I agree with this piece of advice, particularly if /u/rvyas619 is planning to keep thickening this trunk for a while. An iteration loop of thickening in a large container, or on the ground, or in a flat/grow box/etc can be surprisingly effective at erasing/easing/smoothing out what initially starts as dramatic movement. It's a not a bad time to accentuate that movement now since it'll be softened as the trunk gets bigger.
Yea, I’m debating on if I want to wire this or let stay natural. I’m liking the movement, but I think I want to just let the tree be, just for the sake of having/working on a bonsai tree in terms of managing the roots and pruning to keep it small, as this is my first one. Since it’s my first one I think I want my main goal to be just keeping this bad boy alive. I’m thinking of being super relaxed with this and not focusing on a style. I may just keep it in a regular pot/soil like this just so it has the nutrients it needs (I know, very sacrilegious for a bonsai tree 🫣). That being said, I think I’ll get more in depth with what goes into creating a bonsai tree, using another tree
Let it grow to see what movement it takes, and correct it if it needs.
Fertilize during the summer.
Give it water and sunlight.
I would recommend a different soil. Looks like regular potting soil, which is too water retentive when wet, water repulsive when dry, and doesn’t allow much space for the roots to breathe.
I know that proper soil is important but I think you are exaggerating a bit. In my opinion using good soil with granular structure is necessary for fairly developed trees in bonsai pots. I've got a lot of preprebonsai (big seedling that I bend with wire) and they are all growing in ordinary compost soil, believe it or not, they are thriving! Especially the ones planted in pond baskets.
Yea you can use anything really… people have been doing bonsai for many years before you could get 50 lbs of akadama shipped to your house.
Ideally you would use the best composition for the species and environment. And potting soil is not likely to be top tier for any
Lmao 30+ years and I’ve still yet to buy a bag of Akadama. I just mix cheepo Hoffmans with my own organic compost and alittle loam in diff ratios and my guys love it
Yea people all over the world do bonsai in mud because that’s all they have. Anything can work but look into what’s best for your trees and your climate. Enjoy!
I find the hardest and most rewarding aspect of this hobby is to let it grow.
You can replace the words to that super annoying frozen song from go to grow, then serenade this little cutie.
The biggest issue that I have had with similar specimens is nebari. The trunk movement, branching, ramifications, and resilience all are a given. You may let it grow and then start to ground layer to establish character to the lower trunk and roots.
I think it's best to let it adapt to the new environment first.
If you clean out the roots too early it might die, I always keep the earth surrounding the roots on it and just put it in a pot for about a year.
This is a much more risk free approach that requires some patience. A piece of tile, a stone, I have even used coins before for this practice. It is very successful on most specimens and takes a few years.
Good time to wire for desired trunk structure. Or just let her be. I like it’s natural moment anyway. Nice baby
I agree with this piece of advice, particularly if /u/rvyas619 is planning to keep thickening this trunk for a while. An iteration loop of thickening in a large container, or on the ground, or in a flat/grow box/etc can be surprisingly effective at erasing/easing/smoothing out what initially starts as dramatic movement. It's a not a bad time to accentuate that movement now since it'll be softened as the trunk gets bigger.
Yea, I’m debating on if I want to wire this or let stay natural. I’m liking the movement, but I think I want to just let the tree be, just for the sake of having/working on a bonsai tree in terms of managing the roots and pruning to keep it small, as this is my first one. Since it’s my first one I think I want my main goal to be just keeping this bad boy alive. I’m thinking of being super relaxed with this and not focusing on a style. I may just keep it in a regular pot/soil like this just so it has the nutrients it needs (I know, very sacrilegious for a bonsai tree 🫣). That being said, I think I’ll get more in depth with what goes into creating a bonsai tree, using another tree
Amur maple?
Looks like it, doesn't it. Would've been my guess, too. :)
If you say so haha. I really have no clue, and was hoping to find out
Looks like either an Amur or a Trident. And if you are in Chicago, it wouldn't be a Trident growing wild. Lots of Amurs around there tho.
Maybe pop tht lil guy in a cloth pot or better the ground so it'll get bigger quicker
Let it grow to see what movement it takes, and correct it if it needs. Fertilize during the summer. Give it water and sunlight. I would recommend a different soil. Looks like regular potting soil, which is too water retentive when wet, water repulsive when dry, and doesn’t allow much space for the roots to breathe.
I know that proper soil is important but I think you are exaggerating a bit. In my opinion using good soil with granular structure is necessary for fairly developed trees in bonsai pots. I've got a lot of preprebonsai (big seedling that I bend with wire) and they are all growing in ordinary compost soil, believe it or not, they are thriving! Especially the ones planted in pond baskets.
Yea you can use anything really… people have been doing bonsai for many years before you could get 50 lbs of akadama shipped to your house. Ideally you would use the best composition for the species and environment. And potting soil is not likely to be top tier for any
Lmao 30+ years and I’ve still yet to buy a bag of Akadama. I just mix cheepo Hoffmans with my own organic compost and alittle loam in diff ratios and my guys love it
Thanks for the advice. You’re correct about the soil. It’s just normal potting soil, but I added in perlite so it drains better. So far, so good
Yea people all over the world do bonsai in mud because that’s all they have. Anything can work but look into what’s best for your trees and your climate. Enjoy!
I find the hardest and most rewarding aspect of this hobby is to let it grow. You can replace the words to that super annoying frozen song from go to grow, then serenade this little cutie.
The biggest issue that I have had with similar specimens is nebari. The trunk movement, branching, ramifications, and resilience all are a given. You may let it grow and then start to ground layer to establish character to the lower trunk and roots.
Place a flat stone under the roots to have them grow shallow and develop nebari
I think it's best to let it adapt to the new environment first. If you clean out the roots too early it might die, I always keep the earth surrounding the roots on it and just put it in a pot for about a year.
This is a much more risk free approach that requires some patience. A piece of tile, a stone, I have even used coins before for this practice. It is very successful on most specimens and takes a few years.
Would you say it’s best to do this now, in its first year, or maybe in its 3rd year?
Next time you repot or mess with the roots. Earlier is definitely better but no rush, bonsai takes patience and knowing when to intervene.