Michael P
Omono
A friend who has a teenage son is also an avid gardener and has one bonsai. The teenager NEVER looked at the garden or bonsai until he saw bonsai in anime. Then he asked "That's Japanese right? Cool!"
Do your children help care for your bonsai?
- Thread starter Cruiser
- Start date
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
My daughter waters the trees she can reach sometimes with her little toy watering can. She will also pick up pots and put them on her kiddie table and try/help me weed. Shes not even 3. There are still casualties, but fewer than I would expect.
Dogestoevsky
Mame
My four year old loves to check in on the plants she has claimed as “hers” and will pet their leaves and help water with her tiny watering can. She’s an industrious toddler who likes doing things in order and neatly (folding clothes, buying groceries) so maybe I have a future helper! She always tells me how careful she’s going to be, it’s so precious 
Hartinez
Masterpiece
My 14 yr old daughter helps me out considerably. When I’m out of town for work or camping she waters for me. She’s really good at it and really takes care to make sure they are watered correctly. She loves going to nurseries with me and has gone out collecting with me a few times. I have a feeling my youngest son will also get into it. He wasn’t terribly interested until I started planting my trees on slabs and rocks. He loves those compositions and will sometimes go out and stare at them with me. When they are out there with me I try explaining as plainly as possible why I’m doing what I’m doing at that moment. Doing what I can to not come off as lecturing them about plant horticulture.
Fidur
Chumono
Love this image.....
NateDyk47
Shohin
My 13 and 10 year olds each have a few trees that they help style and do seasonal work. They don't help much with day to day care.
My 1 year old "helps" me water most mornings. He also likes playing with the hose, and will occasionally water them again by himself later in the day, whether they need it or not. He has also claimed a small procumbens juniper as his own, which he throws into his kiddy pool, sends down his slide, pushes on his swing, and brings it back to its place on the bench when he's done with it. He will more than likely kill the thing, but I don't want to discourage any part of him loving trees.
NateDyk47
Shohin
My son was running around with the hose at 10 months
Ruddigger
Omono
My daughter couldnt care less, although she does a decent job of watering in a pinch. She did wire and style one procumbens, under duress. 
Cruiser
Chumono
Thanks for sharing your experiences, everyone.
It looks like a fair number of you involve family members or inspire them with bonsai in a positive way.
This has been heartwarming and given me some ideas.
It looks like a fair number of you involve family members or inspire them with bonsai in a positive way.
This has been heartwarming and given me some ideas.
Shogun610
Masterpiece
No kids of my own yet but my 2 y.o niece loves to go around and look at the trees , she smiles and touches the leaves. Whenever I babysit her we walk around and she’ll point and touch. A couple times she tried to pick them up but with a gentle hand quickly put back on the bench..
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namnhi
Masterpiece
My 12 year old boy rather play Doodle world then looking at trees. I can't stand why on earth that game graphic is so bad. Don't get me started on Roblox's graphics. My 7 year old rather Bruce Lee kick butt than my trees. I have to get rid of all my trees when am leaving Earth. Sad to think about that.
vesper818
Mame
Cruiser
Chumono
I had to see for myself. Sorry.
You never know. Kids are fickle. One day they may take to your trees. If not, you could always have them buried/cremated/whatever with you; ancient Egyptian style.
n8
Shohin
13 & 16. They'll help with repotting or when I need an extra set of hands, and will water for me when I'm out of town, but they have no personal interest in the hobby.
LuZiKui
Shohin
I was just telling someone that I think bonsai and young kids work well together. For one, the travel my wife and I do has decreased substantially so outside of 1 summer trip we're usually only gone for a couple days. That means I don't have to worry about watering or getting someone else to water very often.
Also, as others have said, when you have really young kids you have a lot of "free" time where you are watching the kid but they are pretty easy. That's perfect for bonsai.
My sons (4&6) know that I like bonsai and will tell other people about it but they're too young to have any real interest in it. Last winter I showed them how to find and collect coast live oak acorns and they loved it, ended up with almost 100 acorns in no time. I also had them each plant an acorn so they both have oaks growing and we enjoyed watching all the different phases of growth (but I care for them).
My goal isn't so much to get them into bonsai, it's more so to introduce them to the idea of having a hobby that they love. I think hobbies and outside interests are a key part to a happy, fulfilling life. I don't care if they like wrenching on cars or weaving baskets, I just want them to have something that isn't on a TV or computer.
Also, as others have said, when you have really young kids you have a lot of "free" time where you are watching the kid but they are pretty easy. That's perfect for bonsai.
My sons (4&6) know that I like bonsai and will tell other people about it but they're too young to have any real interest in it. Last winter I showed them how to find and collect coast live oak acorns and they loved it, ended up with almost 100 acorns in no time. I also had them each plant an acorn so they both have oaks growing and we enjoyed watching all the different phases of growth (but I care for them).
My goal isn't so much to get them into bonsai, it's more so to introduce them to the idea of having a hobby that they love. I think hobbies and outside interests are a key part to a happy, fulfilling life. I don't care if they like wrenching on cars or weaving baskets, I just want them to have something that isn't on a TV or computer.
Cruiser
Chumono
Some good points here.
I see a pattern emerging in this thread.
If you can make a task fun or interesting, kids = free labor.
My 23 year old son got me into this craziness. He has since gotten a job and moved out and I am now caring for his trees. My 10 year old is interested in bonsai as well. He is very responsible when it comes to his animals, not so much with his trees. So I am caring for his trees as well. He will come home with yamadori from time to time and can be found wandering the garden, but he's not so helpful. My older son promised to come home to assist in moving everything into winter quarters. Otherwise, I'm on my own.
TCEvan
Yamadori
My 5 year old loves picking out trees from the wild to dig up (although I think mostly he just likes putting orange tape on things), and pruning.
Here he is with this year's tree he selected and helped dig with his mini shovel, a balsam fir with some moss he grabbed in the same area. Next to it is the tree he picked out last year, a white spruce that I thought was a goner but bounced back this year. Also some stonecrop and a tiny larch seedling he got from grandpas house over the summer.
I've learned to not attempt to help or guide in any way. He drops interest the moment I say anything so I just give him some scissors and let him to go wild.
Here he is with this year's tree he selected and helped dig with his mini shovel, a balsam fir with some moss he grabbed in the same area. Next to it is the tree he picked out last year, a white spruce that I thought was a goner but bounced back this year. Also some stonecrop and a tiny larch seedling he got from grandpas house over the summer.
I've learned to not attempt to help or guide in any way. He drops interest the moment I say anything so I just give him some scissors and let him to go wild.
JackHammer
Chumono
My 2 year old waters everything, and I mean everything. We have fun though. We planted some black beans and he liked those.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
My "children" are furry and have four feet.
The only help I get from them is when they decide to "help" me with pruning or chasing the squirrels that are stupid enough to wander into their yard.
The only help I get from them is when they decide to "help" me with pruning or chasing the squirrels that are stupid enough to wander into their yard.
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