Beginner in the art of Bonsai - needing a little advice

[bonsai_beginner]

Thank you both for your advice. This forum is fantastic hahaha
You're all soo very helpful


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[bonsai_beginner]

Hey everyone
So I've decided to take all your advice and get myself another tree to work on whilst I wait for my seeds.
I've decided on going with a jade tree. I hear they grown fast and are quite forgiving to newbies like myself. I've also been told they shape well
Attached are a few photos of the one I'm considering getting. It has a nice thick trunk however splits off into two




I'd love to hear your thoughts on this

Thanks



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[kcpoole]

Jade are easy, but not the usual or common type of tree we use.
Re the pics. We need photos from the sides of the full tree taken from just above the soil level to make any reasonable comment on Styling or sutability.

when selecting a tree, look for taper between each trunk section and branches that are about 1/3 the trunk diameter.

Ken

[bonsai_beginner]

Thanks a lot Ken
I'll be getting it this weekend so I'll upload photos once I have it

Thank you


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[Jarad]

Why settle for one tree? Grab yourself a couple of melaleucas and figs?

[matlea]

Are you sure that's a jade... Leaves look a bit big?

[Isitangus]

It's definitely jade, there is a small leaf type and large leaf type


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[matlea]

Yep is too...I thought it may have been some other type of succulent.... Learn something every day!

[bonsai_beginner]

Why settle for one tree? Grab yourself a couple of melaleucas and figs?

I'd love to grab myself a fig tree, but I can't quite find one in my area, or my price range haha but I'll definitely keep looking!



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[bonsai_beginner]

Hey all
So I got my first plant to begin the bonsai process however I'm a little unsure as to go about it. It is a jade tree

It has a really nice thick trunk

I'm thinking of removing one of the thick branches (air layering it to get another plant out of it)


However I'm unsure as to which direction I should have it. I'm inclined to remove the right branch (as the left one allows the nice flow form the trunk to the left branch)
I am a little concerned with the scared wood in the center of the trunk.


Will the branch be able to thicken up to allow for a more proportional grow from trunk to branch?

Any any advice on how to go about it would be fantastic
Thanks
Daniel

I will attach more photos to give you all a better understanding of the tree










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[Jimbomelville]

Whichever way you go with this they are a very forgiving tree and as your experience grows you can continually change it.
By the way, no need to air-layer this one. Being a succulent they shoot very easily from a cutting.

[bonsai_beginner]

Whichever way you go with this they are a very forgiving tree and as your experience grows you can continually change it.
By the way, no need to air-layer this one. Being a succulent they shoot very easily from a cutting.

Thanks jimbomelville
I think I'll begin the cutting at the purple line I showed above and then work from there


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[elljuu]

Hi. I have an apple tree I am training into a bonsai. I grew it from a seed I got from I think an gala apple. I have put some more apple seeds in a pot to grow. It does take a lot longer for the tree to be able to be trained but on the other hand it's a great to see your tree from seed to bonsai. This apple is my favorite being I raised it from a seed I am a lot closer to it then my other plants.


This is my over 1 yr old apple it doesn't look like much but I will let all the other branches grow in that will give it a much better look.


This is a cutting from the first plant. It's diying but in the same pot is seed which will hopefully grow.

If your growing fruit trees from seed it will take a bit before the tree can produce fruit.
I've got 4 years before fruit appears.

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[bonsai_beginner]

Hey everyone any recommendations as to how high up the tree I should cut to shorten the height?


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[Jimbomelville]

Hi bonsai_beginner. Your enthusiasm is infectious. I love it !!
What you have to remember is trunk chopping is done to achieve a variety of outcomes. I would recommend googling "trunk chop bonsai" and you will see a lot of guides in both video and written form about the subject. You will no doubt come across something similar or interesting that you will want to emulate.
Just give it a shot and let us know how you go.
This will help you develop your own skills in styling as well.