Winter Boredom: What's the Cure??

[Atom#28]

I got my first little tree this summer. Well, to be fair, I got my first little tree and 18 other little trees this summer. [The addiction is real.] But I'll be damned if winter isn't almost already here, and I wonder what the heck I'm gonna do for the next 4-5 months.

Yes, I will study. And study, and study more.

But I'm a tactile learner. I need to DO stuff to learn stuff. So I ask those of you who have a true, snowy/icy/shovel-the-sidewalk-every-2-hours kind of winter....What can I DO with bonsai during the winter? Are there common hardy species that are OK with me wiring or pruning, etc. in the cold winter months?


I found this ridiculousness. Not sure it'll scratch my bonsai itch lololol

The Interactive Grid-Bonsai That Will Always Stay Alive

Grid-Bonsai, designed by Tokyo-based studio Nendo, is an interactive, bonsai-like sculpture that can be easily trimmed using a pair of bonsai scissors.

design-milk.com

 

[Traken]

Tropicals, my man. Tropicals. You've always got something to work on if the tree doesn't do dormancy. Heh

 

[cmeg1]

Pines! Indoor Seedling cuttings.....good full spectrum light though......fairly intense too

 

[Silentrunning]

What about learning to make pots? That isn’t weather dependent.

As for me, I am going to have a knee replacement in early January so I will be sitting around moaning and feeling sorry for myself this winter.

 

[just.wing.it]

I second Tropicals!

 

[adamjcode]

Here in Chicago, I moved my tropical/mediterranean trees indoors last night. A total pain, but keeps me busy for the next six months.

 

[cheap_walmart_art]

I find winter a good time to organize my photos, make progressions, and decide what goals I will set for individual trees over the next year. Its also a great time for reading and re reading my favorite bonsai books and magazines. Also, once the weather turns cold, I use the time to mix up soil components breaking them down when needed and sifting and mixing and getting my buckets ready for re potting season. I also wipe down and disinfect my benches, and last year I began preventative dormancy spraying per the dormancy spraying article by @markyscott found on this site. I also use the time to build new benches if needed (which at least one will be needed this year).

 

[atlarsenal]

Sift soil and build up your pot collection.

 

[Carol 83]

Bitch about winter mostly. I'll probably chop up a few jades and start some cuttings, and I have some mimosa seeds I'm going to try and get to grow. Then there's the floor sweeping from the tropical's that are angry at their new environment, and toss their leaves off.

 

[Atom#28]

Bitch about winter mostly.

I guess we have this in common lol

 

[Dav4]

Bourbon and sex...

 

[Mike Corazzi]

 

[Woocash]

Bourbon and sex...

Drink for courage or drink to forget?

 

[Sansui]

Bourbon and sex...

Isn't that the same as making sour mash?

 

[cbroad]

@Atom#28
I was also going to say get into tropicals or other non bonsai plants that can be grown indoors. Or tinker and get into some propagation. I'm glad @cmeg1 chimed in, he's doing some cool stuff right now, and I was going to post a link to his thread; I'm going to anyways: Extended season starting trees indoors

And here's a link to my thread about hydroponic ficus cultivation and propagation: Ficus experiment.

It was really cool to do, but I had to break everything down to make room for a roommate, but he's gone now so maybe I'll start it back up!

 

[cmeg1]

@Atom#28
I was also going to say get into tropicals or other non bonsai plants that can be grown indoors. Or tinker and get into some propagation. I'm glad @cmeg1 chimed in, he's doing some cool stuff right now, and I was going to post a link to his thread; I'm going to anyways: Extended season starting trees indoors

And here's a link to my thread about hydroponic ficus cultivation and propagation: Ficus experiment.
It was really cool to do, but I had to break everything down to make room for a roommate, but he's gone now so maybe I'll start it back up!

Thanks!I’m so used to winter gardening now.
I cannot bear the thought of a Winter not growing.
Maybe I need more BONSAI. Lol
Its all bonsai to me!

 

[MrWunderful]

Get some dowels, make a fake little tree and practice wiring

sift soil

clean and organize pots

dive into books about bonsai (right now im reading bonsai maples for the 3rd time, and Dave deGroots book)

make a list of trees that need to be repotted, along with what pot each is going into

practice patience, its the hardest part of bonsai

 

[Sansui]

I got my first little tree this summer. Well, to be fair, I got my first little tree and 18 other little trees this summer. [The addiction is real.] But I'll be damned if winter isn't almost already here, and I wonder what the heck I'm gonna do for the next 4-5 months.

Yes, I will study. And study, and study more.

But I'm a tactile learner. I need to DO stuff to learn stuff. So I ask those of you who have a true, snowy/icy/shovel-the-sidewalk-every-2-hours kind of winter....What can I DO with bonsai during the winter? Are there common hardy species that are OK with me wiring or pruning, etc. in the cold winter months?


I found this ridiculousness. Not sure it'll scratch my bonsai itch lololol

The Interactive Grid-Bonsai That Will Always Stay Alive

Grid-Bonsai, designed by Tokyo-based studio Nendo, is an interactive, bonsai-like sculpture that can be easily trimmed using a pair of bonsai scissors.

design-milk.com

You raise a great question which leads me to ask, what do bonsai clubs do during the winter months to keep members engaged?

 

[W3rk]

I got my first little tree this summer. Well, to be fair, I got my first little tree and 18 other little trees this summer. [The addiction is real.] But I'll be damned if winter isn't almost already here, and I wonder what the heck I'm gonna do for the next 4-5 months.

Yes, I will study. And study, and study more.

But I'm a tactile learner. I need to DO stuff to learn stuff. So I ask those of you who have a true, snowy/icy/shovel-the-sidewalk-every-2-hours kind of winter....What can I DO with bonsai during the winter? Are there common hardy species that are OK with me wiring or pruning, etc. in the cold winter months?


I found this ridiculousness. Not sure it'll scratch my bonsai itch lololol

The Interactive Grid-Bonsai That Will Always Stay Alive

Grid-Bonsai, designed by Tokyo-based studio Nendo, is an interactive, bonsai-like sculpture that can be easily trimmed using a pair of bonsai scissors.

design-milk.com

Don't put all your eggs in one basket! Take up other hobbies/pursuits (if you don't have them already). I draw regularly, winter and a lack of outdoor options are a good time to do more and expand and work in other related areas. I also started this year off taking a full semester ceramics class which was a lot of fun and I did make a few bonsai pots as side projects. I'll probably take the wheel later.

Activities/hobbies that keep you engaged and active are great.

 

[Atom#28]

I have many other hobbies: I'm a guitarist, drummer, singer/songwriter, photographer, I brew beer, I build RC rock crawlers......no shortage of things to do, but BONSAI is my JAM right now! I do have some ideas for making my own pots, so I suppose that could help fill the bonsai void