What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Share your success stories about defoliation, bare rooting and anything else relating to maintaining healthy bonsai.
User avatar
Rory
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2960
Joined: January 23rd, 2013, 11:19 pm
Favorite Species: Baeckea Phebalium Casuarina & Banksia
Bonsai Age: 27
Location: Central Coast, NSW
Has thanked: 26 times
Been thanked: 578 times

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Rory »

Grant Bowie wrote: Having enough trees to practice on without overdoing it on any single tree.

ie 32 pines.

Grant
:lol:
Rory
I style Bonsai naturally, just as they would appear in the wild.
Central Coast, NSW
Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
User avatar
Jason
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1543
Joined: November 23rd, 2012, 1:00 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca and Callistemon
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Society of WA
Location: Perth
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Jason »

Grant Bowie wrote:Having enough trees to practice on without overdoing it on any single tree.

Grant
Now I just need advice on how to explain this to the missus :lol:
Have a question? The AusBonsai Wiki most likely has the answer!

Looking for a Nursery or Club near your? Check out the AusBonsai Directory which lists them all

Image
User avatar
EJZ
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 67
Joined: April 6th, 2012, 6:30 pm
Favorite Species: native
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Contact:

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by EJZ »

Hi All,

My advice is to join a local club,

Talk to people about bonsai... go to as many bonsai workshops as you can...

Take your time with your work, and if you’re unsure about something leave it... until you’re ready, or decided.

The beauty of bonsai is you have all the time in the world… and remember the master pieces did not happen overnight. There are some bonsai that have been growing for hundreds of years.

Cheers
Eugene
User avatar
Phoenix238
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 438
Joined: August 10th, 2011, 8:50 pm
Favorite Species: Maples
Bonsai Age: 4
Location: Cobden VIC
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Phoenix238 »

Jason wrote:
Grant Bowie wrote:Having enough trees to practice on without overdoing it on any single tree.

Grant
Now I just need advice on how to explain this to the missus :lol:
When you figure that out, make sure you tell the rest of us!!!
User avatar
Phoenix238
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 438
Joined: August 10th, 2011, 8:50 pm
Favorite Species: Maples
Bonsai Age: 4
Location: Cobden VIC
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Phoenix238 »

Jason wrote:
Grant Bowie wrote:Having enough trees to practice on without overdoing it on any single tree.

Grant
Now I just need advice on how to explain this to the missus :lol:
When you figure that out, make sure you tell the rest of us!!!
User avatar
Grant Bowie
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3810
Joined: February 18th, 2009, 3:22 pm
Favorite Species: Banksia
Bonsai Age: 52
Bonsai Club: Canberra
Location: Canberra
Been thanked: 351 times

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Grant Bowie »

Funny thing is my wife came with me to purchase and pick up the 32 pines.

Maybe she wants me off the streets.

Grant
User avatar
dansai
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1291
Joined: May 17th, 2010, 5:33 pm
Favorite Species: Aussie Natives
Bonsai Age: 5
Bonsai Club: Coffs Harbour
Location: Mid North Coast, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 4 times
Been thanked: 141 times

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by dansai »

Grant Bowie wrote:Funny thing is my wife came with me to purchase and pick up the 32 pines.

Maybe she wants me off the streets.

Grant
Maybe she wanted to make sure you didn't come back with 132 :lol:
Travelling the Mid North Coast of NSW and beyond to attend Markets and other events

www.facebook.com/TheBonsaiBus - www.instagram.com/thebonsaibus
Andrew Legg
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1404
Joined: June 24th, 2010, 6:23 pm
Favorite Species: The ones that don't die
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: Oyama Bonsai Kai, Ausbonsai
Location: Cape Town, South Africa
Been thanked: 2 times

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Andrew Legg »

I'm intrigued . . . . no one had a grumble about my post . . . . Hmmmmmmmm . . . . . are things a changin?? :lost:
User avatar
Webos
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1206
Joined: July 15th, 2009, 12:05 pm
Favorite Species: Juniper
Bonsai Age: 0
Bonsai Club: Southern Vic Bonsai Club
Location: Southern Vic

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Webos »

Seek advice, ask your peers for their opinion.

I see so many trees at clubs and on forums which have been unnecessarily chopped down when choosing a nice, graceful line was a possibility. If only these trees could have had the benefit of its owner asking a few friends their opinions. Ugly scars could be avoided and some beautiful trees could have been achieved much faster. Costs nothing to ask a friend and in the end you still have all of the options you began with.
User avatar
Jason
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1543
Joined: November 23rd, 2012, 1:00 pm
Favorite Species: Melaleuca and Callistemon
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: Bonsai Society of WA
Location: Perth
Been thanked: 1 time
Contact:

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Jason »

Andrew Legg wrote:I'm intrigued . . . . no one had a grumble about my post . . . . Hmmmmmmmm . . . . . are things a changin?? :lost:
I thought it was good advice mate, and very valid :tu2:
Grant Bowie wrote:Funny thing is my wife came with me to purchase and pick up the 32 pines.

Maybe she wants me off the streets.

Grant
You'll have to let us know the secret Grant ;) haha
Have a question? The AusBonsai Wiki most likely has the answer!

Looking for a Nursery or Club near your? Check out the AusBonsai Directory which lists them all

Image
Graeme
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 926
Joined: December 17th, 2009, 1:31 pm
Favorite Species: Olive, ficus, azalea
Bonsai Age: 36
Location: Fraser Coast Queensland
Been thanked: 4 times

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Graeme »

[quote="Jason" and "Phoenix238 "]
Grant Bowie wrote:Having enough trees to practice on without overdoing it on any single tree.

Grant
Now I just need advice on how to explain this to the missus :lol:[/quote]

What is wrong with you blokes? Jeez I don't know, the answer to this is printed out in plain English - right there in front of you. You blokes obviously need a lot more, intense instruction from the older, wiser, more worldly among us.

To aid with the furthering of your education, I will answer your question - this time. When SWMBO asks the question (which, by the way, she has no real right to do :shake: ) you are to reply, in a very firm manly type voice,

"Because Grant has told me so".

Bloody simple isn't it? You can also lead her to here and point out Grant's post, further emphasizing your manly point.

Easy, peasy really. You get any number of trees you desire to own and Grant get's the blame. And it will work time and time again. :whistle: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now, go ahead and try it. Please don't forget to let us all know how you got on - after the injuries heal enough that is. ;)
Graeme
I will forever defend your right
to disagree with my opinion
.
User avatar
Grant Bowie
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 3810
Joined: February 18th, 2009, 3:22 pm
Favorite Species: Banksia
Bonsai Age: 52
Bonsai Club: Canberra
Location: Canberra
Been thanked: 351 times

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by Grant Bowie »

Please feel free; I usually get the blame in the long run anyhow.

It comes with the territory if you have opinions.

Anyhow I am out of the country so no one can get to me.

Lots of amazing trees here; in NZ.

Grant
harvards_lone
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 4
Joined: October 2nd, 2013, 12:28 am
Bonsai Age: 1
Bonsai Club: interweb
Location: Sydney

Re: What is your most important advice for Bonsai

Post by harvards_lone »

Hi Grant,

If you are in central Auckland drop by these guys.. Ill be grabbing some trees from them while Im here in NZ :tu:

Their website doesnt do them justice -> http://www.bonsaiville.co.nz

cheers.
Post Reply

Return to “Tips, Techniques, Maintenance and Advice”