Newbies - want to share your trees?

[BajaKen]

[Installment #2] So, after my 8:19 PM post last evening the saga continues, but my story covers a pretty short period of time. As I said, I'm pleased the Fukien Tea survived the bug infestation, however, the treatment seemed harsh. And for a NooB, scary. But it seemed if I didn't do something, the tree was doomed. Flush with success, in rapid succession, I received a Bday gift of a 17" Golden Gate Ficus and then out of the blue a 22" Japanese Red Maple. I have not had to purchase a plant myself, so I know I'm fortunate. I've only done a little wiring on the 12" Fukien... mostly I'm focusing on letting everyone settle into their new environment, learning how to keep them healthy, and studying them for when I will start pruning. None will require more than light pruning or training any time soon. Right? Since I only have a west facing patio, I do a lot of moving inside and out to give them as much safe outdoor time as possible. When in, the trees are next to a sliding glass door with the door generally open, so they receive good light and fresh air. The maple stays outside mostly, and since I'm on the ocean with an ocean breeze it spends a lot of time on the floor to protect from wind. I'm in Baja, but that's essentially San Diego south. Comments? All these "free" trees have cost me plenty to feed my addiction! I had nothing for Bonsai, so I've had to buy tools, more pots, fertilizer... and if you had told me I would ever be ordering dirt on Amazon before this I'd have said you were crazy. I've ordered a plant shelving unit to get the patio organized. Previously I had only a passing interest in my succulents, but they are no longer safe on my patio, (hence new pots, etc.). I have attacked them all, some hideously so, but thank goodness they are so forgiving. I am now lusting after a large Jade and even my Bougainvilla may not be safe. I have to stop--I have no more room! But I do think I will keep my eye out for a nursery stock juniper. I move slowly with my three trees, but I am much more aggressive with the succulents. Since I'm in Mexico, most everything has to come from Amazon or a trip to San Diego. So, that's my plan. I will share more photos once the plant shelving is installed and I am more organized, but I'm really interested in Beach Bonsai enthusiasts... problems, solutions, comments and ideas?

 

[bluecat]

Traffic around the wound increases healing. Specifically, traffic starting before it, and ending after it.
A branch opposite a hole, won't do as much to heal the hole, as a branch later down on the same side as the hole.
Healing is only growing, just to the side. Same cells though.

Some trees are more "root to branch" than others. At least they say so, I doubt it, more accurately, some trees reroute sap flow more efficiently than others.

So if you have a trunk wound on a root and folaige shy side, it will heal slower than one full of both.

Point wounds to the sun!

Sorce

Thank you for the answer. I understood the importance of rotating the tree to balance foliage for health and aesthetic reasons, but I didnt make the connection between the increased foliage causing increased energy on that side for scar healing.

Follow-up
In the image below, I'm currently seeing lots of new growth from the scar in all directions which would help in healing somewhat but...
Applying your logic above means the best option would be for a bud to form on the upper side of the scar and try to develop that in preference over the other buds below or to the side of the scar. (It does also have higher foliage above it on the tree)

Fingers crossed for that bud then!

 

[sorce]

That looks alright. You definitely have good root down there.

I'm sure someone else knows the quirks of Japanese Maple better.

I "feel" like that growth below it might "steal" some of the traffic that may close the wound quicker.

If you look at the base of the little branches, you'll see they kinda flare where connected, the part moving in towards the wound, is then that twigs traffic, which is like a traffic cone, kinda effing things up.

If you think of it like a river flowing, you can kinda see how there is an Eddy of sorts. Where instead of just closing, energy is now diverted into this new place.
Seems like the wound may stay open longer because of those branches.

There is certainly going to be an aesthetic difference, cutting the little twigs below the wound off, so it can heal fast, then growing the branch.
And letting the branches grow and allow them to be the "healing".

You can probably find evidence of how the tree has dealt with it in the past elsewhere on the tree.

I think the best thing for a newb to do is simply observe growth. Trouble is we are so happy with our scissor hand, we don't even witness Growth Growth for years! Then it takes 5 years of observation, by then you're restarting 8-10 years of wasted time.

Health, move, health, move.

Not move, move, unhealthy, move, death!

Sorce

 

[aprice77]

Very much a newbie to Bonsai but figured I'd give it a shot. Started simple with a Blue Juniper and wanted to see what happens and learn. Love to get some feedback on what you see, what to look out for next, etc. Feel free to be blunt!

 

[bluecat]

Very much a newbie to Bonsai but figured I'd give it a shot... Feel free to be blunt!

I like the idea for this tree. It looks similar to one of my little guys


It's also similar to mine because it's not wired very well (I've since rewired neatly). I think you should look into how to wire a tree. I'm not sure the wire on one of your branches is doing much at all and the other seems more like a guy wire than wired.

It also looks like you're using electrical wiring which isn't quite the same thickness as a bonsai wire for the same outside diameter due to the insulation. This means it doesn't hold branches in place as well.

Try reading this: How to wire by bonsai empire
And or watching this:Wiring a tree by Orlando Bonsai

Note the 45 degree angle of the wire and direction of the wiring depends on which way you're bending the branch.

 

[Clorgan]

Love that so many people are sharing and getting some great tips from lovely members

Quick question - didn't think it needs a thread of it's own...if you create a jin, how soon after should you apply lime sulphur? Found lots of info about the process but can't seem to find when it's best to apply it after creating.

 

[Bonsaicarpenter]

A small Chinese elm that I chopped last year. I decided this year I hated the movement I put in the leader so I cut back to a new one.

Blue rug juniper I picked up a few years ago and did the initial styling this spring. Planning to put more movement in the branches next time around to compact it more.

 

[HorseloverFat]

I’ll join in with a few of mine. Here I’ve got a “mallsai” ficus, an AP ‘Mikawa yatsabusa’ (practice wiring tree #2, won’t show the first), and a Japanese black pine.
Not shown: 2 azaleas that I recently killed, RIP.

Great pics! Gave me vertigo a lil’ bit.

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

Love that so many people are sharing and getting some great tips from lovely members

Quick question - didn't think it needs a thread of it's own...if you create a jin, how soon after should you apply lime sulphur? Found lots of info about the process but can't seem to find when it's best to apply it after creating.

Dry the tissue out first. A couple of days, but a week is better. If possible, spray the wood with a tiny bit of dishwashing soap solution before you start painting, just the regular stuff you would use for washing your dishes (NOT the dishwasher stuff!). It helps break the surface tension of water, so the lime sulphur can penetrate well.
Regular hand soap should do the trick as well, but it's not as effective.

 

[Clorgan]

Dry the tissue out first. A couple of days, but a week is better. If possible, spray the wood with a tiny bit of dishwashing soap solution before you start painting, just the regular stuff you would use for washing your dishes (NOT the dishwasher stuff!). It helps break the surface tension of water, so the lime sulphur can penetrate well.
Regular hand soap should do the trick as well, but it's not as effective.

You're a legend - thanks very much!!!

I'm going to create a new thread for this tree - think it's my first that actually has some bonsai potential, and that I already have some ideas for. Plus I want to leave posting more stuff this thread for a bit and give others chance to post and ask questions if they want to

 

[Vali]

Plus I want to leave posting more stuff this thread for a bit and give others chance to post and ask questions if they want to

There's no need to do that. Everybody has enough chances to post in this thread, as I can see. It reached 7 pages in a few days. I think that means something. Keep doing what you feel like doing. It turned out great so far

 

[Clorgan]

There's no need to do that. Everybody has enough chances to post in this thread, as I can see. It reached 7 pages in a few days. I think that means something. Keep doing what you feel like doing. It turned out great so far

Very kind of you to say! I'm really surprised how well it took off! So lovely to see and thanks for your contributions! Hope you are getting something out of it

 

[Vali]

Hope you are getting something out of it

I did get something out of it. I got more confident in this forum's ability to treat the newer guys right

 

[Balbs]

I’ll keep this thing rocking...here’s a tree I’ve had a year. I hate it. Haha. It’s an ‘old gold’ from HD.

The image with the grass in the background is the tree today. I think the upper half of the tree is too tall and straight and it needs a good chop...but the lower part of the tree has some juvenile foliage so I don’t want to stress the tree further. I read the ‘Principles of Bonsai Design’ (awesome, by the way) and compared it to some of the ratios, which suggested the tree is all out of proportion. Somebody, please, tell me how to make it better.

 

[Bonsaicarpenter]

I’ll keep this thing rocking...here’s a tree I’ve had a year. I hate it. Haha. It’s an ‘old gold’ from HD.

The image with the grass in the background is the tree today. I think the upper half of the tree is too tall and straight and it needs a good chop...but the lower part of the tree has some juvenile foliage so I don’t want to stress the tree further. I read the ‘Principles of Bonsai Design’ (awesome, by the way) and compared it to some of the ratios, which suggested the tree is all out of proportion. Somebody, please, tell me how to make it better.

I think if you were to Jin above the red line and put a little more movement in the blue section it would improve it some.

 

[Balbs]

View attachment 309724
I think if you were to Jin above the red line and put a little more movement in the blue section it would improve it some.

Glad you said that, that’s where the ratios in that book would suggest the chop. Thank you!

 

[bluecat]

Glad you said that, that’s where the ratios in that book would suggest the chop. Thank you!

I might be tempted to try to layer it instead just because it might be a fun exercise while the tree is in development.
If it fails, you can cut it. If it takes, you have a cure little tree

 

[bluecat]

I’ll keep this thing rocking...here’s a tree I’ve had a year. I hate it. Haha. It’s an ‘old gold’ from HD.

The image with the grass in the background is the tree today. I think the upper half of the tree is too tall and straight and it needs a good chop...but the lower part of the tree has some juvenile foliage so I don’t want to stress the tree further. I read the ‘Principles of Bonsai Design’ (awesome, by the way) and compared it to some of the ratios, which suggested the tree is all out of proportion. Somebody, please, tell me how to make it better.

If you think of rotate it you can bend the first branch up as a second trunk and then build out foliage pads into a rough overall triangle. I would cut the branches as red and bend the blue branch to the back for a little depth.
I realise the image below isn't the prettiest but I think it could make a great twin trunk

 

[sorce]

blunt

Looks like the wire is not annealed, softened, and it looks "dangerously" applied, but this is ok because if that trunk Does break off, I reckon the design will be better for it! Though it would be a giant horticultural setback.

@bluecat the folaige on that little feller is beautiful, it made me think of this glazed pot though.

It's kind of good to think about the prettyness of a glazed pot, as only there to bring beauty to a dead looking leafless thing in winter.

Yes, you can "do whatever you want" to being yourself Joy, I propose doubling the joy, or more...

Plant that little bush in something unglazed, even just a rock, or a cement slab, or a slate tile, and let it's folaige hold the stage like it wants to. I think that will bring you more joy. And you can use the glazed pot for something else, or just leave it empty to hold!

I am a fan of these tiny projects. I'm probly gonna tear into a bunch of little blue rugs too this year.

Sorce

 

[Iowa newbie]

This fall will be about my 2 year anniversary in the hobby, figured it seemed like a good time to throw in a couple of my projects.

Chinese Juniper I repotted last spring, showing good growth this year, I haven't made too many mistakes with this one yet. I have yet to decide on the style. It's lanky, but great twist and movement, not much of a nebari though.

I picked up this sea green juniper up at the same time, good 3 inch trunk. I trimmed some lower branches to get a feel for the tree, I should have jinned those, mistake #1. I did ask for some advice on styling last year and was advised to leave it til the end of this year. Growing really well, although there is quite a bit of older, weak foliage supporting heavy juvenile foliage but its looking good. Its a tank in my opinion, could jin the left side and push the movement to the longer right side, not sure yet.


I picked up this big pussy willow from my local nursery last summer, it was severly rootbound so I did a mid season repot last summer, pretty much sawed the bottom half of the rootball off it was so heavy and thick. It was nothing but a couple large trunks and its grown alot, I have not touched the foilage all spring and probably need to dial it back a bit. I think I should create a lower smaller branch pad with the left side and let the right side go bigger and put the apex there.


Lastly, I picked up this Chinese wisteria last year, repotted it last fall. It was slow to respond this year but has taken off now. Growth is the plan with this one.



I have quite a few other projects going on right now, a few yews, a triple trunk ficus that I took a dozen cuttings from, a bunch of portulacaria afras, jades etc...it just keeps going