Confusing...

[Anonymouse]

I am having some confusion on wich way to start out. I have heard that you should start with a small sapling and pot it and let it grow into a bonsai. I've also heard that you should take a bigger tree and cut it, then bonsai it. Are either, neither, or both of these these correct?

 

[Adair M]

You CAN start either way. But, the method of taking a bigger tree, and cutting it back is faster. Trunks take a long time to build wood. Growing branches off the trunk is relatively quick. So, using larger martetial and cutting it back is the better way for a beginner. You won’t get bored waiting for a small tree to grow to a decent size. That can take years!

 

[BonsaiDTLA]

Neither are per se correct, but both certainly can be correct. Growing from a sapling is fun and certainly can result in a nice bonsai over time. Chopping down allows you to skip a lot of time with growing trunks, but most of the time involves bad roots (especially when dealing with nursery stock not grown for bonsai).

Buying bonsai stock is often encouraged because a lot of the heavy lifting has been done for you. My buddy wanted to get into Bonsai, so I had him check out a few local bonsai nurseries near us. He ended up purchasing a very nice Cedar Elm from @bonsaibp, and he couldn't be more happy with his purchase. After uncovering some of the roots, he even found out that roots had been wired to encourage favorable future development.

 

[Anonymouse]

You CAN start either way. But, the method of taking a bigger tree, and cutting it back is faster. Trunks take a long time to build wood. Growing branches off the trunk is relatively quick. So, using larger martetial and cutting it back is the better way for a beginner. You won’t get bored waiting for a small tree to grow to a decent size. That can take years!

Thank you Adair M

 

[Shibui]

You will find a lot of disagreement and different growers telling us that their way is the only way or the best way. Truth is there are many roads that lead to bonsai. Some are shorter, some longer. Some require care and attention to achieve good results. Some achieve a higher proportion of better bonsai and some rely on a good measure of luck to get the good result. Not every method will work with all species or in all climates.
Bonsai is a long term project. A lot of what is posted comes from enthusiastic newcomers. More comes from those who have had some success for a few years but are yet to reach the longer term obstacles that can occur with older trees.

Please take all bonsai theories with a grain of salt. The difficulty is sifting out the few pearls from among all the gravel. try different ideas that sound plausible but be prepared to change tack if it turns out the ideas are not right for your trees or your area.

 

[sorce]

I believe every tree has its own path, it's not ours.

There isn't one right way, but there IS one right way per tree, per instance, per season, etc.

Sometimes you gotta throw gravel at them.

Sometimes you lure em in with pearls then chop their heads off.

Sorce

 

[amcoffeegirl]

Do one of each and see which you like the best.

 

[essdoesbonsai]

Do one of each and see which you like the best.

I've been told this too, so I decided to get every possible indoor tree possible to see how it works out... I have a bright office and live in an apartment. No garden

Still 'umming and arring' about getting a Ilex for indoor. Apparently it can be done but will be hard!

Anyway, I just agree that you should try everything and learn. As @Shibui said, take advice with a pinch of salt because with my research and talking to others, people are really taking Bonsai to another level, whether it's conventional or not!

 

[amcoffeegirl]

I've been told this too, so I decided to get every possible indoor tree possible to see how it works out... I have a bright office and live in an apartment. No garden

Still 'umming and arring' about getting a Ilex for indoor. Apparently it can be done but will be hard!

Anyway, I just agree that you should try everything and learn. As @Shibui said, take advice with a pinch of salt because with my research and talking to others, people are really taking Bonsai to another level, whether it's conventional or not!

Well I didn’t exactly mean to get one of every tree.
I do understand though that we never know what will and what won’t work out in the beginning.
I lived in an apartment for 17 years. No garden. We all start somewhere.

I have bought trees to chop off and I’ve bought trees that were well on their way.

 

[Adair M]

Another way the Japanese start bonsai is to get a bunch of starters. A dozen, a hundred, maybe even a thousand... and wire then, and stick them in the ground to grow for a decade. Every do often, they come thru and chop them back. Then, after a decade, they dig them and cull. There will be some small percentage (>10%) that are really good, another percent (~25%) that are good enough to work with, and the rest are discarded. Yes, more than half are rejects!

There’s lots of ways...

 

[Anonymouse]

I like taking a tree and using this helpful device
( It is air layering, but 10 times easier.) I use it to make a smaller pair of roots and I have a nice tree and smaller roots. Instead of having to cut off 90% of the roots off.