Hello World !

[HannibalLecter]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Cezary I am from Poland. Just wanted to say hello and say few words about what the heck am I doing here. I am almost 40 yo, got 3 daughters and by day I click on my computer, drink coffee and try to manage a team of programmers for a corporation
I was always fascinated by the "art" of bonsai, but never got into it both feet.

Kinda on topic of plants I started growing various chilli peppers few years ago and had a few nice seasons with them. Never kept any though.



First what will prob. happen is you can expect some Bonchis to appear here. A few varieties below that are now in progress for fruits (excluded the boring sweet ones planted for the kids), but we'll see which ones will be worth pursuing further. If you have any ideas please feel free to shoot them in:



Second, I of course bought some seeds and before you point out the obvious "it will take you a decade before you can do anything with that Japanese Maple..."..I get it. I guess I love starting and building things from scratch just as much as I like later working on upgrading and maintaining them....Maybe occupational quirk....Anyway, some are on the list cause I've read they might be a good thing to work with (like that dwarf pomergranade), some are there just for fun cause heck who would not want a tea or pepper tree...even if they don't exactly are a match or will develop in the end into a "classical" bonsai.

• Tasmanian Blue Gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus gunnii)
• Japanese Maple – Red-leaf variety (Acer palmatum)
• Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica)
• Peruvian Pepper Tree (Schinus molle)
• Dwarf Pomegranate (Punica granatum 'Nana')
• Brazilian Pepper Tree (Schinus terebinthifolia)
• Chinese Tea Plant (Thea sinensis)
• Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo)

Third, I have some other plants/experiments that I am picking up either from seedlings or cause I have them at home and want to do something with them. Now some of those won't be trained into bonsai trees (well at least not all are good for that - as I've been able to understand from the videos I've watched so far), but we'll have fun ...maybe some kokedamas or something . Those include:

• Dwarf Mountain Pine (Pinus mugo) - my wife actually bought a small plant and I just got the blessing to do something with it...so I will.
• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) - just started with a seedling and may be a nice material for just learning
• Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) - cause why not - like it is not enough already
• European Olive (Olea europaea) - we have a small tree in a pot in our backyard - just took a seedling cause my wife would kill me If I'd take the original one and try messing with it.
• Mango (Mangifera indica) - just for kids to try and grow from the seed - they love mango
• Avocado (Persea americana) - same as above - education for the kids
• Coffee Plant (Coffea arabica) - Got a coffee plant from my wife - in a cup years ago...almost died cause of some ignorance...working on reviving it.

Now if you think that's too much,....you're right...but lets see where it gets us.

I am here cause even though I had some success with those chillies I am just an amateur and Youtube is full of "experts" but you never know if they're progressing in the bonsai art or in the art of getting likes. I can imagine an oldschool forum would be the place where less bling and more knowledge is being shared.

For now as August approaches - and with it some summer trips - there are just a few steps to take to get us through it:

• Making sure the watering systems for the chillies is ready so that we can go and not be worried about the plants.
• Repotting this pine into a dedicated soil and bigger pot and letting it grow.
• Seeing if we can start on those few seedlings.
• When the seeds come, start the cold stratification for the ones that need it.
• Repot the coffee and see if it lives.

We're living in the city in like a townhouse (I think that's the name for it), but have a smaller balcony, bigger terrace and a really small backyard. I also like to DIY stuff so we might get to do some cool things that help us.




Well..I don't know if anyone read that novel up till this point, but if so, thanks and see you around. Looking forward to learning from you all and sharing the journey. Cheers !

P.S...Btw, question: Is it common here to start with some separate thread like a general diary or something, or is it preferred to start threads with separate plants as separate endeavours ?

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Is it common here to start with some separate thread like a general diary or something, or is it preferred to start threads with separate plants as separate endeavours ?

Welcome. Some of the best threads here are single-tree progression threads, but there are many other threads featuring individuals’ gardens and collections as well.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site! One of the first things I would check is to make sure you don't start too many tropical trees. Almost everything on your list is going to require winter protection. Consider starting trees that will do well in your yard all year long without protection... pines, junipers, cedars, spruce, maples, oaks, elms, etc. It is sometimes just as satisfying to learn to match your work to the seasons and mother nature's annual cycles as it is to create an artificial environment that you control all the variables in (greenhouse/indoor setting).