AusBonsai

Hi all,
Sorry, been a couple of days since my last post, been busy with the kids. Anyways, I have finally got my hands on several different Bonsai starters to play with, but now after reading too much and seeing all these great pictures from members, I am scared to touch mine. Have to start somewhere. So, where to begin....new plants are.

Chinese Juniper
Japanese Juniper
Japanese Black Pine
Buxus
Gingo Biloba
Chinese Elm
Cycad
Bacon & Egg
Serissa ( 1 x Pink, 1 x White, 2 x verigated (what is this)
Cotoneaster
Lavender Star
Japanese Azalea


I have started researching on each one, but I would just like to ask you all if there is any tried and tested practices that harm the trees, or anything I should know about the species. I do live in Cairns, so this causes some interesting problems with heat and humidity.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Cheers
Fish

I think you should start with the chinese elm because they are very accetable to a bit of tough purning but not to much, they are easy to style and if you do decide to cut it now they will usally re shoot quickly if you keep your watering up but don't down the tree just go with your gut feeling on how much water you give it because you are the one who knows the tree the best.

Thanks Beaumatsu, I was tossing up between either the Cotoneaster or the Elm, so Elm it is

Beaumatsu wrote:I think you should start with the chinese elm because they are very accetable to a bit of tough purning but not to much, they are easy to style and if you do decide to cut it now they will usally re shoot quickly if you keep your watering up but don't down the tree just go with your gut feeling on how much water you give it because you are the one who knows the tree the best.

"if there is any tried and tested practices that harm the trees" Yes, me. So if I stay away, you should be fine. Where's that burning tree emoticon, when you need it?


Got a camera? Show us the Elm atleast!

yeah thats a great idea, why not chuck a few pics of your new trees up and then we can help some more.

Mitchell wrote:"if there is any tried and tested practices that harm the trees" Yes, me. So if I stay away, you should be fine. Where's that burning tree emoticon, when you need it?


Got a camera? Show us the Elm atleast!

good one mitch

pics will be coming up tomorrow, they were all too big to upload. Stay tuned, watch this space and all that jazz. lol

PS...The only tree burning happening will be mine when the wife ties me to it....lol

Hi Fish , never be in too much of a hurry to hack and chop , i have plants here that have sat for quite a few years and will probably sit for a while longer .Research is always a priority when it comes to anything i tackle , after which i then study the styles best suited for that species . Then i ponder over the tree for a few hours , days or weeks {too many plants} and look for the tree within the bush .Then and only then do i pre-style or train a plant .

Anybody can hack and chop , i do it 7 days a week .Most trees are planned if not they soon become disasters and usually with unique stock .So take your time with all of the above and give yourself some insight,then go for glory .Cheers Alpineart

where are some pic's

1st task is to learn to keep them all alive and thriving.

Most will have to wait now till next winter before repotting and major work, so use the time till then to learn how each tree grows
While learning that little job. Look at each tree, and se eif you can "see the tree within". Start to envision ( by sketches or virts) on where you see the tree going

If they are all only "Sticks in the pot", then maybe get them into larger pots so you can get so good growth on them over summer

Ken

Thanks for all the advice. I have started putting them into larger pots as they are only in starters, some poor buggers are so root bound and have compacted soil it is not funny. The black pine is about 15 cm high at the moment the rest are smaller. I have been thinking of letting them prosper before I touch them, so that sounds like the better plan. The only thing I can't do is plant them in the ground, a because we don't have any real good garden, they are all steep side of hill, and b it is a rental. So I am hoping just a larger pot will do the trick. I will still put some pics up today for you. Keen to hear more thoughts. Thanks so far everyone.

Cheers
Fish

Well after a bit of playing around, I finally got pictures to work. I think I got the names right, please let me know if you think I got any wrong. I Dont actually know the scientific names for any of these, so if you can let me know, it would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
Fish

unknown

My advice relates to the Chinese Juniper (I'm guessing shimpaku), get some wire on it and put in some nice tight bends don be concerned about it cutting in.

Get some fertiliser on all of them, I know Shimpaku growth really stalls if you do not fertilise much.

Thanks Scott, I have fertilised already, but I will wire up as you said.
Cheers mate
Fish