Been Reading....

[whfarro]

L.O.G.
Welcome. Let us know what you pick up and when you do, post some pictures. Read up on the tree cultivar you selected. Folks here will certainly guide you along each step along the way.

Good luck.

 

[Vin]

Relentless with new people, old people, people no longer here, Trident Maples, Elms, Pines, ..........
Flo from Progressive.......

L.O.G.

Its all good see! Lil area whereabouts and you got BVF inviting you to a lil BAMA throw down!

Ficus is a good way to start!

Sorce

You can't go wrong with BVF in your corner. L.O.G., don't let this opportunity pass you by.

 

[M. Frary]

Got a smart phone? If so, go to the nursery nearest your location. Find a plant,shrub or tree. Google that plant name with the word bonsai after it. This tells you right off the bat if people use it for bonsai. These will be plants that will grow as bonsai in your location.
Or just get a juniper or elm. They seem to grow in all locations. That way you won't have us unscrupulous,theiving,stalking,dangerous,bonsai people

Tomorrow's is an annual festival, but the bonsai club has its annual bonsai show on 5/16-17 at the BBG auditorium...same place we meet on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM.

Start with whatever you can reasonably keep alive, and read, and practice, and work with people who have nice trees. Alabama really has some talented bonsai artists. Working in person will advance you much further and faster than hanging out here with this sketchy crowd ;-)

Hey,hey,hey! Sketchy is as sketchy does.

 

[Bunjeh]

Best advice? Two things come to mind. 1. Start by studying bonsai soil mixes first and find a good local source for pumice and lava. 2. Don't get into a pissing contest with Al.

 

[whfarro]

Best advice? Two things come to mind. 1. Start by studying bonsai soil mixes first and find a good local source for pumice and lava. 2. Don't get into a pissing contest with Al.

Bunjeh....I see you are passing along the wisdom you have gained (#2)..humility when studying at the feet of a master.....well done grass-hopper!

 

[LEAVESOFGRASS]

Question:

I have read that fertilizer is necessary to maintain a healthy bonsai. I'm going to start with a juniper but I don't want to kill it within the first couple months. I was planning on getting a decent size pot and loading it with fertilizer since summer is right around the corner. Here is my question..is the fertilizer a good idea and what other ways can you speed up the process? Spoke with the guy who helped me this weekend at the nursery and he seemed to think that was the way to go.

 

[Bunjeh]

You have a lot of experts in this forum. Suggest searching this site for "fertilizer" to see some of the mixes. Lots of opinions on that. However, I think most would agree that the best way to speed up the process is to plant it in the ground for a couple of years.

 

[LEAVESOFGRASS]

Years? Damn.

 

[thumblessprimate1]

Much of my material I look at in time frames of 5, 10 or 20 years. Fortunately, I'm relatively younger and seem to have longevity in my genes.

 

[LEAVESOFGRASS]

Wow. What are some bonsai's that take months? Years seems like an awful lot of time. What if you kill the tree 5 years into it? That would be like losing animal.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Wow. What are some bonsai's that take months? Years seems like an awful lot of time. What if you kill the tree 5 years into it? That would be like losing animal.

Some can take 2-3 days if you have them shipped to you via Priority Mail.
Bonsai costs: time or money...your pick.

 

[whfarro]

Some can take 2-3 days if you have them shipped to you via Priority Mail.
Bonsai costs: time or money...your pick.

At work I tell clients you can have any two of these...Quality, Short time frame, Low cost..you cannot get all three.

 

[markyscott]

Years? Damn.

Part of the love of bonsai is the enjoyment of the journey.

Scott

 

[Vin]

Wow. What are some bonsai's that take months? Years seems like an awful lot of time. What if you kill the tree 5 years into it? That would be like losing animal.

You're either messing with us or very young and naïve.

 

[Nybonsai12]

Title of this thread should have been "haven't read shit!"

 

[LEAVESOFGRASS]

Ha! I'm not messing with you, I'm dead serious. I guess I'm naive. I told you I was knew to this. I honestly didn't think it would take 5,10, or 15 years to grow a bonsai. On the other hand, that piques my intrest even more. Sounds like people are getting upset, so once I make my decision, I'll post pics of materials, tree, and soil. I'll report back and I'm going to need y'all's help!! (Obviously)

 

[sorce]

Nobody's upset!

People tend to forget things they used to think sometimes!

I think it would be much worse than losing an animal.
You can't exactly eat a tree, but hamsters, there's a treat!

I vote get an elm!

Sorce

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

If only someone who lived nearby, who posts here regularly, recently dug up nearly 80 pre-bonsai and was eager to sell some at a great price for local pickup...now THAT would be something!

 

[Vin]

If only someone who lived nearby, who posts here regularly, recently dug up nearly 80 pre-bonsai and was eager to sell some at a great price for local pickup...now THAT would be something!

If only... I bet that "someone" would also even offer some occasional help if you take the journey serious.

 

[LEAVESOFGRASS]

Bump. Thx.