pre bonsai

Hi everyone, new to the forum but have enjoyed following the conversations here for some time! I picked up a couple JBP 'yatsubusa' about 4' in 10 g pots from one of my local nurseries, for those local to BC, I think they might be from Pacific Northwest Propagators (at least the tag looks like...

pruned back twice and bio gold is always pushing more growth.

Hi! Very new to bonsai. I've got an established shohin Chinese elm that I've been working on. I ran across this bald cypress pre bonsai from someone locally that I'm thinking of picking up. Question: the roots at the bottom that are exposed, will that cause strong nebari? What can I do to help...

I recently lucked into these 3 yews that were removed from someone's yard and the yard crew let me take them. I don't know what variety they are exactly, but around here (Dc area) it's mostly dwarf yews used for low hedging and I think that's what they are. Anyway, due to lack of space I would...

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...

I recently received this Chinese Elm via an online auction. I’m well aware of the preparations and patience it takes for a while to allow this tree to get back into a proper growth. However, if you were gifted this tree, what steps would you take and/or what experimentation would you take...

Hi everyone, I recently found a bonsai nursery near me that had a few blue Atlas cedars with the most intensely blue needles I’ve ever seen and I have not been able to get them off my mind. I didn’t pick one up because I realized I don’t really have a concept of what I should be looking for...

So, basically I am feeling much better in my abilities and now I would like to try to use better quality material. Only looking for better material with better trunks and cared for better etc than typical nursery stock, not interested in yamadori...yet (however would like to learn how to...

This is Water Jasmine tree, I bought it in Jan 2022. I planning using chokan style (formal upright) this picture taken from Jan 2022 This progress that tree in 25 Aug 2023 still a long journey. my target :

I know this is probably the most common post on here, but I've been looking at this Kishu for a few weeks and I'm not quite sure where to go. Pretty sure I "cleaned" too much out of the middle. I know I need to wire the whips, but there are too many "main branches". I also know some have to go...

I’m new to bonsai (first year). I ordered a couple of Chinese elm pre-bonsai from Brussel’s awhile back. I could feel something hard in the middle of the planter, but figured it was some growing medium or planter feature. Awhile back, I pulled out one of them, and the trunk basically went into...

Picked up some cheap hedging hawthorn last year, noticed this one had some interesting roots, intended to make an exposed or ROR this year, so great timing for this contest! << Chose the porous volcanic rock that the tree fit best on. And not bad colour IMO Can't really see in these photos, but...

In my endeavor to get better at selecting more mature ‘pre-bonsai’ material, I ran into this bougie stump going for $135. My main obstacle with selecting pre bonsai stock is that I can tell when something looks good and when it doesn’t, but I’m not sure why. This one seems like nothing special...

Are there any reputable sources for more developed tropical pre-bonsai? I know there’s Wigert’s but I’m specifically looking for a bougainvillea and they don’t have one on their website at the moment. I don’t think there are any bonsai nurseries that even sell tropicals within driving distance...

Hi all, I'm quite new to this hobby and would like any advice or input anybody is willing to give me. In fact, as of now, I haven't styled, nor do I yet plan to style, any trees. For the time being, I'm only interested in growing young saplings to raise in the coming years, while reading up on...

Hello all, I recently picked up this Ficus from a big box store. Traditionally I'm not a fan of the ginseng variety but when I seen this one my impulses got the best of me. Normally I have the good fortune of not being a very impulsive person but we all have our days. It was going cost me next...

Planning to make this shohin size but open to suggestions, i have never made a bonsai from pre-bonsai like this and i am curious as what you guys would do such as the first steps and ideas for shaping/wiring.

I have a very juvenile pre-bonsai which in the past year has shot out a couple whips at the base of the trunk. I'm wondering if I should prune off the lower whips. My thought process is that since they're so low, they will only suck energy and thickness away from the main leader. I am...

Hello all! I’ve only posted here once (asking for hinoki advice) but I spend many hours here reading. Since my first post I have fallen ever deeper into my bonsai addiction. Let’s just say both my porches are full of trees. Anyway, I have got a few Hinoki Cypresses and one sawara cypress, so I...

Came across this guy on eBay for about $150. I thought branching, nebari, and all look to be there, just wanted other's opinions if it's worth the price. Obviously would require a lot of work as this isn't necessarily a bonsai, but I see potential. Thoughts?

Hey guys! I stopped by Lowe's today to ravage the houseplant section, but found my way to the garden center and snagged these beauties for $3 each! I'm so new to bonsai that my plan was to stick with "pre-made", but the more I learn about the hobby, the more I'm itching to work a tree myself...

Same hackberry, different view.

This Celtis Occidentalis( hackberry) i had in my back yard was near six feet last spring, i trunk chopped it about 18" ...fertilized it early spring this year, and i think im gonna have a pretty cool tree to work with. I dont know if its truly Yamadori since i found it in my yard, but its close...

I've learned a few neat tricks over the years. A few real gems too, but I think you folks might appreciate a thread dedicated to one of my favorites. Somehow I successfully managed to convince a bunch of people that they should pay me handsomely to expand and maintain their gardenscapes. A sweet...

So I have this pine in my yard. It’s on the side of my house and I will be moving before next winter. Now that I’m into bonsai and looking to acquire trees I’m dying to try to dig this up! While I’m new to bonsai I see potential here. Questions.... What kind of pine is this? How wide should...