How to enjoy bonsai - and not make it a chore
- Thread starter Bonsai Nut
- Start date
Agree with automatic watering and wifi-connected camera. Be sure the watering system is working well at least a few weeks before your vacation. And a 50% shade cloth over the benches from May through September if you live in a hot dry climate - makes my life easier.
Also, a dedicated bonsai garden. Having only two benches, helps to limit the number of bonsai I can keep.
I also cultivate a load of seedlings, cuttings and prebonsais but they take up much less time and space. They consume about the same space again as the two benches but they have separate watering lines and I don't bother with a shade cloth for those - deeper pots, minimal or no pruning, and leaf burn is not a big deal at this stage of development.
How to enjoy it more:
- Take photos of each tree's progress. In the long run it's very satisfying.
- Take time to just look at your trees, without working on them. Water with a can.
- Don't get stressed when you know something needs doing... no tree ever died because you forgot to tweezer the buds or pinch the candles.
Lastly I would recommend NOT videoing your bonsai work or starting a YouTube channel!!
The whole video thing is a completely separate hobby - which I obviously enjoy - but it definitely comes at the expense of enjoying bonsai time. Working on a tree typically takes about 3 times longer if you're filming it well enough for a video.
Also, a dedicated bonsai garden. Having only two benches, helps to limit the number of bonsai I can keep.
I also cultivate a load of seedlings, cuttings and prebonsais but they take up much less time and space. They consume about the same space again as the two benches but they have separate watering lines and I don't bother with a shade cloth for those - deeper pots, minimal or no pruning, and leaf burn is not a big deal at this stage of development.
How to enjoy it more:
- Take photos of each tree's progress. In the long run it's very satisfying.
- Take time to just look at your trees, without working on them. Water with a can.
- Don't get stressed when you know something needs doing... no tree ever died because you forgot to tweezer the buds or pinch the candles.
Lastly I would recommend NOT videoing your bonsai work or starting a YouTube channel!!
The whole video thing is a completely separate hobby - which I obviously enjoy - but it definitely comes at the expense of enjoying bonsai time. Working on a tree typically takes about 3 times longer if you're filming it well enough for a video.
Clicio
Masterpiece
In your case it is worth the effort, your videos are very instructive, and I enjoy your "not frenetic" pace a lot, thanks for recording them.
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Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Just want to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed your videos.
Tidal Bonsai
Omono
I've sold some items on BNut, but I have had much better success on FB. I'm moving first, then deciding what makes the cut second, my next reduction will be around the fall once the weather cools down.
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
This is EXACTLY what I was just thinking to myself!
On a related note, remember that we all have a slightly different skill set, and/or enjoy different things regarding bonsai. It's ok to enjoy the part you're good at, and to get good at the parts you enjoy, and then rotate your collection.
I am absolutely loving the propagation and collecting. I have a couple different batches of seeds stratifying in the fridge right now, and I can already tell that there are trees I have in development that will only reach their full potential in someone else's hands. For now I'm satisfied with enjoying these aspects of bonsai, and - if I don't change myself as significantly as is possible - when they reach the limits of my interest or skill level I'll make a gift of them or otherwise send them on down the line. I already have someone in mind for one particular tree, but I'm too intrigued by it for now to rush into passing it along.
Just enjoy what you do, and remember that it doesn't have to be a competition unless you want it to be, and that you don't have to be an expert at everything to achieve your goals.
That all said, YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST ENJOY LEARNING TO ENJOY BONSAI.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
There are a lot of really good points here and almost everyone will benefit from one or more of these suggestions. I love my semi completed bonsai and I really love matching up the pots. After many years framing art, the pot is to me a frame for your plant, and I have a deep love for this process. I used to tease some of our regulars in the frame shop by telling them I would make their crap look as good as it possibly could.
One departure I have from some of you, is that I really love the process of growing out seedlings and clones and giving them varying amounts of guidance on the path to bonsaidom. Like my pots, I love to think that my plants will also find their ways to people who don't have the time, space, knowledge or patience for the development of pre bonsai. I am in my forth year of fairly intensive cultivation now and I will be starting distribution in another year or two. I am going to install irrigation this spring / summer to help me out a bit. Also, I have decided to get rid of many of my tropicals this year so that I will not have to work so hard at keeping up with winter lighting and watering during winter months. Having been a nurseryman most of my working adult life, I am used to winter vacations, but I derailed myself with propagation of tropicals. So I expect to divest myself of 50-70% of my tropicals before the coming winter.
One departure I have from some of you, is that I really love the process of growing out seedlings and clones and giving them varying amounts of guidance on the path to bonsaidom. Like my pots, I love to think that my plants will also find their ways to people who don't have the time, space, knowledge or patience for the development of pre bonsai. I am in my forth year of fairly intensive cultivation now and I will be starting distribution in another year or two. I am going to install irrigation this spring / summer to help me out a bit. Also, I have decided to get rid of many of my tropicals this year so that I will not have to work so hard at keeping up with winter lighting and watering during winter months. Having been a nurseryman most of my working adult life, I am used to winter vacations, but I derailed myself with propagation of tropicals. So I expect to divest myself of 50-70% of my tropicals before the coming winter.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Just to clarify - the Internet camera works for security, but it ALSO works for you to see if your watering system is working, and if something is wrong in your garden (wind blowing trees off shelves, knocking things over, etc).
When you get your automatic sprinkler, see if you can get a WiFi enabled one. That way you can look at your garden while you are vacationing, and turn your sprinkler on or off remotely.
When you get your automatic sprinkler, see if you can get a WiFi enabled one. That way you can look at your garden while you are vacationing, and turn your sprinkler on or off remotely.
bonsaichile
Omono
I also agree with @Brian Van Fleet about just keeping what grows well in your area. I stop trying to grow Japanese maples. They never came out of dormancy for me. And, honestly, I am not going to go out of my way in my winter set up. I much rather grow trees that survive my winters. Less stress and also cheaper.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
That is awesome, but I am too old school. I am still learning how to make a call to the right person without hanging up on them.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
@Colorado Realistically, what are the chances of a pipe burst while you're away? Unless it's in the winter when you wouldn’t be watering trees anyway, I'd say it's extremely slim chance. How many times have we heard people's friends or family didn't follow through and trees suffered? Get an automated system then have a bonsai friend as a back up to do checks to make sure things are ok.
To reduce my workload, I use a battery operated watering timer with a hose and a lawn sprinkler. I put fresh batteries in every spring and watch and check things weekly to make sure things are working. I replace the timer or sprinkler if either even looks like it's not functioning properly. I keep spares of both on hand in case.
I don't do the spring shuffle. I have all my temperate trees in my cold frame. The deciduous stay in it until I feel it's safe to put them on the benches. Ie we won't get a killing frost. I can cover the cold frame if frost threatens.
I'll repeat what others said. Keep the collection to a size that is reasonable for you to have time to work on and won't be overwhelming. If you love growing out seedlings do that. But have some more developed trees to give you something nice to sit next to on a summer afternoon while enjoying a beer and a sense of accomplishment from working on it.
If I don't get to something because I didn't gave time, it's not the end of the world
To reduce my workload, I use a battery operated watering timer with a hose and a lawn sprinkler. I put fresh batteries in every spring and watch and check things weekly to make sure things are working. I replace the timer or sprinkler if either even looks like it's not functioning properly. I keep spares of both on hand in case.
I don't do the spring shuffle. I have all my temperate trees in my cold frame. The deciduous stay in it until I feel it's safe to put them on the benches. Ie we won't get a killing frost. I can cover the cold frame if frost threatens.
I'll repeat what others said. Keep the collection to a size that is reasonable for you to have time to work on and won't be overwhelming. If you love growing out seedlings do that. But have some more developed trees to give you something nice to sit next to on a summer afternoon while enjoying a beer and a sense of accomplishment from working on it.
If I don't get to something because I didn't gave time, it's not the end of the world
Perplexody
Shohin
This is less about enjoying and more about not worrying but don't fret trees that die even if you spent some money on it, unless you're taking out a mortgage for a tree.
With the territory of keeping trees in pots sometimes mother nature has other plans, all we can do it try to give them the best chance.
A few have died in my care, nothing too pricey but still get bummed everytime. However whether it be my mistake or a freak late frost it does happen to everyone once in a while
With the territory of keeping trees in pots sometimes mother nature has other plans, all we can do it try to give them the best chance.
A few have died in my care, nothing too pricey but still get bummed everytime. However whether it be my mistake or a freak late frost it does happen to everyone once in a while
jandslegate
Shohin
I wouldn't pass YouTube's language rules. Or at the very least I would be in the absolute deepest level of demonization, heh. My hats off to the people that do video work and YouTube channels. I'm lucky to get a decent picture before throwing in the towel and moving on.
canoeguide
Chumono
Watering while away is clearly a significant worry. I can understand putting emitters around a larger tree, but how do you all automatically water shohin and trees in small pots and coarse inorganic soil? Mister and sprayer heads that just soak the whole area where the trees are for long enough?
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
I use lawn sprinklers on my trees. 10 to 15 minutes each day depending on which area s being watered
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
I have a cheap hose timer on my sprinkler that covers the vegetable garden. If I'm gone for a little while I just turn up the pressure to get more over spray, then move the trees.
Paradox
Marine Bonsologist
Friend of mine has a underground system that waters his lawn. He puts his trees under them when he goes away
bonsaichile
Omono
I just put them in the ground and set my lawn sprinklers to 10 minutes in the morning and if it will be too hot, and extra 5 at noon
My Beautyberry cuttings from you are doing very well. No problems overwintering.
Use adjustable spray heads that work like fast misters - very inexpensive on Amazon for example.
There's another thread exactly on this topic: https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/best-irrigation-system-for-a-bonsai-garden.60160
