rockm
Spuds Moyogi
This is a pretty tall order, involving two pretty complex things. It can take some time, depending on how you want to move ahead.
Koi are a story all their own. An outdoor koi pond can be quite an investment in time and money. There are some "koi folk" here on b'nut, but it's really a topic all its own. FWIW, if you want koi and not goldfish) be prepared for substantial ponds/filters/upkeep. Koi are jumpers and can and will jump out of small ponds. They're also on the menu for heron, raccoon, foxes and coyotes.
Bonsai is also a commitment of mostly the same in time and money. They require daily care and maintenance (not to mention time to develop). A choice for a pond might be a bald cypress--which can be grown directly in the water--but whose growth habits aren't really in line with the traditional image of bonsai.
It's best you narrow down what you're after--deciduous or conifer tree for instance? What ideal image are you after with the tree--there are many types of styles for bonsai, ranging from rugged tree shaped by mountains (conifers) to lowland trees (like maples) that present a more prosperous image. Both conifers and temperate zone deciduous trees will be hardy in your area--please add your location into your avatar. It can save us time in providing advice.
Since you're starting out, you will need to learn how to care for your tree consistently and effectively to shape it into a bonsai.
Scorpius
Chumono
Koi need a big pond and excellent water quality and filtration to flourish. Long term you're looking at a decades long lifespan as well.
Betula1
Mame
Where in the world are you?! First thing you need to do is to provide your location, add it to your profile otherwise any advice is going to be pretty general.
Koi keeping is a whole other world from Bonsai so you really need to do your homework !!
Koi keeping is a whole other world from Bonsai so you really need to do your homework !!
If you’re in NE Ohio you gotta plan for winter before you plan for vibes. Pond depth, where plumbing won’t freeze, and making sure you’ve got a spot for an aerator or deicer later matters way more than the “pretty” parts.
When I set up my own koi pond, I grabbed my fish from Next Day Koi and they showed up in good shape, packaging was solid and the fish looked strong, but that only felt like a win because the pond was already stable and running right.
For the bonsai part, I’d keep it in a normal pot on a rock or little platform above the waterline, not sitting in the pond. Roots staying constantly wet is a fast way to kill the tree. Also think about wind exposure in winter, that combo of cold plus wind dries things out like crazy.
When I set up my own koi pond, I grabbed my fish from Next Day Koi and they showed up in good shape, packaging was solid and the fish looked strong, but that only felt like a win because the pond was already stable and running right.
For the bonsai part, I’d keep it in a normal pot on a rock or little platform above the waterline, not sitting in the pond. Roots staying constantly wet is a fast way to kill the tree. Also think about wind exposure in winter, that combo of cold plus wind dries things out like crazy.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
I kept koi for 24 years in SoCal. Don't even bother thinking about them in NE Ohio unless you are planning on a pond that is at least 4' deep with 3' vertical sides. That is the minimum depth to keep your koi safe from predators and with an aerator keep it from freezing solid in winter. (My pond was 5' deep) Otherwise just get goldfish and plan on losing a lot every year.
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