My other hobby

[dav4]

I've always loved plants. Cactuses, hostas, japanese maples, dwarf conifers...I've collected them all. So, bonsai-the practice of keeping trees in pots- was naturally something I found interesting. I was given my first little bonsai 16 years ago (it's been dead for quite some time), and since then, I've acquired many more (remind anyone of another hobby we all might share). Here are pics of a few of my nicer trees. Feel free to ask questions if you have any.

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[ballpythonluvr]

Awesome hobby! I too love cactuses of all sorts. Just how hard is it to grow a bonsai tree? I have always wanted to try my hand at growing one but I am a little intimidated by the care and proper keeping of a bonsai tree.

[gsarchie]

I'd say super easy to simply grow them, but it is learning all of the little aspects such as defoliation, styling (training branches with wire, knowing which branches to cut if you are going to a certain look, etc.) that makes it a little difficult. You can do just about any tree into a bonsai, however, which means that you can do trees native to where you live and leave them outside all year long (which means that you don't have to worry about space for it when you bring it in for winter). I have tried bonsai but just never ended up having the patience for it. Maybe now that I am a little older I should give it a shot, aye?

[ChrisS]

They look good! I've thought about doing a bonsai. Which one is your oldest tree?

[dav4]

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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They look good! I've thought about doing a bonsai. Which one is your oldest tree?

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.

[gsarchie]

Definitely not super easy to make a bonsai a bonsai, I just said that simply growing them is easy. The minute that you start actually doing bonsai is when it gets complicated!

[carlson]

Bonsai trees are cool, what one would you recommend for a first one? I've been looking at the juniper(sp?) set ups that you can order off the Internet

[dav4]

Bonsai trees are cool, what one would you recommend for a first one? I've been looking at the juniper(sp?) set ups that you can order off the Internet

I think junipers are great for bonsai and tough as nails, so pretty forgiving. I'm not sure if I'd recommmend getting one off the internet, though. They're generally over-priced and in crappy soil, so they usually don't do well for their new owners. FYI, bonsai material is everywhere...the tree in the first picture is a yew, maybe 15 years old, that I picked up at a landscape nursery 10 years ago. The tree in the second picture is a yew, maybe 50 years old, that I dug out of my in-law's front yard a few years ago. If you are really serous, look into bonsai clubs that might be in your area...just like with exotics, hooking up with an experienced hobbyist can really be helpful.[IMG][/IMG][IMG][/IMG]

[snake8myelbo]

I love the last one! Good work Daniel son.

[ChrisS]

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.

No I've never been to the Arboretum. It's been 6 or 7 years since the last time I was in Asheville.