What was the best bonsai/tree related advice you have been given?

[bonsaiBlake]

I asked Walter Pall at a workshop in April what advice he would give to a beginner. He said something to the effect of "Go and learn from many masters. Don't be afraid to listen to what they say or to forget what they say." I've paraphrased. It was a while ago and I didn't have a pencil.

To go along with this, a piece of advice from me to other new people. Don't be afraid to reach out to those who's work you most respect or wish to emulate. You'll find yourself happily surprised at how often professionals in bonsai will be willing to help beginners who will take the step to seek the best advice. It can really help expedite the learning curve when you reach the point of needing specific advice on a tree.

Happy growing,
Blake

 

[RedRav]

Best Advice snippet ~

Offer your free, consistant help with Bonsai work to someone who has more experience. They get a worker bee, and you learn a ton! And gain a friend!

Once you get a new plant, win an auction, whatever, get it into your own soil quickly! I have been burned by leaving a bonsai in its own soil/container and actually the seller had just put top dressing on it to cover poor soil and upset roots.

Look at, review, enjoy your bonsai everyday. Look for any changes ~ new buds? New Bug????
Leaves falling? Weeds growing?

Moss is great, but take it off or prune it back to just a little bit on your topsoil. Moss growing up your tree is not good, moss ALL over your topsoil reduces the air exchange when watering.

 

[Bunjeh]

Moss is great, but take it off or prune it back to just a little bit on your topsoil. Moss growing up your tree is not good, moss ALL over your topsoil reduces the air exchange when watering.

Especially here in the PAC NW.

 

[milehigh_7]

Here's one

When choosing what to work with, look at species that grow well in your area in nature and landscape. There is a reason you don't see many nice larch in Las Vegas...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

When choosing what to work with, look at species that grow well in your area in nature and landscape. There is a reason you don't see many nice larch in Las Vegas...

Hey stranger! Good to see you back, hope you're well.

 

[grouper52]

Especially here in the PAC NW.

Couldn't disagree more. Fighting away moss is the least of my worries, and most folks I hang with on this side of the Sound like to just let it grow, and sometimes even cultivate the more attractive varieties that happen to set up housekeeping in the ecosystems of our pots here.

 

[M. Frary]

I actually cover every pot,collander and bucket with a tree in it with moss. I just don't let it grow on trunks.

 

[Eric Group]

Ahh the moss... Been wondering for some time about whether it is good or bad and seen it described as everything from useful/ bordering on necessary to a nuisance and something you should only put on the tree when showing it! I guess it depends on the species and water needs as to whether a blanket of moss can cause problems by keeping the soil too moist... I don't LIKE it growing up my trunks, but it rarely seems to "do damage" if it does climb a trunk..

I have some trees with LOADS of moss and many without any and cannot tell any health detriments from having it on there... For some trees I think it looks good, and the ones I have that came with large amounts of moss... Most of them still have it on their soil. Even if I have repotted, I add it back when I complete the repot.

The thing I like it best for is erosion control! Keeps the soil from washing out of a pot which can happen pretty easy in a bonsai tray! It looks like a nice green plain of grass also of course, which is a good look for a miniature version of a large tree!

 

[M. Frary]

Exactly! With moss on I can cut watering time in half. I can water without worrying about washing soil out.

 

[Maros]

Moss

Joining moss supporters here. I'm sure it helps keep favourable wet climate in pot during hot days. Promotes root growth in top level of the soil, which is hardly possible to achieve in inorganic substrates without moss cover. Erosion protection is huge benefit. If not growing on trunk and damaging gentle types of bark I do not see any problem. Unfortunately, it is hard to keep in garden where a black birds come.

 

[crust]

Many years ago Lenz told me that moss growing on the soil is a source of--drum roll..."humic acid".

 

[Ron Dennis]

So are the little ones

Brian, our tastes run to the more expensive ones. My resolution is not to look at any pots without having a specific tree for it. Oh, whom am I kidding?!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

My resolution is not to look at any pots without having a specific tree for it. Oh, whom am I kidding?!

It costs nothing "to look at" pots. But it's a slippery slope.

I've used the whole "not buying without a tree in mind" line too. It's right up there with buying one with the promise to sell another one...or having to buy one because it's a great deal.

I grabbed this Koyo the other day. It was a great deal, and I just had to buy it.

 

[Adair M]

Wait... You've GOT to have a bunch of pots sitting around. How else are you going to be able to set new pots in front and look? Or set the prepared tree in the pot to see how it looks?

Oh, no, you absolutely MUST have 5 or 6 pots for every tree!

And that goes double for shohin!

And then, don't forget, you may need separate "daily" pots and "show" pots.

And, no, I don't sell pots! lol!

 

[Vin]

You've been talking to Terry White.

 

[Adair M]

No, I don't know Terry...

I was talking a bit young-in-cheek... Having a bit of fun!

There is a bit of truth to what I was saying. It is nice to try several pots on for size. Then again, the nice ones are expensive, so sometimes I do go shopping for a pot for a particular tree.

No, I haven't been talking to Terry White. But I have been talking to Matt Ouwinga...

 

[Ron Dennis]

It costs nothing "to look at" pots. But it's a slippery slope.

I've used the whole "not buying without a tree in mind" line too. It's right up there with buying one with the promise to sell another one...or having to buy one because it's a great deal.

I grabbed this Koyo the other day. It was a great deal, and I just had to buy it.

Yeah. I know. Beautiful pot.

 

[Vin]

No, I don't know Terry...

I was talking a bit young-in-cheek... Having a bit of fun!

There is a bit of truth to what I was saying. It is nice to try several pots on for size. Then again, the nice ones are expensive, so sometimes I do go shopping for a pot for a particular tree.

No, I haven't been talking to Terry White. But I have been talking to Matt Ouwinga...

Terry White (fourteener here on Bonsai Nut), he's got a load of pots.