I don't know, I beg to differ and so I stand apart. I prefer a bonsai that has been grown from seed to a bonsai that is collected and hacked back. I guess I want my tree to be beautiful all of it's life as opposed to having a thick trunk that has been hacked back severely. I know it takes time, and a lot more time, to grow from seed but I think it also carries a certain reward. Not to mention that when you grow from seed you get to plan and control every bit of the growth right from day one.
Collected or from seed?
- Thread starter somnium
- Start date
jeremy_norbury
Omono
Can you tell the difference, then?
Usually, if visible and not hidden under the canopy, I can see where the tree has been hacked back yes. I wouldnt say you can always tell, years after the cut, though. But my argument is that it takes so long to develop after hacking back that you might as well start from seed.
aml1014
Masterpiece
All I can say is, there's a whole hell of a lot of charter and beauty out in the mountains and desert here then any human could ever replicate in their life. Im Sure it's the same most places.
Aaron
Aaron
jeremy_norbury
Omono
And you state this because you've done this or at least seen sufficient trees grown entirely from seed?
Yes I agree natural bonsai in the mountains are awesome indeed. I would never limit the ability to mimic that though, that would be insult to the very art of bonsai itself.
I have grown many bonsai from seed yes. But I went to jail and had to give my collection away and so I am beginning again from scratch. Of course I have seen thousands upon thousands of bonsai pictures, both collected and from seed. I like the ability to grow a natural taper from seed.
I have grown many bonsai from seed yes. But I went to jail and had to give my collection away and so I am beginning again from scratch. Of course I have seen thousands upon thousands of bonsai pictures, both collected and from seed. I like the ability to grow a natural taper from seed.
jeremy_norbury
Omono
I'm just going to say - go ahead but don't be disappointed when you spend the first 20 years achieving nothing.
I've only met one person in 40 years of doing bonsai who made good bonsai from seed - and I've met a LOT of professionals and amateurs. It's incredibly hard and requires decades of experience before you start.
I've only met one person in 40 years of doing bonsai who made good bonsai from seed - and I've met a LOT of professionals and amateurs. It's incredibly hard and requires decades of experience before you start.
jeremy_norbury
Omono
Don't tell me I'm silly, show me your trees and I will decide for myself if you know what you are talking about.
Whilst you are not "foreseeing any trouble", what you consider to be a reasonable bonsai is probably entirely different to what I consider to be a bonsai. But hey to each their own.
Whilst you are not "foreseeing any trouble", what you consider to be a reasonable bonsai is probably entirely different to what I consider to be a bonsai. But hey to each their own.
jeremy_norbury
Omono
I had a feeling this would happen.
@somnium , the best thing is trying both ways. Then you might conclude, yes I can make bonsai from a seed and from collected material in let's say 6 years... But from the seed you'll have a sweet (slim) shohin developed and from collected one depending what you dug and how you train it.
Collected material brings some great natural features and gives you some time advantage. Chops? From the seed you'll grow and chop and grow and chop, but much longer time to achieve the similar thickness. ... And won't avoid chopping. But sure, you can do it based on a plan to have smaller wounds.
Collected material brings some great natural features and gives you some time advantage. Chops? From the seed you'll grow and chop and grow and chop, but much longer time to achieve the similar thickness. ... And won't avoid chopping. But sure, you can do it based on a plan to have smaller wounds.
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
Yes, thank you. I am "Yes you can" kind of man, and not a "no you cant and its hard" kind of man. I agree you will grow and chop back and grow and chop back. I just dislike seeing tree that have a massive "chopping back". I find it ugly and unnatural.
0soyoung
Imperial Masterpiece
I agree. But how else can you create taper?
Super-mini looks like fun and starting from seed would be just the thing.
jeanluc83
Omono
Just out of curiosity, how many high quality Bonsai have you seen in person. I say this because Bonsai is a three dimensional art. Even the best pictures fail capture the feeling of a great tree.
I agree, and would like to add, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder for what is reality but a mere perception. There was a saint who once spoke that beauty is hidden everywhere for the eyes to discover. This knowledge opens the doors to experiencing this marvel.
