AABC

[MelaQuin]

WAYS TO CREATE BONSAI
Young or enthusiastic adherents can start with seeds to really say they started on the ground level and develop their stock from there. The advantage to this method is the ability to correct early problems as they develop [like poor roots]. The disadvantage is the time it takes.

Established stock plants can be purchased from sellers and then trained to become bonsai. Sometimes it is difficult to correct early established problems with a fairly mature tree.

Styled and often neglected older bonsai can be purchased at sales. If they are neglected it is important to get them healthy before starting work. The stylist will reap dividends by allowing the tree to get over any neglect and be growing strongly. Take the necessary time, feed first with SeaSol or similar product and gradually fertilise as the tree starts to improve. Slowly build it up.

If the plant is in a soil different to what you use, instead of endangering the tree by bare rooting simply infiltrate your soil into the old soil to allow fresh soil in as many areas as you can. At the next repot when the tree is stable and healthy more roots can be removed and fresh soil added.

After a year or so when the tree is in good health pot it up in a large pot after a careful root prune. Give it plenty of fertiliser, sun and water and it should respond with smaller leaves or needles.

Collected trees can provide some wonderful stock for bonsai. You need permission to collect from private or government property. It is advisable to get as much soil as you can when you lift the tree. The same advice settling them in a pot. Take off as much old soil as you can without disturbing the roots excessively, soak in SeaSol for some time, pot up and if there is a lot of old soil still around the roots try to create pockets into the soil ball and insert your fresh soil.

Keep the tree in semi shade and moist until it starts shooting and then move into the sun gradually. As the tree starts to develop keep fertilising until it is growing robustly. Then you can start styling.