taking bonsai from nature?

TinyTree

Hello to all,
my neighbor has two little blue spruce baby trees that are growing in a part of his yard he will be re-scaping. They are appx. 8-10inches tall. I asked him if I could have the trees for bonsai. He is O.K with it, he would have just killed them. If I am removing a tree from nature, what kind of soil should I use? I am going to build a growing bed(thanks to bonsai talk) and re-plant them in it for the next couple years. Can I use standard bonsai mix or will I have to take some of his dirt/soil to plant them in?

Also, has anyone had success with colorado blue spruce bonsai?

Thanks

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pootsie

Some of what there is to know ...

pootsie

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

Joanie

Hey Tiny! If you try using the "search" button, above right, look for "blue spruce", you will find lots of information. Also, try searching on the internet for "blue spruce bonsai". It's always interesting to see what pops up!

You should be able to lift the little trees pretty easily, take as many roots as you can. If you are lifting in the spring, it would maybe be better (?) but if he's going to pull them out anyway...


A wooden grow box is a good choice if you don't have your growing beds made yet. Any well-draining soil will work for the grow box or the bed.... it's less crucial than the soil in a small bonsai pot.

Hopefully you will get other advice too, because I've never dug up spruces, nor grown them, this is general advice meant to help but may be incomplete...

Joanie

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