Casual Bonsai Hobby is that possible?

Oakenshield

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My little juniper got fried the end of May. I look at it often, but not daily, last year the routine worked all summer, this summer in this heat wave I walked out back and it had turned brown.

From this:

Juniper Bonsai 2021.jpg


To this
Juniper Burned 2022.jpg

It either dried out or, with this heat wave, I’m wondering if the roots can overheat? I keep it in a location (Texas 100°F) where it get’s part sun, but the heat has been brutal this year earlier than normal. I brought it inside and placed in a kitchen window to see if it would recover or not.

i knew the terms on bonsai, especially in a hot climate and it is making me rethink if I want to mess with this obligation. Another option, might be a heartier succulent style plant. I happen to have 2 potted Red Stem Elephant Bush plants (Jade plant, Portulacaria), one with variegated leaves that I am experimenting with shaping into a bonsai look. These guys laugh at sun and heat, asking for more, I just don’t know how shapeable they are. Is there a sub-section for this type of plant? 🤔
Thanks for your attention in advance! :)

RedStemElephantBush.jpg
 
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My little juniper got fried the end of May. I look at it often, but not daily, last year the routine worked all summer, this summer in this heat wave I walked out back and it had turned brown.

From this:

View attachment 442967


To this
View attachment 442966

It either dried out or, with this heat wave, I’m wondering if the roots can overheat? I keep it in a location (Texas 100°F) where it get’s part sun, but the heat has been brutal this year earlier than normal. I brought it inside and placed in a kitchen window to see if it would recover or not.

i knew the terms on bonsai, especially in a hot climate and it is making me rethink if I want to mess with this obligation. Another option, might be a heartier succulent style plant. I happen to have 2 potted Red Stem Elephant Bush plants (Jade plant, Portulacaria), one with variegated leaves that I am experimenting with shaping into a bonsai look. These guys laugh at sun and heat, asking for more, I just don’t know how shapeable they are. Is there a sub-section for this type of plant? 🤔
Thanks for your attention in advance! :)

View attachment 442965
Once a juniper has turned brown, it's completely dead. It's not coming back.
Most likely your juniper dried out from lack of watering, sped up by direct prolonged exposure to intense sun and heat. Yes, roots can indeed overheat-they're used to being in the ground protected from the most intense air temps. In a pot, they're exposed to those extremes. The smaller the pot, the more intense and immediate the effects. The soil temperatures in a pot exposed to the sun can soar well above air temperatures, the surfaces of a pot in direct sun can top air temps by 20 degrees or more.

Bonsai is a commitment, just like having a pet. You can't just leave them alone without care and expect good things. If you're not up to the time commitment, yeah, it would be better for you to find something else.
 
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Yes I would definitely say Bonsai needs daily care. In 100° weather possibly multiple times a day for watering. It is definitely a time commitment and that’s just with the watering aspect. I have just recently started working with Bonsai and I have found you need a great amount of time to devote to just learning. It’s vastly more in depth than basic horticulture and each species needs specific care, daily and year round. There are Bonsai that are more forgiving of extreme temperatures, but they still need daily care. I personally do not think Bonsai can be a casual hobby given what I’ve learned in a short amount of time. It sounds like you love succulents though and that could definitely be a more casual hobby. I tend to kill my succulents at times from “over care” 😂
 
To answer the question in your thread title, yes, I believe you can do it on a part time, casual basis. You just have to find the right tree, the right pot, the right soil, and the right place for it.
That sounds like allot, but given the myriad options for each of these, it's really just a break down of what bonsai involves in a general sense.

Portulacaria is an excellent choice for a casual beginner. You can find many good examples, even though they're not even technically trees. Bring them inside for winter.
You can look into Texas native trees that are better adapted to the environment. I know cedar elm are native there, and can be made into bonsai very effectively, for example. They're also elm, which any elm can be assumed to be damn near nuclear resistant.
There are a bunch of folks on here from Texas, so they can say better than I can.
Ficus tend to be fairly low maintenance if you need them to be. Just remember that with these you'll be kept busy pruning much of the year, and, again, they'll have to come inside for the winter.
If you've ever kept potted herbs in your kitchen, there are people who bonsai rosemary, sage and thyme.
Bonchi is subsection of bonsai focussing on pepper plants.
Pretty much anything that gets woody is an option.

Conifers of any sort can be tricky, so maybe not the best choice for casual bonsai. They hate having their roots touched and don't regrow new roots so easily, so repotting is sketchy; and most species don't bud back readily, so if you make the wrong cut there's no repairing the damage.

All that to say, yes, you absolutely have options, just don't expect them to be unlimited.
 
My little juniper got fried the end of May. I look at it often, but not daily, last year the routine worked all summer, this summer in this heat wave I walked out back and it had turned brown.

Was it inside to protect it from the heat, or was it inside all winter?
 
Unfortunately that juniper looked like a goner. When they dry out to solid brown it’s not good. Don’t let one experience put you off though. Your P. Afra can make a pretty sweet little bonsai with enough chopping and patience. What soil are you using? Since you are in a hot and dry climate it may help to add a component to your soil that holds on to moisture a little bit longer like the Napa #8822 diatomaceous earth. You could also set up a simple timed misting system/drip irrigation system off Amazon for under $50. Although I do recommend learning each individual trees watering requirements before you set up any automated watering system….BUT… This can take some of the routine out of bonsai and give you a little leniency in watering in your climate and kinda put that aspect on cruise control so to speak.
 
To answer the question in your thread title, yes, I believe you can do it on a part time, casual basis. You just have to find the right tree, the right pot, the right soil, and the right place for it.
That sounds like allot, but given the myriad options for each of these, it's really just a break down of what bonsai involves in a general sense.

Portulacaria is an excellent choice for a casual beginner. You can find many good examples, even though they're not even technically trees. Bring them inside for winter.
You can look into Texas native trees that are better adapted to the environment. I know cedar elm are native there, and can be made into bonsai very effectively, for example. They're also elm, which any elm can be assumed to be damn near nuclear resistant.
There are a bunch of folks on here from Texas, so they can say better than I can.
Ficus tend to be fairly low maintenance if you need them to be. Just remember that with these you'll be kept busy pruning much of the year, and, again, they'll have to come inside for the winter.
If you've ever kept potted herbs in your kitchen, there are people who bonsai rosemary, sage and thyme.
Bonchi is subsection of bonsai focussing on pepper plants.
Pretty much anything that gets woody is an option.

Conifers of any sort can be tricky, so maybe not the best choice for casual bonsai. They hate having their roots touched and don't regrow new roots so easily, so repotting is sketchy; and most species don't bud back readily, so if you make the wrong cut there's no repairing the damage.

All that to say, yes, you absolutely have options, just don't expect them to be unlimited.
Uh, I have several cedar elms. They are no less "casual" than any other species. They require watering, etc. Texas is NOT a desert. Just because a tree species grows there does NOT mean it will withstand neglect... The eastern half of Texas--where cedar elm grows--is quite humid and even wet--think western La. West Texas is desert---there's about 750 miles (1,200 km) in between east and west border of the state.

The only "set and forget" bonsai is a dead bonsai. Even Portulacaria will wilt in extreme heat and hot soil...
 
To answer your question re: portulacaria, they are very responsive to bonsai techniques, and are a rather forgiving plant in general. A YouTube channel by the name of “little jade bonsai” may be of interest to you — I believe the artist is based in Texas.

Losing plants is tough, but it can be a learning opportunity. Cheers!
 
"Lifestyle" instead of "Hobby"...

Anything worth doing.. SHOULD have the ability to "consume" or "envelop" you...

I can't leave my trees/plants for more than 12 hours.. and need 2-3(species, pot, substrate depending ((as shady said))) passes of CARE/watering daily... (I have MANY plants)

I, PERSONALLY, love it.

All "Trees/Shrubs" in CONTAINERS are going to take similar dedication.

...

Knowing all this, OP..

May I suggest Niwaki?

I'd bet Niwaki would be a good fit.
 
I find that watering my trees and spending some time inspecting is very soothing to me everyday. My backyard is another realm of stories and life I care for and develop.
Bonsai is a hobby of mine but it still needs the proper devotion it requires. And I think there is reason for that.
 
Uh, I have several cedar elms. They are no less "casual" than any other species. They require watering, etc. Texas is NOT a desert. Just because a tree species grows there does NOT mean it will withstand neglect... The eastern half of Texas--where cedar elm grows--is quite humid and even wet--think western La. West Texas is desert---there's about 750 miles (1,200 km) in between east and west border of the state.

The only "set and forget" bonsai is a dead bonsai. Even Portulacaria will wilt in extreme heat and hot soil...
My statements on the cedar elm was purely as a native resilient to the climate, not relative low maintenance. I'm not saying set and forget, and I don't think that's what OP is looking for.
My thinking, and I'm of the impression OP's as well, is something more along the lines of fitting bonsai into your house plant/patio garden habit. One or a few trees potted such that they don't take hours a day every day, and can be recognized as bonsai by the laymen with an occasional pruning was my thought.

If someone is looking to enjoy it as a casual hobby, they're obviously not looking for spectacular trees. Just something they can enjoy along with the rest of their plants. Now, doing so would make their bonsai the highest maintenance item in the household still, but not necessarily requiring daily maintenance.
People routinely keep flowering shrubs and topiary trees in pots. Adjust the styling, and is bonsai really that different?

Here we tend to take the idea of bonsai to an almost obsessive level, with huge collections, meticulous care, regimented attention to detail, all to get the most out of each tree.
Over pot the damn thing in slightly wetter soil and prune and fertilize occasionally like a potted flower bush, just do it with more style. What's the worse that could happen; he makes a mediocre tree?
 
Peekaboo!

Now we gotta find the rest of that pot!

Mas agua!

Sorce
 
My statements on the cedar elm was purely as a native resilient to the climate, not relative low maintenance. I'm not saying set and forget, and I don't think that's what OP is looking for.
My thinking, and I'm of the impression OP's as well, is something more along the lines of fitting bonsai into your house plant/patio garden habit. One or a few trees potted such that they don't take hours a day every day, and can be recognized as bonsai by the laymen with an occasional pruning was my thought.

If someone is looking to enjoy it as a casual hobby, they're obviously not looking for spectacular trees. Just something they can enjoy along with the rest of their plants. Now, doing so would make their bonsai the highest maintenance item in the household still, but not necessarily requiring daily maintenance.
People routinely keep flowering shrubs and topiary trees in pots. Adjust the styling, and is bonsai really that different?

Here we tend to take the idea of bonsai to an almost obsessive level, with huge collections, meticulous care, regimented attention to detail, all to get the most out of each tree.
Over pot the damn thing in slightly wetter soil and prune and fertilize occasionally like a potted flower bush, just do it with more style. What's the worse that could happen; he makes a mediocre tree?
over pot the damn thing and use potting soil and it IS a potted plant. Bonsai require effort. more effort than a maple in w whisky barrel tub in the backyard. Simply watering something in a pot doesn't make it bonsai. The targeted attention applied in specific ways DOES. There is a difference.

If you want to call that maple/elm/whatever the half whisky barrel/planter a bonsai, go ahead, not many folks will know the difference. But if you actually want to do bonsai, think beyond just calling it what you want it to be.
 
I have to agree with @rockm , over potting can take the tree out of the realm of bonsai and into the realm of potted landscape shrub.

But slightly over potting can buy you a few hours of time between slight wilting and botanical toast. Similar, using a more water retentive mix can help. But do plan on watering your trees daily. Or at least checking to see if they need water daily.

There are some trees that tolerate drought better than others, short term drought in particular. Obviously Portulacaria has been mentioned. Nice, but not viewed as "true bonsai" by some purists, as it is a long lived herbaceous perennial rather than a true tree species.

Pomegranate, is a possible choice. I have found they bounce back well from drought to wilt point. If they get too dry, they will drop all their leaves, and if not allowed to stay day too long, say less than 5 days, they usually will bounce back. Note, older pomegranates with some caliper to their trunks can withstand much longer droughts than young slender cuttings. If droughts are infrequent, say once a year, pomegranates are resilient. Frequent, repeat droughts, without allowing growth to recover can eventually kill them. THey make nice bonsai. Flowers are beautiful. Fruit is usually too big, except for the most dwarf varieties or very large scale bonsai specimens.

Texas ebony makes nice drought resistant bonsai- Ebenopsis ebano, formerly known as Pithecellobium ebano or Acacia flexicaulis depending on what year the reference you read was written. A brief drought will cause leaves to fall off, but it will grow a fresh set of leaves in short order once watering resumes.

Some caudiciform trees can make interesting bonsai, and can thrive on "planned neglect". Some are winter growers, needing water only in winter, some are summer growers, only in summer, and some grow opportunistically, which can be watered, "ad hoc" within reason as long as you allow them to dry a little between watering.

One such group of caudiciforms is the genus Bursera. These are native to Southern USA, Mexico, Central America and a few species into South America. They have fragrant resin, called copal, my favorite for Bonsai use is Bursera fagaroides, also Bursera microphylla, hindsii, and simplifolia. All are drought tolerant. The compound leaves are only 3 small leaflets, as such not posing a problem. I grow mine in a south windowsill, in a pumice based mix, where pumice is about 50% of the mix, akadama, lava and turface is the remainder. I usually water once a week, to once every 3 weeks in winter. They like to get bone dry between watering in winter. In summer I have moved them outdoors, they will grow explosively with the twice a week early summer rains we get. The do well with extensive droughts. In the wild, plants with soda can diameter trunks can go 18 months between rains and still green up nicely after a brief rain. In horticulture, they grow well with regular water, and once they have trunks over 1 cm diameter, they become quite drought tolerant. They will tolerate erratic watering during the growing season, resulting in less growth, but death is not likely. And they can be stored totally dry over winter. Though I like getting a little slow growth over winter, so I keep watering on sunny days, occasionally during the winter. I love the fragrance of the sap. I regularly bruise a leaf just to smell the perfume.

The genera Commiphora (myrrh) and Boswellia (frankincense) - are quite similar to Bursera, but I do not have hands on practice growing them. Being from Africa, they may prefer more seasonal watering. The fragrant sap, when you touch the leaves is reward enough for growing these.

Boabab trees. - genus Adansonia - These tend to have coarse branching and larger leaves, but I saw a noteworthy specimen being stored for the winter, under a stairwell in Memphis. Summered outdoors, as a large scale potted tree (more a garden potted tree than bonsai) It is only watered when green tips of leaves show from buds. Usually buds begin to sprout when temps begin to hit 80 F outside. The tree is then immediately moved outdoors, watered and kept in full sun for the summer. First "cool night of autumn for Memphis" the leaves begin to yellow and drop. At that point watering is stopped. Tree is then moved indoors under the stairwell to make certain it stays completely dry for the entire winter. In Memphis it is only warm enough for it to grow maybe 4 month a year. Not really a good species for most of north America. Water during dormancy will frequently result in fatal root rots.

There are others, you will have to read up, hope these give you some ideas.
 
Bursera - is a caudex forming tree. This means a spongy layer of tissue under the outer bark that holds water. This layer swells and shrinks depending on water availability. As bonsai, caudex forming trees will ALWAYS end up looking a bit "lumpy". There will be bands where the bark does not expand, and bands where it does, so in some ways, a Bursera can end up looking like a "balloon toy bonsai" version of a bonsai. Can't be helped. But often it is minimal, sometimes it is dramatic. It simply is what the genus does. So these zones of "reverse taper" you just have to accept as par for the course.

If you are once of those bonsai freaks that see "reverse taper" everywhere, caudex forming trees will make you crazy. Like seeing "dead people". "I see dead people". "I see reverse taper".

But if you can tolerate a bit of lumpiness, Bursera is a nice advancement over the Portulacaria
 
over pot the damn thing and use potting soil and it IS a potted plant. Bonsai require effort. more effort than a maple in w whisky barrel tub in the backyard. Simply watering something in a pot doesn't make it bonsai. The targeted attention applied in specific ways DOES. There is a difference.

If you want to call that maple/elm/whatever the half whisky barrel/planter a bonsai, go ahead, not many folks will know the difference. But if you actually want to do bonsai, think beyond just calling it what you want it to be.
A lot of truth here..

"Sharp"... "spikey" truth..

But truth...
 
I have to agree with @rockm , over potting can take the tree out of the realm of bonsai and into the realm of potted landscape shrub.

But slightly over potting can buy you a few hours of time between slight wilting and botanical toast. Similar, using a more water retentive mix can help. But do plan on watering your trees daily. Or at least checking to see if they need water daily.

There are some trees that tolerate drought better than others, short term drought in particular. Obviously Portulacaria has been mentioned. Nice, but not viewed as "true bonsai" by some purists, as it is a long lived herbaceous perennial rather than a true tree species.

Pomegranate, is a possible choice. I have found they bounce back well from drought to wilt point. If they get too dry, they will drop all their leaves, and if not allowed to stay day too long, say less than 5 days, they usually will bounce back. Note, older pomegranates with some caliper to their trunks can withstand much longer droughts than young slender cuttings. If droughts are infrequent, say once a year, pomegranates are resilient. Frequent, repeat droughts, without allowing growth to recover can eventually kill them. THey make nice bonsai. Flowers are beautiful. Fruit is usually too big, except for the most dwarf varieties or very large scale bonsai specimens.

Texas ebony makes nice drought resistant bonsai- Ebenopsis ebano, formerly known as Pithecellobium ebano or Acacia flexicaulis depending on what year the reference you read was written. A brief drought will cause leaves to fall off, but it will grow a fresh set of leaves in short order once watering resumes.

Some caudiciform trees can make interesting bonsai, and can thrive on "planned neglect". Some are winter growers, needing water only in winter, some are summer growers, only in summer, and some grow opportunistically, which can be watered, "ad hoc" within reason as long as you allow them to dry a little between watering.

One such group of caudiciforms is the genus Bursera. These are native to Southern USA, Mexico, Central America and a few species into South America. They have fragrant resin, called copal, my favorite for Bonsai use is Bursera fagaroides, also Bursera microphylla, hindsii, and simplifolia. All are drought tolerant. The compound leaves are only 3 small leaflets, as such not posing a problem. I grow mine in a south windowsill, in a pumice based mix, where pumice is about 50% of the mix, akadama, lava and turface is the remainder. I usually water once a week, to once every 3 weeks in winter. They like to get bone dry between watering in winter. In summer I have moved them outdoors, they will grow explosively with the twice a week early summer rains we get. The do well with extensive droughts. In the wild, plants with soda can diameter trunks can go 18 months between rains and still green up nicely after a brief rain. In horticulture, they grow well with regular water, and once they have trunks over 1 cm diameter, they become quite drought tolerant. They will tolerate erratic watering during the growing season, resulting in less growth, but death is not likely. And they can be stored totally dry over winter. Though I like getting a little slow growth over winter, so I keep watering on sunny days, occasionally during the winter. I love the fragrance of the sap. I regularly bruise a leaf just to smell the perfume.

The genera Commiphora (myrrh) and Boswellia (frankincense) - are quite similar to Bursera, but I do not have hands on practice growing them. Being from Africa, they may prefer more seasonal watering. The fragrant sap, when you touch the leaves is reward enough for growing these.

Boabab trees. - genus Adansonia - These tend to have coarse branching and larger leaves, but I saw a noteworthy specimen being stored for the winter, under a stairwell in Memphis. Summered outdoors, as a large scale potted tree (more a garden potted tree than bonsai) It is only watered when green tips of leaves show from buds. Usually buds begin to sprout when temps begin to hit 80 F outside. The tree is then immediately moved outdoors, watered and kept in full sun for the summer. First "cool night of autumn for Memphis" the leaves begin to yellow and drop. At that point watering is stopped. Tree is then moved indoors under the stairwell to make certain it stays completely dry for the entire winter. In Memphis it is only warm enough for it to grow maybe 4 month a year. Not really a good species for most of north America. Water during dormancy will frequently result in fatal root rots.

There are others, you will have to read up, hope these give you some ideas.

These are all great suggestions.

I do have to point out that with Punicas... although they ARE quite drought tolerant (I've had one get mad in shallow pot and go dormant for up to NINETY DAYS before reawakening) they HATE it.. and under watering can QUICKLY lead to perpetual weakness... which, in the Punica's case, Is a HUGE "Bloody, injured seal in the water" for pests. And can make reservations to REOCCURRING issues.

🤓
 
over pot the damn thing and use potting soil and it IS a potted plant. Bonsai require effort. more effort than a maple in w whisky barrel tub in the backyard. Simply watering something in a pot doesn't make it bonsai. The targeted attention applied in specific ways DOES. There is a difference.

If you want to call that maple/elm/whatever the half whisky barrel/planter a bonsai, go ahead, not many folks will know the difference. But if you actually want to do bonsai, think beyond just calling it what you want it to be.
I'm not saying you can call it bonsai just because it's in a pot.
I'm saying that allot of us are giving that targeted attention you talk about to dozens or even hundreds of trees. Cut that down to single digits, though, and pot for leeway in watering, and suddenly you're expending allot less effort, and NOW it's a casual thing vs a lifestyle thing.

At a half dozen trees you're repotting one or two a year. Slightly bigger pot with a little bit of organics in your soil and now you're watering every other day, potentially less. Grow and prune in season like we normally would, develop the tree like we normally would.

If you're getting comparable results, does it NOT count as bonsai just because you don't panic about going away for the weekend? Of course not. Are those trees likely to be great bonsai? Probably not, but they can still be considered bonsai.
 
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