Starting a Bonsai

Bonsai Starter

The supermarket can be a good place to buy bonsai starter material as long as we remember that the trees are being kept indoors, so, as soon as you see them on the shelf, make your selection and buy.

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Typical Acer palmatum, Japanese Mountain Maple, this cost 3GBP from Tescos, all supermarkets have them but this was the first I saw. It was a stroke of luck, it is either a twin-trunk, or, when the trees were potted, two were bunged in together.

This has exceptionally free compost, the roots are quite loose from the root-ball, normally, expect a tight, root-bound condition. It is two trees, but I've decided to keep them together to create a mother and son bonsai.

All the straggly roots trimmed and the top pruned, leaving plenty of buds to develop and choose.

Compost, a mixture of John Innes potting compost, and natural aquarium gravel, 7:3

The tree in it's new home, a 5-inch half pot, it will be allowed to grow free until next spring, then it will be assessed, root and selective top pruning. Maybe put into the ground for a couple of years, or just into a larger pot.

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Trident Maple

Writelink ... many writers ... one community - Trident Maple Bonsai
The Trident maple (Acer buergerianum) is a small tree native to eastern China; it attains a maximum height of about 20m (60 foot) and a maximum trunk diameter of about 50cm (1 foot 8 inches). As its common name suggests, its leaves are three lobed; t

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I will plan for next spring as the tree develops throughout this growing season; the important thing is to maintain a vigorous, healthy tree. Water in well and then keep evenly damp for the first month, protect from the sun during the hottest part of the day.

After the first month, if all seems well, give a general purpose feed once per week until the end of July then transfer to a low nitrogen feed until the first week in September

Do not bring indoors during the winter, it will need some protection, a sheltered area of the garden, the floor of an UNHEATED greenhouse, or just under the bonsai bench with a sheet of polythene draped over the front to protect from freezing wind.

Good growing

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Bonsai: Starting a Bonsai, Update

Bonsai: Bonsai from Garden Centre or Supermarket Material

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ethel smith Level 3 Commenter 2 years ago

Doesn't feeding make it grow too large? Interesting hub. Something else which I think I might have a go at.

MickS Hub Author 2 years ago

Thanks Ethel,

over feeding can cause coarse growth in 'finished' trees; however, at this stage we need heavy, development growth.

best

Mick

tonymac04 24 months ago

I've always wanted to get into bonsai but really have little knowledge. This will help me a lot.

Thanks so much.

Love and peace

Tony

MickS Hub Author 24 months ago

Thanks Tony, I do believe that there are a number of bonsai societies in South Africa.

best

Mick

medor 17 months ago

Thanks for the very simple, yet precise instructions. I just moved into a home so I can begin gardening for the first time in a decade... always wanted to bonsai... or shape trees. so cool it is in my gardening information folder as i write...you rock MickS

MickS Hub Author 17 months ago

Thanks for the visit and comment, Deb.

best

Mick

Silver Poet Level 3 Commenter 17 months ago

You said do not bring indoors? What types of bonsai trees would do well indoors?

MickS Hub Author 17 months ago

Thanks for the visit and comment Silver P.

If you think about it, no tree grows indoors. In a temperate climate we have to protect tropical and subtropical trees during the winter months. To grow efficiently, trees need to be out in the sun, wind, and rain. The safest, and easiest, tree to grow indoors is the Chinese Elm, Ulmus parvifolia, although I leave mine out all year around, even in this cold winter (UK). There are others, sargeretia and serrisa, but these need bottom heat when transplanting, and often, just in their growing.

All trees grown indoors need plenty of light, but not on a sunny window sill, and will need water misting several times a day.

best

Mick

tonymead60 Level 6 Commenter 16 months ago

very interesting article, I have a couple of Japanese maples that are now about twenty years old and doing really well, but i think they both need re-potting this year, i'll use some of your tips.

cheers

MickS Hub Author 16 months ago

Thanks for the visit and comment Tony.

Are they growing in bonsai trays or patio tubs? With young cuttings, we can get away with being more vigorous with root pruning, as trees age, we need to be more careful, ensuring we leave a relatively large root-ball and just trimming the edges. Prune the branches after you prune the roots to give shape, and a balance between top and bottom, and to prevent bleeding in the branch cut ends.

best

Mick

esatchel 16 months ago

I remember my husband and I intended to start a bonsai the year we got married. Never got around to it. It would have been lovely by now, almost 23 years later! Ah well, no time like the present... Thanks for this Hub; I ook forward to the progress. Ann

MickS Hub Author 16 months ago

Thanks for the visit and comment, Ann.

tonymead60 Level 6 Commenter 16 months ago

Hi MickS

thanks for the tip

good luck

Tony

William Anderson 14 months ago

I found www.bonsaitreeanswers.com which has some great info on this art...

MickS 11 months ago

thanks for the visit and comment William

best