Literati

***PERSONAL***
FORUM HANDLE = Literati (I use this for most of my logins)
AGE = 30
NATIONALITY = YEARS INTO BONSAI = 7 Years
BONSAI EDUCATION = 3-4 workshops, nothing formal
HOW I GOT STARTED = I got dragged to a weekend workshop. It took 2 years to really hook me.
CLUBS & ORGANISATIONS = Northern Colorado Bonsai Society
ONLINE HAUNTS =http://www.evergreengardenworks.com/

***BONSAI COLLECTION***
TREES (total) = 30
ACTUAL BONSAI = 3 that I take to shows
POTENTSAI (future bonsai) = 8 (within 5 years)
DISPLAY STANDS =10 (all Homemade, I can't find any good ones that aren't a fortune)
SCROLLS =4
ACCENT PLANTS =1
THE IDEAL SIZE COLLECTION IS:35-40

***FAVOURITES***
SPECIES (NAME 3) = Malus, Pine, Maple (Amur because i'm in Colorado)
TREE SIZE = 24" +/- 6", trying to get into Mame 2"
STYLE (NAME 3) = Informal Upright, Literati, Broom

DISLIKES = Starter plants in Bonsai Pots
BONSAI PHILOSOPHY = Take a huge tree/shrub and cut it back hard. Let it heal for a few years, then grow branches. The scar has mostly healed and you have huge trunk/roots
BIGGEST CHALLENGE = NOT buying trees (Trees that are pretty good, but not great). My collection is big enough now that I need to start to be more selective.

***PROPAGATION***
SPECIES COLLECTED =Pine, soon to be Sage
GRAFTED =Tried an Aspen (not sure what I was thinking)
LAYERED =3 - Ficus (very Easy)
SEED = Malus
CUTTINGS = Never could get these to grow. Same problem as seeds, takes too long to get a big tree.

***BONSAI PUBLICATIONS***
# BOOKS READ= 30+
# MAGS READ =12
# VIDEOS SEEN = 3
FAVOURITE BONSAI AUTHORS (NAME 3) =Tomlinson,
WRITTEN ANY ARTICLES/ BOOKS YOURSELF? = Not yet.. 8^)

***FERTILISERS USED***
SPRING = Usually Osmocote 15-15-15 (time release)
SUMMER = Looking for a good summer fertilizer
FALL = Low nitrogen
WINTER = None

***SOIL MIXTURES***
COMMERCIAL OR HANDMIXED? - Homemade all the way
BASIC MIX= Decomposing granite, fir bark.
FREE DRAINING = Varies by mixture, I make the Tropical mix hold more water and the conifers more free draining with more granite.
LIME FREE = yes