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[IBC] Pennsylvania- Foraging for a Bonsai
Hi All,
I have the opportunity to go out of the city into the western Pennsylvania or the pocono's as they call it. I wanted to look for a good bonsai tree to fit the nice Bonsai pot I have. I am going to be looking for something with a nice, thick trunk, and not something that is a stick in the mud Anyone have any suggestions on what makes a good bonsai tree out here in PA? Any pictures of what grows around here on the web? Also any techniques on how to do this? For example root pruning and such.... I was told just to grab a shovel, dig the plant up, put it in a wet sack, get it home, root prune it and put it in a pot. A root pruning guide would be great. I was told to grab the John Naka's book because it was like the bonsai's bible but due to financial difficulties i wont be able to purchase it for at least another month. So can anyone give me some directions on how to root prune, hopefully with pictures. I am assuming that you have the permission of the landowner to dig up trees; "landowner" includes local, state, and federal land agencies, too. From them, you will need a permit -- which may or may not be free. Taking trees from land without permission is stealing. Going on the land without permission is trespass. Both can result in a fine -- and even jail if you meet a nasty landowner and a hanging judge. Some trees (species) may not be collected at all because of various environmental laws. Now, with my standard warning out of the way, it sounds like you are a beginner. I would NOT recommend going out to collect a tree without going with someone else who has a lot of collecting experience. Collecting a tree is NOT like digging it up and putting it in a pot -- especially (repeat, Especially) if you are looking for "something with a nice, thick trunk, and not something that is a stick in the mud." Those take careful planning, and often, must be done over a two-year (sometimes longer) period. If you have never collected a tree before it is almost a sure thing that the first tree(s) you collect will not survive, especially if they are large ones. Like Craig says, you do NOT just plant them in a bonsai pot. The roots will have been badly damaged, and you will have a lot of long, painstaking work to get them back in shape. This means a large growing box -- or even better, re-planting them in the ground -- for a year or two before even thinking of a pot. Then, your first pot will likely be several sizes larger than the "final" bonsai pot. You will do much better -- and learn in the process -- by collecting those "sticks in the mud for a few years until you know how to keep a collected tree alive. Be CERTAIN to refill the hole when you are done, and again -- GET PERMISSION. One also hopes that you have a few years of bonsai experience -- simple keeping-them-alive-in-bonsai-pots-for-several-years experience -- under your belt. If not, it is 100% certain that you will not be able to keep your collected trees alive over the next winter when they will be at their most vulnerable. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - The voice of doom. And experience. ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by Ken Rutledge++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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