Brother Bill's Bonsai Confessional: Confess your bonsai sins and be forgiven

[Tbrshou]

Let's just say i typed alot and I'm so embarrassed that I erased it all and typed this.

 

[defra]

i use cat litter grit as substrate in my soil.

 

[Shogun610]

Wrath .. I hate how expensive everything is !! And I hate and I get angry with people who have a lot of money and don’t know how to take care of bonsai trees…

 

[Gabler]

I hate wire! Hate it, hate it, hate it!

I hate putting it on. I hate the way it looks. I hate having to check it every five minutes so that it doesn't bite in. I hate taking it off only to discover that it bit in anyway. I hate the waste of used wire.

I will use guy wires, props, and spacers. I will not coil and you can't make me!

This is not really a "confession" because I cannot make a complete Act of Contrition. I do not ask forgiveness because I am not sorry and never will be. I am a heretic. Burn me if you must but I will not repent.

I do the same. If something other than wire will get the branch in position, I'll use that other thing instead.

 

[BrianBay9]

Murder - squirrels. I keep killing them and more take their place. Feels like the Chinese assault at Imjin.

 

[Cruiser]

Everything I came up with is just unorthodox practice or an unpopular/inflammatory opinion. Not sure they’re sins.
In any case, though I’m tempted, sharing them may not be forgivable.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Maybe not a full-fledged sin, but I don't try to heal over scars. Most of my trees have been collected from roadsides and disturbed areas. As such, they all have scars..........sometimes horrendous scars. I mainly enlarge them and give them irregular edges. I then put a tiny amount of wound sealer on the edges and paint on a ground charcoal/water solution. I reapply the solution as needed, carve the wound to somewhat resemble the bark and let 'er rip.

 

[Michael P]

Murder - squirrels. I keep killing them and more take their place. Feels like the Chinese assault at Imjin.

Killing squirrels is not a sin, it is a virtue.

 

[Excalipoor]

I’m guilty of attempting to grow Japanese maples in Texas. I have frustratingly killed two and cherish the remaining two I have left. Not the most ideal conditions to grow them but I love Japanese maples too much to give up on them.

 

[doc spring _work]

Come, brothers and sisters. Step into the confessional and tell us what is weighing heavy on your bonsai soul.

None of us are without sin. If your hands are clean, you aren't doing bonsai.

Forgive me brother for I have sinned!

Through much of this year, instead of being humble and learning my pride has been the death of many trees ಥ⁠╭⁠╮⁠ಥ,

From stupid things such as repotting in summer thinking I was smart enough to avoid death of the tree-to blatant disregard of much more experienced artists..
To falling for bonsai bonsai heirloom's advice!

Embarrassing my self by using the wrong terms for working on conifers (defoliation vs de-candling... Fool)

Worst of all my impatience leading to extreme overworking of many of my projects..

I have many a sin to work towards being forgiven for... And I have many lessons to learn I only hope I can be more wise as I continue my journey and not be so hasty to disregard the thoughts of those around me...

 

[Gabler]

I water my trees on a timer while I'm at work, and as a result, I'm constantly battling fungus.

 

[Kodama]

Forgive me brother for I have sinned by barerooting a mugo pine and cut the roots. Won't do that again.

 

[Annlef]

I re-use aluminum wire… like, a lot!

Me too

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Wrath is one I hold dear. I've asked our municipality for contact info over 20 times. I made monetary offers, artistic views, wrote whole letters even, to be allowed to dig up plants before the construction crew threw them in the chipper.
They never responded. The plants are now gone.

They wanted more green space, so they replaced the green with concrete. And now they're posting articles about how they give some plants a second life. Not the plants that have caught us while drunk, the ones that brushed against our legs when we walked by, the ones that we could hide outdoor booze in whenever they were setting up the local festivals.
Those plants deserved a second life as an art piece. But thanks to some slothing, lazy, no-good government workers, they're now compost.

It wouldn't bother me as much if they wouldn't act like they were greenwashing the municipality and doing the opposite.

Father, I do not ask for forgiveness, I ask you to give them a lifetime of chewing gum underneath their soles from the concrete jungle they created.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Wrath is one I hold dear. I've asked our municipality for contact info over 20 times. I made monetary offers, artistic views, wrote whole letters even, to be allowed to dig up plants before the construction crew threw them in the chipper.
They never responded. The plants are now gone.

They wanted more green space, so they replaced the green with concrete. And now they're posting articles about how they give some plants a second life. Not the plants that have caught us while drunk, the ones that brushed against our legs when we walked by, the ones that we could hide outdoor booze in whenever they were setting up the local festivals.
Those plants deserved a second life as an art piece. But thanks to some slothing, lazy, no-good government workers, they're now compost.

It wouldn't bother me as much if they wouldn't act like they were greenwashing the municipality and doing the opposite.

Father, I do not ask for forgiveness, I ask you to give them a lifetime of chewing gum underneath their soles from the concrete jungle they created.

That's the sentiment I have about digging trees on the roadsides. The maintenance crews come around sporadically and destroy everything on the easements. I figure I'm doing them a service by removing at least some of the stuff in their way. Technically, it's probably illegal.............about as illegal as driving 60 in 55mph zone or not declaring the $100 Aunt Lucy gave you for a Christmas gift on your taxes. Chewing gum under their soles is a fitting punishment. I'll add this one.......May they forever be behind a school bus in all their road travels.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

That's the sentiment I have about digging trees on the roadsides. The maintenance crews come around sporadically and destroy everything on the easements. I figure I'm doing them a service by removing at least some of the stuff in their way. Technically, it's probably illegal.............about as illegal as driving 60 in 55mph zone or not declaring the $100 Aunt Lucy gave you for a Christmas gift on your taxes. Chewing gum under their soles is a fitting punishment. I'll add this one.......May they forever be behind a school bus in all their road travels.

Kids go to school on bicycles or walk, or get brought by their parents. But I like the idea!
I hope they walk behind a curious but confused elderly throuple (so they block the whole sidewalk) for the rest of their lives.

 

[bluone23]

Ahh yes, the wire, I hate it same as you @Michael P

And the cheap part @Wulfskaar, I also prefer to ground grow from seed or cuttings.
and also some guerrila yamadoring

 

[Dav4]

This is very hard for me to say...


Some of my nicer trees are in a turface based soil mix!

 

[leatherback]

This is very hard for me to say...


Some of my nicer trees are in a turface based soil mix!

in a similar sentiment.. I am not convinced akadama is the right substrate to use for bonsai for most people.

 

[Cruiser]

Untidiness.
My tool box is a bucket. Things that should and shouldn’t be end up in there. It’s a bit of a black hole.
Over time, smaller items get buried and become “forgotten” or “lost.”