beginner's bonsai

[Dwight]

Quote: Originally Posted by xiaohuang7 Dwight, they do ship across state lines -- these junipers are like weeds to ranchers, they burn, bulldoze, and backhoe 'em to clear land. 2 years min to get anything like this established. There is a commercial guy, I think in Utah (?) -- he's also a forest ranger, really -- he sells freshly dug, and of course with no survival guarantee. I would not recommend him. A 50% survival rate is already considered as good as it gets. You could get one from Roy Nagatoshi, of Fuji Bonsai Nursery, located in Sylmar, California. A sprig will run you a couple hundred bucks ... but I would trade you one for a good Sakai kohak John

Ummmmmmmmmmm....lets see , I can get a Sakai Kohaku tosai from the culling tank for say $400 .....might not be a bad deal

Dwight

[Russell Peters]

Hey, I was at Home Depot today and I noticed they have a Bonsai section. A lot of great stuff at cheap prices.LOL

[dick benbow]

you guys are gonna force me to re-write my "quality is like buying oates" story!

[koiczar]

Quote: Originally Posted by Russell Peters Hey, I was at Home Depot today and I noticed they have a Bonsai section. A lot of great stuff at cheap prices.LOL

Oh no!! Another mallsai buyer. Don't do it Russ!!!!!LOL

[Dwight]

Hay , if the guy is at a craft fair is it OK ??????????

Dwight

[bekko]

Well, this is going to be fun. It appears that much of the bonsai info out there will not do much good in a sub-tropical climate. There are references to using Casuarina equisetifolia, Schefflera actinophylla, Ficus benjamina, various hibiscus and bouganvillea which should all do OK here because they are weeds in this environment. There are a variety of mimosa-type trees with small leaves here which might make good bonsai. What are some of the other popular tropicals? Do any of you folks keep any tropicals (bonsai, not fish)?

-steveh op

[kingkong]

The tree that I would collect is the yamadori (wild collected stunted trees) 'Ironwood' (Cas equi). Check into Fuku-Bonsai Nursery. There are many more species of plants to use but that tree will be the most enjoyable for you I think. Albizia (mimosa) thoughts are so so, see if you can locate Calliandra haemato- (dwarf powderpuff). But, most important of all...make sure you get someone to help you make and understand soilless planting mix first. Good luck!

[bekko]

Thanks Gary. There are ironwood going up the side of the mountain behind our house. I vaguely recall that when you get up past their zone there are some wind-battered and stunted ones. Our kids have an old boogie board stashed up there which they use it to slide down a slope on the thick blanket of ironwood needles. I'm not into hiking, but will have to join them next time.

I don't think we have Calliandra haemato, but we have Calliandra calothyrsus. It is also called powder puff, but may not be as dwarfed. Will have to check into that.

Fuku Bonsai is over on the Big Island. We go over there for a long weekend about once a year and will check it out too.

What's the tree in the third photo?

-st eveh

[kingkong]

Ficus Nerifolia/Salisafolia or Willow Leaf Fig/Ficus. Great ficus to use. If not on the island I would have them shipped in. They grow fairly fast and fun to work with. This one (#3) is planted on a rock. I am hyperventilating just thinking about the ironwoods on your mountain. Get those legs back in shape and hunt those trees. Once you get the basic feel for trunk design and visit to the nursery, hunting bonsai can get to be allot of fun. Like diving, try to always take a companion in the scrub. Wow, take.. slow.. deep... breath here Gary. LOL enjoy Bekko. Here is another site
Tropical Bonsai.Com..... Cal jun on left and cas equi (ironwood).
PS. If you ever do go up to the scrub please take a few pictures of some ironwoods.

[Gail]

Gary, those are beautiful. I looked around a little bit yesterday.nothing caught my eye. I will be heading up island next weekend though, into the deep dark woods.lol.and hopefully will find something unusual.