Bonsai trees.

[Lonewolf]

We have 2 at the moment. A Port Jackson Fig and a Maple. Not sure how old but i'm guessing pretty young.

Just wondering though, is there a specific fertilizer we should use? Or is any good?

My mum has loads of Wisteria so i might ask if i can steal some cuttings They're so pretty!

 

[jas468]

This tree is around 100 years old. It belongs to a workmate of mine who is a well respected member of the Bonsai community in Australia.
The spotteds are mine.

 

[naledge]

This is the Sargent Juniper I was talking about, that I got my girlfriend for valentines day.

It came in the mail today.

 

[dylan-rocks]

hey i own a pyracantha i bought it from the cowra japanese gardens and it is about 22cm high and it grows awesome flowers i bought the bonsai from the same place nightowl listed

 

[bongie555]

We have 2 at the moment. A Port Jackson Fig and a Maple. Not sure how old but i'm guessing pretty young.

Just wondering though, is there a specific fertilizer we should use? Or is any good?

My mum has loads of Wisteria so i might ask if i can steal some cuttings They're so pretty!

in the warmer months i tend to use any commercial general purpose fertilizer thats high in nitrogen (i buy from woolies) to promote leaf growth and come autumn/winter is switch over to a seaweed based fertilizer to help condition the soil and help improves root growth. i tend to fertilize every month from spring thru to summer then every 2 to 3 months when it gets colder.

 

[tooninoz]

Some interesting ideas in the thread. I grow a lot of different varieties of chilli, and have wanted to try 'bonchi'. It's not traditional bonsai, and the purists would sniff at it, but...
Chillis look great with this method - I've got a 3yo Red Habanero that has been pruned back harshly this season, stands only 500mm tall, but with a base thats nearly 35mm thick. It's producing lots of undersized pods that are 10+++ in heat, so it'll be perfect!

 

[Sock Puppet]

That'd be unreal tooninoz, keep us posted if you get one going.

I used to do a bit of bonsai in my youth, had a chinese elm, a small pine (not sure what variety), a catoneaster, & a PJ fig. They're all gone now except for the PJ, which is still at my folk's place, very neglected, but alive (not surprising, I reckon those figs would survive a nuclear blast along with the cockroaches, they're bullet proof).

This thread has inspired me to rescue it & get it going again. Might even get onto some others. I have a ground cover grevillea that spills over a retaining wall, it looks like an oversized bonsai set up in a "cascade" effect, so might get a cutting off that. Have always considered the dwarf azaleas as well, since the flowers would be more in proportion on a bonsai than standard azaleas.

 

[bump73]

I had a try at Bonsai years ago when i grew "herbs" hydroponically. The hydro shop i used to get my supplies from had a chemical that you diluted and sprayed onto whatever plant and it would make it a bonsai. It was quite funny actually instead of the leaves being 10cm or so they maxed out at about 1.5cm and instead of being a couple of feet high after 2 months the 2 that i sprayed didn't even make it to 1ft after 6 months. I've been looking for this stuff to try it on some other plants but with no luck. Has anyone heard of the stuff or know where you can get it??

Ben

 

[leviathan]

eucalyptus little spotty is a good one to try bonsai.
acmena smithii minor is also a great native to bonsai
banksia marginata
all these species have a relativley small leaf which makes them easier to bonsai
i would suggest a acmena smithii minor which is a lilly pilly, thats if you are to go native.
easiest bonsai to look after though in my opinion is a junpierus prostrata, they are readily available at most nurserys.
and i would suggest to do research and buy a ordinary plant and make it into a bonsai.
much more rewarding and also half the price!! pre made bonsai starters are a rip off!!