New to bonsai, Chinese elm and bougainvillea

[Thor]

Tyndall?

Patrick, right next to the Atlantic. I am looking forward to the Navy---> Air Force transition.

 

[Thor]

Wooow, nice starter material, you must be rich or full of confidence

Yah I spent a little money getting these. I just tell myself it's cheaper then a 200 gallon reef aquarium and all the stuff to go with it! The funny thing is I already want more....in a reef aquarium I loved having so many different corals and fish.... I am going to take it slow. I know that people can get burnt out of hobbys if they throw a ton of money into and then they fail somehow. Seen it all too much with aquariums. I used to go out in the rivers and ocean to collect my own fish and invertebrates. Made me proud of my tank that it was a very natural Florida tank and it didn't cost a ton. I hope to do the same with bonsai and do some collecting once I get back home. With all this new to me I understand it's not if, but when I fail. I guess I will learn in the process.

 

[sorce]

I knew there was more to it!

http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/fish-stories.20632/

Sorce

 

[Thor]

So I just got paid today so I'm going to look at getting those tools I was talking about. I did buy some cheap shears at the Depot. The Elm was just out of control. I just trimmed back to about 2-3' leaves on each shoot. Plus I removed some dead branches in there that just snapped right off. I got a better idea of what I have now....it seems I have a mess haha. Looks like this tree needs a lot of help. I took some pictures hoping to get some suggestions...clean it up more? Get rid of this or that....I don't know...I do know I have a lot to learn with little knowledge to do it, but for now what are some easy tweaks. I figure I can do the big stuff next year when I get settled in FL. ( I don't have wire yet either).

 

[Thor]

A couple more pics with sunlight.....

 

[Thor]

I guess I am really just "seeing what happens" just some experimenting. I am not too worried about messing up.

 

[ColinFraser]

San Diego isn't much for fishing like FL is.....sorry everyone FL rules!!

I am looking forward to the Navy---> Air Force transition.

Oh, and you were doing so well . . . As a native Californian from a Navy/Marine family, I cannot condone your life choices . . . but I heartily endorse your bonsai choices
Seriously though, well done on seeking out a show and some good starter material, and good luck with the move. As @sorce said, Welcome to crazy.

 

[sorce]

The...
"Your largest branch lowest and thinning on up"
Is important. IMO.

Your left low branch seems to have less foilage than the right...
I don't know of you want to, or can, take that right side back without a plan....
But I would consider it....

I read a thing once that I love about leaves being factories....
The more factories on the block(branch),
The more power being generated...
The bigger the branch gets....

I live that. Yes live.

I will literally leave 32 leaves on the low, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8, 4...
All the way up..not exactly but....

But say that 16 branch is thin and needs to catch up....it would be left with more till it caught up.

Your plan....should include taper in branches and Probly some division by now...

Colin has great threads on this grow and cut back...

Sorce

 

[Thor]

@sorce so I saw that post and I think I understand your principles about branch thickening and how it relates to the leaves. So basically I should thin up the right side and thin more progressively as I work my way up? And what do you mean by tapering and division? Cut the lower branches shorter? I got to catch up on this lingo! I feel like I want to hack all the branches off haha.....

 

[ColinFraser]

"Your largest branch lowest and thinning on up"
Is important. IMO.

I pasted this into my internet Sorce translator and got this:
"Most small and judgment, but there is a branch of" important. One of the country.
Sounds about right

@sorce so I saw that post and I think I understand your principles about branch thickening and how it relates to the leaves. So basically I should thin up the right side and thin more progressively as I work my way up? And what do you mean by tapering and division? Cut the lower branches shorter? I got to catch up on this lingo! I feel like I want to hack all the branches off haha.....

I think what he's driving at is that a tree's lowest branch should be the thickest branch, and each successive branch should be progressively thinner as you proceed up the tree. So, big branches at the bottom and little branches at the top.
There is a lot of jargon around, but plenty of us who've been here a while still don't always understand @sorce, so don't stress about that.

 

[sorce]

@sorce so I saw that post and I think I understand your principles about branch thickening and how it relates to the leaves. So basically I should thin up the right side and thin more progressively as I work my way up? And what do you mean by tapering and division? Cut the lower branches shorter? I got to catch up on this lingo! I feel like I want to hack all the branches off haha.....

Haha! You should! Lol....

Seriously...this is the part where I'm like...
Man...don't ask me this shit! I don't wanna be responsible for a effed up tree! Lol.

I think....currently....with what you prove to understand...
If you applied the basic...
"Use what is there"
To a healthy degree....
You can't really make a mistake!

Plus .. Colin Grows the shit out of these...
Your experience will likely be similar.

My last most perfect piece of really good dude newbie advice would be....
Find your "soil" before anything.

I use 100% sifted Napa oil dry..
Some folks use Lava Pumice and Akadama...

I think the faster you find "your soil"...
The easier it will be to then gauge every trees watering needs...and get that perfect.....
But if you got 6 different types of different things...in different soils.... It's hard to water correctly...

Google Walter Pall on Modern Substrate!

Sorce

 

[sorce]

Pinch poke owe me a coke...

Doubleees!

Sorce

 

[ColinFraser]

To expand on that, letting a branch run wild will thicken it, and pruning it will stop/slow its thickening. If a branch becomes too thick for its height on the trunk, it usually has to be cut off and regrown. Sometimes, lower branches could be allowed to run and thicken more, restoring the progression . . .

Edit: Regarding taper in branches, read up on "trunk chopping" deciduous trees and developing taper in a trunk. Similar principles apply to developing tapering branches (thicker where they meet the trunk and gradually getting thinner toward their tips).

 

[GroveKeeper]

my experience with Bougs has been that I need to cut them back a lot. I take my eyes off them for a minute and there are all these long, straight branches.

 

[Thor]

Thanks guys! I definitely have to do a TON more reading. And now with this direct info I know what I am looking for in the reading material search.

Here in San Diego the club doesn't have a meeting in May, but I will be going to the one in June and the following months until I leave. I am sure I will learn a more hands on approach to things there. I am just going to watch it grow for now and then get some more reading down and get some info from the club.

There is a lot of jargon around, but plenty of us who've been here a while still don't always understand @sorce, so don't stress about that.

I've been reading a lot of sorce's post even before I bought these two trees. I think I get him for the most part but at the same time I'm like HAHA! I love it. Very good stuff!!

Well I will let this thread chill and post some updates on down the road! I've been flipping through this forum for days on days! I feel like I know some of you now! Especially with that selfie contest haha.

 

[Thor]

By the way, what are some good books? I love the internet and all the resources, but sometimes I would like to just sit and read and flip through an actual book rather then being bombarded by ads and links. The thing about a book is that it kinda forces me to looking at the correct things rather then just combing through an entire site! Not that I mind it here

 

[JudyB]

As far as an overall bonsai book, I like the Deborah R. Koreshoff book called "Bonsai" It has plenty of illustrations and how to's. It isn't geared towards tropicals but you can use it as a basic manual on developing trees. Great section on wiring.
Welcome. Nice Bougy.

 

[sorce]

Just look for 1st published dates.....

@Nwaite. Show him the farm chick from the 60's!

Old books are only good for pictures...
Rarely techniques!

Sorce

 

[Nwaite]

I'm actually sitting on the toilet right next to it. Here ya go!

 

[ColinFraser]

I'm actually sitting on the toilet right next to it. Here ya go!

That book is old enough that some of the in there probably look like bonsai by now