My other hobby

[Mike41793]

I don't know if I'd say keeping bonsai is "super easy". Honestly, it's alot like keeping exotic animals...get your husbandry down and you should be ok...most of the time. You've got to have the right soil, correct sized pot, correct amount of sun/shade/winter protection, all depending on the species of tree. Watering is key...trees that are over-watered will gradually decline and die over a period of months...forget to water a tree in July for just a day or two and it might be toast. Those two big junipers with all the deadwood may be close to 1000 years old...they don't have the vigor that a younger tree has, and that translates into extra caution when pruning their roots or foliage. Still, once you understand what you're doing, it's not hard at all...mostly just watering. Gsarchie is right, natives to your local will be the most forgiving, too. I find it very relaxing and rewarding to see my trees develop and turn into something beautiful, but you absolutely need patience...I've been training some of my trees for over ten years and they still have years of training ahead before they might achieve the vision I have for them.

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That first juniper with the bluish colored foliage is a Rocky Mountain Juniper, probably collected near the Badlands in S. Dakota, has been estimated to be close to 1000 years old. Have you ever been to the N.C. Arboretum in Asheville? They've got an outstanding bonsai collection there.

You have trees from before America was discovered by Columbus? Like those trees are from 1012ish? That is REALLY freakin cool!

[dav4]

I love the last one! Good work Daniel son.

Hai!...wax on...wax off...

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You have trees from before America was discovered by Columbus? Like those trees are from 1012ish? That is REALLY freakin cool!

Yeah...kinda makes you take a deep breath before chopping anything off! These old junipers grow in an extremely harsh alpine climate... hot and dry during the summer, then severe cold and wind during the winter. The typical juniper growing in this kind of climate adds approximately an inch of girth to their trunk every century...that particular juniper has a trunk at the soil line almost 8 inches across.

[Coleslaw007]

That's freaking cool! I'm obsessed with miniature things so bonzai trees are perfect for me... but I have no faith in my ability to keep them alive. Dope hobby though!

[SlitherinSisters]

Oh wow those are so cool! I wish I could keep plants alive

[Ridinandreptiles]

I want to do this but don't know where to start...

[dav4]

I want to do this but don't know where to start...

Successfully keeping bonsai means your trees are happy and growing well and there is a bit of a learning curve here. The absolute best thing to do is to get involved in a local club. There are some great websites online, too...Bonsainut.com, and internet bonsai club are two I can think of off the top of my head. There are some ok books you might find at your library, but the info there will most likely be dated. I, personally, did most of my learning on line for the first 7-8 years I was into the hobby, but would have been better served joining a descent club.

[eatgoodfood]

I have always found bonsai cool, I tried some years back and failed over and over, likely due to too much shaping and cutting too quickly. I lack patience. I would like to start again, but the wife probably wouldnt be happy, half our apartment as full of tropical plants as it is, I like to have some green where I live. But yours look great, cool hobby!

[ChrisS]

I have this desert rose that I was planning on repotting in the spring. Do you think it could be worked into a bonsai?

[dav4]

I've heard of folks using desert rose for bonsai, but I've never grown them and wouldn't be able to give you any tips. It does have a nice base and taper to its trunk, so there are some possibilities with this material. Good luck with it.