First Bonsai - Suggestions? - bonsaiTALK Community

11-May-2005	#1
Holokai Still no Bonsai! Join Date: May-2005 Location: Arizona Country: U.S. of A. Posts: 32	First Bonsai - Suggestions? Ok, I've read three books on Bonsai since Friday, browsed this site extensively, and I'm ready to get dirty. I want to run my plans by you all first though. I'm going to start with a few Ficus cuttings, I think they will work best in my climate (Hawaii). I'm headed to Home Depot tomorrow to pick up Wire, Wire Mesh, Wire Clippers, Clippers, and soil mix. That's my first question, since I only have a home depot I can get to. The mix I was going to use is 1pt Loam, 2pts Sphagum peat, and 2pts granite grit. I went there on Monday, to look around, and could only find Sphagum. Loam and grit weren't available, at least by those names. Should I be asking for them by another name? I figure I'll probably need a pretty fast draining mix for now, correct? I've found a nice pot I like at a Japanese home accent type place, which has a few bonsai on display as well. I'll probably buy a few 3 gal containers to put extra bits in to grow out. Am I forgetting anything? Thanks, Chris

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11-May-2005	#2
Bart Thomas(deceased) Perpetual Novice Join Date: Jun-2003 Location: Bridgewater, NJ Country: United States USDA Zone: 6 AHS Heat Zone: 5 Posts: 1,367	Chris: Your ideas make sense, but I'm concerned about your soil mix being too water-retentive. I don't know your climate, and I understand it varies widely among parts of the Hawaiian Islands. Have to talked to Fuku Bonsai (17-856 Olaa Road (PO Box 6000), Kurtistown, Hawaii 96760 Phone (80 982-9880) ? Have you located a bonsai club in your area? There is an article about Hawaiian Bonsai Clubs on the Wbbf website. Good luck, and welcome to a great hobby! Last edited by Bart Thomas : 11-May-2005 at 08:10 AM.

11-May-2005

Holokai

Still no Bonsai!

Join Date: May-2005

Location: Arizona

Country: U.S. of A.

Posts: 32

Yessir, I contacted both of them. I have the contact information for the Pacific Bonsai Club, I'll call them tonight. As far as HBA, I couldn't locate a number for them. Fuku Bonsai was helpful, but they didn't tell me much about the soil.

So here's what I came up with - I ran by the home accent store, and picked up a ficus. then I dropped in to Home depot and bought a water can, spray bottle, sphagnum peat, and wood chips(small size). The last two I combined with some soil I bought previously. (see first pic below).

I also trimmed back the roots a bit, as long as the ficus was out of a pot anyways. (pics 2 and 3, before and after).

Finally, The potted ficus... from a bunch of angles.

Thoughts?

- Chris

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