beginner

First off, I’m sorry these photos suck. I hope they’re okay enough to be useful. There’s an interesting branch (top of the trunk’s curve) that I plan on making the apex; I have it wired upwards into an S-shape already. Besides that, I’m stumped with what to do with the upper half of the tree’s...

Hi guys, I just planted this juniper in a larger pot (not pictured). How can I preserve the nebari while I grow it out? Do I need to wire the roots in some way? Thanks!

Hey guys, I’m a little confused on how taper is achieved with formal upright conifers like an incense cedar. If I grow it out in the ground and then chop the main trunk and wait for a new leader to form, wouldn’t that leader come out off to the side so it wouldn’t look formal upright anymore...

I just purchased this trident maple. It will be my best tree yet. I'm super excited to get this and get it potted up. I don't have it yet, but I should get it next week. I have a 21" x 21" wooden box with holes and such that I made that I'll put it in. I'm just a little nervous about getting it...

Got a few branches (not truly a few) from a cherry orchards late winter pruning! And if these all root I'm sooo screwed 🤣 I've arranged to have around 7 of them planted.. I don't think they'll all be successful but if they are I have quite a swarm of plants to work with. Might do a clump...

I am a beginning my 2nd yr in bonsai. I purchased these trident maples from a widow of a club member who has passed. I got these trees late last spring and I am looking for help on how best to get these trees back on a path towards becoming bonsai. Trident #1 has 3 trunks and a big calloused...

Hey guys! Here’s my second attempt on pruning / styling a nursery stock juniper. Looking for some feedback and what you guys think.

Hello guys, I recently got a chienese elm tree for my birthday (Jan 22nd). ( I live in central europe). I watered it as my friend who gave it to me suggested. He said this tree is decidious and I shouldn't be surprised if it doesn't grow that much. As you can see it grew a little bit 😄😄 I think...

 Hey guys, just chopped up my first nursery stock juniper. I can’t decide what to do next. I’m open to informal upright or semi cascade, whichever makes the most sense with what the current structure wants to do. I can’t decide which will be the new leader. I was thinking about cutting off...

Went over to a couple of hardware stores at lunch to do my final sale hunt. Got 5 trees (Pinus sylvestris?) and settled on the one below. I see some people submitting a couple of trees and deciding to pick the winner later? Can you confirm if that's ok @Eckhoffw ? I was planning on doing some...

I still consider myself very new to bonsai, but going into my 3rd year in this hobby, I’m finding more of a desire to want to do a workshop having never done one before. My biggest hesitation? Cost. You look at most seminars, it usually costs around $150 for a single day at a seminar, $300-$350...

Hello everyone. First post here. I got this juniper (not sure if Chinese, Japanese, etc), and I wired it as seen, kind of just going for something unique, not totally certain on eventual style. Anyway, I have done some light pruning/trimming on foliage which has 5+ tips growing out. Outside...

Hello, I’ve decided to buy a ts1000 and I’m planning to build a little 60x60cm (24x24”) box with mylar, pc fans and a humidifier alongside the grow light. Prerequisite: Sweden, usda zone 7a (dark and cold October-mars), no access to garage or other area which is colder than 22c+ except for...

Every list I see of beginner species includes types of juniper, and although they are great, I’m curious as to what people think of other conifers. In your opinion, what are the top 5 easiest conifer species that aren’t junipers?

Hey Guys, Earlier this summer, I found this daubs frosted juniper in a corner at a local nursery and got it for half off. The only thing I’ve really done done is cut the dead stuff off and try nursing it back to health. I’m just going to let it be until next year. What direction do you think I...

HI everyone! I just got my first bonsai today (a creeping juniper from my local nursery), and with some wonderful advice from @pandacular pruned it into a shape. Since this is my first ever Bonsai, I thought it'd be fun to start a progression thread This was the initial Juniper, which I had...

Hey all, I received a few new elms in the mail and I was unsure what the suggested care for them immediately after receiving them was. I read that fertilizing should be kept off for a few weeks but couldn't really find any solid information about whether or not to protect them from the wind or...

Hey all, I had my first attempt at overwintering a chinese elm "outdoors" (just not in a heated house) in an unheated garage. This spring, it seemed to wake up somewhat and has buds on many branches but still no leaves as of yet. I fear that it may be dead. Does anyone else have any rough idea...

Hello! I purchased some Yoshino Cherry Tree Seeds (I couldn't afford a sapling), with the intent of attempting to get at least one to grow to try making a Bonsai tree. I've never done this before, so I was wondering if there is anything specific to these plants/my situation I should know. I...

A huge white mulberry tree fell down in my yard last summer. This branch grew out of the stump and I've been letting it survive so I can air layer it. I'm planning on doing that this weekend. Any suggestions on where to air layer? My tentative plan is to remove a strip of bark in the middle of...

Hi! I have no idea what to do with this butterfly maple. I've added wire but i can't form the branches right in any way. Maybe i should prune? I'm a beginner so i would appreciate your help!😀

So I have a few trees (Chinese Junipers) now, all bought from a normal garden nursery, put good random bends in the trunks, wired the branches into decent directions and they seem to have survived the harsh Finnish winter on my open, unprotected balcony. (Not sure yet, they're still green though...

Got these three plants to entertain myself during my vacations. I want to use three different approaches on them, like an experiment. These are $20 nursery stock so I’d like to learn as much as I can and not being too careful. Tree number one: Tree number two: Tree number three: As...

First and foremost, I've finally decided to come out of the shadows. I've been stalking around this site for about a year now, made an account a month ago, and here we are today. And second, I'm new to the bonsai world and trying to learn what I can as I go. I currently have two plants that I'm...

I am looking to buy a Bonsai tool kit for a beginner. I am overwhelmed by choice. Does anyone have suggestions? I was looking at a 5 piece TinyRoots Bonsai Tools Kit to start: https://www.amazon.com/BonsaiOutlet-Tinyroots-Piece-Carbon-Pruning/dp/B077D2CJ8L#customerReviews. The tools are carbon...