Hello, I'm new

[RNbonsai]

Hi, I have read these forums over the past few months since getting into bonsai. I have not found a post that I could actually give good advice on yet cause I'm so dang new. But I thought I'd say hello to everyone and share what I've done over the past few months. All my trees are very young, I love fiddling with them and trying to style but I basically have no clue what I'm doing.
Anyways here is my collection. I'm hoping they survive winter!!

 

[aml1014]

Welcome to the nut house, you've got a good start of a collection to practice and learn on.

 

[GrimLore]

I'm hoping they survive winter!!

Nice start honest. I have found that Wintering different species will vary and because of that have some pretty extensive notes for our area. It is possible though with a little research and asking local "Nuts" to be successful no matter what Nature throws at us. One thing I have noticed recently is that many plants are grown in Sothern climates that I obtain. Some quick math and looking at he difference in climates is a good place to start. For instance if I get a Cotoneaster that is cold hardy here and it was raised down South I just grow it and Winter it in the shed the first year. Second year I do light work on them and let them grow and Winter outside as they are healthy and acclimated. Same goes for any other species - know your grower!

Welcome to B-Nut and best wishes on your journey!

Grimmy

 

[Alain]

Welcome to B-nut!

You've busy like a beaver during your first months of activities

Normally you shouldn't have too much trouble for the 1st winter in Dallas, well I guess at least...

 

[sorce]

I basically have no clue what I'm doing

Are they outside?
Whats RN stand fer.? Really new.?
Registered Nurse? Row now?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Ceijay]

Are you knew to gardening as well? Or just bonsai?

I would bet with a collection that large, that you know your gardening.

 

[Desertfish]

Welcome to the Nut House...I'm new as well and loving it.

 

[RNbonsai]

Welcome to the nut house, you've got a good start of a collection to practice and learn on.

Yea they are bargain trees that I won't be too mad if they die. I have one that I wired and really was happy with that is now 100% dead. I don't need the pot so I'm just starting my petrified collection with that one I suppose.

So far it seems the less I do, the better they do haha

 

[RNbonsai]

Are they outside?
Whats RN stand fer.? Really new.?
Registered Nurse? Row now?

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

Yes they are all outside, I made a makeshift bench for them. I have tried to research each tree and adjust its place on the bench for light needs... Pretty sure I'm just guessing, but some are growing a lot.

Yea, RN stands for registered nurse, and real new I suppose.

 

[RNbonsai]

Are you knew to gardening as well? Or just bonsai?

I would bet with a collection that large, that you know your gardening.

Well I got into gardening to make a butterfly garden for my 4yr old daughter. We did good with that, and then switched to roses, sunflowers, pumpkins, watermelons and anything a 4 year old could dream up.

I stumbled into the trees by chance and got hooked. I want to put some into the ground but my dogs enjoy killing anything they can pre to death and the butterfly garden is full.

 

[sorce]

Yes they are all outside

Sorry, I did notice that later!

Quite the collection!

Don't worry about advice.....
Trees and jokes, trees and jokes!

I wouldn't mind seeing a few of those more close up!

Sorce

 

[aml1014]

So far it seems the less I do, the better they do haha

It's very possible to kill them with love I've done and I'm sure everyone here who has some experience will sati the same thing.

 

[rockm]

One of the most common causes of beginner's tree death is overcare--loving them too much. Trees rarely have to have anything DONE to them, beyond proper watering. Fussing with them will kill them. "Benign neglect" is a hard, but basic, bonsai skill one has to learn.

 

[RNbonsai]

Sorry, I did notice that later!

Quite the collection!

Don't worry about advice.....
Trees and jokes, trees and jokes!

I wouldn't mind seeing a few of those more close up!

Sorce

I'll try to grab a pic today of them. No worries, I kept my first one inside a while before I learned threes don't naturally grow inside

 

[RNbonsai]

Yes, it's so hard to neglect them... Maybe because I'm new and infatuated, but I'm trying to let them do their thing.

Here's a Barberry I chopped back but otherwise have left alone.

A live juniper and a dead one that I really like how it was styled but it died, not sure why? It was inside for a couple weeks after styling and seemed alive,moved outside and died. I think maybe it got shocked by the change from inside to outside weather?

I can grab pics of the other poor souls that adorn my bench if you wanted to see a certain one

 

[M. Frary]

I've killed a few junipers. They are tough but there are limits to what can be done to one in a year. It may even have been dieing before you styled it. They don't show that they are dead or dieing for a few weeks.

 

[GrimLore]

A live juniper and a dead one that I really like how it was styled but it died, not sure why?

My Wife has a few Tropicals and Sub Tropicals for quite a few years and a few years back she showed an interest in Junipers and methodically killed each one I got her. So many in fact she asked me not to get her anymore. She used to pretty much trim/hack them and repot them upon receipt...

I have since taken interest in them and find that leaving them be for at least a year is truly an effective way to keep them alive. Leave them in Nursery soil, nothing else needed but time to get them established. Many here do just that as well. In my case and again as with many others they stay in that crap for a long time. That most extensive thing I have done after having discovered two in the same pot was separate them. I was surprised they have lived honest as they really do not seem to like a lot of fussing the first years. It is difficult not to play with them but the long slow route works.

On a bright note you know that now, and welcome to B-Nut!

On a sad note the other one you showed in post #15 looks like it is on its way to the pile. Sorry but we ALL learn over time.

Grimmy

 

[RNbonsai]

My Wife has a few Tropicals and Sub Tropicals for quite a few years and a few years back she showed an interest in Junipers and methodically killed each one I got her. So many in fact she asked me not to get her anymore. She used to pretty much trim/hack them and repot them upon receipt...

I have since taken interest in them and find that leaving them be for at least a year is truly an effective way to keep them alive. Leave them in Nursery soil, nothing else needed but time to get them established. Many here do just that as well. In my case and again as with many others they stay in that crap for a long time. That most extensive thing I have done after having discovered two in the same pot was separate them. I was surprised they have lived honest as they really do not seem to like a lot of fussing the first years. It is difficult not to play with them but the long slow route works.

On a bright note you know that now, and welcome to B-Nut!

On a sad note the other one you showed in post #15 looks like it is on its way to the pile. Sorry but we ALL learn over time.

Grimmy

But you do repot then when you get them? Dang you think the one with the dead low branch is a goner? If it matters the low branch looked dead ish when I got it.
I've read about how junipers live and need foliage, and that they don't backbud much.

But how do you get the branches to fill out then if you cut it back? Assuming it doesn't die...

I keep ending up with a style that is just long branches with green only on the end after I prune them back.

 

[RNbonsai]

Thanks for the warm welcome btw all

 

[GrimLore]

But you do repot then when you get them?

Nope - I put them off to the side in what I call quarantine for at least a couple weeks and treat them with Insecticidal Soap and in cases more if they seem to need it. I do that with every type of shrub honest. I did fall of my beaten path on one nice boxwood this year and jumped the gun - yes it is dead
Now styling Junipers - wow that should be an extensive thread It varies with species and so far I have learned not take off what may be useful in the future. Now that takes time and planning all starting with a vision. Now going back to step one - the journey will be easier and the vision easier to envision after you see how your species grows naturally. Time, some more time, and then just a bit more

Grimmy