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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18875

  • Auk
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No non-sai are hideous. Ok, so after 2ish years, what should I do?


Use the two years to study and learn what to do :)

First keep the tree healthy. Look up when to wire, prune, repot it. Wire it to give it a basic shape.
Let it grow. Learn how to get a good, tapering trunk. After two years, post a new photo.

www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/juniper

www.bonsaiempire.com/blog/bonsai-trunk-creation

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Last edit: Post by Auk.

New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18876

  • alainleon1983
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Wow! Even at 3' tall? Alright. Well, maybe I shoild have gotten the 5-6 footer.


Well, it is not much a matter of height, but of thickness and the taper of it. The most important things you should probably look for when buying a tree or pre-bonsai material is in first place a big, fat and powerful trunk. One that progressively becomes thinner while going upwards. Or a trunk with a lot of movement and distinctive features. Then a good nebari (roots) is highly desirable. Roots, also strong and powerful that sink firmly within the substrate and flare out from the central axis of the tree.

This is not casual. This is chosen this way, because these two features are the hardest to develope. Consequently, these also are the ones that take longer to properly achieve.

Alain

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18881

  • leatherback
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Is there a particualr reason why? If there's (unlikely) a suitable tree at the hardware store, then why shouldn't I consider it?


This is why..:

Alright, here's the tree. Oh goodness I hope its bonsai suitable but I have a good feeling. :)


Ass said. You will not really find good trees at hardware stores. What you would ideally find is a short, stocky plant, with a thick trunk at the base, well-twisted or at least slightly bend, and not stick-straight. This is *exactly* the opposite what mass-produced plants give you.

The more exclusive the nursery, the better the plants you are going to find. I had a good nursery 150 (!) km away that sold plants that were not suitable for regular trading. They went out of business last year; They now only buy plants for their own gardening company.

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18882

  • thebonsaiguy
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Wow! Even at 3' tall? Alright. Well, maybe I shoild have gotten the 5-6 footer.


Are you seriously considering buying that bonsai set for this plant?

I was even trying to not discourage you. It'll take decades to make a good bonsai out of this - if that's your goal.
Bonsai typically are not created by growing young plants into bonsai, but by reducing large plants.
If your goal is a non-sai, that can be done quickly:

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What bonsai set? The tools?

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18883

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That being said.. I do not stick to that myself.. Projects in my garden from a regular chain plant stores:






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Last edit: Post by leatherback.

New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18884

  • Auk
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What bonsai set? The tools?


Yep... seems I forgot to insert the word 'tools' :)

Seems a bit too much for that young plant.

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18885

  • thebonsaiguy
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I'm not sure I'm follow. Can you quote the link?

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18886

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I'm not sure I'm follow. Can you quote the link?


I mean this:



seems a bit much for this:

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18887

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Oh, I see. Well, I definitely understand why you would say that it's a lot of tools. I just thought I would get them so I would have them for the future.

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New to bonsai 8 years 1 month ago #18888

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Shoild I plant the tree in the ground or leave it in its transportation pot. I'm guessing I should plant.

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