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New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13648		 Page 1 of 2
Author:  AdamJesney [ 17 Jun 2015, 20:27 ]
Post subject:  New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Hi all,

I am new to all this, but really want to try growing something from seed as this year I will be having my first child and thought it would be nice to have a tree that is the same age as my upcoming family addition.

I am lucky enough to live in a house with a very large Conker tree out the back of my garden which year after year gives me many new saplings. This year I have collected a few of them and put them in pots. I am down to just 2 now as others didnt like to be moved. I also managed to find a tiny Oak sapling, but I think this is dieing (I will persevere with it a little while longer) and I have also taken a cutting from my Privet Hedge which seems to be doing well - Lots of new buds have sprouted on this.

So, firstly the Conkers. I have been looking online and have come to realise that these are not the easiest to grow, but, I have them for free so I cant complain. What is best to do with these? Just let them do their thing for a couple of years and then cut them back?

The Oak I am just going to leave alone.

The Privet, I am thinking that I just leave this to grow this year as it is a cutting? The trunk is about 1cm thick I guess and about 8cm high with a bend in the middle. Then in Autumn maybe cut it back to two leaves?

Any advice is greatly welcomed.

Adam
Author:  Sven [ 17 Jun 2015, 21:45 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Hi Adam, welcome, I am new as well.

Regarding your oak, check out these two recent posts regarding my issues - might help you save it!

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13617

And this in terms refers to techniques in this topic:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13616
Author:  Gwen Potter [ 17 Jun 2015, 22:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Welcome to WeeTrees, Adam. You won't find many of us here who grow from seeds although I can certainly understand your reasons for wanting to try. The main reason is the very long time it takes for a seedling to grow into anything approaching bonsai proportions. One of the obsessions of bonsai is having material that you can 'fiddle' with and unfortunately seedlings can take five or ten years to develop even a modest trunk and an acceptable number of branches to work with.
To be honest, I don't have the patience !!
Some of us have had some success and maybe you have the endless patience to try this method of creating bonsai and I'm sure someone with the appropriate experience will be able to answer your questions.
Author:  Clint [ 17 Jun 2015, 22:36 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Welcome to the forum.
Author:  Will [ 17 Jun 2015, 22:40 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Hello an welcome
Author:  MattS [ 17 Jun 2015, 23:06 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
If it's seed you really want to go for then I'd suggest finding some elm which are usually easy to germinate. It also sounds like you have the garden space to then grow them in the ground for a few years to thicken trunks.
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 18 Jun 2015, 09:22 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Hi & Welcome

I agree wirth Aunty Gwen. Get to a show and pick up a tree that has already done the hard work and has got a decent trunk. It doesn't have to be expensive.

There is a show at Newbury on Sunday the 5th July and I know that Lee one of the traders will have some nice starter trees.

Failing that there is a big show at Crawley later in the year.
Author:  Jake [ 18 Jun 2015, 09:53 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Hey Adam. I'm the same, I love growing from seed! I've had lots of success with Chinese elms, and they certainly seem to tolerate my lack of experience. Also, very easy to propagate by taking root cuttings- you'll have a host of them to practice with within a few years.

I have a redwood that germinated easily enough- very proud of that one and if I ever come into a bit (lot) of land will actually just plant it straight in the ground and let it grow, it will outlive all our families! The Chinese elm and redwood should germinate now and survive the winter if you're quick- mine managed to.

Trident maples planted in the autumn could be a good way to go mate, again I'm very proud of that one too.

I genuinely feel nothing beats watching a tree go from the beginning!
Author:  AdamJesney [ 18 Jun 2015, 11:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
Thanks everyone for the kind welcomes. I know this is the slowest way of getting started, but I also feel it can be the most satisfying.
Do you all think that I should put the conker trees in the ground then instead of having them in pots to thicken up the trunks? Is there a method for thickening up the trunks a bit quicker? Pinching out and the like? Is it a case of just letting them grow for a few years or do I cut them back each year or every couple of years?

For a quicker result I have the Privet which is very fast growing. Do I just let this grow out this year then cut it back in autumn?

Thanks
Author:  Paul B [Swindon] [ 18 Jun 2015, 16:39 ]
Post subject:  Re: New to bonsai, new to this group and lots of questions!
I still have mine that I started 30 years ago, it was in the ground for about 10 years and is the best way to bulk it up. The problem is that while reducing the huge leaves the design as a tree suffers.

Give it a go but you won't be able to work on it as a bonsai for years..............get a few starter trees to keep you busy in the mean time
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