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So, i have some questions on this:
1) Is it better for a beginner to collect a young tree about 20-25 cm tall, or is better to get a bigger tree and chop it back? I would prefer a small one than cutting -but is it correct?
2) When you have the tree do you immediately wire it or do you give a weeks/months for the tree to accomodate?
3) When having a non-conifer should i wait till fall to form the tree or is it OK also in the vegetation period?
and finally: 4) How do you define the vegetation period on an indoor subtropical tree -namely a ficus? (Because i have a ficus benjamina natasja, too.)
I am planning to make a birch bonsai, because that is not so expensive in my country and your can always find in a nursery (there are no bonsai nurseries in my region..), or under older trees as wild sprouts stemming from the roots.
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Hello Lilli, I was pleasantly surprised to see my thread resurrected. I will do my best to answer your questions.
First, as far as collecting and being a beginner, it isn't necessarilly a question of right or wrong. However, if you collect a tree from the wild etc... You would have to wait a year or 2 before you can begin working on it to let the tree acclimate.
However, if you get the entire root ball when you dig it up.. you could work on it the following year instead of the 2 year wait. Also, there is more than meets the eye when collecting. Its not just a dig it up then plant it somewhere situation. There are many steps that need to be taken. However, I will not get into them now because this would turn into a book instead of an email ha hah ha
In my opnion, I would try to look for some container grown trees. I am not sure what kind of nurseries, if any are in your area...If there are local Garden centers that sell trees in the basic black plastic pots, this would be a good thing to start with. You don't have to go to bonsai places, regular nurseries are good. The only draw back is, that out of about 500-100 trees you look at, only 1 may be suitable for bonsai.
Being new, I am sure you want to start practicing and fine tuning your skills. If you collect something from the wild, you will have to wait a year or 2 and this won't help you at this time. If you purchase a tree from a nursery, you can prune and wire immediately. Providing it is the correct season, Spring is a good time for repotting and pruning etc.....
Probably the best thing you can do right now, is the learn the 5 main styles of Bonsai, there are also many sub styles. The main styles are formal upright, informal upright, slant, semi cascade and cascade. After you get familiar with these styles, you can go pic out material that somewhat matches the shape and structure of one of these styles. This knowledge is a necessity in the beginning. It will be the founding structure of knowledge you will need and use for as long as you do bonsai.
To just randomly go and dig something up or pic a tree up at a nursery without knowing these styles, will and may lead to your disappointment. As you get more experienced,..you will have a firm knowledge of these styles and when you see a tree, you will automatically know what style the tree should become.
By "vegetation period" I believe you mean in leaf. Tropicals allow you a greater window to repot and do work on them, conifers are limited to almost exact points of a season. It is perfectly fine to work on a tree in leaf. Sometimes when a tree is out of leaf it is easier because you can see more parts of the tree because there are less leaves and sometimes no leaves. However, be aware that trees that are dormant, or resting can be brittle because the sap is not flowing heavily like in the growing season. So there is a greater potential for the branch to break or crack.
Lastly, whatever species you chose first. Make sure you know how to take care of it. What temperature should it be in during each season, what are its watering requiremnets, how much sun does it need, does it need a dormant period, if so...how long etc....... Knowing the horticultural need of each species will allow you more success in bonsai. One thing to keep in mind is each tree, although the same species, may require different care.. Some an individual tree will require more or less water. So just becasue you have 2 junipers of similar size and variety, it does not necessarilly mean they will require the same exact care. One might like and need more water, for example. It will be in time that you will know what a tree likes after you go through the seasons a couple of times. However, you still will need to research the basic care for each species you chose.
I hope this was helpful.
Rob