bonsaiTALK Community - View Single Post - Begginer needs help to start (Mom told me to ;-) )

G'day Kyle...

Let me see if I can help you out a bit...

Be aware, Kyle, that all that follows is my OPINION...what works for me.

You said "...I am a complete newbie...". The first thing you should do, if at all possible, is, connect with a local bonsai club, or at least hook up with a "local". A "local" is somebody who has lots of bonsai experience in your geographical area.
The club and/or "local" should be the best source of bonsai care information for you area. This is the best possible thing you can do when you are first starting.

So, you say, "...here in South Africa nobody knows about it (bonsai)...". To that I say...following is a couple of sources of bonsai information in South Africa. Maybe one of them can be of more help than I can.

A BONSAI VENDOR...SA Bonsai. 011 665 1097 or 083 393 0188 Ask for Andries. E-Mail info@inx.co.za.

A BONSAI CLUB...Pretoria Bonsai KaiPieter du Plessis, 083 965 2729, dplespieter@absamail.co.za; Org Exley, 082 809 2037, orgex@ntp.necsa.co.za.

ANOTHER BONSAI CLUB...Fish Eagle Bonsai Kai, Richard's Bay, South Africa, Caroll Herman, +27 82 5677583, E-mail.

Further you said you "...don't know the names of these plants AT ALL...". Looks like you have some pretty good plant species available. However, you can't provide the care your plants need if you don't know what the needs are. And you can't know the needs if you don't know the species.

Your temps, 3-15C and 10-30C (37-59F and 53-86F) should work well for bonsai.
What is your elevation?

Now, you said "...I would like my bonsai...to have a basic tire swing effect...".
Do you mean something like my avitar? Here in the USA we call that the Live Oak Style.

And, you said "...VERY thick trunks...this spoils the effect for me...". Are you referring to what we call SUMO Style? The squaty, EXAGERATTED fat bonsai?

Well, Kyle, it's time for me to call it a night.

So, always remember that bonsai is a trip that demands time and patience. Welcome aboard and enjoy the journey.

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California

2 Weeks Ago	#2
PatArizona Bonsai Master, in my mind Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Back Home in Northern California Country: USA Posts: 1,482	G'day Kyle... Let me see if I can help you out a bit... Be aware, Kyle, that all that follows is my OPINION...what works for me. You said "...I am a complete newbie...". The first thing you should do, if at all possible, is, connect with a local bonsai club, or at least hook up with a "local". A "local" is somebody who has lots of bonsai experience in your geographical area. The club and/or "local" should be the best source of bonsai care information for you area. This is the best possible thing you can do when you are first starting. So, you say, "...here in South Africa nobody knows about it (bonsai)...". To that I say...following is a couple of sources of bonsai information in South Africa. Maybe one of them can be of more help than I can. A BONSAI VENDOR...SA Bonsai. 011 665 1097 or 083 393 0188 Ask for Andries. E-Mail info@inx.co.za. A BONSAI CLUB...Pretoria Bonsai KaiPieter du Plessis, 083 965 2729, dplespieter@absamail.co.za; Org Exley, 082 809 2037, orgex@ntp.necsa.co.za. ANOTHER BONSAI CLUB...Fish Eagle Bonsai Kai, Richard's Bay, South Africa, Caroll Herman, +27 82 5677583, E-mail. Further you said you "...don't know the names of these plants AT ALL...". Looks like you have some pretty good plant species available. However, you can't provide the care your plants need if you don't know what the needs are. And you can't know the needs if you don't know the species. Your temps, 3-15C and 10-30C (37-59F and 53-86F) should work well for bonsai. What is your elevation? Now, you said "...I would like my bonsai...to have a basic tire swing effect...". Do you mean something like my avitar? Here in the USA we call that the Live Oak Style. And, you said "...VERY thick trunks...this spoils the effect for me...". Are you referring to what we call SUMO Style? The squaty, EXAGERATTED fat bonsai? Well, Kyle, it's time for me to call it a night. So, always remember that bonsai is a trip that demands time and patience. Welcome aboard and enjoy the journey. Pat __________________ BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain. THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life. Pat Patterson...Bonsai in the Greater Bay Area, Northern California