How do I keep love for bonsai ?

Njyamadori said:
I love bonsai but sometimes I get frustrated that bonsai isn’t worth it. It does go away . Should I own more bonsai ?
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Vance Wood said:
It all depends on the reasons why you like, enjoy or love bonsai. Is is a career, a hobby or just a passing interest. No one can say how well it sticks with you or you with it.
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Yeah it’s just a small hobby and I love it . It’s just that I don’t know if I should get me serious in it.
 
The great thing about bonsai is that, as long as you have a home for your trees where they're taken care of, the rest is up to you. You can forget about everything but watering for a while, let them go untamed if you're not up for pruning or training, and they'll be there whenever you are up for it. If you do it right, it can be a once a day hobby, or a once a year hobby. You pick.

If training gets boring, give away some of your collection and start learning to propagate trees, planting seeds, cuttings, air layers. Maybe the trees are overwhelming you, then you can learn pottery to make pots for trees.
Maybe you're like me and kill all of them somehow, so you start thinking carpentry would be fun.

It's an endlessly diverse hobby. Just see where it takes you. And if it takes you nowhere and it's not for you in the long run, you'll find something else that is for you because of your experience with bonsai. Whatever happens, you're not wasting your time.
 
Give away your best tree to someone who knows nothing about bonsai. Check back with that person after two months.

To me, it's a sacrifice I'm not willing to make. I like my trees too much.

But I have to admit that fall and winter are boring for a conifer guy like me. I got a hundred sticks doing nothing. It's like watching dry paint. I know it's not the common expression, but this expression covers it best.
 
Can you expand on "isn't worth it"?
Isn't worth what?

There are many facets or niches that you can operate in to get your satisfaction. Understanding these can help you understand how best to approach this(bonsai) in your position.

What are you looking to get out of this?

Sorce
 
Wires_Guy_wires said:
Give away your best tree to someone who knows nothing about bonsai. Check back with that person after two months.

To me, it's a sacrifice I'm not willing to make. I like my trees too much.

But I have to admit that fall and winter are boring for a conifer guy like me. I got a hundred sticks doing nothing. It's like watching dry paint. I know it's not the common expression, but this expression covers it best.
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A lot of growers use the winter months to wire their trees.
 
Njyamadori said:
I love bonsai but sometimes I get frustrated that bonsai isn’t worth it. It does go away . Should I own more bonsai ?
Click to expand...
You're the 13-year old, right? Based on my own experience, it's not hard to maintain a love for bonsai from your age on but it is hard in practice to keep on doing it. That's the hard part, because you have so much to learn about horticulture and bonsai design and maintenance. If that wasn't enough, you have so much growing up to do and there will be countless other distractions normal to anyone traveling through youth to adulthood. If your interest wanes, don't worry; it's very likely to come back, and at a time when you will be better positioned to pursue the art.
 
Zach Smith said:
You're the 13-year old, right? Based on my own experience, it's not hard to maintain a love for bonsai from your age on but it is hard in practice to keep on doing it. That's the hard part, because you have so much to learn about horticulture and bonsai design and maintenance. If that wasn't enough, you have so much growing up to do and there will be countless other distractions normal to anyone traveling through youth to adulthood. If your interest wanes, don't worry; it's very likely to come back, and at a time when you will be better positioned to pursue the art.
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Secodn this. I had a fleeting interest in bonsai at somewhere-that-age. Stopped after I lost all my plants when I went for holidays (Nope, 3 weeks no water in summer is NOT a good idea).
Came back later when I was settled in my own house and a more permanent place of work.
 
Maybe it’s personal.. because even if ALL my plants were “wiped out” due to unforeseen circumstances... i don’t believe my passion/drive would even take a hit... I loved (cultivating/observing)Plants.. and (creating/observing) artistic expression...long before “bonsai” and I became acquainted...
 
I wouldnt get a lot of trees and certainly no expensive ones until you figure out if this hobby is for you.
There is no instant gratification in bonsai. It is a marthon, not a sprint and requires patience which not everyone has.
You arent going to see results for many years normally and that can be a big turn off for some people.

Plus you are still in school and might be looking at college in a few years which can cause some issues for someone into bonsai depending on your circimstances.

Check it out, get 3-5 plants to work on and see if its something you want to stick with.
Its fall now so there really isnt much to do except prepare trees for winter and wire pines and junipers.
Do some research online, read, watch videos and see what interests you.
 
leatherback said:
Secodn this. I had a fleeting interest in bonsai at somewhere-that-age. Stopped after I lost all my plants when I went for holidays (Nope, 3 weeks no water in summer is NOT a good idea).
Came back later when I was settled in my own house and a more permanent place of work.
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Third this. I took my first Bonsai class at 13 and found my way back 20 years later.
 
Zach Smith said:
You're the 13-year old, right? Based on my own experience, it's not hard to maintain a love for bonsai from your age on but it is hard in practice to keep on doing it. That's the hard part, because you have so much to learn about horticulture and bonsai design and maintenance. If that wasn't enough, you have so much growing up to do and there will be countless other distractions normal to anyone traveling through youth to adulthood. If your interest wanes, don't worry; it's very likely to come back, and at a time when you will be better positioned to pursue the art.
Click to expand...


I just want to second Zack's advice. I've started over 3 times, for various reasons. I started dabbling with bonsai before I was 15 years old. Didn't admit that I really needed teachers until I was in my 40's. Had to start over again due to health issues some 12 years ago.
So @Njyamadori - keep at it. Never stop learning about bonsai, even if college, life & such distract you for a while, you can keep coming back to it. Finding a live in person teacher, or a group of mentors always helps. Search the internets, find the bonsai club nearest you, and then have your folks take you to a few meetings and or shows. Not to get more trees, but to learn the aspects of bonsai that can not be put on a 2 dimensional laptop screen, or in a book. Secret - this involves time, and timing.
 
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