Saplings? When do I trim? When do I replant? when do I do anything?!

[Alamarus]

Hi there. I am very new to Bonsai, I have had one for a few months now and it was already grown. I believe it is a Juniper. While reading up on Bonsai I read that you can get saplings and replant them, working on my aunts farm she had a few saplings that I was able to put in little plants and seem to be doing well. I have one that sort of exploded in growth and is doing amazing. Problem is I am not sure what it is and if I should replant it. It is already much taller than my Juniper but very skinny (it is a sapling). I was hoping someone could look at my small batch and give me some pointers. I really don't understand where or when to trim on any of them including my grown juniper but again right now I am mostly concerned with my sapling

here is my small collection

heres a pic of the sapling in question.

any and all help is apreciated

 

[jk_lewis]

Nothing to "trim." Let it grow some branches for a few years.

 

[Jester217300]

You don't have a juniper.... that's a portulacaria afra. Juniper is a temperate conifer, portulacaria afra is a tropical succulent.

 

[Cadillactaste]

If the saplings are native to you...ground growing is the fastest method to thicken a tree...potting them slows the process down.

 

[DougB]

Welcome. Remember the first item to acquire is patience (we all want to cut and wire right now) and the first skill is to not only keep our trees alive, but to have them thrive. Oh by the way please add your location to your profile -- answering your questions and providing advice is most often dependent upon location.

 

[Paradox]

Welcome to BNut.

The sapling in question is too young and small for any trimming at this point. It needs to do ALOT of growing before it can be a bonsai. I am not familiar with the species but if it is an temperate tree, it needs to be outside in the sun. It will not thrive indoors.

You have alot of questions and you will have alot more along the way.
My suggestion to you is to read as much as you can to learn as much of the basics you can.
You will find answers to many questions that way and wont have to rely on us to regurgitate information that is easily found on your own. If you come across specific things that you cant find the answer to, by all means ask and someone should be able to point you in the right direction.

Good luck.

 

[Alamarus]

Sorry I did not have all the information available when I first got on here. I did a little bit of research and here is what I can tell you about the saplings. I live in a 10b area now. Now the bonsai I have now, the one that is in the blue pot is portulacaria afra as one of you told me, thank you very much and was kept in a green house. Now here's the kicker. All of these saplings originally came from Colorado Springs. a 5a Zone. There are a few reasons I am reluctant to put them in the ground outside.

1. the fact that I moved all this from a 5a to a 10b. I don't know what effect, if any that will have on there growing and survival.

2. I live in a area known as Conejo Valley. Conejo means Rabbit in Spanish. Rightfully named because there are a million rabbits here. I don't even think that is that big of a exaggeration I know there are at least 6 around this house +/-2 or 3 from neighbors and the state park across the fence. They are a real nuisance for small plants and flowers and the like. My fear is that these saplings will become a animals dinner if left outside.

3. This is only temporary housing. I may have to move at a few days notice.

At best I have them all right up against a open East facing window so they get plenty of sunlight every morning.

If you guys truly think planting them outside is best I will do what I can. Perhaps a giant pot or a long deep planter tray would work to keep the animals at bay, not sure about birds if they will be a issue? I don't know if using Soil from the ground area is wise or not since the areas are different or I should get potting soil?

I know I need to do research on alot. and I will continue to have questions. The thing is I did alot of reading, I studied a bit and bought a few books, none of them really have said when you should start training, when to move saplings to bonsai pots, where and when to trim. Words don't always convey experience that can be shared with pictures. The next best thing is to take my collection to a experienced bonsai nut and have them look themselves. So the alternative is to have you awesome people answer my beginner questions. Patience is not a issue, my fear is being too late to act.

Speaking of the sapling in question? anyone know what it is? It is very tall and I am worried it will outgrown my portulacaria afra before its even a baby bonsai.

Again thank you for looking and I appreciate your thoughts and opinions

 

[Paradox]

I am not familiar with the species of tree that you have so I cant tell you specific care info. The tree in question almost looks like a birch or aspen to me but I cant be sure. If it is a birch or aspen, I am not sure how successful you will be growing it in southern California which is where I think you are (?). The other thing is that those species are outdoor trees and wont thrive inside no matter where you are.

One of the biggest parts of bonsai is figuring out what will grow and thrive in your area. Plants from the mountains up north will not survive in the desert in most cases and vice versa. Each species has a specific temperature range and seasonal fluctuation that it needs to survive. Some need cold in winter for dormancy, others cant tolerate below freezing, etc. You need to figure out these things for each species in relation to where you live and pick things that can survive where you are and what you can provide for growing area.

I dont think you have to put them in the ground considering the circumstances you described. I would put them outside except the jade tree, that can stay inside. Once you know what species they are, you can research what their typical ecology is and adjust accordingly depending on your climate. For example if the tree is tropical, you might have to bring it inside during the winter, but during the summer it should be outside in the sun, etc.

None of these are ready for a bonsai pot. We dont put trees in bonsai pots until they are pretty much fully developed trees. These need to grow, probably for many many years before they are ready for that. In fact, you might grow quite bored waiting that long. You could use some wire to put some movement into the long trunk if you want but I would not trim anything because doing that will slow down the growth.

Until we can get a definite identification on the species, it is hard to be able to give specific information.

You put your location in your profile. That is good and will help us answer your questions better.

If you are someone that is constantly moving around and unsure of what kind of growing conditions you will be able to provide, I would recommend looking into ficus bonsai trees, specifically ficus retusa or ficus microcarpa (dont buy a ficus benjamina). They can be grown indoors and in many cases can do well with supplimental light if you cant put them outside in the summer (which they prefer). Trying to grow and outdoor tree inside will most likely lead to alot of frustration for you not to mention a dead tree.

 

[Alamarus]

Yes I am in Southern California and I don't plan on leaving the area. But moving houses is a different story. as for the long one I believe it is a aspen, I think that was the kind of tree around where my aunt and uncle live but I would have to ask. I guess I need to look in to how to keep saplings alive then. I can keep them outside in there little pots, I remember reading that part of them staying this size is keeping them in the same sort of pot or cup? so realistically if I want them to grow to a maximum height I need to keep them alive in what they are currently in. The saplings themselves look like they are doing fine, the long skinny one thats farther along is now sort of leaning, it was drooping but now its rising again but reaching out to the sun, they all are. I am going to probably build a shelf so they are outside the window directly in the sunlight but easily accessible.

I could probably start training the longer sapling, its very flexible and looks healthy, I think now would be a good time to do it unless someone disagrees.

Now I also heard that you can get a bonsai relatively faster from a cutting from a already grown tree. I wanted to try this but didn't know how to exactly do it, where and what to cut.

I am also looking to hopefully get a flowering cherry. That would be my choice bonsai, it was a personal favorite of mine and my mothers before she passed.

Does anyone know where I can get one? they do exist in Southern California.

 

[sorce]

If you google, propogating _______ from cuttings , you should find an ehow at least on how to.

Also google bonsai blogs.

You can bend that lil one for some initiaal trumk movement. Then you have to let it grow till ittt is the size (thick) you want your trunk. Likely 1-3 inches.

In the groumd only if you can leave it for 3 years at least.

Sorry to hear of your Mom. Make sure you study Cherry good! She will appreciate your efforts!

Sorce