rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Yes, but if you want to actually learn how to do bonsai, skip both.Thanks! Seems like elms are the front runners
Do they grow well from seeds or trimmings?
Starting from scratch
I'm not in a rush, but I will see if I can find some saplings from a nursery to use as my first subjects.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
To get you motivated... here is an Ulmus minor bonsai showing fall color. You might find a walk in the woods will yield some interesting small trees to work on 
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Um, willing to wait 5-10 years to start learning bonsai? That's what you will be doing with cuttings and seed--waiting for them to become big enough trunks are the focus of bonsai since the eye registers trunks less than an inch or two in diameter as "immature". Also growing from seeds in not as easy as its sounds. There are specific things that have to be done-selecting the primary roots, trunk chop timing, etc.--that play an integral role in the end tree. In Japan, seed grown trees are mostly the province of expert growers...with other larger trees to work on while those seedlings develop trunks in the ground (growing seedlings in containers takes even longer in development--10-20 years for any substantial workable growth.
Well, I post only this short list not to start indoor bonsai war again. These are perfect candidates:
- ficus
- duranta
- zanthoxylum
- operculicaria
- portulacaria... and many more. Indoor bonsai books are not stupid. We have to respect a plant origin tropical or subtropical to know what wintering it needs.
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/indoor-bonsai.23391/
...the list shared here still works well for me...
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I know it sounds crazy, but I have no problem waiting. However, I will probably get myself a small starter to practice on, and plant some trimmings at the same time, so I have something more to do while I wait.
Thanks for this! As you might have read, will probably go for an elm, or similar - will keep these in mind for when I get myself a proper greenhouse, and have more of an idea of what I'm doing
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Let me state for the record - I am not against growing bonsai indoors. It certainly can be done with many species. It is just in my opinion harder than growing them outdoors. If I lived in an area where I couldn't keep bonsai outdoors (no yard, or lived in an apartment) you know I would be keeping them indoors
When I lived in Chicago one of my bonsai friends had a MASSIVE multi-trunk ficus on a slab. He would put it outside every spring after the risk of frost had passed, and bring it in every fall where it would sit in his kitchen by their sliding glass doors all winter. But he always said how much more he enjoyed the tree outdoors - simply because he could just take a hose to it to water and clean it, and he didn't have to worry about dirt or fallen leaves.
You're definitely right and the others saying no too. If I could I would keep them all outside. Doing my best to have as many plants and species as possible. And it's been working for me pretty good for last 6-7 years.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Quick glance over your list of indoor plants and I would add English ivy (Hedera helix). An English Ivy bonsai won best of show in Chicago in 1995.
Right, one is in front of me put on the table in my wife's flower mix in the living room all year long. The books are outdated, but species can be kept alive and growing. One down are pests, there's nothing natural to keep them under control. And I would never say the trees can be grown to bonsai stage...refinement indoors is not so easy.
GrimLore
Bonsai Nut alumnus... we miss you
As you know I have a dedicated room for the Wife to grow tropicals and sub-tropicals. They are almost all outside now and remain so until late Fall. The clean up in that room now is rather daunting even though it gets regular care during the Winter many "sins" show up when the plants go outside. It takes a certain amount of dedication for the indoor stuff but I have time, lots of time. If one does not I don't recommend it. Hell, it took me a couple of years just to get the different micro climates established and more - like pest control. It is possible though as is growing Bald Cypress in pots in water
Grimmy
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Anthony
Imperial Masterpiece
Grimmy,
Bald cypress from Louisiana needs no fridge, goes dormant by light and wakes up in Mid February.
So now you can grow one indoors.
Proof ------- the one down here is from 1980 or so.
It has never been trained however.
Good Luck.
Good Day
Anthony
Bald cypress from Louisiana needs no fridge, goes dormant by light and wakes up in Mid February.
So now you can grow one indoors.
Proof ------- the one down here is from 1980 or so.
It has never been trained however.
Good Luck.
Good Day
Anthony
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Welcome to Crazy!
Sorce
Sorce
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
I'm with what Rockm said. Seeds cuttings........been there ,done that.And still doing it actually.
But buy a bonsai in a pot and keep it outdoors with hopefully good aerated bonsai soil(easily 90% of the fun).Roots first!
Work on winter storage and such........watering real bonsai soil.
I put orchid spahgnum on my bonsai and the akadama has water for up to three days in the spring sometimes,but will easily stay moist for a good day in summer.
And have your bonsai in a pot outside and growing.......do bonsai.
I have one bonsai and am currently rooting about 50 zelkova.The collection will grow.
Have great fun...enjoy!
But buy a bonsai in a pot and keep it outdoors with hopefully good aerated bonsai soil(easily 90% of the fun).Roots first!
Work on winter storage and such........watering real bonsai soil.
I put orchid spahgnum on my bonsai and the akadama has water for up to three days in the spring sometimes,but will easily stay moist for a good day in summer.
And have your bonsai in a pot outside and growing.......do bonsai.
I have one bonsai and am currently rooting about 50 zelkova.The collection will grow.
Have great fun...enjoy!
Attachments
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
This is cool.....
Rambles
Mame
My first question, the one asked of me when I went looking for a first tree, is "step outside...what do you see growing?Choose one of those or a close relative."
You can go get a variety of nursery stock to start with, and practice killing/not killing the types of trees that capture your attention.
As in skiing and snowboarding, the first step is learning how to fall.
You can go get a variety of nursery stock to start with, and practice killing/not killing the types of trees that capture your attention.
As in skiing and snowboarding, the first step is learning how to fall.
clive bennett
Mame
outside trees are far easier to keep than those indoors, conditions are very poor for tropical trees in normal indoor conditions Hardwood cutting are so east to do , but you will have a very long wait untill they grow sufficiently to become Bonsai.Better garden center plants, If you have a garden and some spare space grow on small plants in the ground much faster than in pots . And join a bonsai club, they are full of friendly people more than willing to help you, they are also very low cost just google bonsai clubs, bound to be one near you, good luck and have fun
my nellie
Masterpiece
Jason Crump
Yamadori
Portulacaria is very robust and is fun to work with. Can be grown indoors and out. Easy light requirements. I think it would be a great starter.
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