youtube videos, love those ones by the Brittish guy Graham something of Kaizen Bonsai. I think I can find what I need as far as the actual how-to. What I'm looking for is more of a how-to-get-started from those who have been where I am and have done it before and know what makes sense and what doesn't. Specifically:

How many trees would you start with? I've bought one little boxwood I like the angled trunk and exposed roots on, I thought I'd put that one in a "real" pot just so I have one that seems presentable even if it's a work in progress. But beyond that what's enough and what's too much?

Suggestions for species?

What about tools and supplies? I was thinking I could get by initially with snips and pruning tools from Lowes.

What about pots? Would it make sense to have a few going in those plastic bonsai pots or should I wait on that?

Soil? Could I use orchid soil and perlite or should I break down and buy some "real stuff"? Where are the best deals for this? What I've seen online seems to be very small bags for a lot of money.

Wire? What do I need starting out?

I guess a lot of this boils down to what does a real starter kit look like? and Where do you go to shop so you don't pay more than you need to?

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
Welcome to B-Nut!

Start with completing your profile esp your location and USDA zone. :)
 
1) Grahm Potter is a remarkable talent, but he's doing very advanced wood carving. 98% of us who do bonsai, do NOT carve like he does.

2) Tools: Lowe's will not have concave pruners, wire pliers (also known as jin pliers) tweezers, and really sharp pruning scissors. Here, I would say to check ebay for a "beginners set" of tools. You don't have to get the Masakuni - really expensive ones - but a decent set. Masakuni tools will last a lifetime if properly cared for.

3) How many and what kind? As a beginner, you're going to want to fiddle with them. Super slow growers don't need to be fiddled with. So get the fast growing trees so you'll have something to do! Trident maple is a good one to start with. Chinese elm is another. The conifers (pines and junipers) grow at a snails pace in comparison. Also, as a beginner, you're going to one of everything, in every style. I know I did! But I came to find out that I'm better at some trees than others, and if I have too many, stuff gets neglected so it doesn't look so good, and then that can get discouraging. Try to stay at about a dozen in a variety of styles and species until you figure out what you like best.

4) Soil. Soil is one of the most important parts of success in bonsai, yet it probably the thing most people who try bonsai skimp on. Because they don't understand why good bonsai soil works better than regular potting soil. So here, I'm going to advise you to buy good bonsai soil to get you started off right. Once you see it, then you can learn to make your own. But, go to Boon's site, and buy some soil from him. I call it "Boon's Mix". www.bonsaiboon.com. It's equal parts pumice, lava, and akadama, and a tiny little bit of charcoal. You can make your own cheaper, but get some premixed so you will know what the final product should look like.

5) Pots. Just get basic pots to start. Really nice pots can get expensive. But you can get them later.

6) Wire. Aluminum is less expensive than copper. Copper works better. You'll need a range of sizes. (Thicknesses of wire.) Get some of every thickness. Note that the aluminum will be thicker than the copper. That's because it's not as strong. A purist like myself will tell you that only copper should be used. (with certain exceptions.) But plenty of people get started with aluminum. (If you choose copper, you might as well use the best: www.jimgremel.com.)

Is there a local bonsai shop? If there is, buy stuff from them. They usually give classes and workshops. And join a club.

Welcome to the obsession.
 
Thanks, I appreciate it.

AS for species, Are there any that I might be able to pick up at a local nursery or is there a reasonable online source?
 
Do you see yourself developing trees or buying trees that have been stylied to some degree? There are a couple of options:
1) Growing trees from seeds or seedlings
2) Developing your own from nursery stock
3) Buying trees stylized by others.

Part of your decision is, of course, personal preference, but gardening experience and budget also play a role. I like to visit landscape nurseries where I can find trees that are a little more established and ready to be styled (the down side of this, is that roots can be a mess). If you want a head start you might consider prebonsai trees. I've bought a lot of trees from this vendor so I can attest to his integrity:
http://stores.ebay.com/Muranaka-Bonsai-Nursery-1978

Good luck and have some fun.
 
I picture myself buying from nursery even box store stock, maybe even doing some collecting in the woods (I have an endless supply of young red cedar growing in the field next door, lol) or from landscaping that is being removed (probably down the road).

I'm not really interested in buying things already styled (where's the fun in that?)

So for example I can go to a store and pick up any number of junipers, yews, japanese maples of various varieties, cypress, burning bush, crepe myrtle, azalea, boxwood, barberry, etc.

To get started I'd kind of like to know which of these might be the most promising. Not that I'm opposed to ever getting some of the more exotic species, but as I start out I'd rather experiment on $5-$50 trees versus $50-$200 trees.

And honestly the pictures I see that I'm most inspired by seem to be some of those common species, but maybe I don't know what I'm looking at.

I can even put some in the ground and let them gain some maturity while pruning and doing some initial training. I'm a fairly experienced gardener, but the bonsai thing will be brand new.
 
My background was an art major in school attracted to bonsai from an art standpoint. Boy did I learn that a green thumb or hortucultural knowledge was by far more important to newbees.

start with things that are long suffering and kind. Japanese black pines, Chinese elms, juniper.

Clubs or a mentor is a great tool for assitance. be plodding, don't go over enthusiastic and kinda ease into it.
 
I tried the one nearest me a couple days ago,but got no response from the email on the contact page. I just sent another message and will give the next closest one a try next.
 
I would of wished I would of tried air- layering more,especially on species and cultivars that back-bud extremely well.They layer more easily.It seems to me that is better than buying pre-bonsai through the mail cause' you get more mature stock and shapes you can choose and even develop future layers whilst still connected to the parent tree.Bonsai4me.com has a great article on layering.I am finally getting into that and like it so far.I just recently bought a nursery maple'ojishi' and hope to get some good layers off it.If you use good varieties which back-bud very good you can take a layer in spring and hopefully sever it before winter from what I read.I am learning from bonsai4me.You can take quite mature layers from some elms and green Japanese maples and such.Definately seems much overlooked by beginner,s.
 
Interesting you would say that, I was just looking at a couple of candidates for air layering. one is in the field next to my house, I'm not even sure of the species, but it's got a branch with a ridiculously fast taper. The tree itself will be ripped out someday so I would loose nothing by trying it, It's small leaved and native.
 
"Interesting you would say that"

Very nice endeavor indeed.When I first started getting into bonsai,I would walk around and try layering anything in sight.The Mulberry in the back yard for one.I don't know if the tree was not interesting enough or I lost interest for some other reason,but I never followed it through completely then never tried layering again.Definately the wrong move on my part.Watchout that does'nt happen to you.I would of loved to listen to the advise of John Naka from one of his books.He said if you are just beginning bonsai,to pick interesting trees with great autumn coloring and such.Seems good advise that I should of followed right away,but am now only beginning to.It makes me want to layer very interesting maple cultivars such as 'Shishigashira' and the like,a tree that I read is mainly propogated through layering.There are also varieties which back-bud incredibly and have short internodes among the different species.Very interesting indeed.Then there are native varieties that are another story altogether,I have no experience with them.I like Naka's advise on where to start though.
 
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Airlayering would also promote better nebari, as the root system would be shallow and hopefully be all around the trunk.

Most beginners do not recognise that the nebari and lower trunk are the most important aspect of quality bonsai. Most non-bonsai nursery stock has horrible nebari.
 
Hey Duderubble ! You can find some nice things to work and learn on cheaply at a nursery or even one the chains like Homer Depot. You need to look for something with a decent trunk, its the hardest thing to grow. Out of the types you mentioned I would recommend Junipers as most varieties are strong growers that can take a few mistakes, the Barberry are vigorous plants too and they have great fissured trunks early.

The Ficus is a tropical variety and grows real fast, can tolerate indoors all winter which allows you to fool with Bonsai year around. I would also look into Elms, the Chinese varieties are easy care and grow relatively quick. Most of all have fun !, its a peaceful hobby to me, a cousin of mine described it as " spiritual " lol.

ed
 
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dude, you've gotten some great advice so far. The only thing that I'd add to this is that aluminum wire is a good place to start when learning how to wire. With copper, once you bend it, it hardens, and you can't re-bend it. With alum., it won't do that, so you can have more than one chance at working the wire along the branch. It's a very important skill to learn, so just find a plant you can torture, and learn to wire.
Welcome!
 
1. As much as possible, get or use plants that are local to you. It will make your life a lot simpler and the hobby more enjoyable. Cross reference with commonly used or tried and tested bonsai species. They have individual traits that lend them to bonsai...do not re-invent the wheel until you are ready for the troubles and heart ache (note that I do this a lot :o )

2. Use aluminum wires for the reasons stated by Judy. You can graduate to copper later if you want or when you are ready.

3. Get a descent Japanese concave cutter...avoid cheap Chinese ones, else you will be miserable. The rest you can use regular household tools on...pliers, long nose pliers, wire cutters, scissors, chopsticks, knife, saw, etc. Purchase additional ones as the need arises.

4. Box stores can have nice stock, just learn how and what to look for. Depending on your desired size...look at the much bigger pots (see #6 below).

5. Free plants are everywhere, check you local Craigslist free section for "opportunities." Be on the lookout for construction or landscaping sites...most of the times, plants are there just for the asking.

6. It is faster to start with bigger trees that you can chop (cut down) than grow a small tree or seed. But if starting from seed is what you want, nothing wrong with it...you just have to wait much longer.

7. Soil, look for local Turface supplier. I use Turface MVP as my main ingredient and amend as needed by the plant specie. I tend to add more organics for water retention because of the heat in TX. Adjust to your local conditions/weather, watering habits, tree species, etc.

8. Pots. I started and still using dish pans (from Walmart for $1.98 each) as training containers. Then slowly bought more expensive pots as I find them. It is like a separate (expensive) hobby on its own so be careful ;)

9. Learn to properly secure the plant to your pot. Trees are not designed to move. Keep root disturbance to the minimum.

10. Observe and learn what your tree is telling you. Wilting leaves, dull leaf color, damaged leaf, etc. are indications/cue for your action.

Good luck!!!
 
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