Desert rose and trident maple in arizona??

Bonsai4Me

first off, let me say that i am 17 and live in arizona and even though im very new to bonsai, i absolutely love it! and think its something id love to do! i used to have a chinese elm, it was my first tree i got from my parents for christmas in 2006 and the tree was 4 years old! but it died! i just want to know every little thing theres is to bonsai! i need to know good books too! i have one book that ive read backwards and forwards a million times its called "The Bonsai Workshop" but more to the point, i bought 3 types of seeds from ebay not too long ago.. i got desert rose, trident maple, and japanese maple. im sure a few of you are already thinking.. wow.. arizona climate + maple bonsai = death.. well i think that if i can care for it enough then i can make it happen.. heres what i need to know (and ive tried looking all over the internet already for some answers but couldnt find anything) 1. is my dream of growing these plants into bonsai a reality? 2. how do i plant them, what care do they need to grow from seeds,fertelizers?. 3. what type of soil.. thats pretty much it. i did hear a rumor that the desert rose, from a seed, needs to have a heater underneath it?? or something like that... anyways, please help me out with growing these! id appreciate it!

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PatArizona

G'day Bonsai4Me...

Welcome to the wonderful obsession of bonsai...

B4Me...it sounds like you are on the right track, however...I would like to suggest that you check out the Phoenix Bonsai Society, and hook up with some local growers...this is where the best local advice resides.

In the meantime, here's something that might help you...

Sooooo many questions to ask…soooo much to learn. I like to call this the shotgun approach to learning...

It is my belief that the "shotgun" approach is just about the worst way to learn anything. Just ask the Ole Sage, who wishes that somebody would have told him what follows below thirtysomething years ago, or even twentysomething or "anyteensomething" years ago.

So, one day I began thinking about how I wish I had started out in bonsai...the following is a condensation of those thoughts.

TO THE BEGINNERS…

As a beginner, you will ask many questions, and will receive many answers. Read the responses. There is sooo much to learn, and some structure to the learning process would really be better than the "shotgun" approach.

What I have to say here is in no way intended to keep you from asking questions on bonsaiTALK. The intention is to guide you to an approach that is far superior to the "shotgun".

And, always remember...and don't ever forget... that the only dumb question is the one that is never asked.

Maybe the following will help...

One thing that you should learn at the earliest possible time, is PATIENCE. The more you learn about bonsai, the more you will realize the importance of being PATIENT. You cannot be taught PATIENCE by someone else...but you must learn to be PATIENT.

There are five things (plus NEXT, below) that a beginner should do, right at the start:

• Read...read...read...then read some more.
• Join a local club.
• Take a beginners' class.
• Learn the importance of being PATIENT.
• Look at additional learning resources.

Read... Read... Read...Go to your local library and read every book on bonsai that you can put your hands on. In the US, the book most often recommended for beginners is BONSAI, published by Sunset...an excellent first book for beginners. Be sure to get the 2003 edition. Among my favorite authors are: David DeGroot, Herb Gustafson, Deborah Koreshoff, Colin Lewis, and John Naka...and, there are many more good books. The more you read, the better prepared you will be to ask questions here, or at your local club...in Step 2.

Join a Local Club…Here is where you can get the best advice available, since the local club members are the ones who are raising bonsai in YOUR geographical area. The local club can help you avoid the pitfalls that you may encounter when you get advice from, maybe, half way around the world. Take your bonsai to a club meeting…ask for advice.

Further, many things in bonsai are pretty much universal, but you need to know what it takes to keep a bonsai happy and healthy in your location...be it New York, Tucson, San Francisco, Sidney, London, or Toronto. There are many more benefits to being a member of a local club. You can find local clubs worldwide at www.bonsai-bci.com/. Most clubs meet once a month…plus additional activities.

Take a Beginners Class…This is where you formally begin learning the basics, like selecting a nursery plant, which plant to start with, identifying the front, branch trimming, wiring, and on and on. You will begin to learn what works best for your area, what tools you need, and how to use them, etc. A good beginners class will help immensely get you off to a good start.

Learn the Importance of Being PATIENT…One thing that you should learn at the earliest possible time is PATIENCE. The more you learn about bonsai, the more you will realize the importance of being PATIENT. You cannot be taught PATIENCE by someone else...but you must learn to be PATIENT.

Additional Learning Resources…There are so many. Look at the American Bonsai Society web site at www.absbonsai.org. Check out the ABS Correspondence Course and the ABS Learning Seminars.

Next…The bonsaiTALK Forum has a lot to offer. Check it out thoroughly so that you can use it to your best advantage.

Having said all this, welcome the wonderful obsession, I mean world, of bonsai!

Oh! Did I mention the importance of learning to be PATIENT? And don't forget the Phoenix Bonsai Society.

Enjoy the journey.

Pat

__________________
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.

JDubinski

Hey Bonsai4Me,

Welcome! I too am somewhat new to Bonsai (just about 2.5 years). I agree with Pat Arizona - try taking a beginner's course somewhere. If you are near Phoenix, check out their Bonsai society - if you aren't then check them out on the web. They have some good information on the growing needs of trees.

Also, while growing your trees from seed, you may want to go and get a couple of trees that are a few years old already to play with. The trees from seed will be great once they are old enough to begin training, but take it from someone who was in your shoes a few years ago, you will get impatient watching seedlings and want to do something with them before they are ready.

I would suggest checking out local nurseries and taking a class, depending on the class and type of materials they can be very affordable. Also, you could go to a local nursery or garden store and purchase a couple of stock plants to play with. This way you will have some inexpensive material to use and if they do go to that big forest in the sky, then you won't have spent loads of money on them. You can get a decent ficus or jade at most garden stores that is inexpensive.

I have learned a lot from taking courses here in Massachusetts. It really is a great way to learn from someone else who has been creating bonsai for years.

Good luck and welcome to the habit, I mean hobby.

PatArizona

Buy the way Bonsai4Me,

BONSAI WORKSHOP...a very good book...

Pat

__________________
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.