Bonsai for beginner - Advice?

[Steve Smith]

Hey all. Wondering if anyone can advise on a good starter bonsai setup? I'd like to give it a go myself, but my flat mate has also expressed an interest so I was thinking about a birthday gift. I'd like to do it right though, not buy some cheap crappy "kit" from homebase or whatever.

Any advice/tips?

 

[LondonDragon]

This place which I think is not far from Matts does cheap workshops, a few of us have considered taking it up: http://www.lvbonsai.co.uk/workshops.asp Maybe we could plan this for the next couple of months, would not mind attending it myself.

 

[Stu Worrall]

have you got any outside space steve as its a lot easier to keep outdoor trees than indoor ones as they tend to dry up easily in centrally heated houses.

Chinese Elms are a good starter tree plus you can bring them inside for a few days to display them and it wont cause any harm. Other than that from the local species Larch are pretty hard to kill

Joining a local club is the best route into it as theres nothing like being hands on with it. FOBBS should have a list of clubs which may be local to you but note this list only includes their members so there may be another club more local thats not on the list - http://www.fobbsbonsai.co.uk/mem_map.htm

Ive been a member of Vale of Clwyd Bonsai for about 17 years and its a pity youre not in North Wales as we have one meeting and 2 free workshops per month where there's lots of free advice. The meetings are held at Green Dragon Bonsai who also sells trees - http://www.greendragonbonsai.co.uk Here's our diary - http://www.vocbonsaisociety.co.uk/diary.html and Blog - http://vocbs.blogspot.com/

This is a good forum - http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/forum

if you've any questions on it I'll have a go at answering on here or mail.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
I'd start by going looking for suitable trees. If you want interior "trees", you could buy plug plant Serissa foetida or Ficus benjamina. From the earlier Bonsai thread Carmona microphylla looked very good if you could find it http://www.ukaps.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=14012, I've seen Ikea as a suggestion.

If you want a Bonsai for outside, now is a very good timer to go tree seedling hunting. Gravel paths and demolition sites are very good for conifers, Cotoneaster horizontalis, Birch (Betula pendula) and Holly (Ilex aquifolium) seedlings. If you can find a fairly straight sapling about 75cm tall, that is ideal. I'd wait until it has rained before removing it. You may find you can get Acer seedlings as well. I was at Westonbirt Arboretum recently and they had some really nice A. palmatum (Japanese Maple) seedlings.

All you need then is a book (or a forum?), a pot, some Tesco's cat litter, scissors and training wire.

cheers Darrel

 

[gmartins]

Hi

In the past, I've kept a Ficus sp bonsai indoors for over 3 years (then my girlfriend killed it when I went abroad and she was looking after it). It was really easy. It was getting direct sunlight roughly 1 hour a day and I used to spray it with water every day. The moss kept in the substrate is a good indicator. Just keep it moist all time. You need to replace the substrate and do some root cutting every 2 years I think - I did it once while I had it.

Hope this helps,

G

 

[Steve Smith]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm wondering if maybe I should get him a good book on it, and then encourage him buying something (and me at the same time maybe!) We don't really have any outside space. We have a very small patio which is large enough for a couple of chairs and a table, but is covered so doesn't get particularly wet. There would be room for one I guess, but it'd need watering regularly (I guess it would anyway).

 

[sanj]

Wow a bonsai for your flat mate...you must really like him.

 

[Steve Smith]

He was talking about it the other week, while admiring my tanks! I'm just encouraging the arty/zen thing. It helps when I try and get an 80x45x45 into the shared living space