New to Bonsai in Brooklyn NY

[Fribe]

Hey all,

I'm new to the world of bonsai and I hope I could get some tips from the more experts in the field.

My background: I grew up in a farm in Italy and been living in new York for the past 8 years. I love plants and nature in general. I'm a big fan of house plants as well ( I currently have about 50 plants in the apartment).

I wanted to start with bonsai but I get it's a whole different game from vegetables and house plants.

Living in New York what species would you recommend to start with?
I have a balcony facing north/east.

I was thinking helmrock, pine, larch, or redwood.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

 

[Warpig]

Welcome to crazy! I would suggest reading as much as you can if you are still learning the basics. A real good site that helps break it down that i used is bonsai4me.com

 

[Fribe]

Welcome to crazy! I would suggest reading as much as you can if you are still learning the basics. A real good site that helps break it down that i used is bonsai4me.com

Thanks a bunch! I will

 

[Sansui]

Hey all,

I'm new to the world of bonsai and I hope I could get some tips from the more experts in the field.

My background: I grew up in a farm in Italy and been living in new York for the past 8 years. I love plants and nature in general. I'm a big fan of house plants as well ( I currently have about 50 plants in the apartment).

I wanted to start with bonsai but I get it's a whole different game from vegetables and house plants.

Living in New York what species would you recommend to start with?
I have a balcony facing north/east.

I was thinking helmrock, pine, larch, or redwood.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Hello! Have you visited the Brooklyn Botanic Garden yet? Maybe the bonsai curator there can provide you with some recommendations.

 

[Fribe]

Yeah I did but he/she wasn't there. But definitely a good place to start

 

[canoeguide]

My theory is to start with some easy, cheap, and hardy things to get used to bonsai practice, soil, watering, fertilization, wiring, etc. For me, this is primarily ficus varieties, crassula, portulacaria, brazilian rain tree, and juniper procumbens nana. All of these are pretty easy to find and mess around with, even if you just buy some cheap "mallsai" and see what you can do with them. (Check out the "99 cent bonsai" facebook auctions for some cheap starter material too). I'm guessing you already have some of the species I listed and can easily make cuttings or rework them! If they die or whatever, you're not going to be too upset. In New York with only a balcony, the tropicals can come inside when the temps get below 45ish, and can do okay over winter. You'll have to be more selective with non-tropicals if your outdoor and overwintering (outside) options are limited.

 

[Sansui]

Yeah I did but he/she wasn't there. But definitely a good place to start

Be persistent until you achieve your goal. Never give in! Sorry, I'm starting to sound like Winston Churchill.

 

[Fribe]

Be persistent until you achieve your goal. Never give in! Sorry, I'm starting to sound like Winston Churchill.

Haha I thought more Tony robbins

 

[Fribe]

My theory is to start with some easy, cheap, and hardy things to get used to bonsai practice, soil, watering, fertilization, wiring, etc. For me, this is primarily ficus varieties, crassula, portulacaria, brazilian rain tree, and juniper procumbens nana. All of these are pretty easy to find and mess around with, even if you just buy some cheap "mallsai" and see what you can do with them. (Check out the "99 cent bonsai" facebook auctions for some cheap starter material too). I'm guessing you already have some of the species I listed and can easily make cuttings or rework them! If they die or whatever, you're not going to be too upset. In New York with only a balcony, the tropicals can come inside when the temps get below 45ish, and can do okay over winter. You'll have to be more selective with non-tropicals if your outdoor and overwintering (outside) options are limited.

Thanks! I'm not a big fan of tropicals since my apartment is literally invaded by plants already. I know my selection for outside will be limited. I'm trying to understand if species like maple, larch, or pine could survive. Winters in NY can be very harsh.

 

[Sansui]

Haha I thought more Tony robbins

Not my cup of tea!

 

[Warpig]

Oh yea, the number one rule in bonsai is timing! As you learn about what you need to do. Pay close attention to WHEN it is best to be done. The same goes for where in the trees development should it be done. Your read about pruning and pinching back buds but the key is to know when as how as how.

 

[AlainK]

Ginkgo biloba ?....

They're supposed to be very hardy, and resistant to pollution.

It also depends how much sun you get on your balcony during the day.

 

[canoeguide]

I'm trying to understand if species like maple, larch, or pine could survive. Winters in NY can be very harsh.

Brooklyn is USDA hardiness zone 7b, and plants that can withstand 5 degrees F will survive. However, for bonsai you'll want to look for plants that are a zone or two beyond 7b, to make sure that they are okay to survive colder temperatures. Trees in little pots on a balcony are less cold hardy than in the ground. I'd start by looking for species that can withstand zone 6 or colder, and can do well in the light conditions that you're able to provide.

 

[Fribe]

Ginkgo biloba ?....

They're supposed to be very hardy, and resistant to pollution.

It also depends how much sun you get on your balcony during the day.

That's actually a good advice since there are many gingko trees in my street

 

[Fribe]

Brooklyn is USDA hardiness zone 7b, and plants that can withstand 5 degrees F will survive. However, for bonsai you'll want to look for plants that are a zone or two beyond 7b, to make sure that they are okay to survive colder temperatures. Trees in little pots on a balcony are less cold hardy than in the ground. I'd start by looking for species that can withstand zone 6 or colder, and can do well in the light conditions that you're able to provide.

I'm guessing you refer mostly to conifers?

 

[GroveBonsai]

Hi Fribe,

I think larch, hemlock, yew, and spruce would be good if you want outdoor trees but don’t have a spot to protect them in the winter. Having a north east balcony might be to your benefit. You can have them on the east side in spring summer fall and then move them to the north side for winter to keep them dormant longer. Just protect from wind. So maybe put them on the floor against the building with a wind break.

Bonsai Mirai has a great beginner serious. It’s better for the styling of a plant and not so much the horticulture.

Bonsai basic
Standard potting soil is crap. You want bonsai soil that has bigger particles.

Pay attention to timing.
Repotting-early spring
Pruning- June after the spring growth starts to harden

Wire to shape branches then prune to maintain shape

Placement - the more light the better. Tropicales can “make it” through winter but don’t really thrive up here unless you provide good artificial lighting. But they’re great to start with because there generally forgiving.

I’m just across the river from you in Hoboken if you ever wanna come over and discuss bonsai . Also just a balcony

 

[sorce]

Brooklyn!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Fribe]

Hi Fribe,

I think larch, hemlock, yew, and spruce would be good if you want outdoor trees but don’t have a spot to protect them in the winter. Having a north east balcony might be to your benefit. You can have them on the east side in spring summer fall and then move them to the north side for winter to keep them dormant longer. Just protect from wind. So maybe put them on the floor against the building with a wind break.

Bonsai Mirai has a great beginner serious. It’s better for the styling of a plant and not so much the horticulture.

Bonsai basic
Standard potting soil is crap. You want bonsai soil that has bigger particles.

Pay attention to timing.
Repotting-early spring
Pruning- June after the spring growth starts to harden

Wire to shape branches then prune to maintain shape

Placement - the more light the better. Tropicales can “make it” through winter but don’t really thrive up here unless you provide good artificial lighting. But they’re great to start with because there generally forgiving.

I’m just across the river from you in Hoboken if you ever wanna come over and discuss bonsai . Also just a balcony

Hey Eddy, thank so much. Yeah I've seen the mirai videos and others, as well as read some. However I think hands on experience is much better.

I love larch in nature so maybe that's the route I'll take.

Would love to discuss in person.

 

[Fribe]

Brooklyn!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Thanks!

 

[sorce]

Apartment Bonsai

The purpose of this thread is to brainstorm the title. Let's not let lack of space determine our ability to PUT STUFF OUTSIDE! My windowsills are 5inches wide. So I made my pots as such. My sills. L-R Semi cascade Buckthorn. Ground cover that leapt to the next pot. Next pot. Ulmus "layer at...

www.bonsainut.com

Search balcony. We had another Brooklyn feller a while back. Search 11th floor too.

Sorce