North Pole

alaskazach

Ok here I go! I have finally decided to take the plunge after keeping my house plants alive for two years now and would like to start Bonsai. After reading many of the tips for starting a bonsai is to plant it out side for one, two or three years, well living in the great frozen north I do not have that option unless it is a white spuce as the ground is frozen for most of the year.

The positive aspect is I get almost 24 hrs of sunlight for about three months and plants grow quick in the summer. Help me please, should I go out in the tundra shopping for a spruce or two or should I hit up a local green house for a starter or two?

Thanks again everyone I have learned alot about just in the two days of constant reading these boards!

AlaskaZach

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mike108

Have you ever thought of getting a greenhouse?

Mindcrime

Hi Zach!

I used to live 160 kilometers south of the arctic circle, so I think I know how you feel! You'll soon find out that for us "cool" people, it's basically useless to follow the timing described in books and such. "Collect your trees around March or April", with what? Dynamite?

The way you should get your tree, provided you don't live north of the tree line, is by collecting. I promise it will be the easiest way since very few nursery trees will be hardy enough for you, and in the beginning it's a lot easier to have species that can actually live outside the whole year rather than always struggling for survival because of the climate. One nursery species that might work really well for you is Larix decidua 'Sibirica' (could be Larix sibirica). It's extremely hardy and a really good tree for beginners. There are a couple of other conifers that might work as well.

What species grow naturally where you live?

A green house may be a good idea, but might be a bit costly if you're young and don't have an income.

My tip is to read up on how to collect trees, start with Walter Palls article below http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/AT...0W%20Pa ll.htm

When you've read it, read it again...and again...and again

edit: If there are pines where you live I might be able to give you some hints of how to care for them since it's nothing like the books say when the growing season is as short as yours is.

Regards
Emil

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Less is a bore...

alaskazach

Emil,

Thanks for the great reply! I am going to read the article as soon as I squash my homework.

But I was able to find a research paper from the Alaska science forum and there trees that grow naturally are: white spruce, black spruce, quaking aspen, balsam poplar, larch (tamarack) and paper birch. Most of the picking of trees is legal in Alaska as so much of it is public land I would like to use a local plant life if possible since learning can be painful.

I have a book on order from Amazon "The Secret Techniques of Bonsai: A Guide to Starting, Raising, and Shaping" hoping it will help me get started, but that is for indoor and mainly the summer since the rest of the year it will be 35 below.

I would like to be able to afford a green house the only problem I have is keeping it warm during the winter since we are on oil heating and right now that bill is running around 700 usd for two months of oil!

Thanks again for the help and I hope one of the local plant life will work.

Zach

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AlaskaZach
Its finally warming up here in Alaska!

Mindcrime

Zach,

Out of the species you mention the two Spruce and Larch will probably be the ones you should focus on. The Birch might also be usable, but Birch in general is a bit tricky and not very rewarding. During my 3 (I'm a beginner too) years of Bonsai, I have only seen 2 really good Birch Bonsai. I have no idea about the Poplar, but the Poplars that grow where I used to live were not worth spending any time on (Populus tremula).

I would also like to mention that I only have experience with Picea abies (Norwegian Spruce) and Larix sibirica, and they might be a bit different than the species that grow where you live.

When you've read a couple of articles about collecting, start scouting your area BUT DON'T COLLECT ANYTHING YET!!! Use a camera and take pictures of the trees you think look old and gnarly and post them here and we will help you decide which ones are worthwhile and which ones are not. I know many will think I'm wrong but IMO don't collect seedlings and crap first "to learn on". With proper guidance you can start collecting good trees straight away. I'd leave the REALLY good ones, but it's perfectly ok to collect a 50-100 year old tree the first time IF IT'S DONE THE CORRECT WAY! The correct way IMO is to look for trees that doesn't require any real digging, but trees that grow on top of rocks (or a rocky surface) that can be lifted with an intact rootball. Read this article and scroll down to the middle of it to see what kind of rootball I'm talking about:
http://www.bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/AT...pinesnorway.htm

So, scout rocky areas and post pictures here BEFORE collecting anything. Also, I don't know about the laws or cultural considerations regarding the outdoors and forests where you live but asking for permission (maybe even if the law is on your side) will actually make things easier even if it seems like a hazzle.

You should have at least a month on you before it's even possible to collect if the climate is anything like where I used to live.

Regards
Emil

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Less is a bore...

PatArizona

G'day Zach...

Listen to Emil...very good advice. Also, he sounds like he is willing to help you get started.

Aditionally, search out "local" talent...someone with bonsai experience close to where you live...where in Alaska? That covers a lot of territory, doesn't it?

Pat

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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.

alaskazach

Pat,

I have been looking around for people in the area, sorry about not saying where but it is Fairbanks, where most of the winter we are below zero and -30 to -40 are normal tempatures for this area. As for out side plants I am going to have to stick with local plant life because there really the only things up here that can survive the winter. Sometimes I wonder if I am going to survive!

As for indoor plant life I am having a hard time trying to find plants because the shipments haven't arrived yet so I guess that is a good thing because it is giving me time to research and as everyone on here says "READ, Read, and Read!"

Thanks Pat,
Zach

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AlaskaZach
Its finally warming up here in Alaska!

Claus

Zach , I think there is a club in Wasilla , You might try this Number and get in touch with them ,get some E-mail addresses around Ak .

907-745- 0883
Good luck CK .

Vonsgardens

Hi Zach,
Welcome. I guess that you will learn from what grows there. I would most likely suggest tropicals- you can control the environment.

I used to live in North Pole for four years, right off of the Richardson Highway, when I was stationed at Eielson and then at the University of Alaska.

Anyway, keep us posted as you start this most interesting of hobbies.

John

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"Wiring is simple; However, it is not easy to do it right" Boon