Advice For Beginners

[Smoke]

Get off the internet and work your trees. You would be surprised how much you can learn in just one year of "doing it".

 

[Anthony]

Get off the internet, go to a reputable club, and tap into the members who are respected
to help you work on your trees.Make real friends.

Come here to chat.

 

[twisted trees]

tmi
too much information

Answer: This peculiar acronym expression is a funny expression of distaste. TMI stands for "too much information!" It is the same as saying "I didn't need to hear that" or "that is taboo or obnoxious for you to share that"

Hmm, and Al steps in

You misinterpret me. Beginners are overfed.

 

[twisted trees]

What is the definition of "good material" is as good a place as any to start?

As good trunk line, taper and the first six branches radiate in the classical left right back positions.

 

[Anthony]

@twisted trees ,

I just made a request of a FAQ section for beginners and the suggestion that a beginner read
all the posts of the entire site and take notes.

I truly believe that a beginner should join a reputable club / or find individuals who are respected
in their abilities in the real world.

I doubt very much they can tell what crap is unless it is explained by someone with knowledge.
Good Day
Anthony

* And if they are not close to a club, look inwardly and see how much interest they have in the
hobby ---------- get on a plane / bus / car and be prepared to make the effort to get to a club.

 

[0soyoung]

I recall some sage words to the effect of :

The tree has all the elements of a bonsai. Do you have what it takes to get it there?

If one has no idea of the answer, the tree is good enough material.

 

[Paradox]

Come here to chat.

Don't know of this is advice or should be a warning. This place can be dangerous.

 

[Smoke]

I recall some sage words to the effect of :




If one has no idea of the answer, the tree is good enough material.

Who ever said that was brilliant.

 

[0soyoung]

Who ever said that was brilliant.

F'n genius

 

[Starfox]

As good trunk line, taper and the first six branches radiate in the classical left right back positions.

This is good solid information and I totally agree that newcomers can be overfed. I was, possibly still am.
I know for me at least it is tough to hear don't do a thing for a year or two especially on a first tree. I killed mine because of that if I'm honest. But I also kicked on, planting seeds, digging stuff up from the garden, buying nursery trees and rescuing mallsai and a year and a half later with a number of casualties, some successes and some in intensive care I believe I have learned some big lessons in just getting the basic horticulture right and can start to think more now on design on certain trees and am now also happy just letting thing be for a year or three.

I agree with @just.wing.it when he says it's good to try a bit of everything, with @Anthony and K when they say start from seed(although this will test a newcomers patience) and with @Smoke in getting out there and working on our trees.
I think though it has taken me a year and a half to figure out too what you say, if you want good material you need to start with it(or spend years developing it) so I made a jump and picked up something nice and maybe my biggest lesson from my short time is to not fuck with it too much. Keep on top of it by all means but no messing with anything unless it needs it and a year and a half ago I wasn't ready for that which is why I also agree with @sorce.

All that said I still will buy or sow stuff to play with, it might be crap but it will hopefully help me in not killing the stuff that isn't.

 

[Rambles]

Horticulture first, bonsai second. Learn the plant. Be patient, be critical, and always be learning. That would be my recommendations.

Get better nursery stock or pre bonsai and learn to grow it. Know what normal looks like, because what we are doing ain't normal.

 

[twisted trees]

This is good solid information and I totally agree that newcomers can be overfed. I was, possibly still am.
I know for me at least it is tough to hear don't do a thing for a year or two especially on a first tree. I killed mine because of that if I'm honest. But I also kicked on, planting seeds, digging stuff up from the garden, buying nursery trees and rescuing mallsai and a year and a half later with a number of casualties, some successes and some in intensive care I believe I have learned some big lessons in just getting the basic horticulture right and can start to think more now on design on certain trees and am now also happy just letting thing be for a year or three.

I agree with @just.wing.it when he says it's good to try a bit of everything, with @Anthony and K when they say start from seed(although this will test a newcomers patience) and with @Smoke in getting out there and working on our trees.
I think though it has taken me a year and a half to figure out too what you say, if you want good material you need to start with it(or spend years developing it) so I made a jump and picked up something nice and maybe my biggest lesson from my short time is to not fuck with it too much. Keep on top of it by all means but no messing with anything unless it needs it and a year and a half ago I wasn't ready for that which is why I also agree with @sorce.

All that said I still will buy or sow stuff to play with, it might be crap but it will hopefully help me in not killing the stuff that isn't.

A vigorous tree is a victory in itself. What do do with it then is part of the learning curve. Pleasing bonsai takes seasons not days.

 

[mattspinniken]

I agree with the original poster. Work on material that excites you, it doesn't matter if others think it is good or not. I am totally unexcited by any material that I got within the first year or two now and have gotten rid of a lot but I don't regret the time.

 

[chansen]

One of the best bits of bonsai advice I've heard that applies to beginners and more experienced. Find someone who creates the type of trees you want to create. Then learn from them.

 

[twisted trees]

Thirty sum odd replies later a simple message has become twisted through verbosity and murkieness. Beginners, stop working on crap.

 

[Paradox]

Get off the internet and work your trees. You would be surprised how much you can learn in just one year of "doing it".

You mean, you can't prune a tree with your mouse and keyboard or finger pad???! Who da thought?

 

[twisted trees]

Just wondering is this what you meant to say?

from Merriam Webster, the first definition; a diatribe is a prolonged discourse.

 

[twisted trees]

You mean, you can't prune a tree with your mouse and keyboard or finger pad???! Who da thought?

I can do a lot with Photoshop.

 

[Ironbeaver]

Once youve worked on it, leave it the f**k alone. Water it and look at it. Wait. Let it recover.

 

[milehigh_7]

You will gain more working on a good tree rather than a piece of crap.

To this, I will say, it depends...