Really new to bonsai. Any suggestions for trees to buy?

[DougB]

Please change your profile to indicate your location. AND your best move would be to join a local bonsai club, for which there are many in SCal. Go to this website to find those in your area. Additionally, there are bonsai exhibits you can visit, and several great bonsai nurseries. Club members can advise you, mentor you and instruct you.

 

[M. Frary]

I get wanting to keep a tree indoors. But if you want to keep a tree indoors you will need supplemental lighting. Contrary to what has been said a South facing window won't supply a tree with the light requirements it needs. Also there is the humidity factor. Humid is good. An air conditioned house in Southern California will be as dry as a popcorn fart. Then there is air circulation. You will also be running a fan.
Also, tropical trees should be outside whenever possible.
And pine trees of any kind are not beginner trees. Especially Japanese White Pine. Which would probably croak where you live.
I would suggest visiting some of the bonsai nurseries near where you live. Talk to the owner. Tell them your experience level. Ask what types of trees are the best for your area. Indoor and outdoor models.
I live in Michigan and don't even get to see my trees for 4 to 5 months or more in winter. It's actually a nice break from the trees whether you believe it or not. Of almost anyone here you would think someone like me would be growing trees indoors. Nope. Indoor trees are needy in their nature.
Which ever you choose is ultimately up to you.

 

[Nightfury413]

Thanks guys for your advice.
If it is possible, I'd like to have an evergreen. I am willing to take care of it and do for it whatever it needs, so you guys don't need to worry about it being neglected. I'm keeping it a little out of the way of an east facing window, so it gets lots of filtered sunlight. Where I live in SoCal, the humidity in the summer is high 60s to mid 70s%, so would that be okay for a bonsai? I have a pretty strong ceiling fan as well, to answer your question about air circulation, Frary. Also, any reasons for why an outdoor bonsai is better for beginners?
Thanks

PS: Would a Dwarf Jade be good for a beginner indoors?

 

[M. Frary]

An east facing window won't supply nearly enough light. Especially filtered. An evergreen tree needs full sunlight no matter where you live.
The humidity outside may be 60 to 70% but probably not in your house.
In my opinion the best trees for beginners are going to be trees that are forgiving of mistakes. The elms and trident maple. If your heart is set on an evergreen tree then a juniper that will live where you do. And even though I say beginner trees they are also trees used by many who have been at it for a while.

 

[Adair M]

Maybe even a California Juniper!

 

[armetisius]

Thanks guys for your advice.
If it is possible, I'd like to have an evergreen. I am willing to take care of it and do for it w. . .

South Cali has a number of different "climatic conditions" you might want to supplement your
location with your climate zone. Here is a link to a site that you might find useful:
http://www.plantmaps.com/interactive-california-usda-plant-zone-hardiness-map.php
You not only can find your zone on it but, if you scroll down on the right side, it has species
distribution within your state so you might find something that you could grow out and about.
Good growing

 

[Nightfury413]

An east facing window won't supply nearly enough light. Especially filtered. An evergreen tree needs full sunlight no matter where you live.
The humidity outside may be 60 to 70% but probably not in your house.
In my opinion the best trees for beginners are going to be trees that are forgiving of mistakes. The elms and trident maple. If your heart is set on an evergreen tree then a juniper that will live where you do. And even though I say beginner trees they are also trees used by many who have been at it for a while.

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm probably just going to get a Dwarf Jade. It seems the easiest to take care of and it looks nice.

http://www.bonsaioutlet.com/dwarf-jade-tree-indoor/

 

[erb.75]

I have a jade...they are nice indoor trees...don't overwater it! Mine likes to get pretty dry in between waterings.

Just FYI, ordering bonsai trees on the internet will cost you 100x more than going to a bonsai nursery...any the material you'll get only will probably be 100x less exciting

 

[erb.75]

I have a jade that is at least as nice as that one, probably much nicer, that I got from Meehan's Miniatures (they do ship across US) for about 1/3 of the price

 

[ColinFraser]

Thanks for your suggestions. I'm probably just going to get a Dwarf Jade. It seems the easiest to take care of and it looks nice.

http://www.bonsaioutlet.com/dwarf-jade-tree-indoor/

If you search for information about them, be sure to use the genus name 'Portulacaria' - should turn up plenty of results her on Bnut, and that will avoid confusion with the 'Crassula' that has a similar common name.

Also, I keep Portulacaria outside year round in California; I haven't bothered to try one in the house.

 

[erb.75]

I keep mine outside in the Summer, but I did keep in indoors for several years and it didn't seem to mind too much. It is definitely doing better outside. Inside it didn't really change one way or another (which is fine if you have a finished tree, but not so good if you want to actively do bonsai)

 

[JoeR]

I get wanting to keep a tree indoors. But if you want to keep a tree indoors you will need supplemental lighting. Contrary to what has been said a South facing window won't supply a tree with the light requirements it needs. Also there is the humidity factor. Humid is good. An air conditioned house in Southern California will be as dry as a popcorn fart. Then there is air circulation. You will also be running a fan.
Also, tropical trees should be outside whenever possible.
And pine trees of any kind are not beginner trees. Especially Japanese White Pine. Which would probably croak where you live.
I would suggest visiting some of the bonsai nurseries near where you live. Talk to the owner. Tell them your experience level. Ask what types of trees are the best for your area. Indoor and outdoor models.
I live in Michigan and don't even get to see my trees for 4 to 5 months or more in winter. It's actually a nice break from the trees whether you believe it or not. Of almost anyone here you would think someone like me would be growing trees indoors. Nope. Indoor trees are needy in their nature.
Which ever you choose is ultimately up to you.

I hate to disagree but you definently can keep trees in just a south facing window. I grow orange, lemon, and tangerine trees in my (large) south facing window. I also started my pine seeds there too. Granted it must be a large one; mine is 3'×3' or so. It gets several hours of direct light each day.

Dont buy that jade, that one is overpriced. I am just testing dwarf jade out myself but I do know you can get way better ones on ebay or meehans. I am keeping mine outside but I wanted to try some inside with my citrus as well.

 

[M. Frary]

I hate to disagree but you definently can keep trees in just a south facing window. I grow orange, lemon, and tangerine trees in my (large) south facing window. I also started my pine seeds there too. Granted it must be a large one; mine is 3'×3' or so. It gets several hours of direct light each day.

Dont buy that jade, that one is overpriced. I am just testing dwarf jade out myself but I do know you can get way better ones on ebay or meehans. I am keeping mine outside but I wanted to try some inside with my citrus as well.

But you also say that you put them outside so they can get strong. That says that they are weak from being in just a South facing window. So saying that keeping a tree in a South facing window is OK is you contradicting yourself.
If you had lighting you wouldn't have that problem now would you?

 

[JoeR]

But you also say that you put them outside so they can get strong. That says that they are weak from being in just a South facing window. So saying that keeping a tree in a South facing window is OK is you contradicting yourself.
If you had lighting you wouldn't have that problem now would you?

I dont understand why you are getting so defensive. I have results that differ from your opinion; nothing personal.

I should have said 'stronger' instead of 'strong' but I am on my phone and I dont put much thought into my wording.

This is the first summer I have put them outside, and it is not because they are weak it is because I have too many now and I wanted them out of the living room. They didnt fit on the table well without shading eachother out. One batch of tangerines that I started last spring doubled their size this spring and are now starting a second growth spurt.

And of course they will like 95° weather over 72° weather however they are happy in either situation. Japanese Black Pine do better in Japan but does that mean they dont grow well here?

I can post pictures of my 'weak' trees but I dont want to cloud Nightfury's thread up. Maybe a new thread or a PM?

 

[Nightfury413]

Hey guys
I scratched the idea of getting a dwarf jade. I just figured out I have another one of its type in the backyard growing in the ground. So I read up on whether juniper trees are safe to keep inside. I found that it is, so long as you put it outside in the winter for it to experience it's dormant stage. So now I'm considering either a rock juniper or a green mound. Tell me which one's better. I might be going to a nursery in the next week.
Thanks

 

[erb.75]

there is a 99% probability that you buy an evergreen, keep it inside for 1 month, and by the end of the month it's dead...just letting you know

 

[M. Frary]

Either one of the junipers is going to grow as well as the other in an indoor enviornment.

 

[erb.75]

i think it's time maybe we asked you if you want a little shrub to keep inside and don't really care what it looks like, just sometime fun

or do you want to practice bonsai?

there is nothing wrong with either choice but they take different levels of commitment

 

[JoeR]

Hey guys
I scratched the idea of getting a dwarf jade. I just figured out I have another one of its type in the backyard growing in the ground. So I read up on whether juniper trees are safe to keep inside. I found that it is, so long as you put it outside in the winter for it to experience it's dormant stage. So now I'm considering either a rock juniper or a green mound. Tell me which one's better. I might be going to a nursery in the next week.
Thanks

Why dont you dig up the one in your yard or take a cutting or an airlayer?

Neither is better, it is a matter of personal taste and what you are looking for.

There is no way you can keep a juniper in filtered light from an east facing window. Period. The only tree that may be able to survive there is a shefflera.

 

[Nightfury413]

Haha, thanks for that question, erb.75, it put my mind back where it's supposed to be (not sarcasm). I was letting my imagination go wild with bonsai possibilities. I actually just want a nice looking juniper that I can try to practice bonsai on. I've read that junipers are good for beginners and are easy to shape. I'll keep it indoors in the beginning, and if I see something bad happening to it, I'll put it outside. I've never tried bonsai before and I'd like to try it. I don't have any other hobbies, so my level of dedication wouldn't be that low. Would normal copper wire my dad has in his garage work or do I need special wire? And for pruning shears, do normal scissors work as well? Thanks for your advice guys, I'll keep it in mind this time.

And Joe, the one in my backyard is ginormous. I'd need a humungous pot, which I don't have. And I'm too inexperienced to try to airlayer.