My first post as a proud rookie Bonsai parent.

[SlaveIV]

G'day all!!

My name is Josh and I wanted to introduce myself to you all!
I'm living in the perfect Gold Coast and am keen on learning the necessary patience and techniques on developing a bonsai in motion.

so yes a bonsai as I've read needs a pot and a composition to truly live in its form as a Bonsai. But as I picked my first one during summer I will now wait for next spring to repot, my first goal is to keep this little dude alive till then!!

I wanted to get into Bonsai because of a cartoon no less!! Ever since I was a kid and watched the original Ninja Turtle's cartoon and would be surprised a badass Shredder would contemplate his next diabolical move while preserving his bonsai actually ignited the interest in me. Fast forward 20 odd years and here I am finally!

So introducing 'Whisky'!!
no prizes for guessing my other passion

[wal]

Welcome mate

[Kevin]

Welcome Josh,

Looking forward to how you mix your whisky
Whisky and Jin,
Whisky on the rocks,
Whisky and shari....

Enjoy your Bonsai journey and please share your experiences and questions.

Kevin

[KIRKY]

Welcome to Bonsai. You have a very nice and healthy plant....
My questions for you are, do you know what type it is? If you do know, have you looked up how to look after it?
These two questions are the start of growing anything/everything from gardens to Bonsai.
Before everyone jumps on the band wagon I know what it is. However everyone buying/aquiring a plant should know what they have and its own unique growing requirements.
Cheers
Kirky

[SlaveIV]

Thanks everyone!!
And thank you for your concern and encouragement!!

I'm a little OCD and a perfectionist, so although it took me a couple of days, I did discover my particular sub species of Juniper. I'm not very Mexican so I gotta learn a bit more yet as opposed to what comes naturally hahaha.
San Jose!!!

Still working on what the definitions of proper water care for it is, but I'm getting a fair idea now.
I'm misting it every two days, and watering it one-two times a week.
I'm sure I probably need to change that, but that has been me so far for the last two weeks of caring for this little guy.

[Jarad]

Welcome mate!

This thread here will give you a few different opinions on how to water:
viewtopic.php?f=131&t=23602&start=0

You can also check out the wiki (top right of the screen next to "Blogs"

When styling trees I have found that a nip of liquid courage helps you make the more drastic cuts.

And most importantly: what's your favourite whisky at the moment?

[Jag001]

Welcome aboard mate,

lovely little starter you have there and equally important I was impressed to hear "i am going to wait for spring to re pot it"

You will learn a good deal about you tree between now and then and in the process be rewarded with the pleasure of watching it's growth habits between now and Spring!

cheers,
jeff

[Daluke]

Hi there:

Looks like a Shimpaku to me.

There's an abundance of information on here and online about where to start.

I saw a video by Nigel Saunders on YouTube about beginners tips last night and found it a good start list!

If I could give any advice from experience I'd to save your money and get lots of good trees rather than cheap small crap.

You can't make strawberry jam out of sh*^

[SlaveIV]

Thanks again guys!!
I'll definitely look up that YouTube channel!! I've been watching Bonsai Empire and another one...(can't remember what it was called) and they have been very educational so far. Not up to that level yet, but the more I rewatch it, the comfortable I'm getting with the idea of care and such, so when I come to wire mine, I won't be so intimated.

My favourite whisky ha, that's a hard one... last sept I travelled Scotland and found SO MANY good ones. But if I have to make a choice, I'd go with the Singleton from Glen Ord 18yrs. Very balanced and soft finish.i think the tour of Glen Ord's distillery has coloured my bias though!

I'll certainly peruse those blogs as I have time come available. I have a side hobby of photography as (haha so much going on) and will be tracking its progress.

[bonsaeen]

Welcome mate. Good to know uve already mastered patience as some of us rookies have alot of trouble with it lol

[Raging Bull]

I hope you realise this is only the first of many you will nurture and then become obsessed with. I started only a short time ago and am obsessed already

[SlaveIV]

Haha thanks guys! It's fantastic to meet such a vibrant community here, even just in one thread.

I've no doubt my collection will grow... waiting a lifetime to only nurture one plant does seem a little tame, and so I'd definitely like to learn the characters of more bonsai.

I'll probably organise getting in touch with the Gold Coast/tweed bonsai club here, when time allows. It'll be fun to sink my teeth in and view many other styles.

[Boics]

Welcome Mr Slave.

Check out the Ausbonsai Wiki for a heap of good information.

[The Munt]

That's straight up the best reason anyone has started Bonsai ever ! HAHA