Beginner advice re. positioning

[Shills]

Hi there,

I am an absolute beginner with bonsai. I have lately had a bit of an itch to get into gardening/growing trees but due to the fact that I live in units or flats (am just a uni student) I could never really have a go at it. But just the other day I had the idea that maybe a bonsai could be just as fun.

So, basically I have acquired a trident maple from a nursery (a housemate has a juniper). I have plans to put it in a grow-box to develop the trunk and nebari (the radial spread of superficial roots, right??) but before I even consider that stuff I should know whether I have suitable growing conditions.

As can be seen from the pics, this is a shaded balcony, and it faces north in Sydney. There is an unhindered beam of light coming from the sun during the middle part of the day during summer between the tree line and balcony shade. But most of the year, as the sun drifts more north, the sun is permanently behind the trees (which run the length of the street). Some light does come come through the trees because they are not that thick, especially following autumn, but is it enough?

Preferably I would have the plant on the floor, but putting it on a raised tabletop is not impossible.

Thanks for your time guys.

[dragon]

hi shills
to me the light situation should be ok but with leaveing the plant on the ground not such a good idea
if you can get hold of a milk crate then you got a shelf for plant to sit on and the water will drain
quite well. also can you get a closer picture of the maple as my eyes arnt that good anymore,
a grow pot would be good if you can do it , it will thicken the trunk and give a nice neribri
dean

[Ash]

Hi,

If it is what you have it will have to do! There is an apartment balcony on my afternoon walk that has a small bonsai collection that would receive very little light- the trees look fine- the species are chosen accordingly and the position accordingly by the grower. They also are appreciated by passers by.

I would recommend growing the trees on a pedestal. There are several reasons for this:
-the higher they are the more light they will receive on the tops of the leaves and the more growth you will get
-the higher they are the more and the more air movement they will receive and the less rots you will get
-if they are on the ground they will get infested by pests more
-if they are on the ground they may sit in a puddle after watering which will encourage rots
-if they are on the ground they will get reflected light UNDER the leaves which can dessicate the leaves more rapidly because most breathing pores are under leaves

A bonsai should be displayed and trained at or as close to eye height as possible. Most people go for the top of the tree at eye height. If you view them from a standing possition that is quite high. If you view them from a seated position it is about normal table height.

My recommendation would be two pedestals as close to the outer edge of your balcony as possible. It is unlikely you will get too much sun. Just secure them so they can't get blown off or knocked over or pinched. Even in Japan and Taiwan you see wires or ropes carefully tied around containers fixing them to the pedestal.

regards
Ash

[Shills]

Hey, thanks for those speedy responses. I'll take it all on board.

Also a close-up of the trident maple as requested:

[mickthomas]

Hi Shills,

i too am a beginner about to take delivery of my first tree ( or is that stick in a pot) ...I too am hoping for some advice on placement....will take some photos on saturday at various times of the day in relation to where i am hoping to place said tree......the input and advice will be invaluable to a newbie like myself....have done plenty of reading there's just nothing quite like real life knowledge .......from what i can see and what knowledge i have sourced from scouring the pages of this forum, i seem to think they will be ok.... ...but don't hold the newbie to it.....


cheers

Mick

[Andrew Legg]

Consider moving your washing into the sun too. Put your bonsai on top of it, and it will make a nice humidity source for the trees. The washing will also dry quicker!

[Shills]

Thanks for the tips guys. And just for confirmation, this time of year (late summer) is not the time to be putting the maple in a grow pot is it? -- Rather in spring time, ay?

Thanks

[dragon]

hi shills
i do repot all my plants when i feel they need it but with the maples you can repot but no root prune
remember no root prune just remove from bonsai pot straight into a grow pot and it should
be ok as all mine have done ok i repoted 12 tree's today and didnt root prune any
cheers dean

[Craig]

Thanks for the tips guys. And just for confirmation, this time of year (late summer) is not the time to be putting the maple in a grow pot is it? -- Rather in spring time, ay?

Thanks

Hi Shills, some nice advice from Ash, in regards to repotting, if i were you i'd leave it in the pot it's in now or maybe pot up to a larger bonsai pot in very eary spring(just as the buds are swelling and about to open it's leaves). the reason i suggest this to you is because you are very new to Bonsai and it'll give you a chance to appreciate the tree and gain some experience with growing/watering habits. Also you probably don't really need your balcony space taken up by large growboxes .. At some other stage you might aquire some more trees/stock, which you may then want to move into growboxes,,, good luck with it all,,, Regards Craig

[kcpoole]

Hi shills
So long as your maple gets filtered light in sydney Summer you should be fine.
If they leaves brown off round the edges or start to dry then you get too much, but can easily be limited by a little tent of shadecloth.

Keep it off the ground if you can, if only for the reason that trees looK MUCH better when raised up.
A little stand or table is great

You can repot now, coming in to early autumn if you need and wish, but do not take off much root if you can avoid it.

Ken