Hartinez
Masterpiece
Shows he was on yesterday. He just may not post as frequent
The Missing Bnutter Thread
- Thread starter Shogun610
- Start date
JeffS73
Chumono
Man this thread just reminds me of how many of those voices I miss hearing. I lurk mostly, I like the big personalities, I find lots of people in Bonsai come across irascible or unusual but underneath are caring, protective and have hearts of gold like most people everywhere. Just like the trees, look through the fluff and see what's really being said, it's usually because people care.
Orion_metalhead
Masterpiece
So youre saying its all about our trunks?
AcerAddict
Shohin
I think sometimes people just have some stuff come up in life that makes them take time away from a hobby, club, or website. I went from September 2022 to September 2023 without posting on here. Then after that, it was another break of nine months before I started back again a couple weeks ago.
I can't speak about anyone else, but I believe that I simply got burnt out on bonsai for a bit. I went crazy in 2021 buying all sorts of (mostly) crappy nursery material with the intention of turning all of it into awesome bonsai. At one point, I had close to three dozen items in nursery pots all over the back yard. It was too much. Plus, when winter comes and everything goes dormant, there's not much to do with bonsai, so that would always bum me out. I needed to take a break and step away for a while.
During those times I was away from this forum, I was busy reducing the amount of stock I had. Turned a handful of trees into either landscape or patio plants. Offloaded a bunch of stuff. Just tried to weed out the chaff and simplify.
These days, I still have several things in bonsai training, but definitely not like before. I've got a Green Island Ficus, two Chinese Elms (one "Seiju" and one "Yatsubusa"), a couple Japanese Maples, a Trident Maple, two Japanese Black Pine, and a Crape Myrtle. Most importantly, I am about to hit the 4-year mark this October with a Royal Poinciana (aka, Flame Tree) that I have grown from a seed that was in a "bonsai starter kit" my wife bought me as a gift. I bring it in every winter and keep it going under bright LED grow lights, then put it out every spring when night time temps stay above 50F or so. It's had two trunk chops in that time and is developing into a great little tree. Ten trees is certainly easier to maintain and focus on compared to 30+. Bonsai aside, I've been a plant hobbyist for MANY years, so I've got plenty of other stuff growing that keeps me busy as well. I'm currently maintaining several dwarf banana trees, a Key Lime tree, many different cultivars of Japanese Maples (of course!) and a few Satsuki Azaleas.
Even if I sometimes take a break from bonsai, I have a feeling that it'll always call me back sooner or later.
I can't speak about anyone else, but I believe that I simply got burnt out on bonsai for a bit. I went crazy in 2021 buying all sorts of (mostly) crappy nursery material with the intention of turning all of it into awesome bonsai. At one point, I had close to three dozen items in nursery pots all over the back yard. It was too much. Plus, when winter comes and everything goes dormant, there's not much to do with bonsai, so that would always bum me out. I needed to take a break and step away for a while.
During those times I was away from this forum, I was busy reducing the amount of stock I had. Turned a handful of trees into either landscape or patio plants. Offloaded a bunch of stuff. Just tried to weed out the chaff and simplify.
These days, I still have several things in bonsai training, but definitely not like before. I've got a Green Island Ficus, two Chinese Elms (one "Seiju" and one "Yatsubusa"), a couple Japanese Maples, a Trident Maple, two Japanese Black Pine, and a Crape Myrtle. Most importantly, I am about to hit the 4-year mark this October with a Royal Poinciana (aka, Flame Tree) that I have grown from a seed that was in a "bonsai starter kit" my wife bought me as a gift. I bring it in every winter and keep it going under bright LED grow lights, then put it out every spring when night time temps stay above 50F or so. It's had two trunk chops in that time and is developing into a great little tree. Ten trees is certainly easier to maintain and focus on compared to 30+. Bonsai aside, I've been a plant hobbyist for MANY years, so I've got plenty of other stuff growing that keeps me busy as well. I'm currently maintaining several dwarf banana trees, a Key Lime tree, many different cultivars of Japanese Maples (of course!) and a few Satsuki Azaleas.
Even if I sometimes take a break from bonsai, I have a feeling that it'll always call me back sooner or later.
amcoffeegirl
Masterpiece
Many of the folks that have left are still doing bonsai.
Just not sharing here.
Just not sharing here.
leatherback
The Treedeemer
exactly what I was going to say.
Shogun610
Masterpiece
Well yeah just making a thread to share that their presence is missed on the site .. idk I still feel like this is a terrific platform to share bonsai and bonsai related stuff .. I love it
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
I agree. I see a ton of Facebook groups for bonsai that has thousands of members. However, searching for historical content in FB is an exercise in futility. I struggle to find my own posts/threads.
Njyamadori
Chumono
So you’re saying that we can do bonsai without posting it on the internet? Fascinating
Dabbler
Chumono
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 1,010
but there's also like reddit, X, youtube, a lot of people don't frequent forums anymore, kinda like malls.
Shogun610
Masterpiece
The Reddit bonsai scene is weak imo.. this is the best place to share interactive content besides YouTube or Instagram for bonsai
rockm
Spuds Moyogi
Life throws stuff at you. Sometimes that stuff reorganizes your thinking.
Also the darker side of things online also wears people down. In the last few years, for instance, the amount of pushback from newbies (hardly all, but some) has driven more experienced members away. I can certainly understand that inclination. New people show up ask for "advice" and then don't like what they were told because of, well, just because. It wears you down, particularly when some of those folks come for you personally.
Also the darker side of things online also wears people down. In the last few years, for instance, the amount of pushback from newbies (hardly all, but some) has driven more experienced members away. I can certainly understand that inclination. New people show up ask for "advice" and then don't like what they were told because of, well, just because. It wears you down, particularly when some of those folks come for you personally.
Cajunrider
Imperial Masterpiece
Like all things in life, time together always has an end.
I appreciate all those BNutters for the time and knowledge they have shared. I wish them well.
I appreciate all those BNutters for the time and knowledge they have shared. I wish them well.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Bonsai is uniquely suited for a forum site where you can have threads that stretch back for years. Most other forum sites close threads after a few days - and even if you did search for content from a prior time, there is no way to interact with it. Worse, some sites will aggressively punish people who reopen closed topics.
Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and most of the rest, are all about sharing the "here and now". This is what I am doing or thinking RIGHT NOW! No one wants to hear about what you were thinking a year ago
Interestingly, most of the 'missing' users in this thread could return to the site tomorrow and pick up exactly where they left off - and instantly feel right at home!
ShadyStump
Imperial Masterpiece
You make a really good point here on bonsai in general. It can be A LOT, and having that noob energy makes it worse sometimes.
I've been in a similar place. I find myself no longer interested in finding new material to start on, life is always in the way of my bonsai plans, finances and energy need prioritizing. Since last fall I've been letting my trees weed themselves out. No extra special care for this or that, if it doesn't fit into the daily routine it's on its own.
I still pop in here, largely out of habit, but that may change soon. Trying to set a better example to my kids concerning screen time, so it's time I only showed up when I have something to contribute. I bet my trees would appreciate me being less distracted by bonsai forums, too.
And this is exactly why I spend my time here, and why I'm not worried about coming and going.Bonsai is uniquely suited for a forum site where you can have threads that stretch back for years. Most other forum sites close threads after a few days - and even if you did search for content from a prior time, there is no way to interact with it. Worse, some sites will aggressively punish people who reopen closed topics.
Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and most of the rest, are all about sharing the "here and now". This is what I am doing or thinking RIGHT NOW! No one wants to hear about what you were thinking a year ago
Interestingly, most of the 'missing' users in this thread could return to the site tomorrow and pick up exactly where they left off - and instantly feel right at home!
You do damned good work!
Dabbler
Chumono
- Messages
- 652
- Reaction score
- 1,010
Bonsai is uniquely suited for a forum site where you can have threads that stretch back for years. Most other forum sites close threads after a few days - and even if you did search for content from a prior time, there is no way to interact with it. Worse, some sites will aggressively punish people who reopen closed topics.
Reddit, Facebook, Twitter, and most of the rest, are all about sharing the "here and now". This is what I am doing or thinking RIGHT NOW! No one wants to hear about what you were thinking a year ago
Interestingly, most of the 'missing' users in this thread could return to the site tomorrow and pick up exactly where they left off - and instantly feel right at home!
It's why I've been on here since 2014 when I found it, I only visit the others to try and grow my youtube, as the human condition now a days, is the RIGHT NOW PLEASE!
namnhi
Masterpiece
I have been on this site since 2009. Never have a FB, Reddit, X, Instagram account. I used to have an account in bonsaistudygroup but that one didn't go very far.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I message Adair back and fourth. Just got something the other day from him. He's good.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
I speak to Vin as well as I've a few trees from him. He's good. He's working towards retirement plans. Where bonsai won't be front and center.
Cadillactaste
Neagari Gal
Thumblessprimate/Martin... he's like my lil' bro. I talk to him multiple times a day. He's still got some trees. A really cool flowering quince as a matter of fact.
Similar threads
