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heatherrrs
White Belt
Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 18
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 Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:41 am Post subject: Complete beginner |
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I am interested in bonsai.
not sure where to start though... |
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apisto
Orange Belt
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 264
Location: Scotland Zone 7 Brrrrr.....
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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A trip to the local garden center after reading the posts on here 
You got anything in mind.
By that i mean have you seen something and we may be able to help with it
Cheers
And welcome |
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Stymie
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 10911
Location: S.Yorks.UK where the sun used to shine
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| Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:00 am Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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Hello and welcome.
Read up on the subject. Here and elsewhere. Libraries have bonsai books. When you decide where you are going to keep your trees in pots, tell us and we'll help you to choose something suitable. Where in the world are you? that will help the decision. Keep talking to us and asking anything which occurs to you. |
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heatherrrs
White Belt
Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:11 pm Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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We have a bonsai tree, that my mum got as a present, it currently has no leaves though...
i live in England
My local library has no books on bonsai at the moment, but am going to ask them to get one.
the bonsai we already have, lives inside. but we have a back yard that is quite sheltered where i would like to keep any bonsais i get..
OK.. so garden center... what to look for...? |
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graham
Orange Belt
Joined: 10 Jan 2006
Posts: 347
Location: west yorkshire
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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| Hi,for reference where in England are you?Would it be possible to post a pic of the tree you have? |
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Stymie
Black Belt
Joined: 18 Aug 2004
Posts: 10911
Location: S.Yorks.UK where the sun used to shine
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| Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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Heather.
Your backyard sounds ideal for a chinese Elm (Ulmus parvifolia) if you can obtain one. Alternatively, any of the temperate evergreen varieties. Ask here about anything which you are considering. |
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splendidplumage
Yellow Belt
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 129
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 12:23 am Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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Hmm. I t sounds like your current tree may well be dead already.
As Graham asked, where in England are you? If you are fortunate enough to live near a bonsai specialist we could let you know. Going to a specialist rather then a normal garden center will be far more worthwhile as they can help you choose a tree and give you care advise. |
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steve
Black Belt
Joined: 10 Sep 2004
Posts: 3250
Location: SW Washington,USA
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:30 am Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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| Not having leaves at his point isn't a good thing. Scratch a little bark away from the runk somewhere that isn't obvious. If it is green or white under the bark then it is alive, brown and dry means it has died. |
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heatherrrs
White Belt
Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 18
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 7:42 pm Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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ok , i'll try that, and take a pic of it.
i think it may have had a lack of water... |
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splendidplumage
Yellow Belt
Joined: 15 May 2007
Posts: 129
Location: Nottingham
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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Ah. Unfortunately the closest retail bonsai center to you is probably about 60 miles.
But never mind. At least you are now a member of this forum so you know where to come for advise
When choosing a tree points to remember:
1: Do yourself a favour and buy a tree that is healthy. Many people buy obviously unhealthy trees because they feel sorry for them. You are creating yourself an unnecessary uphill struggle when you are new if you do this.
2: Pick a tree with good structure. The features you can least alter are the trunk of the tree and any surface roots (or lack thereof). So try and get a tree with good movement to the trunk. Good surface roots are a bonus. If you are picking between several potential trees obviously decent branching/foliage is nice but you can almost grow an entirely new branch structure over time. In fact you will find the art of bonsai is mainly improving and growing better branch structure so whatever the branches are like you will be altering and improving them anyway. But the trunk and roots are a lot less changeable.
3: Good varieties to start with are Chinese Elm (1 of the most tolerant and forgiving varieties. It is probably the most tolerant variety for growing indoors), Japanese Larch (Not golden or false larch) and Japanese Maple (there are many cultivars)
4: Choose a species you like. I know people he prefer pines, people who prefer maples, people who prefer general quirkiness etc.
It will be your tree so you need to like it yourself. It is even perfectly acceptable to ignore the species I recommended above (as well as anyone Else's on this board). Each tree has its own character. If you see a tree you connect with. Buy it. |
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Rob Spiller
Yellow Belt
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 83
Location: Maidstone
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 10:40 pm Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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The last point that Splendidplumage makes
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Choose a species you like. I know people he prefer pines, people who prefer maples, people who prefer general quirkiness etc.
It will be your tree so you need to like it yourself. It is even perfectly acceptable to ignore the species I recommended above (as well as anyone Else's on this board). Each tree has its own character. If you see a tree you connect with. Buy it. |
is something that I can so resonate with.
Until 2 weeks ago I had a rough idea what sort of tree I liked most, then I walked into my local Bonsai shop and saw a Buddhist Pine which I really liked and straight after that a Larch. I really only wanted to buy 1 tree that day, but ended up with 2 
Up to that point my main interest were things like Elms, but now it is trees with needles
Get yourself a good book on Bonsai as well and or research what type of trees you are going to be able to accommodate. For instance, it is no good buying a tropical tree, like a Fukien tea etc, if you have no where indoors to keep it during the winter.
Rob |
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Surrey John
Brown Belt
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
Posts: 1608
Location: Surrey, UK
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| Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Complete beginner |
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Am I missing something? After careful perusal I can't see anywhere on this thread where Heather lives, but SP says she is 60 miles from the nearest bonsai retailer. Mystery! Where are you, Heather?
If you are indeed a long way physically from a good retail bonsai nursery, consider postal delivery - most do < | |
