Wandering my local nursery, trying to find "it"

superbum

So here I am, a real beginner, wandering around my local nurseries trying to find a good starter plant. I already have two mass produced Junipers (one is already dead I suspect) and am practicing/learning w/ these. However I would like to get a gallon sized tree (with potential) and be kind to it so that when i feel ready I can devote time and attention to creating bonsai out of it.

The problem is, the nurseries have little bonsai experience and don't seem to have any popular beginner plants (ficus, juniper, etc.) IN my wanderings I came across a Dwarf Winged Euonymus (burning bush) and a Buxus Microphylla Japonica. both are in three gallon pots, but are still small w/ good looking trunks and roots (to me...).

The Employees did say they tend to get gallon sized trees in spring like maples and elms.

Should I wait for spring when My choices might be better? Has anyone had experience or heard of the Euonymus or Jap. Buxus being bonsaied? How do you choose your future masterpieces when wandering the nursery??

Thanks everyone, I appreciate any info!

Vic

Advertisement

pootsie

Howdy Vic!

Being that you are in California, I would suggest you make a day-trip to a bonsai nursery and pick out some good stock, maybe a chinese elm since they are very resilient and easy to care for.

I see that Bishop is right next to absolutely nothing
But it would be worth the trip to find something good to start with.

pootsie

__________________
p.s. My cat is a bonsaiTALK Master.
Columbus Bonsai Society

superbum

Thanks for the quick reply. Reno is kinda close (4 hours) and I might be going to Vegas soon to climb at Red Rocks Canyon, so maybe I will look there. Why Chinese Elm? What about a Maple? I really like the look and "visual feel" of these trees.

Joanie

Maples are harder to grow. Try a Trident if you want a maple, but Tridents don't do well in freezing conditions. You need to figure out what kind of environment you can provide the tree....

Tell us about your yard, your temp range, etc. Tell us your budget too. There are several good threads and articles here on the forum about choosing nursery stock. You can easily find good trees at the nursery, with planning. But you need to be able to keep them alive! Choose trees that are hardy in your area. If you have very little afternoon shade in your yard, or no morning sun, that's important.

Be careful, too, about nursery maples. They are often grafted, and the graft point gets uglier and uglier. Look for trees that have not been grafted, or buy from Mountain Maples (online) whose grafts are low and will be hidden.

Joanie

__________________

superbum

Late March through October it is virtually never below freezing. From november through Feb the lowest it usually gets is 15 F but mostly staysabove 20 F and below freezing at night. The average daytime high all winter is in the low 50s. Spring, 60s and 70s, summer 80s to 100s, Autumn is 80s and 70s mostly. Very little rain as well. I live at the base of the eastern Sierra in CA so there are times of extremes every once in a while, but we are at 4000 ft so it's really pretty mild winters and fairly hot summers.

I am truly interested in Junipers. Not only are they a fairly hardy plant and good for beginners, that is the tree I am most familier w/ having spent a lot of time in arid areas of CA and the Four Corners region. I did grow up in Portland, OR though where it is very green...lots of Jap. Maple trees there...lots of every tree there.

My yard recieves full sun for the most part from mid morning until just before sunset. Again, weather here is fairly calm, so not a lot of wind or snow, etc. We actually have a really large central lawn area w/ a big pond that we share w/ 5 other little houses. I can basically put my plants anywhere they need to be lightwise as there are larger shade trees around. Is it OK to shuffle plants around during the day? Say, full sun in the morning, then move them over to some part. shade for the afternoon, then back again? Is that stressful to the tree?

So that's my growing situation. I only work 30 hrs a week in the evenings so I can keep a watchful eye over my trees. I Am on a budget (a pretty tight one actually) and am considering harvesting some Junipers from the surrounding mtns once I know what I am doing. But I am willing to make a solid initial purchase though. Non-bonsai nursery stock is inexpensive, but I feel like I will waste my $$ there more easily because I don't have an experienced eye yet...I will be going to vegas in March and will probably get a tree there. Most likely a Juniper or Ficus or Chinese elm.

As far as style goes, what catches my eye is a bulbous, smooth, lighter trunk w/ a few strong thick roots showing. I also really enjoy the fukingashi style (windswept right?). I also really enjoy the deadwood in some junipers and like the look of conifers in general. I guess that steers me towards ficus, juniper and maple right?

Gosh, I have to stop writing. I am just really excited to embark on this journey and am trying to learn ALL that i can. I have little patience naturally and am hoping to learn that fundamental behavior through bonsai... Thanks!

vic

Joanie

If you get ficus, they will have to come in for the winter, and will need certain light and humidity requirements.

The maples may not do well in dry, hot summers where you are now. Their leaves are tender and burn easily. Perhaps someone can come on, and tell us if the maples will live all right at those temps but situated under the landscape trees? Tridents are definitely more likely to survive the heat and dryness but they aren't very keen on freezing temps, so they could be mulched or brought into a garage or shed.

Junipers will do fine I think (one person's opinion always, remember!! Always get more opinions) You can get a decent juniper in a 5 gallon nursery can and work with it, for a reasonable price. It will be tough enough to survive, and will give you more tree for your buck.

Here is a very good article on going to a nursery to get stock, and what to look for. Here is a list of California bonsai club websites, maybe something is close enough to you? Let's bump this thread up early tomorrow morning, and perhaps we'll get some more answers for you.

Joanie

__________________

gregb

I see that Bishop is right next to absolutely nothing

pootsie[/QUOTE]
Absolutely nothing Try some of the oldest trees on the planet The White Mountains near Bishop contain groves of the oldest bristlecone pines that have ever been found/studied.

superbum

Yep that's true! Have you been there? I actually haven't made a foray up there yet. I am a climber and tend to head to the Sierras instead of the Whites. It's on the list though. They are absolutely breathtaking trees. Old Gnarled windbeaten twisting smallish lumpy perfect trees...I'd be loath to dig one of those up though...

Anyway, thanks for the replies so far. I am definately OK w/ staying w/ junipers for awhile...One of the nurseries I visited in Bishop has two nana junipers in the same smallish (maybe 12" square) wooden box for $22. They look and feel healthy but they have no trunks to speak of. As soon as they emerge from the soil, they bend 90 degrees and lay against the ground and jut out maybe 3-5in. past the edge of the pbox. Are these worth getting? I really like the windswept style, but would love to have an upright trunk...can these be trained or lengthened in some way? Maybe raise the rootball a bit every time I repot?

I will visit again soon and take a picture of the Japanese Boxwoods they have and these junipers. Thanks for all your helps...

vic

Ralph

You should locate the closest bonsai nursery to you as Pootsie said. Juniper prebonsai stock at a bonsai nursery will have trunk and branching you can work with. Landscape nurseries as you are finding out have a smaller selection of what could be considered good potential. It looks like you will be in for a drive to find good nurseries. Give the Fresno club a call, maybe they know of a nursery that is between them and you.

http://www.gsbf-bonsai.org/fresnobonsai/

__________________
Emerging from winter slumber
Bonsai trees burst buds anew
Spring is upon us!


-Paul S.