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Collecting From The Wild

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Collecting From The Wild

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19-Feb-2004	#1
Johnsai bonsaiTALK Journeyman Join Date: Feb-2004 Posts: 23	Collecting From The Wild Hi, I'm real new to bonsai, like less than a week new, but I'm really interested and have read about 6 books on it in the past week. I wanted to know about collecting from the wild. I understand that it takes a long time if you do it right, but I'm in college right now and my resources are limited. Has anyone had any success with going straight from the ground to a bonsai pot and if so can you offer me some help? I live in an area with a lot of evergreens and rocky places that cause dwarf tree growth. I'd like to try collecting a tree as soon as this weekend, but I don't want to kill it. Please help. Thanks.

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19-Feb-2004	#2
Adam_MA bonsaiTALK Master Chief Join Date: Sep-2003 Location: Eastern MA Country: U.S.A USDA Zone: Zone6 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,158	Without knowing where you are it would be impossible to say if going collecting this weekend would be right for your time of year. If there is a bonsai club in your area they would probably be your best resource. There is quite a bit of information here about collecting from the wild, just click the search button at the top and type in your query. Sorry I can't be more help Adam

19-Feb-2004	#3
FredL Banned 08JUN2005 Join Date: Dec-2001 Location: Benton County Country: USA USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 1,099	Johnsai, where do you live? If it's too early to collect where you live, it won't be long until it will be. Here in the Ozarks, the time of year for collecting is just starting and will continue for the next several weeks. I'd suggest a change to your mindset and that you begin thinking Wild to Growbox to Bonsai Pot. A growbox is a less strenuous environment for a newly collected tree and gives it time to re-establish itself before going into the more restricted environment of a bonsai pot. Besides that, it's a real inexpensive way for a beginner to start out. An easy way to make growboxes is to pick up a few 10 to 16 quart plastic wash basins at your local Walmart or other 99 cent bargain store, drill some holes in the bottom of each (at least five 3/4" holes) and plant your tree in it in good bonsai soil mix. A couple of years in a grow box will allow it to grow the kind of root system it will need to succeed in a bonsai pot and will let you begin initial training. You are quite fortunate to live in an area with good material available growing wild. Good luck with it and stay in touch! Fred

20-Feb-2004	#4
Bart Thomas(deceased) Perpetual Novice Join Date: Jun-2003 Location: Bridgewater, NJ Country: United States USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 1,367	But, PLEASE, get permission before you collect!

20-Feb-2004	#5
saint bonsaiTALK Expert Join Date: Dec-2002 Country: Barbados USDA Zone: Tropical AHS Heat Zone: ? Posts: 152	If you are very new to bonsai, I would reccomend that you hold off from collecting for the moment. Get yourself a couple of trees first and gain some experience in keeping a tree alive in a pot before you try to shift one from the wilds to a pot. Hook up with a club in your area if there is one, and get the advice of a "veteran" who has experience collecting in your area. All of this will increase the chance of your collected tree surviving. And yes when you do eventually go to collect, get permission, be very choosy about what you take, and understand that you are taking something out of nature that might die by your hand when it would have been perfectly okay otherwise. Try not to do that lightly. I don't have a problem with collecting, I have a problem with careless collecting. __________________ Best Regards, Leslie St. John Barbados West Indies Remember: Opinions are like bellybuttons, everyone's got one

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