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).

 

[HannibalLecter]

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.

Thanks. Will see how will it develop further and then I will prob decide what is worth sharing and in what form then

 

[Shibui]

Welcome to the site. Sounds like you already have some knowledge and also understand how to find out more.

Great that you are also starting out with some seed. I also love starting from seed so I have full responsibility for any success or failures.
Just a couple of notes on the species list.
Tasmanian Blue gum is usually E. globulus. E. gunnii is more usually called 'Cider Gum' Both these, like most Eucalypts, have juvenile foliage that is very different to the adult leaves so you should expect seedlings with round, blueish leaves at first.
Acer palmatum - (Japanese maple) is very variable when grown from seed. Even though your seed is from a red leaf type, I'd usually expect less than half of the seedlings to have the same red leaves. The remainder will probably be green leaf type. Red leaf cultivars tend to have quite large leaves and long internodes making it more difficult to develop good bonsai. In my experience, the standard green leaf ones are a bit easier to tame.

In the photo of your mugho pine I can see indications that it has been kept somewhere shady. One side of the tree is healthy but the other half has lots of brown needles and weaker branches. Pines like lots of sun but all trees do better when they have light coming from all sides. You will grow much healthier trees if you get into the habit of rotating the pots every week or so to give equal sun to all sides of the plants.

Threads are free and multiple threads probably don't take up any more memory than a single larger one. I actually prefer threads with a single focus. It's easier for both you and readers to scroll back and forth to check on progress. Also easier to find the thread when you want to update if you can search for something specific in title or content.

Looking forward to seeing how some of those trees cope with your care and Polish weather.

 

[HannibalLecter]

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).

Thanks for the welcome. Yeah I get your point. It might be overcomplicating stuff whereas the species matching the natural environment parameters give as much satisfaction. Well…who said we can’t have both On a serious note, I will prob start some of those more “local/matching” ones as well and lets see what can be done with those teicky tropical ones as well.

 

[HannibalLecter]

Welcome to the site. Sounds like you already have some knowledge and also understand how to find out more.

Great that you are also starting out with some seed. I also love starting from seed so I have full responsibility for any success or failures.
Just a couple of notes on the species list.
Tasmanian Blue gum is usually E. globulus. E. gunnii is more usually called 'Cider Gum' Both these, like most Eucalypts, have juvenile foliage that is very different to the adult leaves so you should expect seedlings with round, blueish leaves at first.
Acer palmatum - (Japanese maple) is very variable when grown from seed. Even though your seed is from a red leaf type, I'd usually expect less than half of the seedlings to have the same red leaves. The remainder will probably be green leaf type. Red leaf cultivars tend to have quite large leaves and long internodes making it more difficult to develop good bonsai. In my experience, the standard green leaf ones are a bit easier to tame.

In the photo of your mugho pine I can see indications that it has been kept somewhere shady. One side of the tree is healthy but the other half has lots of brown needles and weaker branches. Pines like lots of sun but all trees do better when they have light coming from all sides. You will grow much healthier trees if you get into the habit of rotating the pots every week or so to give equal sun to all sides of the plants.

Threads are free and multiple threads probably don't take up any more memory than a single larger one. I actually prefer threads with a single focus. It's easier for both you and readers to scroll back and forth to check on progress. Also easier to find the thread when you want to update if you can search for something specific in title or content.

Looking forward to seeing how some of those trees cope with your care and Polish weather.

Thanks so much for the warm welcome and the insights...

Ad. the Eucalyptus - I think that was just my poor translation taken from AI. The seller described it as E. gunnii so that's what I will be expecting.
Ad. Acer Palmatum - We'll see...I just kinda love the idea of the red leaves....but if it comes out green ..I will love it like my own ...
Ad Mugo pine - Yeah..I dunno how it was treated in the store /nursery from which my wife picked it up....it just arrived at our doorsteps this week. I am repotting, cleaning up and the letting it grow in the sun.
Regarding the threads I will prob. stick to one thread per plant. Now when I think about it it is indeed more "clean" and easier to follow.

Thanks again..Will be posting updates as I go.

 

[Carol 83]

Welcome. Are you also growing fava beans?

 

[HannibalLecter]

Welcome. Are you also growing fava beans?

Hi. Hah. Love that reference

Unfortunately years ago when I was a kid, our grandma used to cook it in somewhat strange way - using milk and serving it as this weird soup…since then I hate it (although I can imagine it might be just a kid’s experience and possibly now I could find it tasty…maybe not in milk but other ways).

Anyway…I tend to stick to Chianti know

P.S. Fun fact for a totally culinary thread this has become. It was quite popular back in the days in Poland especially in the countryside to not waste any part of an animal..and I got a chance as a kid to try the fried pig’s brain..sorta served with scrambled eggs or something as I recall…and that surprisingly was a tasty dish for me as a kid…
Maybe that’s the origin of that later sympathy for Dr Lecter