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[IBC] Observations in Respect to Beginners
BTW, what's "IBC"? I can venture a guess, but all I know is I'm
posting on rec.arts.bonsai IBC is the Internet Bonsai Club of which rec.arts.bonsai is but a small part. The IBC is about 15-20 years old now, I guess (Chris is our historian but he's off in Japan apprenticing to some big name in bonsai or suiseki so is a bit incommunicado now). Rec.arts bonsai and the Internet Mailing List are linked. If you post to r.a.b. your messages are also sent to about 500 souls worldwide who subscribe to the list through . We also have a web site (doesn't almost everyone but me?) -- www.internetbonsaiclub.org -- that is developing into a complete bonsai site. It contains on-line classes, an extensive (and growing!) Knowledge base [THANKS Henrick for the new tools article!] of articles on all facets of bonsai (probably EXCEPT growing from seed ;-), a comprehensive book review section, and much, much more -- including our very popular IBC gallery (which I thought I'd seen you on????) in which we share pictures of our bonsai and bonsai-to-be -- called "potensai." On Mondays and Thursday evenings (8 .p.m. on Starchat) there is a Bonsai chat group. Details are on our website. We have regular get-togethers at other bonsai conventions and meetings here, there and everywhere (usually at the bar). The IBC is supported by donations from its members, sent to our treasurer, Reiner Goebel (Reiner: is it time for a commercial again?). Shelly Hurd from California is the new "owner/moderator" of the mailing list and to some extent r.a.b., having taken that chore over from me a few months ago when I got tired of doing it for 8-9 years. Nic Steenhout down in New Zealand is webmaster for our rapidly-growing website. So. Welcome to the IBC. Read, learn and participate. Now. That said, I suggest that you grow bonsai from seed by all means, but ALSO make some from nursery or collected or cutting-grown or air-layer-grown plants. Otherwise you are going to be VERY bored for a very long time. Seed to decent bonsai takes AT LEAST 10 years -- even for the fastest growing plants. And for 8 of those 10 years, you will be doing nothing more than watching plants grow. YAWN. Even I, whose trees perhaps *average* 8 - 10 inches in size, don't grow many from seed. Little trees with skinny little seedling trunks are, perhaps, among the least attractive plants that pass for bonsai. The principal idea in bonsai is to produce an illusion of great age in your trees. You don't get that from seedlings. So practice bonsai techniques on other plants, too. ;-) Be ready for your seeds when they grow up. Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - Bonsaiests are like genealogists: We know our roots! ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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[IBC] Observations in Respect to Beginners
Hi Adam,
I have to agree with Jim, even though I have a passion for growing trees from seed. When I began, I planted every variety of seed that I could find or purchase, that may have bonsai potential. Twenty years later I have a couple of thousand trees in plastic pots and in the ground. These are in much greater variety than I could ever hope to find in nurseries. They have good radial root spread and convincing taper. Some are still to thin to consider styling. Only four have made it onto my display bench, so far. It does take a long time to achieve your goals and in that time you can be learning on other material. Give Jim's suggestion of air layers serious consideration (it's nearly time to start layering over here in the UK). If you are into things horticultural, then you probably have some plants that you could "rescue" from your garden. Once you have an idea of the plants that can be used, lift something and reduce it's root ball to fit into a large box. Pot it into a mix that is much coarser than soil - chipped bark, granite chips, coarse moss peat etc. Check out the articles in your book to see what is best for each particular species. If deciduous and the leaves are already out, it's too late for this year. Junipers and Pines can still be lifted now but soon it will be too late for this year. I've put a few articles, including the details of layering, growing from seed etc on my website here http://www.actionvideo.freeserve.co.uk/articles.htm B.T.W. This spring I planted six seed trays of seed. Japanese Larch, Prunus mume, and many Maples. I also collected several plants from the garden and wild, and plan to air-layer more this year than I've ever done before...... Take care, it's not just a pastime, it's an addiction! Cheers Kev Bailey Vale Of Clwyd, North Wales ************************************************** ****************************** ++++Sponsored, in part, by John Quinn++++ ************************************************** ****************************** -- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ -- +++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++ |
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