Redwood Ryan
Masterpiece
That first pictured Ficus looks like a philippinensis. The next two, however, given their small leaf size, look like cultivars of benjamina. Possibly 'Kiki' or 'Christine'.
bonsai vs baby plants.
- Thread starter mrme
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That first pictured Ficus looks like a philippinensis. The next two, however, given their small leaf size, look like cultivars of benjamina. Possibly 'Kiki' or 'Christine'.
Iamtheuniballer
Sapling
What is it you are doing in the 3rd photos? Interesting
CWTurner
Omono
Baby trees? How about dwarfs
One of my local nurseries has a table of dwarf trees. Mostly conifers, if I remember. I picked up this Hemlock (Tsuga csanadensis, Moon Frost $14.99) a did some pruning and it had a nice miniature tree with an impressive canopy. (sorry, no pics of the tree after pruning and its dead now from blowing off my bench and not getting watered)
I don't know about growing Hemlock indoors, but you should look into some miniatures from what I pick up from your posting.
One of my local nurseries has a table of dwarf trees. Mostly conifers, if I remember. I picked up this Hemlock (Tsuga csanadensis, Moon Frost $14.99) a did some pruning and it had a nice miniature tree with an impressive canopy. (sorry, no pics of the tree after pruning and its dead now from blowing off my bench and not getting watered)
I don't know about growing Hemlock indoors, but you should look into some miniatures from what I pick up from your posting.
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cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
Sorry ,I am a couple days late.
The 1st photo below is the end of the growing season of a 6-7 month old Zelkova tree from seed.They get wrapped up for the entire winter like that and the following spring you un-wrap it.
It is how I get them to look the way they do the following spring in the 2nd photo below.
I learned this technique from Bonsai Today Magazine #71.
If you are interested in making these,shoot me a private message.
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KennedyMarx
Omono
Mrme, do you have outdoor space to keep your plants? It's a little late this year to find anything, but you can find plants at nurserys to practice on. Not sure what exactly would be available in your area, but boxwood and junipers are pretty some easily found nursery plants that are pretty tough and can survive beginner mistakes. But they are cold hardy plants and can't be grown indoors.
Leo in N E Illinois
The Professor
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Hello MrMe
All bonsai, at some point in their lives were seedlings. So raising seedlings and "baby trees" is part of the hobby. As some of the comments about wabi sabi and visual impact, and the impression of age are concerned, young seedlings just won't be able to do this right away. But with enough time, they can. The 100 year old masterpiece did start out as a seedling - though a long time ago. For most of us raising seedlings is the nurseryman's aspect of the hobby. Many choose to deal only with older material that is well develop. Some of us really enjoy this aspect of the hobby. There is less written about the "nurseryman" aspect, but the literature is out there, just takes more digging.
My first concern is that you said they will die. I think you are right, start with "baby trees", until you can keep a batch of them going for 2 years, avoiding spending more than the price of lunch is probably a good idea. Bonsai is creating art through the use of horticulture. I would start with 10 to 20 indoor plants, when you can keep 80% alive for 2 years or more, you have the basics of horticulture, then you can graduate to a wider variety of material.
Step one - learn the horticulture. Between now and spring indoor trees are your best option. Ficus are one of the better trees for indoor growing. Others include pomegranate for a very sunny spot, grewia, eugenia, malpighia, rosemary, and many, many others.
Jade plants make good indoor bonsai, see this link
http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t16171-portulacaria-afra-spekboom-2-1-2-year-progression
yes the link is on one of the "other forums", but this forum is the most active on the web, so I am not negating this one in any way.
So first, study and learn how to grow a plant well, then you will be free to branch out and expand your skills and your collection. It is a wonderful hobby. Whether you focus on indoor bonsai, or outdoor bonsai or both, it is a great hobby.
I'm still learning more about bonsai every day, and I have been growing bonsai for over 40 years.
All bonsai, at some point in their lives were seedlings. So raising seedlings and "baby trees" is part of the hobby. As some of the comments about wabi sabi and visual impact, and the impression of age are concerned, young seedlings just won't be able to do this right away. But with enough time, they can. The 100 year old masterpiece did start out as a seedling - though a long time ago. For most of us raising seedlings is the nurseryman's aspect of the hobby. Many choose to deal only with older material that is well develop. Some of us really enjoy this aspect of the hobby. There is less written about the "nurseryman" aspect, but the literature is out there, just takes more digging.
My first concern is that you said they will die. I think you are right, start with "baby trees", until you can keep a batch of them going for 2 years, avoiding spending more than the price of lunch is probably a good idea. Bonsai is creating art through the use of horticulture. I would start with 10 to 20 indoor plants, when you can keep 80% alive for 2 years or more, you have the basics of horticulture, then you can graduate to a wider variety of material.
Step one - learn the horticulture. Between now and spring indoor trees are your best option. Ficus are one of the better trees for indoor growing. Others include pomegranate for a very sunny spot, grewia, eugenia, malpighia, rosemary, and many, many others.
Jade plants make good indoor bonsai, see this link
http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/t16171-portulacaria-afra-spekboom-2-1-2-year-progression
yes the link is on one of the "other forums", but this forum is the most active on the web, so I am not negating this one in any way.
So first, study and learn how to grow a plant well, then you will be free to branch out and expand your skills and your collection. It is a wonderful hobby. Whether you focus on indoor bonsai, or outdoor bonsai or both, it is a great hobby.
I'm still learning more about bonsai every day, and I have been growing bonsai for over 40 years.
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amcoffeegirl
Masterpiece
I did the same thing as you. I bought about 25 willow leaf ficus over the course of 3 years from my local greenhouse. I have about 12 of those left.
Major thing I learned is don't prune in winter. Don't cut off too many roots.
Better to work on the ficus in the growing season- summer only.
And I kill jade trees- I don't try those at all.
Look up mame trees or shohin and you can see some mature baby trees.
In 3-5 years you can have a nice shohin.
Major thing I learned is don't prune in winter. Don't cut off too many roots.
Better to work on the ficus in the growing season- summer only.
And I kill jade trees- I don't try those at all.
Look up mame trees or shohin and you can see some mature baby trees.
In 3-5 years you can have a nice shohin.
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