Pumpin trunks

[Jordy]

hehe i'm going to totally disregard japh cus he's my cousin and wait and hope that alpine anwers me...

waiting...

[alpineart]

Pots are work ,you cant just pot and forget .Once placed in the ground you set and forget except watering and fertilizing EVERY NOW AND THEN there i no restriction on the tree

So if i were to plant my bonsai in the ground, i don't have to water EVERY day? or are u saying the "EVERY NOW AND THEN" for the fertiliser?

Hi Jordy plant the tree in the ground take a large handfull of fertilizer {dynamic liftre/rooster booster} sprinkle that around the outer of the hole and water in .Then water when required once a week or when it begins to dry out .To conserve moisture place some straw around the base and you may only water once a fortnight .In any pot or box the soil with an active tree will require daily waterings some times i have to water twice a day or set in wet trays /sand trays to save time and effort .Cheers

[Jordy]

Would you recommend ground planting as soon as you buy a new bonsai?

and by an active tree, do you mean a tree growing throughout the spring?
or just certain fast growing trees?

and once again thankyou

[kcpoole]

If I bought a "Bonsai", which is a styled and finished, displayable tree in a Bonsai pot then no that would not go in the ground as it would not need to be fattened up any more.

If i bought a "Pre Bonsai" that would also not go in the ground as, to be classed as Pre Bonsai it has done most of its growing phase and is now only requiring refinement to make it into a Bonsai. A pre Bonsai would be in a plastic or large ceramic training pot,

A stock tree, Seedling, collected tree etc, Would go into the ground in order to rapidly advance it's growth or development. If you cannot put into the ground then a large pot or grow box will suffice, but will require much more care to ensure it does not dry out too much

Ken

[Jordy]

Thanks Ken,

This will help quite a bit, later today, when i buy my first bonsai

[alpineart]

Would you recommend ground planting as soon as you buy a new bonsai?

and by an active tree, do you mean a tree growing throughout the spring?
or just certain fast growing trees?

and once again thankyou

Hi Jordy , if you buy a new Bonsai it shouldn't need ground planting , the work ,style and character will be present .If you buy a trainer from a shop eg, a trunk with a branch or a pine with a few shoots in a bonsai pot . This is not a bonsai , might be sold as one and 1000's are they are trainers . Yes i would ground plant .If I buy nursery plants ,knock them out of the plastic pots and trim and style them and place into a bonsai pot "i" still class this as a trainer .Some people call it a Bonsai "I" DON'T .

To me a completed tree has good foliage pads , nice root spread {Narebri} and shape that is pleasing to the eye {good balance} this is what i call a Bonsai .This i wouldn't put in the ground In My Collection Out of 150 trees in Bonsai pots only 10%-20% "I WOULD CLASS AS BONSAI" the rest are "Bonsai Trainers" .There is well over 700 potted plants and trees in my collection i call these "Trainers" . On top of that there is dozens of layered plants i call "Future Bonsai" .Now to top it off there is 1000's of seedlings growing and i call these seedlings .Hope this info helps , some may disagree with me and thats OK.

Have a look at some of the members Trees in their galleries ,i wouldn't put them in the ground as they are Bonsai.Cheers

[Jordy]

So ultimately, if the trunk of my 'bonsai/trainer' is not thick enough to my liking i should ground plant?

[alpineart]

So ultimately, if the trunk of my 'bonsai/trainer' is not thick enough to my liking i should ground plant?

Jordy go and buy a Bonsai to your liking that doesn't need fattening up and leave it in the pot, you need to find a bonsai supplier who can assist you with good advise ..Then go down to a nursery find a plant you like in fact buy a few the same simply remove one of them from the pot tease the roots and put it in the ground .Next remove one from the pot root prune 1/3 off and place this nearby the other tree in the ground as per detail . The 3rd one remove it from the pot tease the roots out and trim 1/3 of the roots off , then find a Bonsai pot that will cater for the roots .At the end of this session you should have 3 similar trees in 3 different situations .

Now the untrimmed one dont touch .The one next to it remove 1/3 of the foliage in a Bonsai Training style eg,informal upright , upright or similar .Now the one in the pot trim to the same shape as the 2nd trimmed tree that was root pruned or as close too as possible . As a novice dont worry about wiring any of these plants ,trees or trainers . Fertilize all the with seasol power feed or similar .

Now sit back and relax for the next 9 months watering each plant when required . keep a closer eye on the potted tree as it will dry out very quickly .Repeat the liquid fertilizer once every fortnight ,after 3 months fertilize with a slow release product . While these trees/trainers are doing what comes naturally that growing you can admire your Bonsai that you purchased from the reputable dealer. In the middle of next winter let us know what the results of "YOUR TEST" is . Take some pics along the way so you can share your experience with us .Cheers

[kcpoole]

Hey alpine
What a great idea
I like people doing specific testing and posting the results

[alpineart]

Hey alpine
What a great idea
I like people doing specific testing and posting the results

Hi kc ,its how i learnt .I test and retest all my methods , and i only share what works .People must consider altitude and climate when working with Bonsai .What works in the Northern Hemisphere doesn't always work here ."Most" printed literature on bonsai is tested and printed in the North . Every State in Aus will have differences , i grow plants here that won't survive 100m lower in the town .I have yet to read any printed material on plants that "won't" grow here or there even nurseries sell plants knowing damn well the won't grow let alone survive .Cheers

[Jordy]

I would...

but I dont have that kind of money right now sorry

next season I should however...

I'll just have to wait until next year. But remind me! I'll gladly do it

[Japh]

I've been considering doing what Alpine suggested actually. Just near my house is a nursery with silver birches for bonsai that are quite young and just in normal little pots for $8.95 each... might be worth a try!

[alpineart]

I would...

but I dont have that kind of money right now sorry

next season I should however...

I'll just have to wait until next year. But remind me! I'll gladly do it

Hi Jordy ,go to a market and sus out the plants wait till the market is about to close and you can get the plants cheap as chips because people would rather sell them for nicks than transport them all the wayback home .Then go to a $2 shop or Sams Wharehouse or Reject shop and buy a 3 dollar chinese Bonsai pot and your off and running .You dont have to spend big bucks to start , $2 plant +$3 pot =$5 trainer if you go to a nursery you will spend a minimum of $20 for a starter/trainer and with a little tip as i just stated you could have 4 trainers styled all of your own .

Better still ask a friend for a plant or 2 out of the garden or collect a couple of seedlings from a friends place and save a couple of bucks and buy another pot .My first bonsai cost a grand total of $3 it was a Suji elm fully styled and trained {long long time ago }Bloody thing died in 2 weeks so i have never purchased another bonsai since . SEE I'M A TIGHT ASSuming fellow . I will upload 2 pics in this message to show how its done .i will even go out in the rain to get the plants to photograph ,

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then i would like you to put as much effort into chasing 3 plants and a pot in the next week .Beg , borrow {cant return them } but don't steal them

[Jordy]

I'll attempt to find some indeed alpine, thanx for the tips

but i doubt i will this week regardless because the main market we have in Tassie is the salamanca market (every saturday)

and its my lil brothers birthday! and i'll probably be working the morning too

BUT, i will look! asap!