Newbie with some questions.

[Emily Csato]

You're brave for jumping into this very complex and - until recently - very secretive world. Trying to make sense of the stuff in books and on the net is overwhelming...the best thing you can do is take a course. Not so easy where you are, I know, but if you ever want to take a road trip and spend a weekend devoted to bonsai, come up to Queensland and visit the nurseries here. There are four within an hour of each other, and I think all of them offer courses. I did my course with Chris at Red Dragon bonsai and then I was flying. Plus he's always happy to answer questions over the phone or in person, PLUS he has amazing stock and finished bonsai on display so you can get a first hand idea.

There's also a big nursery in Park Ridge, loads of stock trees there, and there's also one in Morayfield...they've also got a good selection of rocks and deadwood. If you do drive up I would say save up some money first. It's a day's drive so you won't be doing it often, but would be so worth it if you really want to get into it. I'm sure Chris does ship trees interstate, so once you meet him and see his stock you could also order some.

For a first serious tree where you're spending a bit of money, you can't go wrong with figs or swamp cypress. Swampies are great, I'm a bit bias...but yeah they're great trees. You can't kill them and they grow quickly. The best thing you can do for a growing swampy is to take most of the soil away from the tree and submerge the roots in water permanently until you're ready to pot it in a nice bonsai pot. They're the loveliest green in summer, with soft foliage and if they have sun in autumn they turn red. They're gems.

[jme]

Hay mate, I'm only new as well but the best advice anyone on here has given me is BUY GOOD HEALTHY STOCK cause if you don't you will be spending most of your time trying to save it rather then loving it. If it's dying, its dying for a reason and it's not suited to bonsai.