New to Bonsai from NJ

[cbroad]

Can anyone tell what variety this is?

That's a Styrax, also called Japanese snowbell. They're pretty cool small trees, there's also a pink variety.

Definitely under used for the landscape. I just looked at bonsai examples on google, and there's a really nice one on pinterest.

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I have to go with @cbroad - Styrax. The pendant flowers cinches the identification. For a second or two I thought it might be Prunus laurocerasus, the cherry laurel. But the cherry laurel is usually evergreen, and more common further south than where you are. The Prunus flowers are not pendant, and in the cherries the flowers have separate petals. Your photo the flowers are fused, corolla, with lobes instead of petals.

So Styrax is my guess. Most likely Styrax japonicus, but it could be Styrax americanus, though the native species is pretty uncommon in woodlands today. It the Styrax is in human planted landscape, almost 100% chance of being Styrax japonicus, if it was off somewhere in pristine, old growth forest, then Styrax americanus is a possibility.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Thanks so much guys. I owe you some burgers and beers if you are ever in NJ.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Had a few of these ginkos germinate. Will see what happens to them!

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Cant figure out what this is. First thought privet.. but this is alternating leaf pattern.. then thought forsythia... but saw forsythia is not alternating leaf pattern... any guesses? It doesnt look like a cherry... maybe some crabapple or something?

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Cant figure out what this is. First thought privet.. but this is alternating leaf pattern.. then thought forsythia... but saw forsythia is not alternating leaf pattern... any guesses? It doesnt look like a cherry... maybe some crabapple or something?

The "dreaded buckthorn" Rhamnus cathartica, a wildly invasive species in the USA. Yes, good for bonsai, torture it to your hearts content. Don't let it scatter seed and you will be doing your neighborhood a favor.

Oh, and the ginkgo seedlings are fun. I've had several batches over the years, I end up giving them away as "party favors", so currently only have a handful. Put wire on them the 2nd or 3rd year and start creating weird and wonderful shapes.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Awesome. Thanks Leo! My leaves look a little more serrated than pictures of the buckthorns online, but I defer to your knowledge in these matters haha.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Odds and ends!

3 yr old pelargonium citrosum.. or whatever they call it:



A second hibiscus syriacus from seed... nice base forming.



Pitch pines all growing great this year


Batch of chinese elms amingst other seedlings and miscellaneous stuff


Golden rain tree... 1 of 7


"Dreaded Buckthorn" after pruning.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Did some pruning today on some various trees:



Cut back my second hibiscus hard:


Pitch pine I saw potential for a semi or full cascade:

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Looking good, your projects are coming along nicely.

This autumn, get some wire on your pitch pine seedlings that you want movement in the trunks.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Looking good, your projects are coming along nicely.

This autumn, get some wire on your pitch pine seedlings that you want movement in the trunks.

Yep! For sure. I was planning on rewiring alp my junipers and pines this autumn. Im starting to take off wire thats biting in now on some trees.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Not sure whats going on with this chinese elm... its leaves all of a sudden started turning yellow... i moved it from the other elms which look perfectly healthy... its been treated the same and everything:






Heres the others it was near... that look perfectly fine:




No ideas....

 

[Forsoothe!]

Those are the inner, elder leaves which are the least efficient and first to go in an emergency. You may have missed it once or twice watering. Are you as conscientious as you should be? Are you dependable? Do you need your knuckles rapped?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Those are the inner, elder leaves which are the least efficient and first to go in an emergency. You may have missed it once or twice watering. Are you as conscientious as you should be? Are you dependable? Do you need your knuckles rapped?

Please! Punish me for what Ive done!!

Its possible i missed this pot, sure.. they were clumped together... ill watch it for now.

 

[Vance Wood]

Had a few of these ginkos germinate. Will see what happens to them!

View attachment 305646

Watch out for snails and slugs they love Gingkos and will chew them down to the ground. I have had this happen.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

I heard that both loathe crawling over DE which is what I have these in... but ill be sure to keep an eye out for the slithering devils.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Im getting a weird amount of aerial roots on this... anyone else seen anything like this before????

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Im getting a weird amount of aerial roots on this... anyone else seen anything like this before????

It looks humidity triggered (?) Put that little succulent outside and those will be gone in a nanosecond.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

Im gonna let it be. Maybe if any of them take, I can develop something interesting. It must be the humidity in my basement... which isnt that humid at all. Lol.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Yes, Burro's Tail and Kalanchoe drop millions of babies, and they can live in deep carpets for a long, long time.