2026 contest ideas?

[Desert O'Piñon]

Are there some kinds of trees that don't form rafts?

My guess is that any species that can be air layered or rooted from cuttings would probably be good candidates. I assume hardwoods will be easier/quicker than conifers. I hope to try F. benjamina for a tropical, and I have several options for temperate species.

 

[darzuo]

Just to clarify for those of us who have never done a raft, does the main trunk have to remain visible? Are there some kinds of trees that don't form rafts? This looks like an interesting contest. It would be nice to get some pointers from BNut raft experts.

Im no expect, but in my opinion the trunk being visible and rooting along the trunk is what makes a raft a raft. As far as species, I think anything that roots easily should work alright.

 

[DeepSouth]

Just to clarify, what does “collected material, as long as it is not clearly set up as raft bonsai.” mean? Does this mean no collecting of material that is already growing parallel to the ground due to tree falling?

It’s not a big deal either way, I just want to make sure that I target the right material.

 

[JoeWilson]

Can't wait to get my life jacket on.

 

[The Barber]

Just to clarify, what does “collected material, as long as it is not clearly set up as raft bonsai.” mean? Does this mean no collecting of material that is already growing parallel to the ground due to tree falling?

It’s not a big deal either way, I just want to make sure that I target the right material.

I think it is just a way to keep it fair. Keeps people from using material that they already have set up as a raft. It keeps it more about the creation of a raft vs us starting with a raft, which also keeps people from using rafts they may have already started on in the past. If not for this rule, I would show you exactly why it is unfair...I know where a gnarly hollowed tree stump is that has broken off low to the ground, and healed/rolled over and is already a raft, all for the cost of a treated deck board, a few screws, a bucket of pumice, and gas to make the 15 minute drive to my friend's property. The raft style is a fantastic way to take even a boring, ramrod straight tree, and create something fantastic, and I can't wait to see this contest get started.

 

[DeepSouth]

I think it is just a way to keep it fair. Keeps people from using material that they already have set up as a raft. It keeps it more about the creation of a raft vs us starting with a raft, which also keeps people from using rafts they may have already started on in the past. If not for this rule, I would show you exactly why it is unfair...I know where a gnarly hollowed tree stump is that has broken off low to the ground, and healed/rolled over and is already a raft, all for the cost of a treated deck board, a few screws, a bucket of pumice, and gas to make the 15 minute drive to my friend's property. The raft style is a fantastic way to take even a boring, ramrod straight tree, and create something fantastic, and I can't wait to see this contest get started.

This certainly makes sense. In such case, I would clarify the rules a little bit.

Instead of:
"as long as it is not clearly set up as raft bonsai."

I would say,
"as long as it is not clearly set up as raft bonsai (whether naturally or not)."


As an example, here is a hornbeam I have been eyeing for a while, that is clearly set up by nature to be a raft. This would probably create an unfair advantage.

 

[BobbyLane]

This certainly makes sense. In such case, I would clarify the rules a little bit.

Instead of:
"as long as it is not clearly set up as raft bonsai."

I would say,
"as long as it is not clearly set up as raft bonsai (whether naturally or not)."


As an example, here is a hornbeam I have been eyeing for a while, that is clearly set up by nature to be a raft. This would probably create an unfair advantage.
View attachment 617408

If it was laying on its side yes, but that isnt the case. This one would be fine imho.

This is a good video, for anyone that doesn't fully understand what a raft is

 

[JoeWilson]

I don't make the rules, but I don't see any problem starting with that hornbeam. I would just avoid anything that is already styled as a raft (I wouldn't use that description for the hornbeam).

Personally, I don't care about things being fair. There isn't a million-dollar prize or even a little plastic trophy at stake here. Seeing people start from different materials, at different stages, is much more interesting to me.

 

[leatherback]

wondering whether we are being sucked into rules to deep?
Maybe it should be a raft challenge, rather than a raft competition.
Allowing all material that has not been pre-styled as a raft.

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Since this thread started ive been considering a "5 year - native pine - from seed" contest.

Both the 5 year JBP and native tree contests have been very inspiring to look through.

And I think it would be interesting to use it as an experiment to try lesser used pine species.

Would anyone be up for participating?

 

[Ryceman3]

Since this thread started ive been considering a "5 year - native pine - from seed" contest.

Both the 5 year JBP and native tree contests have been very inspiring to look through.

And I think it would be interesting to use it as an experiment to try lesser used pine species.

Would anyone be up for participating?

There are no native pine species in Australia so I’m clearly out but just thought you might wanna make it at least 6 years… possibly longer? It was a tough gig getting JBP from seed up to scratch in that time and that is a well known bonsai candidate with a lot of experience and know-how available for people to glean. Native pines, particularly less common species might be even more difficult to develop quickly if they aren’t known bonsai subjects… just sayin’!

 

[Gabler]

I am deeply ambivalent toward from-seed contests. I love growing trees from seed, and I like seeing everyone start the contest with functionally identical trees, but then the first three to five years of the contest are boring, as you're just waiting for the trunk to thicken. By the time things get interesting to share online, half the participants have dropped out.

All of that is to say, I might join a pine-from-seed contest if you started one, but I don't know for sure.

Regarding the Land Down Under, there seem to be species that resemble pine trees, even if they're not botanically classified as such, so it might still work.

 

[leatherback]

Regarding the Land Down Under, there seem to be species that resemble pine trees, even if they're not botanically classified as such, so it might still work.

casuarina?

the first three to five years of the contest are boring, as you're just waiting for the trunk to thicken. By the time things get interesting to share online, half the participants have dropped out.

Yes, my concern too tbh.

Perhaps make it a from young plant? Seed or Seedlings up to an inch at the base, not grown for bonsai?

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

Seed or Seedlings up to an inch at the base, not grown for bonsai?

Yeah this could work.

"Young native pine contest" ?

 

[JoeWilson]

Yeah, I love the idea of a native pine from seed challenge, but I would probably pick bristlecone or pinyon, so cya in 20 years or so. Could probably do something fun with ponderosa, maybe limber or lodgepole, though.

A young plant challenge would be easier to get into. Maybe limit the age as well as the thickness? 3 years or so? Though maybe that gets tough to enforce. I have a bunch of young pines growing in the yard from nursery stock, but I couldn't tell you how old they are.

I like the idea of keeping it to pine, with an exception for pine-like species if you live somewhere without native pines. But a young native challenge would be fun too.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Nursery stock Pine challenge??

 

[Lara_Ericacious]

I think I don't want to create too many limitations by enforcing rules. Young native pines sounds good to me whether collected or nursery stock.

In my my head the point of the "contest" is to widen knowledge of the cultivation of native pines, at a simular starting point.

Rather than finding the biggest wildest yamadori!

Or atleast that's how I see it!

 

[BrightsideB]

Isn’t this starting next year? Really don’t need to have a conclusion of stock until early spring I’d assume.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

How about a detail oriented contest of some sort...

Like... in 5yrs, get as close as possible to a photo image of a mature tree/trees. You share the photo and in 5 yrs have to get as close to that photo as possible, background ans foreground included. The tree species should match or match as closely as possible.