HI Jim
I started doing bonsai 27 years ago
and internet did not exist and I bought Remy Samson book as it was
the only one available in french , I did not follow any tuition or club
as tehy were 60 kilometers away and my sworking schedule as
independent and my family did not allow me to do so ..
I did not stat growing from seeds as I stared by mere curiosity when
kid growin pine seeds and they died at repotting ( how many things I
ingnored when kid ) but I did not forgot the experience
I bought two main trees at teh evry beginning
ma over 60 years old pentaphilla and a actually 45 years old deshojo
maple , ( I coudl efford some expenses by then , and both are still
alive 27 years later and I coudl do it only by myself and reading
readin g reading my books until I could develope a sense of what to do
and following the directives they gave ..
I started 3 years ago some maple seedlings , beside of the fact that
seedlings are often sligtly different from parent trees when taken on
the wild ,and Palmatum maples are always mixing and producing new
varieties , I realized how is long and and difficult to grow
and shape a very young ana vigorous plant even if with all teh
knowledge..
this is why I always advice newbies in bonsai to start with some
gratifing and easy growing plant like punica granatum .. for those who
live in a suitable climate for them of course , just to learn the art
of bonsai and apply techniques or a fosythia or a jasminun mudiflorum
pyracanta beberis or taxus baccata or small azaleas that are often
sold by cheap in malls
there are so many varieties easy growing even in cold climates that
are easy to grow and to make gratifying experiences ..
But most of newbes are focused on the myth of seedlings as the best
way to see a tree growing .. and always choose Oaks , pines or olive
trees !!!!!
I wonder why !
I rememeber the first year I started with bonsai I almost made a
depression in realizing how slow they grow and that a mistake would
take years to be rectified .. anyway time will teach them the reality
Jim Lewis wrote:
On 28 Jan 2005 at 6:44, synex wrote:
Theo - I wasn't pouncing on you, but yes, if I took it/responded the
wrong way, I apologise. You talk about "basic knowledge" though. I have
to start somewhere - a lot of people in here are insistent this is the
wrong way to go about it. I disagree - time will tell.
You ask for advice. You get it. You reject it. Why expect any
MORE advice?
Someone said the internet *and* books can be a bad way to learn - I
agree that someone showing you how to do things is much preferable, but
I don't have that luxury, so I'm doing the best I can with the
resources available. As I said before, time will tell.
You live alone somewhere? in a cave, with no one living within
100 miles?
As for collecting wild - alas, I have no "experienced teacher" to learn
from. As I said before, I like to jump in at the deep end - I'll try
something from the wild if I can find a suitable species, and I'll see
how I go.
As far as I am concerned, that is environmentally unacceptable
behavior. If you don't know how to collect a tree it WILL die.
Guaranteed.
Maybe you need to make a little effort to find a club or
someone. Growers of bonsai are more common than you think.
Many thanks once again for the advice - I am trying to learn. I would
like to say, however, that some of you have a rather negative attitude,
especially since, IMHO, as experienced (I assume) boinsaiers , I would
have thought you would have been glad that someone new is showing a
keen interest in the art. Several of you keep bemoaning the fact (or so
it seems to be implied) that I am looking for "quick answers", a "quick
fix", or that I'm somehow undermining your own time taken to learn by
asking direct questions and not experienceing things for myself. I
think you have to open your eyes to the fact that to learn, I HAVE TO
START *SOMEWHERE*. So here I am, starting out, like it or not. Jim
said (and I'm not knocking you here Jim - I appreaciate the help) "Once
your questions move from the shotgun to the rifle (general to the
targeted) we can be of tremendous help. Until then, you are asking for
a 500-page book on plant propagation to be typed out for you by
someone. (?!)". I put this to you - how can I ask "targetted" questions
Find a book of plant propagation. There are several. Google
for info on "cuttings" (as a start). Try a garden web site if
you MUST learn from the web.
But SURELY there is a garden club somewhere in your nearby area
(unless you live in Antarctica. Join it. (Or find a little
old lady who has been gardening for 50 years.) Get to know the
people. Growing flowers and veggies is quite similar to bonsai
in some respects, and gardeners have shrubbery that the grow
from cuttings and layering and other means. Some of the them
may even do a bonsai or two. Anyway, the garden club can get
you started, with LOCAL information. We/I can not do that.
Nor can we SHOW you how to cut a cutting, do an air layer, etc.,
except in the most general sense. Someone in the garden club
can do that.
without any experience? And no, I'm not asking for anyone to write me a
book on propogation as you put it, just general, helpful advice for a
beginner. Ie, "most seeds will need a couple of months in the fridge
with damp vermiculite in a baggie" is incredibly helpful.
But "MOST SEEDS" tells you absolutely nothing. The seeds you
have may not BE "most seeds." Some may need to be cold
stratified for X days, then set in a warm place for Y days. Or
vice versa. Others may need to have their seed capsule nicked.
Some are even bathed in a weak acid. Some have to be planted as
soon as they are harvested or they will never germinate. It is
NOT one size-fits all.
Telling me I need to start somewhere else, is not.
Ah, but it should be, if you're willing to listen.
Telling us that your're gonna grow from seed and damn the
torpedos and full speed ahead also isn't too "helpful." You're
asking us to assure you of something for which we cannot offer
you any real assurance.
Sorry you're unhappy with us. We do try to help. That's what
we're here for. But you need to help us help you and at least
make us think you're trying to help yourself.
Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - When we see
land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it
with love and respect - Aldo Leopold - A Sand County Almanac
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