Impediments to beginners?

[leatherback]

I learned the best students weren't all that afraid of falling or making a fool of themselves, if it meant they actually learned how to ski. They learned HOW to fall to avoid injuries..

Makes me remember one of my first lessons where I was shooting straight down the slope, no control whatsoever, and the instructor coming up shouting, sit down, sit down!

He later explained that once you loose control, best is to drop yourself in a controlled way, rather than running into a pole, tree , or goup of kids.

 

[ShadyStump]

I think another thing we often do to newbies is we can get hung up on best practices versus practicable bests.
Yes, a ficus will be much happier outside in the sun, but if this new guy happens to live in a fourth floor apartment, a bright windowsill will very often do.
Let's stay focused on helping them succeed with what they have, and problem solve their situation in stead of telling them it will never work.

 

[James W.]

more budget and upgraded the wife.

2 real reasons I have seen that prevent people from starting.

I am putting together a summary list the next couple of days, then may try to pivot the conversation to things I/we/our club can do to help as well as identifying issues we cannot or should not try to meddle with (i.e. upgrade the wife).

 

[Mr.Dr.K]

I think intimidation is a large unspoken obstacle in bonsai, as it is in learning any new sport/activity/hobby.

I used to teach skiing a very very long time ago.
Lots of beginners had it firmly in their minds "not to fall" on their first lesson--some perceived falling as some kind of idiot move that marked them as uncool. Others were afraid of getting hurt. Falling on your first lesson--or fifth, or as an instructor, is part of the activity. It happens to everyone. Fearing it can add to the damage.

I learned that folks either learned to laugh at that fear and manage it, or they never really got over the perceived indignity of falling and quit. BTW, some even said falling was MY fault for not teaching well enough--never mind all that complicated gravity/physics stuff. I learned the best students weren't all that afraid of falling or making a fool of themselves, if it meant they actually learned how to ski. They learned HOW to fall to avoid injuries...I also saw people who were overly intimidated and scared of what they were doing get some fairly bad injuries fighting a fall. I also saw those who were overconfident of their capabilities, or dismissive of the challenges of advanced terrain and instruction, get badly injured too.

Take from this what you will, but being intimidated CAN be an impediment. It can also be a tool. Don't let it stop you. Learn how to fall with some style and understand why you did.

Never gone skiing before (and I grew-up in Northern Michigan,—aka cold) but I grew up riding dirtbikes and atv's. The same ideology applies there as well. I've hit the ground quite a few times but never seriously huty myself (knock on wood). It's safe to say that most people probably learn more from failures or what-not-to-do, (I know I do) than success. It can be a struggle at times, but, ultimately, lessons tend to stick that way. And what's life without some struggle—boring. Failures are nothing to be ashamed of, as long as a lesson is learned.

 

[kingsville grower]

Lack of willingness to learn horticulture

 

[ShadyStump]

Lack of willingness to learn horticulture

Oddly, I think this is a thing, and not a small one.

Some people are infatuated with the aesthetics, but really aren't interested in what it actually takes to make it happen. Essentially, they want the finished product, but don't want to work for it.
It's like someone who gets a puppy because they're adorable, but then gives it away because they don't want to train it.
Little to be done there, but wait for them to come to you wondering what's wrong with their tree, then hand them the tools and walk them through it, hoping they don't just walk away.

 

[ABCarve]

Over the years I have given a great number of tours of my garden for the Garden Conservancy and garden clubs. It includes orchids, perennials, water plants, architectural features and yes, bonsai. Of all the disciplines bonsai gets the most questions. Many ask,”how much $” others ask “how to”. By the time I get done with them the vast majority no longer want to know the answers to those questions. Years ago I used to try to sell the hobby to people. Now I let them know what they’re in for if they choose this path. I think I’ve saved a lot trees their lives and many people a lot of grief and money. It doesn’t discourage those that are truly interested.

 

[Scorpius]

1. Choosing the correct soil media for your microclimate.
2. Watering correctly for your particular soil media and microclimate.
3. Keeping your trees in great health all year long.

 

[Potato with leaves]

was able to find a local bonsai club but I am the odd one out. I am a different generation to every other member and although I fit in that lacking of people my age was jarring at first.

This struggle is real! I am NOT a young man anymore, and was still the youngest by a considerable margin the first time I went to a club meeting!

 

[Kizerk]

This struggle is real! I am NOT a young man anymore, and was still the youngest by a considerable margin the first time I went to a club meeting!

The difference between me and the next youngest was something like 25-30ish years!
A little extreme for a difference for a hobby but really ended up being a moot point. Once I was able to speak some and give a few good points there wasn't even a second glance at the difference and I was just another member. I can't help but feel lucky for that.

 

[badatusernames]

One thing I really want to focus on this year is simply "seeing the tree". Not looking at it as something to work on.

I essentially got back into this by keeping starter material in bonsai pots alive for a few years and calling them "bonsai", and I was happy with them. It was only after I saw how they were reacting to pruning over a few years that I got interested in getting deeper - until that point I just had stuff in pots.

I think one thing I notice myself doing now is analyzing trees rather than looking at them. It's kind of like how at first you're sitting there thinking "ok, what's just growth vs. 'vigorous growth'" - but, like, you definitely know it when you see it, it draws your eye, there's no mistaking it.

I think knowing when to work on your own trees - outside of simply knowing the right seasons - is kind of like that. It's really really easy to start "picking" at a tree when you're constantly analyzing it, and it's easy to end up with very little tree at all at the end if you can't enjoy it for what it is. To value what's there and to try to determine how to use it vs. determining what is ugly and "needs" to be cut off and re-grown.

So yeah - it's already fine as-is, we're just making it better. Trying to go back to just "seeing the tree" vs. seeing a project is going to be a goal for me this year, now that I feel like I have a bit of a foundation.

 

[ShadyStump]

One thing I really want to focus on this year is simply "seeing the tree". Not looking at it as something to work on.

I essentially got back into this by keeping starter material in bonsai pots alive for a few years and calling them "bonsai", and I was happy with them. It was only after I saw how they were reacting to pruning over a few years that I got interested in getting deeper - until that point I just had stuff in pots.

I think one thing I notice myself doing now is analyzing trees rather than looking at them. It's kind of like how at first you're sitting there thinking "ok, what's just growth vs. 'vigorous growth'" - but, like, you definitely know it when you see it, it draws your eye, there's no mistaking it.

I think knowing when to work on your own trees - outside of simply knowing the right seasons - is kind of like that. It's really really easy to start "picking" at a tree when you're constantly analyzing it, and it's easy to end up with very little tree at all at the end if you can't enjoy it for what it is. To value what's there and to try to determine how to use it vs. determining what is ugly and "needs" to be cut off and re-grown.

So yeah - it's already fine as-is, we're just making it better. Trying to go back to just "seeing the tree" vs. seeing a project is going to be a goal for me this year, now that I feel like I have a bit of a foundation.

This is something I think we all deal with on occasion.
It's easy to say we pick up where the tree leaves off, but harder to recognize where the tree ends and we begin.

I think subconsciously this why I have a bit of an aversion to wiring. I'm never quite sure if I'm forcing the tree or helping it out.