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Ethan

Can't Leave
Feb 15, 2021
423
2,406
Massachusetts, USA
Just finishing up a bowl of Sobrani, while doing some trimming/wire removal on one of my bonsai projects. Curious if anyone else is into this stuff, or if it's just me. Juniper purchased from Home Depot last year as a landscape shrub, and my first attempt at creating a cascade style bonsai from scratch. All the branches seem to have held their shape well after the wire came off, a task that proved much more challenging than I anticipated when I put it on there. I will definitely be using a different approach next time,lol. Either way I am pleased with the progress so far. Enjoy the pic, and maybe a good smoke on this beautiful afternoon. DSC_0638.JPG
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,972
117,566
I used to be into it more than I am now. Junipers are good material especially if you can find a dwarf Japanese juniper. Boxwoods and Japanese maples are good beginner plants as well. Some of the best material to work with though are local species that are acclimated to the local environment. Diagonal cutters make removing wire a snap and most species thrive in a substrate of 50/50 akadama soil and peat moss. Yours is looking great so far, the kengai style is a favorite but you may want to eventually transfer it to a tall narrow pot to highlight the falling cascade.
 

unadoptedlamp

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 19, 2014
742
1,370
Just finishing up a bowl of Sobrani, while doing some trimming/wire removal on one of my bonsai projects. Curious if anyone else is into this stuff, or if it's just me. Juniper purchased from Home Depot last year as a landscape shrub, and my first attempt at creating a cascade style bonsai from scratch. All the branches seem to have held their shape well after the wire came off, a task that proved much more challenging than I anticipated when I put it on there. I will definitely be using a different approach next time,lol. Either way I am pleased with the progress so far. Enjoy the pic, and maybe a good smoke on this beautiful afternoon. View attachment 95227
That's a beautiful job. Well done.

I like the container too. Really nice idea.

The stone that the crown is resting on breaks up the line to my eye, but that's just personal preference. It's also interesting that it is leaning on the stone, so I think it can go either way. Different when viewed in person too.

Great start to the hobby! You've done a fantastic job so far.
 

Ethan

Can't Leave
Feb 15, 2021
423
2,406
Massachusetts, USA
I’ve had a bonsai in the past and have been thinking of picking it up again. I have a Norfolk pine growing that I’m thinking of turning it into a bonsai. What resources have you used to learn?
I have books from several different authors. A great youtube channel is from Peter Chan, excellent tutorials.
I used to be into it more than I am now. Junipers are good material especially if you can find a dwarf Japanese juniper. Boxwoods and Japanese maples are good beginner plants as well. Some of the best material to work with though are local species that are acclimated to the local environment. Diagonal cutters make removing wire a snap and most species thrive in a substrate of 50/50 akadama soil and peat moss. Yours is looking great so far, the kengai style is a favorite but you may want to eventually transfer it to a tall narrow pot to highlight the falling cascade.
I have had nothing but failures with Japanese Maples, they are such a classic though I will try again at some point. Currently I have Juniper, Dwarf Alberta spruce, Ficus, local maples, White Birch, and a Lavender wisteria I started from seed. All in different stages.
 

Ethan

Can't Leave
Feb 15, 2021
423
2,406
Massachusetts, USA
That's a beautiful job. Well done.

I like the container too. Really nice idea.

The stone that the crown is resting on breaks up the line to my eye, but that's just personal preference. It's also interesting that it is leaning on the stone, so I think it can go either way. Different when viewed in person too.

Great start to the hobby! You've done a fantastic job so far.
Thank you!
 
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unadoptedlamp

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 19, 2014
742
1,370
Beech trees make nice looking bonsai if you want to get away from the Japanese maples. A few different interesting species of beech to choose from, depending on your climate.
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,972
117,566
I have had nothing but failures with Japanese Maples
Look for a Beni Kawa(coral bark) maple. They seem to be the hardest of the lot. Their small leaves work well with bonsai culture and respond well to leaf pruning. Easily air layered as well.
 
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Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,972
117,566
Persian silk trees grow like weeds here. I keep meaning to try container cultivation with one.
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,972
117,566
Sounds like a fun experiment. I left my azalea off the list, the largest in the collection. Grown in the ground for about 10 years before moving it to a pot.
Good way to fatten the base and get good surface root development.? Another trick is to leave low branches on in the development phase and rotate them a few times per day. The plant will sense this as damage and will bulk up the areas being "attacked" causing a thicker base.
 
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irishearl

Lifer
Aug 2, 2016
2,258
4,049
Kansas
Was into it with outdoor ones for awhile years ago. Had about 5 of them. But, my black thumb caused me to ditch the hobby. Should have known it would happen as I have a hard time keeping any houseplants healthy. Heck, I used to even kill succulents. :LOL:
 

Chasing Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
44,972
117,566
To demystify things a bit for those not familiar with bonsai, the word itself just means plant in a tray. Chinese styles attempt to replicate animals and mythological creatures while Japanese styles attempt to create images in full grown form on a small scale. Bonsai can also vary in size from just a few inches up to 15-20 feet tall. The cultivation are often multi generational and some are hundreds of years old.