On 05 Jul 2003 13:45:16 GMT, (Iris Cohen) wrote:
r collected bonsai is American larch. Read Nick Lenz' Bonsai from the
Wild.

I've pulled some very small saplings with my children and we potted them
individually yesterday in small containers. BRBR

That is not the way to go. You need to grow them in the ground for a few years
first. Don't forget to keep your hemlock in the shade.
Iris,
Central NY, Zone 5a, Sunset Zone 40
"If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming
train."
Robert Lowell (1917-1977)

In the ground is best for collected trees. I recommend digging a hole
about 18 inches deep, lining the bottom with slate or some other
inorganic sheet material, and planting the tree with the same soil
that's in your garden/yard. The slate will keep the roots from
tapping too deep. The soil will not cause an imbalance in soil
moisture.

I've heard that growing bags are another way to go, but I've also been
recommended against it. Any other ideas on this?

One of the most important things you can learn at this point is what
you are doing and the results that you get for your actions. Even if
you get sound advice from a local bonsai group (the best first step)
and work on nursery stock or started bonsai, the lessons you learn
from your collected trees are just as valuable. Light, water, food,
all affect the tree in diferent ways. Some will thrive in the sun,
others will whither (that birch of yours for example). Some, if not
all, of your collected trees are on their way to a beginner's death (I
know mine were). Don't go killing trees unless you can learn from
what you did to kill them. For the ones that survive, start picturing
in your mind where you want the trees to go with respect to styling.
If you're not going to grow clump style trees, don't let trees with
basal dominance get overgrown at the base. If you want to grow formal
upright trees, start shaping/straightening the most supple saplings
before the hardwood sets into curves. If you want to do a broom
style, then remove the lower most branches and let the top take off
for a few years.

Good luck!

Bill Butler