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First bonsai, all advice welcome

  • elhi.stevens
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First bonsai, all advice welcome was created by elhi.stevens

Posted 3 years 7 months ago #62852
first bonsai today, a Cotoneaster, so it was planted in 2014 and welp wondering where i should go from here, im in Australia by the way so we are starting to go into summer, is it time to start styling or any heavy pruning? Any advice on care is welcome.
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  • Tropfrog
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Replied by Tropfrog on topic First bonsai, all advice welcome

Posted 3 years 7 months ago #62853
At this point I would only choose trunk out of 3 possibilities and remove the other two. If possible wire the trunk to create more mowement ........But it is your tree.

Other than that, just let it grow. The tree is still young.
by Tropfrog

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  • elhi.stevens
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Replied by elhi.stevens on topic First bonsai, all advice welcome

Posted 3 years 7 months ago #62854
thankyou for the advice might consider going for the right most trunk in the first image and try to go for a semi cascade look :)
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  • FrankC
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Replied by FrankC on topic First bonsai, all advice welcome

Posted 3 years 7 months ago #62879
Remember, once you cut off the branches, there's no way back.
If you want to start cutting, just pick one major branch to remove, the one you're shure you don(t need/want/like.
There is no rush, so I would leave it for now, see how it evolves until next year. Keep it well. And have fun.
by FrankC
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  • Stylist
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Replied by Stylist on topic First bonsai, all advice welcome

Posted 3 years 7 months ago #62924
I’m a beginner bonsai hobbyist, but I would think about a look or style you want. Find the front, and decide from there. You can wire what you’ll keep though, like the main trunk. I think it’s called the “leader”? Anyways, wire and give movement to what you’ll keep, and don’t prune until maybe you’re ready to. Ready as in maybe the trunk/branches have matured a little more then trim, prune, and go from there!

Goodluck!
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  • Ivan Mann
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Replied by Ivan Mann on topic First bonsai, all advice welcome

Posted 3 years 7 months ago #62928
This is all good advice.

You probably won't want to cut or wire anything until spring, which is a long way off in the northern hemisphere. Read up on styling and watch some videos. Look at the tree and decide how it matches the video you watched. Watch another and repeat.

By spring something may have jumped out and it may be very obvious what the tree should become. If not, repeat above and wait for next spring. You really need to have a firm idea where the tree wants to go before you start going there.

The keyword, as Leatherback has said more than once, is patience. Don't hurry the ideas.
by Ivan Mann

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