Bonsai Tree

I've been thinking about growing my own for a while and I want to get started, has anyone here done anything similar? I know it will take a long while but we have hundreds of little trees growing in our bank every year because of the oak trees in the garden and it seems a shame to not take this opportunity! Any tips? :thumb:

 

I dig up the seedlings and put them in pots [or somewhere in the garden] and let them grow on for a year or so. Then dig them up and chop off the taproot:( , spread out the remaining roots and repot in a shallower container. From now on remember to feed and water as you want the side roots to develop. You can also begin shaping the tree now.

 

I made a mistake yesterday, its actually beech trees we have, does anyone know if these are suitable for bonsai? we do have some older seedlings somewhere in the garden that I cant seem to find, but I shall find them (hopefully!) Thanks for the tips liz!

 

"its actually beech trees we have, does anyone know if these are suitable for bonsai"

I would think it will be excellent. I think things like beech, which have naturally small leaves, are fine - whereas Horse Chestnut type leaves aren't going to work.

 

:D excellent, thanks Kristen, now to find that seedling...

*rustle* *rustle*

What?

Not you Russel!

 

I have a horse chestnut growing as a bonsai [about 5 years old] it's leaves are rather big, but getting smaller!

 

I knew I should have kept my trap shut :D

 

Hiya AndyK .... my have you advanced since that first day at the office when you joined GC and went to the garden center on your lunchbreak .... and took over the office windowsill with Geraniums. :D

I have been 'doing' Bonsai (which means plant in a pot in both Japanese and Chinese) for give or take 15 years and I have my eldest member (an Ivy) here with me which started its formative years in Bucks around 1993 as a seedling. There are several threads up in Other Plants. Liz is one of our other Bonsai folk and knows what's she's talking about. I sadly lost my second oldest, a Cotoneaster, but due to a kind ex-member of GC I now have four racing away ready to transplant in the Autumn .... well, one, the other three against the house.

It doesn't matter what the original size of the leaf is to be honest. If you want a 'small' Bonsai, ie, those sold as such as opposed to a trimmed Bay Tree or other tree/shrub in a pot, then each year you can strip the leaves off as they develop (on a deciduous tree) or as and when on an evergreen and the next set that develops will be smaller ..... and smaller ..... and smaller .... My Ivy plant itself is about 10cm x 15cm with it's longest trailing stem 60cms .... the leaves are about 2cm x 2cm.

Good luck with your attempt and please come back to me if you have any questions.

 

Thanks Lady, yes im getting more and more ambitious, being eating fruit and veg this year homegrown and my geraniums are still doing well (wintered them through!) and all my house (or should i say office) plants are doing great! Im going to try and find a seedling tonight, I know we have plenty. How do you recommend I get started, do I just put it into a small seed pot and let it grow for a while or do I need to bring it inside and put it in a special bonsai pot??

Thanks for your help!

 

Hello again Andy.

Firstly, well done on all your gardening achievements. Don't I also remember you building a patio with your f-in-law to be last year?

Regarding your new hobby. Choose a treelet with a nice shaped trunk which in time will develop on its own as you train the top. It is best to uproot them when they just have budlets but if it has leaves fine. Carefully uproot it and lightly trim the roots. You can plant it in a small pot if you like using either special Bonsai soil or, as I do a two third/one third mixture of potting compost and sharp sand. Keep the soil slightly moist and place the pot outside in a sheltered position with perhaps some filtered sunlight (that comes from the big yellow round thing that sometimes appears in the sky over he UK). Then you look, water and wait .... and look, water and wait .... and look, water and wait ... talking to it all the time ... it will be about two years before you will need to start serious training on it.

Two things to remember ....

1) a Bonsai is a tree and needs to be outdoors but can live on a windowsill in the winter in the UK as long as it has air (although mine in Bucks always lived outdoors in a sheltered spot). One of the biggest failures is keeping a tree indoors with central heating.

2) a Bonsai is for life .... and beyond .... there is a Bonsai center here where some trees are hundreds of years old and only 60-100cms tall.

Keep me posted!

 

haha love the bit about the big yellow thing in the sky, and i've actually seen it today too! I was hoping to keep it inside as I think they are very pretty but I guess it can live outside! If I find a treelet I will take some pics tonight and get them posted up so you can supervise me!! Your right about the patio, its lovely now and was extended further, we also built a path and extended my veg plot, I do have more photos but I keep forgetting to post them up when im at home!!

 

Hi all,

Had a good scout around in the garden and found an oak, beech and a copper beech seedling. I planted them up into small pots using 1/3 sharp sand and 2/3 potting compost as suggested by LOL. They didnt seem to have really big roots so I only cut one of the treelets roots back. I've finally got the pics to show you










Some of you may be wondering why i've put the pots into a tray of compost, well i've had a bit of a disaster with the wind and small pots this year so I decided to do this to stop them blowing over and losing all my plants!!

oh and here's a pic of the veg plot for LOL as i promised.

 

Hi again Andy!

Now they look like nice little treelets to start you off. :thumb:

Snipping the roots just 'freshens' them up for their new environment. I like the way you have placed the three pots in a trough of compost ... what a clever idea .... make notes, folk ....

Just keep them watered ... but not wet .... now and in a sheltered position .... keep in mind where you have removed them from, ie, where they would have grown up on their own .....

And well done on your veg plot .... I think I shall award you Most Eager and Diligent Gardener of the Year award ..... I applaud you. xx




.

 

:D:D Thanks LOL!

 

Just checking in for some more advice! one of my treelets dried out a bit a few weeks ago and i lost the leaves, but it has 3 nice buds on it, im just wondering when should i take the leaves off to make them get gradually smaller, I dont want to starve the treelets of sunlight through the leaves!