Bonsai New Year’s Resolution 2019

[Silentrunning]

My resolution for 2019 is to not buy any more sick or cheap sale trees. I know I’m not alone among rookie Bnuts to feel sorry for a tree or be tempted by a super low price. I have finally realized though that I am saving money but wasting time. I can gain several years in creating a good bonsai by starting with healthy prime material.

 

[Carol 83]

I get so excited when spring finally arrives, I end up ordering a bunch of little stuff. This year I am going to try and be more discriminate, and pick maybe two better quality trees. And I need to stop buying so many pots!

 

[markyscott]

My 2018 resolution was to lose 15 pounds. Only 20 to go

S

 

[defra]

Ive already purchased a great quality tree from a fellow nutter wich ill get at the trophy in belgium in februari!
Then ive got to save up again but i think ill have enough for now so i know sure i can provide all of them the deserved attention

 

[Nybonsai12]

Although these seem relatively easy to do, it is definitely not the case!

1)Buy only one quality tree/piece of stock for the year.
2)Go to a show.
3)Take a workshop with a pro.

 

[Cadillactaste]

New Years resolution...usually don't make them. But, would love to add a nice little clump to my bench. Hold out to something which speaks to me...not just jumping at the first one I see.

 

[substratum]

Get several air layers going in the next few months.
Invest in some decent starter material.

 

[Starfox]

More Australian natives.

 

[Sn0W]

Attend a class and air layer something interesting

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

My resolution for 2019 is to not buy any more sick or cheap sale trees. I know I’m not alone among rookie Bnuts to feel sorry for a tree or be tempted by a super low price. I have finally realized though that I am saving money but wasting time. I can gain several years in creating a good bonsai by starting with healthy prime material.

It took me a long time, over 20 years to really accept this and act on it. Still, I do have too much small stuff. Sick trees I have no trouble passing up, but I have a hard time with passing up cheap. And I start way too much from seed. All major time wasters. Once I got a couple trees that were more mature in the ''becoming bonsai'' process, I discovered that there is a whole different set of techniques that you use for a mature tree, that you never get to do with sticks in pots. If you want to learn bonsai quickly you need trees at all phases of bonsai development. And not too many at any one stage. Exhibition ready trees need much more time to manage than sticks in pots. If you have too many sticks in pots, you won't have time to bring more mature trees to exhibition ready.

 

[GGB]

only buying one tree a year. This spring I'm road tripping down to meehans, than in 2020 I'm road tripping to the national show in rochester. That way I know my one purchase will count. Although free seeds and volunteer seedlings are still on the table since they're free.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Raising trees from seed for bonsai is worth while, if one focuses on raising species that are not easily available in more mature ''bonsai ready'' conditions. For example, I've started a few batches of American persimmon, Diospyros virginiana, from seed, because you can't get them easily from nurseries, or from bonsai nurseries.

But raising things like elms from seed is not really worth while because it is so easy to get nice pre-bonsai elms.

 

[Joe Dupre']

Only collecting trees that make me think "WOW, this will make a great bonsai." . I do a lot of scouting throughout the year. I've marked close to 50 candidates. This spring I'll go back and scrutinize the ones that give me the "WOW " factor, and that's the one's I'll collect. Four years into this hobby, and I have a much better feel of what's good and what's not.

 

[Adair M]

It took me a long time, over 20 years to really accept this and act on it. Still, I do have too much small stuff. Sick trees I have no trouble passing up, but I have a hard time with passing up cheap. And I start way too much from seed. All major time wasters. Once I got a couple trees that were more mature in the ''becoming bonsai'' process, I discovered that there is a whole different set of techniques that you use for a mature tree, that you never get to do with sticks in pots. If you want to learn bonsai quickly you need trees at all phases of bonsai development. And not too many at any one stage. Exhibition ready trees need much more time to manage than sticks in pots. If you have too many sticks in pots, you won't have time to bring more mature trees to exhibition ready.

The post of the year!

 

[TN_Jim]

Learn/attempt:
Thread graft
Air layer
Big bends (raffia)

...chop lower, for real

 

[Tentakelaertje]

Learn to graft like a boss and buy (way) less pots! 2018 has been a splurgy year, but now my uni student ass can't afford that anymore!

Also get rid of some project trees and cultivate a new designated bonsai spot in my new garden!

 

[just.wing.it]

My resolution is to give organics a shot....in the form of a new additive to my soil mix....Doug Fir Bark Chips!....along with the lava and pumice.

 

[Underdog]

Only trees at least one zone colder than mine. Too many need babysitting.

 

[Stan Kengai]

My goal this year is to really work all of the plants I can. I have been sort of in a "let it grow" phase with some plants and maintenance phase with others. This year I will be chopping a few ground grown trees, wiring and shaping cuttings for shohin/mame, getting more wire on trees, and reworking some plants that have stagnated or are mediocre. I started today by re-styling a rather boring grafted juniper whose foliage had grown too far from the trunk. It is going from an upright to a semi-cascade style. Even if I am not satisfied with the results, at least I made an attempt and hopefully learned something along the way.

 

[Sthlmbonsai]

Only collecting trees that make me think "WOW, this will make a great bonsai." . I do a lot of scouting throughout the year. I've marked close to 50 candidates. This spring I'll go back and scrutinize the ones that give me the "WOW " factor, and that's the one's I'll collect. Four years into this hobby, and I have a much better feel of what's good and what's not.

I agree 100%. In 2018 I collected too few but the list for 2019 is ridiculous and I really do need to prioritize on the wow trees.
Other than that I need to keep studying horticulture especially for local trees and start building fences & benches for my trees. Oh, and learning pottery.