AusBonsai

Anyone know anywhere I can find good general information on the growth rate of various species?

I realise that growing conditions can have a great effect on development, just after general information on how large you could expect a plant grown from seed to be after say 1 year, 2 years & 5 years if just left to grow.

While seeds aren't always the best way to get bonsai plants, I have seeds from a number of varieties (figs, elms, maples, pines, etc) so I'm curious. I do have a few things I want to try with the seedlings though, that may or may not work.

Cheers,

Hi Mark, depends on where in Aus you are? this is crucial to what will grow where and how well. If you update your location (as part of your alias – settings in the user control panel), you might get a response from people experienced in your area

The tags on some plants at a nursery, or a good resource book like Gardening Australia's Flora (thanks mum ) , would give some of the general information. Like climate zone and final high. I guess there is the search function on your browser.

Its got do with where you are plus the micro climate your trees are in mine are in a very sheltered location an even on a 15-17 degree day its still quiet warm an this year they are growing like weeds below are some pictures 2 of the trees are from last yrs seedling

As you can see even seedlings can delvelope fast in the right conditions an next year be looking good as for the tall elm thats just something im messing with

There are so many factors that will effect this.
1. Are the in pots or the ground
2. Ferteliser program
3. Watering program
4. Type of soil/potting mix
5. Amount of sun/shade
6. In a grow pot or bonsai pot

I had a tree in a pot on one side of the house going great, shoots powering away. Moved to a different spot on the other side of the house to make room for some other trees and it has nearly stopped growing. It's in a cooler spot with more wind. It's hardly moved since being put there even though its spring now and should be growing. There are guys on here that in year get the same amount of growth as someone else in 3 years because if the way they feed. As mentioned earlier your location would help with answers as most people can only answer for trees in there area.
I know this probably doesn't help but things to think about anyway.

Josh.
Ps. At my old house I could grow some warmer climate veggies in one spot only along a concrete wall, the frost never settled there and the radiant heat from the wall helped keep the plants warm late into the night. So micro climates can big a big factor.

Some trees I'm looking for aren't listed in my books...

Actually found a US site that has good information on various trees with an easy search system. As I said, it's only some general information I'm after. It doesn't have every tree I'm after but has plenty to look at.

If your looking for some info then a visit to the Cal Poly website can't hurt.

Cheers

Drac0 wrote:Some trees I'm looking for aren't listed in my books...

And some of the books are wrong. I have two, yes two, bonsai books that both say Celtis is a slow grower that needs a long winter and that figs are slow growers that prefer indoors. both of these claims are outright lies in my climate and are probably only true if you live in a cold temperate climate.

DustyRusty wrote:

Drac0 wrote:Some trees I'm looking for aren't listed in my books...

And some of the books are wrong. I have two, yes two, bonsai books that both say Celtis is a slow grower that needs a long winter and that figs are slow growers that prefer indoors. both of these claims are outright lies in my climate and are probably only true if you live in a cold temperate climate.

Yes, the effects of the local climate...

I guess what I was really after was something that gives more meaning than just the fast or slow grower you get on pot tags & in publications. Then I can compare that to how they actually grow here, even in different positions around the garden etc.

Cheers