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28-Dec-2007
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#1 |
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bonsaiTALK Neophyte
Join Date: Sep-2007
Posts: 3
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What to do? Your advice appreciated
I have 3 trees that I would appreciate your feed back on. FYI, soil mixes vary, but I use distilled water with 1 drop/gallon of Super-Thrive and I also use rapeseed cake.
(see pics) 1. Red Maple I am tempted to remove the long upward growing branch, but I am also interested in having it assist in some trunk growth and perhaps sacrifice it down the road. Also, it lost it leaves early (I'm in the San Diego, CA area), but it is still using quite a bit of water. The soil is an organic mix. Any ideas on this? 2. Twin Pines Both these little guys are thinking that it is spring here in San Diego by way of the new growth, but actually night temperatures have been in the 40's (deg F). Soil is an inorganic mix purchased from Bonsai Boy. I suspect that they are both too young to start pruning seriously. I was thinking to ground plan them to thicken the trunks a bit. Comments? Ideas? 3. This (mega-pre-bonsai) is a rooting from my Hong-Kong Orchid tree. It is in an inorganic mix purchased from Bonsai Boy with sphagnum moss. It seems to be doing well, although 3 other rooting I took have died. Any ideas on what to do with this little fellow? Thanks all. Cheers, Daniel |
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What to do? Your advice appreciated |
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Forum Sponsor
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28-Dec-2007
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#2 |
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bonsaiTALK ArchMaster
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I'd stop watering with distilled water. It can actually harm your trees. Distilled water is void of any minerals or other nutrient value. Tap water is fine.
Do not remove anything from the dormant maple--which should be outside for the remainder of its dormancy and for the rest of its life. Maples will not survive indoors. Also do no prune the maple now. Wait until late winter. Doing so now could result in dieback. The pines you have are not pines., they just resemble pines. They are Norfolk Island pines (Araucaria), a tropical plant unrelated to pines. Araucaria will not respond like a pine to bonsai training. They make only marginal bonsai and are generally more trouble than they're worth to do so. |
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28-Dec-2007
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#3 |
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Carrier of Bonsai Fever
 Join Date: Oct-2001
Location: So-Cal, US of A
Country: America The Beautiful
USDA Zone: Zone 9-10
Posts: 1,833
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"I suspect that they are both too young to start pruning seriously. I was thinking to ground plan them to thicken the trunks a bit. " Uh huh, good idea. Like to see you at the San Diego bonsai Club. Pm me if you'd like details.
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Keep growing,---'Nut Lethal Use of Farce |
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28-Dec-2007
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#4 |
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bonsaiTALK ArchMaster
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You have taken the first step, obtained some trees and been bitten by the bonsai bug. Now you need to make a reality check. If you really want to do bonsai and have something to show for your efforts in less than twenty years you need to go to that club you were invited to and see what others are doing.
Starting bonsai from cuttings, seeds and small very young trees is an exercise in futility for the most part. You are better off taking a trip to your friendly local nursery and getting hold of a nice Juniper with a decent sized trunk and start hacking away. I can elaborate on this depending on your response.
__________________
The only finished bonsai is a dead one; me 1992 MABA Des Moines Iowa |
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