Memnoch

I have several plants some purchased as "bonsai" and some as pre bonsai, and a couple I had transplanted from the woods here in beautiful east tennesse. ( My friends girl friend's property so 100% legal transplants.)
I am looking for advice with styling, and anything anyone notices out of place, that could be improved upon. Any feedback at all really.

(I love this forum set up, I mod for the forums on stratics.com and it uses the same system so good!! )





These first pictures are of a Jaboticaba I ordered off the internet, the plant in the picture is not the one i received (live and learn) It was allso in pretty bad shape, I have since repotted it, trimed away the dead limbs, and have been pruning back new growth, It seems to be in very good health at the moment.



These two pictures are of two pre bonsai Serissa I ordered from another place, they came in great condition, and have been doing very welll since. I have dont allmost nothing to them, I wired one small limb on the one in the blue pot.


This is a green mound juniper which was purchased for me as a gift a few months ago, I have dont nothing with it since aside from water/feeding.


This plant, I am not sure what it is yet, I found it in the woods above a big cave, it was growing ontop of a rock in about 1 inch of soil, it had a very large main root, and not much else, Iv just been watering it and feeding it.
(It just looked to me like it should be in a bonsai pot)


This is a spruce pine I found allmost in the same spot as the above plant, the area is littered with some very pretty (dwarfed?) trees.

I am really new to bonsai, and looking for any advice / comments I have very much to learn. I know I have alot of stuff here, but I find that it helps me to learn, and understand to have these plants around me to refer to when I am reading bonsai related info.
Thank you all very much, in advance for any helpful posts!!!

Phil

Hi Memnoch and welcome to the site.


If you could please use the “Manage Attachments” feature on the site instead of inserting images as they are MUCH too large. It saves space aside from the inconvenience of having to scroll from side to side to read ones post. Underneath the posting box you will see: Additional Options > Attach Files > Manage Attachments. Images can of course be inserted, but in the future please reduce their size to nothing larger than 25KB. Thank you…….


~Phil

__________________

Please, always keep in mind that the typewritten word does not always convey what you wish to say, and to always treat others as you would have them treat you. Think twice-submit once.
I started out with nothing....and still have most of it.
"Its hell out there, give them hell back." ~ Prowler/Victor Gray 12/31/1943 - 11/24/2008

treebeard55

Hi, Memnoch, and welcome, as Phil said.

Your jaboticaba is looking pretty darn good! Nice trunk movement, some taper, the bark is starting to exfoliate and look interesting. If you're happy with its size, then it's ready for you to decide how you want to style it.

Your serissa looks pretty small. It's up to you whether you want to grow it on for more bulk, or use it as is to create a mame bonsai (between 3" and 6" high from the soil line.)

Your juniper needs to be thinned. You're going to start losing twigs and branches otherwise, and they might be ones you want to keep. I would start by removing all the shoots growing from branch and twig axils. Junipers are notorious for those, and they can really make a tree congested. Then post another picture.

Your unknown tree looks like it might be a Prunus of some kind. It has the start of some interesting movement, but it's still pretty thin. If it were mine, I'd put it in the ground in a nice sunny spot for at least the next two years.

What you call a "spruce pine" has foliage that looks to me like a juniper's -- what foliage is left! Whether it's a pine or juni, the lack of foliage is worrisome. Don't give up on it yet: it may have dropped its foliage in response to being collected, and if that's so, it may grow it anew in spring. Baby it until then, and be prepared for the fact that you may lose it.

Last piece of advice, and the most important: find a club within driving distance, and get involved. We on the forum are glad to help, but local bonsaiists can examine your trees "in person," and are familiar with your local conditions.

__________________
Treebeard 55
Steve Moore
http://hoosierbonsai.blogspot.com

The most important bonsai tool is your brain.

Memnoch

I apologies, I didn't realize , I will from now on attach my picture files.in any future posts.

Memnoch

Thank you very much tree beard, I will head your advice, and repot the unknown plant, and cutting back the shoots you have instructed me to on the juniper.

The "spruce pine" I belived I had IDed correctly, but i may have made a mistake, my friend got one from the same place, and the foiliage is the same on both. His had some very small "pine cones" which looked very similar to those I had seen on a spruce pine in pictures.
I know the lack of foiliage looks disheartening, but all of the trees of this same time I have seen in the area I collected it from seems to be bare or mostly bare, I will keep a close eye on it. I very much like the trunk on this plant, but if it doesnt pull threw I have lost only the small effort I put into bringing it home.
I enjoyed my walk in the woods to find it,and would enjoy taking that walk again to replace it. ( hope It doesnt come to that tho hehe) I really do LOVE the trunk on that tree for some reason.

I had thought that I might need to let the serissa grow some out of the bonsai pot for them to fatten up a bit, but wasnt sure, and didnt want to take action before afirming, this is something I will think on and most likely do.


I would love to join a club in the area and would be more then willing to drive up to an hour from where I live, but as of now I have been unable to find any such groups in this area, so I turned here. ) I will keep looking around, for a club, or even just an experience bonsaist whom might take me under there wing.
I have a couple friends whom are starting to get into bonsai as well, perhaps some day years from now we might form a more local group, but it is very nice having others to sit and talk about bonsai with ( even if they are as green as I am)
But we share things that we read, and talk about them, 3 minds are for sure better then 1, and I hope this helps us all get on the right track quickly.

Thank you very much for your helpful advice, and the warm welcomes!

Memnoch

Here you go.

Attached Images

DSCF1002.jpg (90.9 KB, 13 views)

clwagner167

Memnoch,

Welocme!

Don't know exactly where you are located other than East Tennessee..

Hope this helps..

TENNESSEE - Kingsport
Mid-Appalachian Bonsai kai meets the 3rd Monday of each month, for location and directions please contact Anita Bausman at (423) 239-7602 or by e-mail. Study group of interested bonsai students, various levels, all ages, September show, participate in other shows and community events/education, everyone welcome, email or call for more information.

TENNESSEE - Knoxville
Knoxville Bonsai Society meets at various members' homes typically on the second saturday of each month from 9:30am-noon. For more informaton please contact: Tom Bjorholm, phone: (865) 922-0825 or e-mail: bjorholmt (at) juno.com - Through a variety of lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on workshops, members are encouraged to develop their skills and understanding of classical bonsai design and culture. Annual spring show held in May. Website: www.bjorvalabonsai.com/kbs.

TENNESSEE - Memphis
Memphis Bonsai Society meets at the Memphis Botanical Gardens Goldsmith Civic Center (750 Cherry Road, Mphs, TN) on the 4th Tuesday of each month (unless a special activity dedicates otherwise). The meetings start at 7:00 PM. Contact: info (at) memphisbonsai.org Website: www.memphisbonsai.org.

TENNESSEE - Nashville
Nashville Bonsai Society meets at Cheekwood Botanic Gardens, 1200 Forrest Park Drive, Nashville, TN on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM, except during the months of December and January. Contact: Barbara Bogan (615) 337-4728 or e-mail: bogansbonsai (at) verizon.net. The Nashville Bonsai Society is an association of individuals dedicated to promoting interest in the art of bonsai. Website

__________________
~ Cheryl



Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Buddha

Please support "your" site and click on the ads.
_________________________________________

In memory of my dear friend....
"Prowler" Victor Gray 1943-2008

Memnoch

Wow thank you very much Cheryl. I live about an hour and a half from knoxville, I will def look into this group there. My only day off work is saturday actually so this might work out really well for me.
I cant belive there is a group in knoxville really lol

(I dont think there website works any more however)

artyanimal

Welcome to the site Memnoch,

Selecting a local club is the way to go for advice for sure.

There are some basics however, the jaboticaba for instance should be kept it in a warm area and in as much light/sunlight as possible. It is a native of Brazil so it loves humidity, heat and strong sun but may not have been grown or kept as such thus far. So if you can, 'reintroduce' it to sunlight gradually. Maybe half day exposure at first. If no ill effects are observed after a week or so, and I suspect there won't be, give it more again, if you can. This is a vigorous fast growing plant under the right conditions namely, with good light and warmth being major components.

Another thing to be aware of is that if this plant (like many) is being kept too wet especially indoors, the leaves starting at the tips will begin to turn a darkish brown and look withered until they eventually die off altogether. I suggest you watch carefully for any signs of this and reduce watering immediately thereby letting the soil dry out more.

In the meantime, until you find a suitable club, there are several threads already in progress here about serissa that may prove useful to you.

Cheers,

Arty

Memnoch

Thank you Arty for your reply! I keep this jaboticaba inside under full spectrum lights, with a humidifier in the room. The humidity stays between 50 and 60%. The plant seems to be doing really well in my opinion, it constantly has new growth on it.

I do see some leaves with the very end of the tip turning brownish, so I will reduce how often I was just a little.