New to the world of Bonsai

Shifty

hey all -

Just wanted to put a post in to say hi. My name is Ryan, I live in Canberra, Australia - im 28. Ive just recently (in the last couple of months) started gettin very interested in Bonsai. Ive been researching online and Ive made a few trips to the local nursery which stocks some amazing trees.The guy who runs it obviously knows what he's doing judging by the quality of his work. I mean, what would I know right? LOL. All I know is that I liked what I saw - just beautiful. I spent a few hours just looking at the bonsai and chatting to him about how he started and basic tips for bonsai. It was thoroughly enjoyable and Leigh (owner) was a very nice guy. Money is pretty tight at the moment as we're saving for a wedding and my fiance and I just bought our first home. However, I will have a few hundred bucks spare at Xmas to buy my very first bonsai. Im extremely excited and am thinking of purchasing a juniper or a maple. I really love the look of them. I figured I would get into bonsai with an established tree and gain some experience with maintaining a tree before I start to make my own.

ANYWAAAAAAY - just thought i would make myself known to the community before I start spouting questions (which im sure I will have plenty of). Very much looking forward to chatting with all of you.

Kind regards

Ryan

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soonami

Welcome to bonsaiTALK forums Ryan,

With a couple hundred dollars you can get a very nice tree to work with, although I would suggest you buy a couple lower price trees to work with instead of investing so much money in a single tree because as most beginners can tell you, the first couple trees have high casualty rates

As beginning trees go, juniper tend to give beginners a little trouble, but deciduous trees like maples and elms are easier to deal with, as are tropicals such as ficus. Either way, I would suggest a couple trees of lower quality for you to work with so that you actually have something to do rather than buying a tree that almost finished

Meanwhile start reading up on bonsai there's a wealth of information on the internet and talk to people whether you take a class or join a club, there are a lot of people that are willing to share their knowledge with you.

Good luck and I hope to see you and your tree(s) around

Shifty

Thanks for the reply and your advice. Its wierd - im just so excited about the whole idea of having a bonsai at home. My fiance and pretty much the rest of the family think im a bit strange for being interested in small trees but who cares right!?! lol

I'll be sure to post pics of my bonsai when I get it/them

Ryan

soonami

lol, my GF was thought the trees were interesting at first, but now that I am overwintering some downstairs in the basement and have the tropicals in the sun room, its more of a tolerance.

Also if you plan on only keeping your trees inside make sure you tell the nurseryman. Most trees do not like being inside and almost all of them prefer to be outdoors. For those you are to keep inside, tropicals do well if you keep the humidity up, and some semi-tropicals or broadleaf evergreens can be put inside too. This would include ficus, fukien tea, chinese elm, boxwood, or jades, but for the majority of trees outside where there is good morning sun and light afternoon shade would be best

Ashbarns9999

G'Day Ryan Welcome to the beautiful world of miniature. Canberra has a bonsai society which you may wish to investigate. If i may give you some advice as you are reaching to the first rung on that long ladder of learning. I wouldn't spend too much, initially, on a tree that you may, through inexperience, lose. I fully understand your desire to own a 'finished' tree and this late in spring may prohibit the creation of raw stock to bonsai pot to fulfil what you require. If it were me i would buy a say $50-$70 tree and spend money on tools, wire and some nursery stock which you can plan to work on later. Read as many books on bonsai you can get and seek out the local bonsai club. Having found this site you will find a wealth of information at your fingertips. Late autumn/winter you can start to style i.e. juniper with your new found knowledge. I wish you well on your endeavours Ryan.

Kind Regards Ash

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Shifty

soonami - LOL...im sure my partner will end up "tolerating" it aswell. And dont worry - ive read enough to realise that a majority of bonsai dont like the indoors. I would only ever bring it/them in to display on special occasions. Im gathering from the advice im getting from people not to buy anything too good yet. So maybe thats what i'll do - but I gotta say...its tempting to blow it all on one tree!! lol


ash - how's things mate? Yep, ive seen that Canberra has a few bonsai clubs/societies and im sure to look them up in the future. Im such a nOOb at the moment I dont really wanna bother them with my nOObish ramblings just yet. I will most certainly continue to read and learn as much as I can. Its all just so interesting and exciting yet daunting at the same time. Im sure you all know where Im coming from! This site has actually made me feel more confident about entering into this as it seems there are as you say, an ubundance of people willing to help with even the smallest of problems and Ive only been here for 5 mins. lol

randyburtis

yup, being quite new myself, and looking around,this forum is tops!