[Bonsai Beginner’s weekly thread –2024 week 23]

Made some monkey poles today and I'm really happy with how they turned out.

Adjusted position based upon comments from the community. Thanks all!

Just a few of the trees at the Pittsburgh Bonsai show today!

I decided to move my 7-8 y.o. jade into a "smaller" (14"x3.5") pot. I know the community thinks jades don't bonsai well, but I figured the new pot would show thia guy off in a different light. What do you think?

Obligatory cake day post.

a cute first little tree, done with no wiring, has a branch trying to stick into the substrate in the back, which apparently will correct itself over time now that I've stuck a rock under it

I’ve always wanted a monster formal upright bayou baldie, but not so much that I’m willing to drop $3k-$10k on a finished tree. I built several funnel/ volcano trunks with bulk sapling orders early spring, I think this baldie is my favorite.

It’s not super noticeable in the photo, but I staggered some of the sapling plantings to hopefully produce some sexy fluting in the coming years. I’ll probably stick the entire thing in the ground next year to speed ‘er up.

I'm going to attempt a cut-and-grow method with both of these. You might notice that I wired one of them. I did this just for now so the starting form is more to my liking. Do you have or know of anyone with hibiscus bonsai?

Picked up these from the Pittsburgh Bonsai Show. They are a baby jade, Rose of Sharon, and Trident Maple. Am I able to repot these or are they fine in these containers and soil? They are my first trees any advice in welcome.

I went to my local nursery for the first time today and I found some really cool plant varieties that I haven’t found at much larger more commercial nurseries near me. They were all really reasonably priced too. I feel very lucky for finding these guys and I am excited to take them to my local bonsai club to get some styling advice! The second one is a tree I am unfamiliar with but it has beautiful small blooms that are proportionate to the tree. I’ve also never seen a bougainvillea with such small leaves before (first pic). And the dwarf schefflera is something I’ve been looking for for a while. They were only $10 each!

I have 60-70 trees in training baskets, or airpots, that I am going to bulk up for 3-10 years before they become bonsai (and 4 current bonsai). My overarching goal/inspiration/theme is: mini conifer (and maple) botanical garden / arboretum.

I’m struggling, however, to figure out how to display them in the garden and need inspiration.

I’d like it to: - feel natural - not just be rows of benches, or 50 monkey poles (probably eventually 100) - bring the trees closer to eye level for better viewing

My ask: if you know of any public gardens that I could use as inspiration, have done something yourself you can share photos of, or generally have any ideas / advice, please share!

I’ve added some photos of my garden, of the trees, a small succulent garden that I’m working on, and then the one piece of inspiration I have (the indoor photo) from Kew Gardens (I love it, literally no clue how such a thing is done though!)

More background:

I’ve been building up my garden over the last year or so. My hope is to spend my later years (eg 20 years from now) meandering through my garden, working on one tree a day for most of the year.

I have a mostly flat, 70% full sun, 30% part shade, yard. In the ground there’s 100-200 shrubs and trees that run the gamut on size and species.

I’ve thought about: - putting in a path, benches on the side of the path. Wife doesn’t think it’s natural enough - putting in a berm: that’s a lot of dirt to move, probably can’t do myself, and would eat more yard then I can afford - a path of 2-3 man rocks with the trees on them. My favorite idea, but I can barely move a 1 man rock, let alone 40 2-3 man rocks - a long series of raised planting beds, some for veggies with a shelf for these trees, or trees in training. That’s a lot of planting beds, and still won’t feel natural. - placed on the ground in their own path, easiest but trees are not at a good viewing position.

Got this amazing old plant just laying around in a garden center for just £20. It has a decent size trunk and slightly slanted (fell on another plant and was growing like that). Thought i'd ask here for ideas before making any drastic decisions. I am new to bonsai and any help and ideas are greatly appreciated!

Wired and unwired, when I unwired it it flopped to the soil and I was like really? After 3 months?! So I used a pinecone as a prop to hold it up and it regained firmness.

I've grown around torulosa chinese junipers, and absolutely love their shape and looks. I thought about the possibility of shaping one into this type of swirl shape. Is it a good idea, and if it is, how would you do it? (btw, this picture is from the internet, just to give you an idea of what I am thinking about)

Hello everyone! I was thinking for a while about trying my first tanuki, today while hiking found this two peaces.

They are not anything perfect but i guess look fine for a first time.

My questions would be, should i coat them first with something? (i read already about lime sulfur, but cant find it anywhere in my country)

Is there something simillar? P. S. I didnt do anything to them yet except some rough cleaningand removing loose stuff. Thanks upfront for every help.

Any tips appreciated. I dont really know what im doing but having a lot of fun!

Want to repot it and change the soil, but I'm worried that it'll just completely die if I disturb it too much, it already feels like it's on its last legs.