Selections problems

[whereswally007]

Hi

I am new at bonsai and have had heaps of trouble with them. i got a bonsia a few years ago and i killed it, i didnt know what i did wrong or if the tempurate was wrong for the plant i dont know. but i would like some help in choosening a new bonsai from the list below: I live in a frost zone in nsw but get hot summers. so any advise on a bonsai would be good thanks, i want a evergreen bonsai that looks good all year round etc.

Acer buergeranum: trident maple
Acer palmatum matsumurae: matsumurae Japanese maple
cupressus sempervens: Italian cypress
juniperus chinensis: Chinese juniper
pinus mugo mughos: mugo pine
pinus parviflora: Japanese white pine
samanea saman: monkey pod Brazilian raintree
ulmus parifolia: Chinese elm
wisteria sinensis: Chinese wisteria
Bloodgood Japanese maple
Ligustrum
Cherry blossom
Yamaki pine
Bantigue
Casuarina
Rhododendron schlippenbachii: Royal Azalea
Brazilian Raintree - Pithecellobium tortum
Emerald Ebony (jacaranda mimosaefolia)
Forest Blaze (spathodea campanulata)
Royal Poinciana (delonix regia)
Weeping bald cypress

thanks

[Jamie]

hi mate

welcome to the site firstly, you will find it a massive help! we will try and help as best we can

most of the trees you have listed will do well in your area, some of the tropicals in your list will require frost protection with the likes of -

monkey pod Brazilian raintree
Brazilian Raintree

a couple there are in between with protection wise, you would really have to get someone from your local area or close to it to let you know how they go, mostly you have chosed tough species, some require more care and knowledge then others, the white pine for instance has some different techniques.
as a beginner I would definately reccommend the chinese elm, privet, junipers, swamp/bald cypress these are all tough and are a good place to start and you should be able to get some reasonably priced trees already potted or some decent stock that you can try your hand at styling yourself!

good luck

[Waltron]

Another vote for Chinese elm from your list. A great tree to start with that will survive almost anything you can throw at it.

[Mojo Moyogi]

Hi whereswally007,
Can you be more specific about your location?

Not being critical, but worth noting:
Guys and girls replying to this thread should consider eliminating several species on the list provided first due to suitability for bonsai/difficulty in cultivation/availability and climate considerations keeping in mind the opening line: "I am new at bonsai and have had heaps of trouble with them." whereswally007 is not looking for an extensive list of what grows in his/her location, let's keep this within his/her skillset.

Just combing through the list very quickly on my coffee break

Acer buergeranum: trident maple Deciduous but great for novices, one of the best species for bonsai
Acer palmatum matsumurae: matsumurae Japanese maple Good for bonsai, can be difficult to find/expensive, is often grafted which can be unsightly/undesirable for bonsai
cupressus sempervens: Italian cypress Not really suitable for bonsai
juniperus chinensis: Chinese juniper good choices are J.chinensis 'Sargentii', J.x media 'Shimpaku'. Some garden cultivars of J.chinensis are ordinary to dreadful for bonsai
pinus mugo mughos: mugo pine your climate may be too warm, this species can be fussy, pines are best left until you have a bit of experience behind you
pinus parviflora: Japanese white pine slow, temperamental, difficult, hard to find good ones expensive and probably not in your climate
samanea saman: monkey pod Brazilian raintree compound leaves, may be difficult, not for beginners
ulmus parifolia: Chinese elm Deciduous or semi evergreen tough forgiving, rewarding, readily available and inexpensive
wisteria sinensis: Chinese wisteria Has limitations/special requirements as bonsai, not for beginners
Bloodgood Japanese maple red leaved Japanese Maples are more sun tender/heat sensitive than the green leaved, I have found 'Bloodgood' to be weak when grown in Melbourne
Ligustrum these are weeds, IMHO these don't have much visual value (bland year round or even grotesque - just my opinion OK!) but grow just about anywhere and are bulletproof
Cherry blossom Great for bonsai, not for beginners
Yamaki pine Again, hold off on the Pines
Bantigue don't know this one
Casuarina Easy to grow and forgiving, best with some experience to look good as bonsai
Rhododendron schlippenbachii: Royal Azalea Not sure about this species, many Azaleas make great bonsai, they are not easy and are not for many Australian climates
Brazilian Raintree - Pithecellobium tortum compound leaves, may be difficult, not for beginners
Emerald Ebony (jacaranda mimosaefolia) compound leaves, may be difficult, not for beginners
Forest Blaze (spathodea campanulata) Don't know this one, is it a woody plant or a lily?
Royal Poinciana (delonix regia) No
Weeping bald cypress Personally I don't like weeping species as bonsai, Bald Cypress can make good bonsai, not for all climates/skill levels

I hope this helps, I can be more specific and suggest some other species when I have more time and a better idea of where you live.

Cheers,
Mojo

[aussie4bonsai]

I am sorry that I didn’t get this type of advice when I first started it would have saved time and money.

[whereswally007]

I live in orange, which is about 3 hours west of sydeny.

Thanks for the advise.

Im not picky about what type of bonsai i get but i would like a evergreen tree so it has colour all year round and maybe something with a flower so looks better through summer but doesnt have to have flowers.

Is it better to have a inside bonsai or outside?

[whereswally007]

I live in orange, which is about 3 hours west of sydeny.

Thanks for the advise.

Im not picky about what type of bonsai i get but i would like a evergreen tree so it has colour all year round and maybe something with a flower so looks better through summer but doesnt have to have flowers.

Is it better to have a inside bonsai or outside?

is it better to grow a tree from the seed or just buy one?

[Levuccio]

Hey mate

Im just a beginner as well, but I would recommend you a chinese juniper, its pretty though, can survive frost and its ever green and easy to deal with.

Not many bonsai can be kept indoor for prolonged periods of time...maybe figs can but not many others (even figs I wouldnt keep inside for more than a couple of weeks).

I just bought a book called "Bonsai Techniques 1" by John Yoshio Naka from the american ebay and its a great book, if you have money to buy one I would really recommend it.
Read as much as you can, and this forum is perfect for any questions you might have

Good luck

Levuccio

[kcpoole]

Hey mojo Very nice list and I agree with you on the selections

Welcome wally to the Site.
Bretts lives out your way so woud be the closest to you re climate.

Chinese elm are bullet proof and for me never lose the leaves, and you they might only go deciduous for a month ot so.
Trident Maple are a Verry easy tree and also bullet proof
Juniper Procumbens or Seargents Juniper are my choice for evergreen trees
Both easy to care for and look good all year round.

Any of the Figs are easy to have and care for too.

Casuarina, or Callistimon are great natives to have and Azaleas are easy to grow for me, but some find them difficult to keep.

ps. All bonsai are outdoor trees, and should live outside all the time. Some need protection from the summer sun tho, and all need adequate water often
Ken

[chrisatrocky]

Mojo, very well done. this is exactly what W'wally needed. I agree Chinese elm and chinese juniper are ideal for beginners.

cheers chris

[craigw60]

I have got Rhododendron schlippenbachii in my garden, its an extremely rare plant these days. I don't think there would be a nursery in the country that would stock it. I bought mine from the rhododendron society nursery at the national rhododendron gardens.
Craigw