12 Years In...

[Redwood Ryan]

Hi,

My name's Ryan. You might know me from popular hits such as "I'm leaving the hobby" and "No wait I'm staying in it." I'll admit it, I was a fool. Those were my younger years, my early twenties. I've been on again off again in the hobby since 2009. Made a lot of mistakes, both on and off the forum. Have a lot of regrets, got rid of a lot of trees that I genuinely miss to this day. But that's all in the past now.

I wanted to share my current collection. My wife and I moved into our first home with our son a couple months ago, one with a small backyard. I'm still crazy about ficus, and have started collecting them again over the past 6 months or so. I only have a few, but they're decent and I still love them.


A ficus microcarpa fusion project, followed by a few Willow Leaf. For some reason I can't post the images underneath my text, so use your imagination here.

Thanks folks.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Willow Leaf Ficus (I've since started an air layer on this tree):

 

[Redwood Ryan]

A ficus microcarpa fusion project:


Shohin Willow Leaf Ficus (recently repotted):

 

[Redwood Ryan]

A big fat Willow Leaf Ficus (recently got a haircut after I took this photo):

 

[Dav4]

Bonsai is in your blood, man! Don’t fight it! Congrats on the house and family. For what it’s worth, that was a low point for me bonsai wise because I was still trying to figure out what it meant to be a good husband, father, homeowner, and stay employed . Good luck with everything and I’m glad to see you back at it.

 

[Cadillactaste]

Walking Out the door. But I am glad to see you back in it. I just hope come winter...you think of past frustrations...and look to tweak things. Tweaking is how we truly grow when we find issues. Look to ones who aren't struggling...and ask yourself...what is it they are doing differently. And see where you might add something or take away...to offer less headaches in winter.

Truly glad you are back to the hobby. Some nice material there. If you were older...I would ask you to write me into your will with that sumo's future on your bench. but Alas...I'm older so that wouldn't make any sense. Lol

Enjoy your journey Ryan! Stick with it. You got it this time.

 

[Cadillactaste]

@Redwood Ryan ... ever total in the actual years in? Were you actively using B-Nut during those times? Just curious...

But I seriously am your biggest cheerleader wanting you to succeed this time. Never doubt that. I hope your wife will encourage you to keep at it when you consider leaving again.

 

[Jerry]

I really like the positive comments. Regrets are terrible. I'm a good drummer, but not a great one. Should have taken lessons. Anyway, I am on the fence post about Bonsia myself. The problem is that I have about six 8 to 10 inch trees. I'm enjoying it, but some of the most beautiful bonsai's I have seen are anywhere from 10 to 100 years old. I'm 70. I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time. I may not live to see a really beautiful Bonsai. But I'm sticking with it.

 

[VAFisher]

I really like the positive comments. Regrets are terrible. I'm a good drummer, but not a great one. Should have taken lessons. Anyway, I am on the fence post about Bonsia myself. The problem is that I have about six 8 to 10 inch trees. I'm enjoying it, but some of the most beautiful bonsai's I have seen are anywhere from 10 to 100 years old. I'm 70. I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time. I may not live to see a really beautiful Bonsai. But I'm sticking with it.

If you enjoy it, it's not a waste of time I'd say. And you've got plenty of time to develop nice trees.

 

[Zach Smith]

I really like the positive comments. Regrets are terrible. I'm a good drummer, but not a great one. Should have taken lessons. Anyway, I am on the fence post about Bonsia myself. The problem is that I have about six 8 to 10 inch trees. I'm enjoying it, but some of the most beautiful bonsai's I have seen are anywhere from 10 to 100 years old. I'm 70. I'm wondering if I'm wasting my time. I may not live to see a really beautiful Bonsai. But I'm sticking with it.

Jerry, it really is the journey. If you had a perfect tree sitting on your bench, the odds are pretty high that after a few years you'd walk by it and not even notice it that much. But the ones you're trying to whip into shape, that's where your attention goes. Sure, it's nice to have nice trees, don't get me wrong, but I can tell you from personal experience that I spend much more time with the working projects than with the finished ones. But maybe that's just me....

 

[Jerry]

Thanks Zach. I should have chose my words more carefully. It's not a waste of time. I guess what I meant was that my sights were set on some of these older bonsai's. Well you did put things in perspective. The mission is to work on these starter bosai's, and perhaps in a few years they may be nicely developed. Thanks also VAfisher. I guess I needed to hear that.

I hope you all don't mind me getting off topic a little. I'm getting positive and negative feedback on indoor bonsai's. I have mine indoors to enjoy them, and they seem to be doing very well. You will see in the pic I either use the sunny window, or a grow light on cloudy days.

 

[Cadillactaste]

@Redwood Ryan ... ever total in the actual years in? Were you actively using B-Nut during those times? Just curious...

But I seriously am your biggest cheerleader wanting you to succeed this time. Never doubt that. I hope your wife will encourage you to keep at it when you consider leaving again.

That was to say if...not when. I really see you sticking with it this time. Your older...and your love has never faded.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

... ever total in the actual years in? Were you actively using B-Nut during those times? Just curious...

But I seriously am your biggest cheerleader wanting you to succeed this time. Never doubt that. I hope your wife will encourage you to keep at it when you consider leaving again.

I would say I was in the hobby seriously from 2009 (back when I was growing ficus in aquariums) until about 2012, which is where I got busy with college. Then again from 2014-2016, then nothing up until now.

I would still peruse the forums and look at pictures of trees online, but just didn't have the time or space to really keep them. Thinking about how many nice trees I sold hurts, as I had some truly great trees. Maybe one day I'll see them again...

 

[Cadillactaste]

Thanks for the kind words everyone!

I would say I was in the hobby seriously from 2009 (back when I was growing ficus in aquariums) until about 2012, which is where I got busy with college. Then again from 2014-2016, then nothing up until now.

I would still peruse the forums and look at pictures of trees online, but just didn't have the time or space to really keep them. Thinking about how many nice trees I sold hurts, as I had some truly great trees. Maybe one day I'll see them again...

Yes, you had a few I totally admired over the years.

My husband told me my trees aren't for sale. Because he wouldn't want regrets for financial gain. If I choose to gift a tree.. he would feel better with. That way I control where it ends up. But I get so attached. Even to ones which are raw with potential.

When things are out of my control like losing a sweet exposed root maple to V. Wilt. [That one took a few years to feel less pain.] I look at it as allowing a better eye and better material to take it's place. So try and see it as a way you freed up your bench for even better material.

College is a huge distraction...I can see that. I'm hoping your making that tree into a sumo...gives you long term drive. It will be awesome! I would focus on trees that may inspire you as well. In my albums on Facebook I have some cool sumo inspiration in an album. Tagged you in the comment section. so you can see them.

 

[JudyB]

Good to see you back, sounds like you have some milestones under your belt now. Remember that it’s not having what you want, but wanting what you have… enjoy the journey!

 

[cmeg1]

Awesome what a throwback

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Walking Out the door.

Wait, did you mean you were physically walking out the door while typing this? Or you are leaving the hobby? We just became Facebook friends, don't you go leaving it now!

 

[Cadillactaste]

Wait, did you mean you were physically walking out the door while typing this? Or you are leaving the hobby? We just became Facebook friends, don't you go leaving it now!

Physically walking out the door to take the dog to the vet. He needed his vaccines. But bless you for your encouragement.

 

[lieuz]

Welcome back! Loved reading about your ficus experiences!

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Welcome back! Loved reading about your ficus experiences!

Well hello fellow Northern Virginian!