Hello everyone !
Nice to be here. I am a new Bonsai Mommy. I got my Bonsai as a Mothers day gift. I had been reading on Bonsai for a long time and talking about it for some time and apparently my friends and family listened when I spoke. Because driving down the road, they saw an elderly Chinese man selling Juniper Bonsai trees. He said the tree was 2 years old. No humidity tray, just a small training pot, soil, and a rock. The tree appears to be fairly healthy to me, I will post a picture soon. My only concern is that he said it could be grown indoors, and I happen to know better. So I have to wonder, but at this time it looks quite decent.
Despite my knowledge for gardening (I have a pretty green thumb) and all of my reading over time on Bonsai... I am TERRIFIED. I am in love with the art, and in love with this plant and I could easily see myself becoming a hobbyist should I get the hang of it, but I am petrified. I couldn't even get up the courage to water it until today. I have been checking it, and making sure NOT to play with (I actually have not been tempted.)
I am so overwhelmed with all of the information and trying to shop for tools. I know I need the basic and some books. I have been to so many sites trying to get my shopping list together and who to buy from and what to buy... I literally am about to explode LOL. I do not want to wait too long of course, especially since there is no humidity tray. I live in Louisiana, so we are a pretty humid state. There are just so many sources online and trying to locate the right place is quite stressing.
I keep reading that everyone kills their first and even their first few... is this really true? I sure hate to go into this thinking I will likely kill my poor baby. I am still trying to look into buying fertilizer and am scared to death I'm going to choose the wrong ones. For all of my gardening here at home I use rabbit manure, and I am not wishing to use this on my Bonsai of course. So overwhelming.
I have not started on even thinking of design yet (it is really in a not so bad shape as is, no wire on it though) as I have been too focused on nurturing it and basic care. I figure once I get that thought out, I would get into that stuff. You know... walk before you run.
Thank you for listening to me ranting on and I hope to get to know many of you.
Shadow Rhelm