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Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 12:05 pm
by wal
kcpoole wrote:wal wrote:Hmmm if i chop to much wouldnt that slow her getting thicker? Ive been reading ppl often replant in the ground to get a thicker trunk but would just jumping up in pot sizes more often help or do the really only respond well to growing free in regards to trunk

Yes cuting will slow the tree down somewhat, but what are you trying to achieve? Learn Bonsai, or grow on larger stock? the are somewhat mutually exclusive.
If you want to play and learn then that will slow down growth,
Planting a tree out ( a good idea) but will not teach anything about caring and developing skills.
Ken
I would like to trim and learn bonsai but the trunk does look rather thin.... guess i cant have the best of both worlds lol
I was hoping the Sacrifice branch might help while still being able to continue learning bonsai training

Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 12:29 pm
by kcpoole
Yes they will but how many and where? They look ugly and get in the way. Yo want a nice look to enjoy
My thought is one or the other. Train the tree and learn on it then in a few years you can recut it and grow on.
What you cot off now. Strike as cuttings and grow then on at the same time
Or fet an advaned srock tree to start
Sent from my SM-G800Y using Tapatalk
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 12:35 pm
by benbonsai
I found the best way to learn was to go to a bonsai nursery and buy a couple cheap junipers or whatever and have a go at styling. You can generally pick one up for less than $20
Then of course keep it alive.
This offers styling practice - wiring, trimming, branch bending. General - keeping it alive, watering, fertilizing. And repotting after a season - finding a pot, root pruning etc
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 1:16 pm
by wal
Thanks for the advice , really appreciate it fellas
If i can talk my beautiful mrs into it im going to go up the nursery and grab a cheap juniper soon and will post a pic later
fingers crossed

Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 3:25 pm
by kcpoole
wal wrote:Thanks for the advice , really appreciate it fellas
If i can talk my beautiful mrs into it im going to go up the nursery and grab a cheap juniper soon and will post a pic later
fingers crossed

And you will still have the issue of it being like a stick and need growing on but for far longer
Yep you can learn to style them but a juniper ain't an elm and both are different and require different care and skill
Ken
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 3:46 pm
by wal
kcpoole wrote:wal wrote:Thanks for the advice , really appreciate it fellas
If i can talk my beautiful mrs into it im going to go up the nursery and grab a cheap juniper soon and will post a pic later
fingers crossed

And you will still have the issue of it being like a stick and need growing on but for far longer
Yep you can learn to style them but a juniper ain't an elm and both are different and require different care and skill
Ken
Lol to be honest i didn't get a juniper they just look weired..... will just stick to the elm and small fig i have for now
But either way the elm does look like a twig lol and would rather avoid planting it in the ground....
If i left the branch 2nd from the bottom untouched it would be unsightly like you say hmmm take the top off halfway from my bend
it's a real eye opener only started and I'm already at a cross roads
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 3:53 pm
by benbonsai
"Already at a cross roads"
The amount of time I have spent just sitting looking at a tree trying to make decisions is ridiculous
I know how you feel
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 4:00 pm
by wal
benbonsai wrote:"Already at a cross roads"
The amount of time I have spent just sitting looking at a tree trying to make decisions is ridiculous
I know how you feel
Its funny you say that Ben... the mrs thought i had gone mad i spent 90min today spinning the elm infront of me and all i took off was a 6cm long bare twig lmao

Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 5:36 pm
by bonsaeen
wal wrote:Seems using a bigger pot with Sacrifice branches may be a very good option for us mate.
From what ive been reading will still take a good few years...

Think in few years i will probably fill my whole place with thz little beauties. Just bought another juniper which looks really good. Will post pictures later.
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 6:53 pm
by wal
Im thinking of signing up to a monthly bonsai workshop
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 21st, 2017, 9:09 pm
by wal
Ok i took 3 little branches off need a break now im sweating lol .... i put them straight in coco peat with growth powder

Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 22nd, 2017, 9:17 am
by wal
Off to bonsai northside nursery yay mrs is taking my bank card and im only allowed $40 but thats still good lol should have something to show later

Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 22nd, 2017, 6:44 pm
by wal
Ok so Tess at Bonsai Northside was such a nice person i will totally be going there again
She gave me so many tips and told me i had my bends way off and needed to be more inline with the apex so i rebent a little

just need to trim up branches now
Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 23rd, 2017, 4:03 pm
by wal
Little better i think

Re: first Bonsai :)
Posted: January 23rd, 2017, 4:21 pm
by Max
wal wrote:Little better i think

i notice your leaves are turning yellow