The 2025 Yamadori/Collecting Thread

[TurkeyWhacker]

My first ever attempt at bonsai. March 4th I found and collected this American Hornbeam tree from my family's property in Michigan.
Collecting it was surprisingly easy. I topped the tree and cut the roots with my folding saw and popped it out with a shovel.
After rinsing off the original soil, I chopped off all the downward facing roots and made my final cut to the trunk. I built a makeshift planter from a pallet and wired down two of the larger roots
For soil I bought a premix bonsai soil and mixed in a bit of perlite. Freezing temps at night have forced me to bring the tree in to the garage, but I plan to leave it fully outside with morning sun when things warm up.
This was my first ever attempt and I enjoyed the process so far. I'm open to comments and criticism and I hope this one survives.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Great first tree!

 

[TurkeyWhacker]

Great first tree!

Thank you!

 

[BrianBay9]

That's a great start. I hope it does well for you.

 

[TurkeyWhacker]

That's a great start. I hope it does well for you.

Thanks! I followed a lot of advice I saw here before starting.

 

[The Barber]

My first ever attempt at bonsai. March 4th I found and collected this American Hornbeam tree from my family's property in Michigan.View attachment 585827
Collecting it was surprisingly easy. I topped the tree and cut the roots with my folding saw and popped it out with a shovel.View attachment 585828
After rinsing off the original soil, I chopped off all the downward facing roots and made my final cut to the trunk. I built a makeshift planter from a pallet and wired down two of the larger roots View attachment 585829
For soil I bought a premix bonsai soil and mixed in a bit of perlite. Freezing temps at night have forced me to bring the tree in to the garage, but I plan to leave it fully outside with morning sun when things warm up.View attachment 585830
This was my first ever attempt and I enjoyed the process so far. I'm open to comments and criticism and I hope this one survives.

Welcome, nice first tree for sure. Did you seal the top cut? Plumber putty works pretty well till you get some Top Jin cut paste. I find hornbeam can die back all the way to the base if you don't seal large cuts. Also, I'd find a few trees, so your odds of survival go up. If you can find pumice, it works great for collected trees, they'll make dense roots in it and is decently affordable vs bonsai mix. I buy mine from buildasoil.com usually.

 

[ponderingsage]

Repotted Quazi from the 2022 spring collecting season it took a few seasons to get the box reduced. There is a limiting root reaching to the far corner.

 

[TurkeyWhacker]

Welcome, nice first tree for sure. Did you seal the top cut? Plumber putty works pretty well till you get some Top Jin cut paste. I find hornbeam can die back all the way to the base if you don't seal large cuts. Also, I'd find a few trees, so your odds of survival go up. If you can find pumice, it works great for collected trees, they'll make dense roots in it and is decently affordable vs bonsai mix. I buy mine from buildasoil.com usually.

Hey thanks! Your hornbeam posts are awesome, so your words mean a lot! Yes I did seal the tree cut with wood glue. I forgot to mention that. I'll look into some pumice as I go forward. I may harvest another this spring.

 

[The Barber]

Hey thanks! Your hornbeam posts are awesome, so your words mean a lot! Yes I did seal the tree cut with wood glue. I forgot to mention that. I'll look into some pumice as I go forward. I may harvest another this spring. View attachment 585890

The 1 cubic foot bags on there are 40 bucks, free shipping if i remember right. I know a bag will fill 2 anderson flats and that's about it lol.