A new Jasmine bonsai

Sharon

Hi all,

I am very new to this game, my mother inlaw bought me a Jasminium, age 6 last night with a book on Bonsai for beginners. I am reading the book, no problems. My bonsai is in need of a haircut to say the least. The only problem is that the little tree has been wired and looking at it a long time ago, the wire is now going rusty. How can I remove this wire without harming my new tree, it looks very tight into the bark too.

Also I would be grateful if some nice person could give my some info on the type of bonsai.

Is it an outdoor or indoor plant?

Is there a picture of the plant so as I can have a look.

I dare say I will have a million and one questions to ask along the way, I am an avid gardener, but I have never done anything at all with bonsai, it is something that I have thought about many a time and my mother inlaw has pushed me into it now. I am looking forward to hopefully creating a little master piece of my own!!

Any help and advise would be great.

Thanks
Sharon

PS: I will try and post a pic of the tree!

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Sharon

Here is a pic of the tree.

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bonsai 1a.jpg (52.9 KB, 167 views)

Sharon

A closer view

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bonsai 2a.jpg (69.2 KB, 159 views)

erubeck

Sharon:

I am by no means an expert. So take what I say in that light. The books list the Jasmine as a deciduous or evergreen shrub. This tells me that it can be an outdoor plant in the spring, summer and fall but will probably need some protection in the winter but not kept indoors. I am thinking of a cold frame or some such device which would protect it from freezing but still give it a couple of cold months for dormancy.

Ed

KZitzewitz

As you said the wire is cutting into the wood, removie it immediatly. You will need to get wire cutters, they have special ones for bonsai at your local enthusiast store, or maybe even garden center. The special ones will cut the wire and hopefully not the tree, but cut about every full cirlce and slowly take it off. Those are my suggestions at this time. I would get some more info on jasmines to learn about their feeding and grwoth habits...

__________________
--Kristopher

whidn

I wouldnt even wait to find bonsai wire cutters. I would find some cutters leats likely to bite the tree and at least cut off the worst parts until you can get some better cutters (which I have not yet aquired myself)

If the wire is rusting then it is not copper wire. If you rewire you should use copper wire.

__________________
Beginner From U.S.A.

If you skim when you read
Your knowledge will be skimpy

A lways
S eek
K nowledge

God, give me the wisdom to use it

whidn

Here is a quick virtual of what I would do with the tree.
I am assuming this what the trunk is shaped like behind the foailage.

Attached Images

bonsai-1ab.jpg (25.9 KB, 128 views)

__________________
Beginner From U.S.A.

If you skim when you read
Your knowledge will be skimpy

A lways
S eek
K nowledge

God, give me the wisdom to use it

Earl

I agree with Whidn's advice about the wire cutters. You can use decent regular wire cutters but like he said, cut it at every wrap and carefully get it off the tree. Don't try to unwind a bunch of it, you'll just break branches and risk harming the tree.

As for trimming, I would not be near as drastic as Whidn. Study your books, look up Jasmine Bonsai on Google, do alot of research if it's your first tree and go slow. I have cut way too much way too fast only to regret it and have to wait years to get something to grow back that I shouldn't have cut. Or worse, never had the branch grow back. I would just give it a "shave" not a cut. Just start cleaning up straggling branches and you'll get the feel of it afterwhile (20 or 30 years from now )

Something like this crude virtual.

Attached Images

attachment 2a.jpg (36.8 KB, 117 views)