POLL How many trees do you own?

[Rory]

How much stock do you own, including native or non native? Group plantings are considered 1. Bonsai, pre-bonsai, starter, and raw stock is included. Obviously it may be a bit skewed, in that a bonsai requires a lot more time than raw stock, but still, a rough idea is all I mean.

I am curious how much stock people maintain and whether they think this is too many and how you can manage the time for so many. Recently, I have had to re-evaluate my obsession. Last years repotting has forced me to rethink how many I should maintain, as we now have a newborn baby added to our family and together with her sibling and 2 jobs....I find my time is becoming unmanageable. I really would love to join the central coast bonsai club, but even that is not possible due to time commitments at this point. For myself, I am thinking that having 170 starter tree stock is too much. This is counting group plantings as 1, etc etc. I have firmly made a decision never to grow or buy new stock indefinitely.

Personally, I have found that since I made this decision not to acquire any more, I find myself not visiting bonsai nurseries anymore, for obvious reasons, but it does help a lot with time management. I have to admit, that I am not as anal about checking all the pots when it comes to watering time, and on the odd occasion a few get slightly missed, but it has allowed me to relax and maintain time for other areas of my life.

[JaseH]

I answered 11-20 well managed...(probably over managed at the moment!) I have 100+ seedlings and young cuttings which I'm assuming dont count.

[Jason]

11 - 20, mostly native and most in growing pots

I voted for 'well managed' however its a stretch to keep them that way.... there just isnt' enough daylight in the day lol Each day from autumn to winter I'm watering in the dark with my torch and watering can

[kcpoole]

less than 100 trees and most are prebonsai / stock trees
Most of these are well managed and have 20 or so of Bonsai and they could do with more attention. Too many other things on at the moment to keep them all in top shape, but generally OK. none are neglected tho.

Ken

[Phoenix238]

Less than I'd like, but more than my partner thinks I need

[PAC]

I am out to about 60 trees in pots now, with only 1 multiple planting. I have no seedlings or in ground stock. I retired 18 months ago and the trees kept following me home. This hobby has interfered with my golfing but I am working out how to manage two hobbies and no job My wife has a different view.

[Guy]

I have 51-100---even though this is about my limit-- I still propogate from prunings --I still look for rare species--I still visit nurseries with my wife and see only the bonsai possibilities-I am always on the lookout for good yamadori--I have to decide whether I have a couple from all species or many from all species--but is always hard to remove the less likely from the growers area and plant in the garden or give away

[Josh]

Where's the button for haven't got a clue I tick over 200 but don't really know. I've got about 30 odd collected on the last couple of months just sitting there recovering. So depends if they count. Got lots just sitting there growing and probably 20-30 actual bonsai. I would say all are well cared for how ever will have to start to pick the ones I want to keep and start to unload some I think, my wife definitely thinks so.

Josh.

[Phoenix238]

I put 1-10 and probably don't manage them well enough as I haven't in the past, but this year is a new year and I'm determined to pay more attention to my plants. Now I just need to stop using automatic watering and hand water them (they're all still in grow boxes)

[EdwardH]

I have 40 odd, 5 are bonsai, another half a dozen are almost ready to start styling and the rest are the proverbial stick in a pot (of varying sizes and ages). I don't have any trouble caring for them however the kids always take priority so there are times when the trees take a back seat and just grow to their hearts content!

[Andrew Legg]

I have to admit, that I am not as anal about checking all the pots when it comes to watering time, and on the odd occasion a few get slightly missed, but it has allowed me to relax and maintain time for other areas of my life.

There are other areas to life . .

[Rory]

.... there just isnt' enough daylight in the day lol Each day from autumn to winter I'm watering in the dark with my torch and watering can

same here. Its nice to know i'm not the only fool who comes home after work, standing in the cold with a torch, watering a bunch of miniature trees on my back deck.

less than 100 trees and most are prebonsai / stock trees
Most of these are well managed and have 20 or so of Bonsai and they could do with more attention. Too many other things on at the moment to keep them all in top shape, but generally OK. none are neglected tho.

Ken

Ken, I am actually striving to have the same answer as you. I would like to be a member of the 'under 100' club, but at this point, I have to slowly work through the painful culling process.

I answered 11-20 well managed...(probably over managed at the moment!) I have 100+ seedlings and young cuttings which I'm assuming dont count.

They will in a few years.

Less than I'd like, but more than my partner thinks I need

I think we can safely say, the same for everyone on this forum, with the odd exception of those with bonsaid partners.

I am out to about 60 trees in pots now, with only 1 multiple planting. I have no seedlings or in ground stock. I retired 18 months ago and the trees kept following me home. This hobby has interfered with my golfing but I am working out how to manage two hobbies and no job My wife has a different view.

Haha, I still play golf the same amount of time, but I have noticed on the odd occasion as I'm about to play a shot, my playing partner will wonder what the heck I'm doing, looking at that awesome stunted tree just off the fairway.

I have to decide whether I have a couple from all species or many from all species--but is always hard to remove the less likely from the growers area and plant in the garden or give away

Personally, I would go with many from a couple of species, once you know which species thrive in your area and you are skilled at looking after them. Trying to remember the needs of the many, often becomes overwhelming. And this way, you can have different styles of your favourite types of stock.

I've got about 30 odd collected on the last couple of months just sitting there recovering. So depends if they count.

Josh.

Yes, I have certainly noticed your efforts. That should keep you out of trouble for a long time. Just don't neglect the wife, otherwise it's all for naught

Now I just need to stop using automatic watering and hand water them (they're all still in grow boxes)

Automatic watering is never a good thing in my opinion, at least not a long term solution. Only for holidays and such.

I don't have any trouble caring for them however the kids always take priority so there are times when the trees take a back seat and just grow to their hearts content!

I hear you. Sometimes you check on them after a bit of absence and they put on a lot of neglectful growth.

There are other areas to life . .

Yes, it is called Golf ... and on the odd occasion... Golf with beer.

[JaseH]

Haha, I still play golf the same amount of time, but I have noticed on the odd occasion as I'm about to play a shot, my playing partner will wonder what the heck I'm doing, looking at that awesome stunted tree just off the fairway.

When you start carrying a spade in your golf bag - you probably should start to worry!

[Gerard]

Less than I'd like, but more than my partner thinks I need

I think we can safely say, the same for everyone on this forum, with the odd exception of those with bonsaid partners.

I do not know much about "bonsaid partners" but would like to learn. I can always find room for another tree!

[Rory]

I do not know much about "bonsaid partners" but would like to learn. I can always find room for another tree!

Well, before you venture down the path of a bonsaid partner, beware the reality...

I'm sure the maintenance would be never-ending.
No matter what style you chose for it, you're wrong.
If you got the wrong pot size, you would be labelled insensitive to her trunk line.
Putting fertilizer on your partner is generally ill advised.
After a while outdoors, have you ever taken the pants off your partner, cleaned the excess dirt off, and replaced the pants?....also not advised.
And there is nothing quite like pruning/preening? ones partner to kill the romance.

But getting back on topic.... It is very interesting to see that there are quite a few members who have over 200 trees and manage them all well. That is a fantastic effort, I am impressed. Clearly there are also a lot of honest members commenting they may be outnumbered with their bonsai.