New to site, need advice of the masters on TOPNOTCH Procumbens Pre-Bonsai Stock

[JudyB]

youngsai,
I can see them fine. Looks like you have quite a good sized collection going on. I see why you are excited about the prospects, just make sure that you heed the warnings, cause we've all been there.....

You can resize your pics easily on this free site, if you can't find a way to do it on your computer.....
http://www.picresize.com/

 

[youngsai]

Ok, I'm glad you can see them! I guess if anyone else posts an issue, I will attempt to put the pics on using the site you posted...

More pics are up now!!! This is the 1st tree, the one i repotted and in my opinion one of the least complex and with the least potential... 2nd one on the way....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77586269@N03/

 

[rockm]

You will get infinitely more responses by posting them here. It's not difficult. Use the pic resizing site.

People are very cautious about clicking offsite to remote images. Too many viruses and other nasty links out there. We also don't know you that well, yet, so that may cut down on viewing also. We get our share of spammers here (You're not one, but still...)

 

[coh]

You asked about "common bonsai killers"

The biggest one for those who have been doing it for less than five years or so is too much enthusiasm, or rather unbridled enthusiasm.

The urge to "do something" just to do it is very very VERY strong when you've got nicer material to work with. Giving in to that urge (clipping off "unneeded" branches, etc.) is not good for the bonsaiist or potential bonsai.

You've got to take a step or two back, yeah, it's good material, it may have a killer trunk and scads of possibilities, BUT jumping into making it a bonsai immediately will kill it...been there...

Step back, put the shears down. Let it alone. Let it alone for a year, or two, or three, or even four. Go out and get some lesser stock to practice on. You can easliy replace a $15 juniper from Wal Mart. You can't easily replace a decades-old tree. Whatever you cut off of an older tree WON'T be replace easily. Chop at your own risk...

I don't work on a "new" tree for at least a year, or more. It takes time to understand what older trees are saying. If you think you see a design in an older piece of stock immediately, nine out of ten times, there is a better design lurking there unseen. That better design takes a while to reveal itself. I've had more than a few "aha" moments with stock that's been sitting around for years...

I think that's some great advice, some of the best I've read in a while.

Obviously one reason to wait is the design aspect, but the other is cultural - the tree is now in a different environment, possibly different light levels, and you'll probably water and fertilize a little differently than the previous owner. Seems a good idea to let the tree settle in to the new conditions before doing any major styling work. How long? A few months? A year? Several years? Guess it depends on your comfort level and how well the tree responds to its new environment.

BTW, I also rarely click on links to outside images. Not that difficult to post them here.

Chris

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Looks like you may have your Chinese Elm indoors. If that's the case, get it outside ASAP.

 

[youngsai]

Redwood, the Elm is dead, thanx for the advice though...

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Redwood, the Elm is dead, thanx for the advice though...

Oops yeah I just caught up with the thread, my bad

 

[youngsai]

I'm using the resize website as we speak to accommodate everyone, they will be up very shortly, please comment/critique them as you see fit, I will not be working on them this year though so I have alot of time to take advice and decide on styling, the one i am posting now seems to me to need little work, it has a beautiful look to it already, does anyone agree?

ALSO, advice asap on the best re-sizing of my pics using resizer would help me out, im not sure wut to choose here, what the max file size allowed on this site would be ideal info!

 

[youngsai]

4th time is the charm!

 

[youngsai]

a few more showing the curves and age of the trunk/bark

 

[rockm]

To be brutally honest, this is OK material. It's not all that old and not all that exceptional.

It is definitely a lot better than most starter grade mallsai, though.

What does need to happen before any styling is done, is to get the tree into workable health. This tree looks to be a bit on the weak side. Sparse foliage mostly at the ends of branches and more than a few dead interior and lower branches.

What needs to happen is probably a repot (without any design work next spring) into better bonsai soil. Then the tree should be left alone for at least two more years of untouched growth.

 

[youngsai]

ok thanks rock, you're saying to repot into the same pot right? should I cut the roots at all? also, in the 'my favorite' pic you can see a little jin popping up over it that I debarked already. Can i cover that in lime-sulfur or, if not, what should I do to preserve that until next season?

 

[rockm]

I would get it into as small a container as possible without disturbing the roots. Soil should be extremely fast draining. Do a search here on junipers and soil to get an idea.

Don't jin, don't use lime sulfur (dead wood will last without lime sulfur), don't clip, don't pinch, don't clip the roots, DON'T....

And FWIW, those jins aren't really worth keeping. They're far too thin.

 

[youngsai]

How deep or shallow should it be? Should I bury some of trunk with it? Or expose some of the roots? Should I just do this with all my new stock? Or all my junipers in general? should I do this with my hinoki's and mugo's as well? Or do you need to see pictures of each and decide tree by tree?

 

[youngsai]

It's kinda funny/embarrassing to me now, looking back on what I thought were awesome material. BTW, I of course did not listen to a word anyone here said, and as a result of my bull-headedness and impatience I killed every single last one of these junipers.... Lesson Learned!

In fact, I killed every single last tree from this time, then gave up on bonsai for a few years, then came back and learned first. Most important first lesson? Think twice/ask advice, cut once. If I feel impatient, I go collecting or scouting (urban yamadori style), or go look at the sales rack in a garden center (which is the mulch pile in the back).

 

[Paradox]

Dont be too embarassed. It takes time to learn what good material is and killing trees out of too much enthusiasm is very common among people new to bonsai. Dont give up. Take it as a lesson learned and do better next time.