Twisting Trunks...

Amoroso

Remember this guy... (common fig tree)

http://members.cox.net/amoroso39/fig.jpg

Okay I got two of them in the cup of water now... and I can see little roots sprouting out now! , going to wait acouple more weeks till the roots are well established... well anyways I want this fig tree to have 2 trunks twisting straight up... what u guys think? How can I go upon doing this? Copper wire? or tape? Thanks guys! My lemon cutting looks like its dying oh well, im about to can it...

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DNA Perfect

Hello Amoroso,
I think you might get bored with this plant well before it looks like a bonsai. My thoughts are, grow these cuttings to observe the species growing habit. Spend time searching for older plants that are well on there way to becoming bonsai. You will have a sense of accomplishment faster if you grow and style branches on an already nice trunk and nebari.
goodluck,
~Ken

Amoroso

I dont know what to look for... what should I start? should I start with seedlings... I originally wanted to do Tridents, but scared now of what Im reading on these boards... Im very confused... I think I give up before I even started...

Cre8tive

Amoroso,

I have been a beginner for the past 3.5 years. I would like to suggest several things:

1. Get some books (or at least one) and read up on everything! This may sound like a brush off to you if you are excited to get going but it helps to learn the patience required to approach Bonsai as well as answers to many of your questions.

2. Seedlings are great for learning how a species grows and how to take care of it. It is not a great choice for someone who is anxious to break out the wire and begin styling.

3. Stay away from seeds for a year or more until you have aquired some material to work on and more knowledge of the time frame for turning seeds into Bonsai. (It's long)

4. IMO - buy some decent sized stock that is cheap so you can practice wiring, root pruning, etc. Don't expect theses practice trees to turn into great Bonsai. Use them for what they are worth.

5. Use the search function on BonsaiTalk. There is so much information here that it would take you years to get through it all. I search all the time. I post on topics just for interaction sometimes even though I could probably find everything in the archives.

6. Don't quit!

Again, I am a beginner and my advice is from my own experience and what I recall from advice given by others.

Regards,
Mark

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