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  • Results 1 to 19 of 19

    Thread: Ok... I'm interested.. Beginner 101 needed

    1. #1
      Loco4Koi's Avatar
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      Ok... I'm interested.. Beginner 101 needed

      Seen some super cool bonsai pics posted... Can someone, please give me a brief introduction and point me in the right direction
      Thanks
      Joe
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    2. #2
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      Just started in Bonsai also (March).
      Have acquired some trees,and developed a few of my own.
      Sorry no pics at moment I'm away from home, but if you're interested, will post some later.
      It's a fascinating hobby.

    3. #3
      HenryJordan is offline Member
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      Please post your Bonsai Pics later when you come back at home.

    4. #4
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      Henry Jordan, I've already posted them - see my postings in Bonsai.
      Hope you like.
      If you're not meant to eat animals, why are they made of meat?

    5. #5
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      Quote Originally Posted by skidad_2007 View Post
      Henry Jordan, I've already posted them - see my postings in Bonsai.
      Hope you like.
      Enjoy!!!

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    6. #6
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      Quote Originally Posted by Loco4Koi View Post
      Seen some super cool bonsai pics posted... Can someone, please give me a brief introduction and point me in the right direction
      Thanks
      Joe
      There are a plethora of reading material on many sub-subjects within the bonsai world. I would suggest "Bonsai Today" magazine and also seeking out a local club in your area. To begin to explain the world/art of bonsai would take more space than this forum has room for!lol
      Mike

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    7. #7
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      The only finished bonsai is a dead one
      V. Wood "92

    8. #8
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      Robert!! Miss you here! Do you still have koi?

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    9. #9
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      Silly question... Where are their roots in such shallow pots?
      "It is written in the memories of the ancient peoples that one who chooses the desert for his enemy has chosen a bitter foe, but he who accepts it as friend, who will seek to understand its moods and whims, shall feel also its mercy, shall drink of its hidden waters, and the treasures of its rocks shall be open before him. Where one may walk in freedom and find water in the arid places, another may gasp out his last breath under the desert sun and mark the sands with the bones of his ending." - Louis L’amour

    10. #10
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      Quote Originally Posted by pcan View Post
      Silly question... Where are their roots in such shallow pots?
      In the shallow pots,as you keep the tree from growing taller and wider the roots don't grow a huge root system.I think. But am fairly new to bonsai.Ive killed a bunch of the evergreen types already by over trimming and over and under watering.Heres my Ficus tree.It's not in a tray but 30 years old.
      ficus tree 2-4-14.jpg
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    11. #11
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      Yes, the roots are kept compact and are normally just the finer "feeder roots". They are usually trimmed back once every year to three years depending on the species of plant. Also, although there are some "tropical" bonsai material, the normal stock used for bonsai are meant to kept outdoors. The interior of a home is too arid and will cause the plant to dry out too much.

      Yes, Spaun, that Ficus is in a rather large pot, and is not considered a "bonsai". It can also be grown indoors. Bonsai literally means tree in a tray/pot.
      Mike

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    12. #12
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      There are large bonsai as well that are kept in large pots/tray.
      But that ficus is in a pretty large pot. There is a certain pot to plant height ratio that is the norm for bonsai.
      Any plant that you put in this pot is now in "bonsai". Depending on the years in bonsai state gives it the look of a bonsai.
      Some grow a plant in ground to a certain size and then "pot" it. It then takes a long time; years; to get the bonsai look. I have some in pots for 4 years and know beginning to look somewhat like bonsai. They need to have roots trimmed when you lift it out and the roots beggin to look compacted.
      Last edited by rhern041; 02-04-2014 at 05:37 PM.

    13. #13
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      So Ficus cant be bonsai?I thought in my book it said it could but its a beginner book.How do you keep a plant outside in a tray in winter?
      Click for Southgate, Michigan Forecast

    14. #14
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      Quote Originally Posted by Spaun View Post
      So Ficus cant be bonsai?I thought in my book it said it could but its a beginner book.How do you keep a plant outside in a tray in winter?
      Yes, you can "bonsai" a Ficus. But as has been stated, the depth of the container is important as well. A planter of the nature of the one pictured is simply used for "patio trees" and shrubs. Overall, a bonsai pot/tray is usually not more than 4-5" in depth. There is as much, or sometimes, even more work involved in the root structure of the specimen as there is above ground. To properly "train" a bonsai, the roots are the most important and how they are placed/managed with the chosen container is paramount to how well it will develop into a bonsai. Many bonsai masters will train a tree for up to 10 years or even longer before even beginning to think of placing it in a bonsai pot. These are called "bonsai in training" and are not even considered as actual bonsai at that point. Many, in Japan, for example are "field grown" in green houses or in specially designed growing shelves in a bonsai nursery to develop the proper root structure. During this time maintenance pruning is done to the tree while the roots are pruned annually. They are not just "in the ground" but in special soil mixes in a dug out depression. Once they are placed into their chosen bonsai pot, only then will they begin to be considered an actual bonsai.

      As to keeping bonsai outdoors during the winter, well, there are many ways to do this. Some actually use a type of heating pad to keep the soil warm. They insulate the containers to keep the sides of it from freezing. This can damage the clay pot and also freeze the tips of the roots if they're not protected. That is not good. Some use what they call "cold frames" and some have green houses they move the plants in to during extremely cold weather.
      Last edited by koiman1950; 02-04-2014 at 08:46 PM.
      Mike

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    15. #15
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      That's the word I was looking for training. I have seen them get large trees and carefully romove up to 50% of the root ball and top end. And then it was in training. Now you have to wait 5-10 more years.
      Seen this a lo with bald cypress.

    16. #16
      Spaun is offline Senior Member
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      Trying to clone some of my cuttings from my "not so bonsai" Ficus.
      Click for Southgate, Michigan Forecast

    17. #17
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      Quote Originally Posted by Spaun View Post
      Trying to clone some of my cuttings from my "not so bonsai" Ficus.
      Try searching for a process known as "air layering". You might find it quite interesting with regards to this.
      Mike

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    18. #18
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      Quote Originally Posted by koiman1950 View Post
      Try searching for a process known as "air layering". You might find it quite interesting with regards to this.
      Never heard of that technique thanks Mike!
      Click for Southgate, Michigan Forecast

    19. #19
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      Quote Originally Posted by GoldieGirl View Post
      Robert!! Miss you here! Do you still have koi?

      - GoldieGirl aka diamond*girl
      Thank you for remembering me . I moved a few years ago and sold off all the koi. Don't have a pond now and no plans to build one. I still like to check into this site now and then to see how the koi hobby is evoling.
      The only finished bonsai is a dead one
      V. Wood "92

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