Stumped..........

[Damian Bee]

Hi there,

I was going to work on styling a tree tonight.
I placed out newspaper to cover the table, made a cup of tea, grabbed the torch and........ I got stumped.

Was this a symptom of having too many trees to choose from?
I don't think that was it entirely.
I have been thinking that there is not much point as I should let everything fatten up.
I know that there is something I could do but I guess I have the Bonsai equivalent to writers block.

Have you ever had it? How long did it last? How did you get over it?

[lennard]

Hi there,

Was this a symptom of having too many trees to choose from?

I know that there is something I could do but I guess I have the Bonsai equivalent to writers block.

Have you ever had it? How long did it last? How did you get over it?

Sometimes I get this especially if I have neglected my trees for a while due to work or holidays. Most of my trees are under construction so it is not a matter of pinching here and there! So when I have not paid attention to them for a while I don't know where to start!

But I do start again eventually and sometimes there are nice surprises waiting for me - like a twig growing so strongly and it shows me the new trunkline.

But I to have too many trees in training and I gave away three this afternoon to a new member of our Kai and donated another three for the raffle - I really need to bring down the total of my trees to less than ..........

You will get over your block and the trees won't mind if you ignore them for a while - or you could go visit your nearest nursery....... .

Lennard

[Grant Bowie]

I had a period about 12 months ago where I thought all my trees were crap; overgrown yet underfertilised, not healthy etc. The works.

I got over it after a few months and just got back on the bike ; so to speak; and started pedalling again.

All fine now but I feel after 40 years its allowed to happen every so often,

Grant

[missybonsai]

grabbed the torch and........ I got stumped.

Haha, when I read this I thought that by "got stumped" you meant that you had tripped over a tree-stump Woops Well I hope you get over your bonsai-block soon Damian!

[Scott Roxburgh]

I had a period about 12 months ago where I thought all my trees were crap

I know the feeling Damian...the best way to remedy the situation is to get a larger more advanced tree!!!

and move on some of the 'practise stock' to the yard tree section of the garden.

[Mitchell]

Yeah I get it too, I remedy it by setting things on fire.

[Scott Roxburgh]

Yeah I get it too, I remedy it by setting things on fire.

hmmmm...

[Petra]

Yeah I get it too, I remedy it by setting things on fire.

hmmmm...

yeh hmmmmm, i dont go to that extreme. just step away for a couple of days. Or sleep on it.
With a clear head i get right back on track again.

[Damian Bee]

Thanks for your support and advice folks. On Sunday I was moving plants around to make the best of the sun and copped a Bee sting on my toe Later on I trimmed up some smaller Azalea and then took one of my large Azalea in for a trim. It is in a 40cm tub and had not seen a pair of cutters for a couple of years, I even put some wire on a couple of branches (astounding), 3 hours and a shopping bag full of clippings later and I was fully cured. I will post a pic when I can find my camera.

I don't know if it was talking about the problem, the shifting around of plants, the Bee sting or the slow momentum and eventual pressure of needing to do something that enabled me to progress but I guess it takes a few days or weeks before something can be realised whether it is with Bonsai or other things in life.

[NathanM]

Don't sleep on the actual tree!! That would be quite uncomfortable, and not very good for the tree either.....
I have found recently (probably because i have worked on figs when doing msot styling lately....) that defoliating is a good start
Glad you found your mojo dude