AusBonsai

I am still fairly new to Bonsai although I have come to it with Horticulture experience so some things like plant health and and general growing of plants haven'y been an issue. However to go from the proud owner of a stick in a pot, to understanding what is involved in producing a good Bonsai has taken some time, especially without having regular access to a club due to life commitments. But every now and then I read or hear a gem of information that puts things into better perspective and I hope I am taking my first steps from a serious beginner on the path to become an accomplished Bonsai artist.

So I have meant to start this thread before and ask this question and the Winter Wiki Writers competition has inspired me to make this an article for the Wiki in the hope it will help many more future Bonsai artist take some of the right steps early in their journey.

So what are the best pieces of advice you would give to the serious beginner, some one who wants to understand what makes Bonsai good and needs to have the right techniques, advice or mind set to grow

1. One that jumps instantly to mind is the great thread Neil (Shibui) has done on Trident root pruning. What I have taken strongly from that is if you do it right and from the beginning you get better results and far quicker.

2. Another is something Grant Bowie said at this years Symposium on Native Plants as Bonsai was "Some trees have a story to tell, some you have to write it for them." Or along those lines anyway.

3. And probably the one I'm still learning is to let it grow. Rather than trim it all the time, KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF IT. Trim it when it needs it. Especially if it is young. Something I have heard a bit is that if you can't help yourself buy more advanced trees that need maintenance and through your sticks in the ground. Or simply put,

4. Roots, Trunk, Branches, Leaves.

Anyway, I have a few more but I'ld also love to hear from everyone else, either a beginner who has had an epiphany moment, or someone more experienced with advice they wish they knew 20 years ago.

First you must get the horticulture down. ie; learn how to water.
With the artistic side, It is vital to have a clear plan - a vision if you like. Without it you will veer off the road again and again. Learn how to wire properly. So many trees I see are not wired well so the tree is mangled or strangled to achieve the result. Always look to the future when you work on the tree. Enjoy it for what it is now but always have one eye on the future (in other words, how can you improve it). Draw your ideas if you have trouble visualizing.
Well there are some ideas, How many do you want?

Thats a good start Treeman.

Watering right is a biggie. Especially matching it to your conditions and mix. Winter time for me is much harder. The last 3 winters here have been dry and windy. Some pots go bone dry very quickly, while others tend to stay wet.

Wiring right is probably something best learnt hands on. It's taken me a while from just reading and although I can wire adequately I sure there is many finer points I've yet to learn.

And a Vision. Probably something hard for a beginner to grasp, but I see your point as to its importance.

And here is a great Post by Bodhidarma. The discussion got a little bit off track, but his point is a valid one. It is essential to work with good healthy material. I know Pup has gone on nursery trips to help beginners pick material only to scratch his head and wonder why he bothers. Obviously a lot can be said for getting good stock grown for bonsai as opposed to standard nursery stock and there has been many discussions on the forum about that.

you can only make it look like an old tree if you know what an old tree looks like--wherever you go, look at old trees

Choosing good stock to begin with is important or if growing your own stock some idea of basic bonsai rules is a must.

Thanks guy. I like that one.

Thanks ozzy. So what do you see as the most important basic rules to produce good stock?

Rome wasn't built in a day and nor are great Bonsai.
Great Bonsai take time to develop, good Bonsai can sometimes be knocked out over a shorter time period.

What a great thought promoting post, I relate particularly to your comment...

dansai wrote: 3. And probably the one I'm still learning is to let it grow. Rather than trim it all the time, KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF IT. Trim it when it needs it. Especially if it is young. Somet

Early on in my admiration of bonsai and upon creation of bonsai I became obsessed with the up keep of the trees/nursery stock I had and that meant over watering and over pruning, pinching not waiting for the appropriate times for particular bonsai development techniques e.g. air layer, root pruning and collecting times ect. Since reviewing posts and asking questions and generally thinking about the processes of tree development it has really promoted the fact that it does take time…years for some processes. I would say that It is really important to harness your enthusiasm for the art early and spend more time learning, reading embracing the knowledge and experience of others. A deeper respect develops and opens your mind. I saw on the telly a while back about a sushi chef who spent 8 years in an apprenticeship to get to where he is now and thats (with all respect) Just sushi.

Like life, bonsai is a journey and not a destination. Enjoy the journey.

dansai wrote:,

Wiring right is probably something best learnt hands on. It's taken me a while from just reading and although I can wire adequately I sure there is many finer points I've yet to learn.

Yes it does need to be learned by practice, however I thought this was an imortant point to ephasize as some people refuse to get it. Have a look at some of the trees worked on with Hiro lately. Even some experienced growers making the big mistake of wiring with the wrong angle to the coils (45 degrees) rendering the wiring useless and with no holding capacity. Someone needs to point out to them this most basic of requirements. (Hiro is too polite )

dansai wrote:Thanks guy. I like that one.

Thanks ozzy. So what do you see as the most important basic rules to produce good stock?

Wire early for movement. Root prune hard and regularly. Don't stick in the ground and forget it. Nebari and taper, nebari and taper, nebari and taper!

lackhand wrote:Like life, bonsai is a journey and not a destination. Enjoy the journey.

Very, very wise words.

Don't rush your tree into a bonsai pot. Root development over time gives the best result.

Make interesting trunks. Two-dimensional lazy-S bends aren't interesting. Figure out what "interesting" really means. Grow your own. Be greedy. Look hard.

Gavin