Well, not wanting to learn from people who also grow other trees is not a way to necessarily get any help, even if I understand what I think you mean. People who grow bonsai (beyond a gift plant they have for a time) tend to accumulate many, many trees over time, and learn an enormous amount about horticulture in general, and their own trees in particular, but many of the techniques used are the same, even if not always carried out at the same time and in the same way (to allow for differences in the trees). Learning to water bonsai can be a long road, as they are not treated like house plants, and learning about soils and light and many other factors takes some dedication, experience and time, and I would not consider myself a grower now (after decades) if I had been afraid to learn from others. However, your tree is tiny right now (Scheff's can grow to be very large) and will not grow much if left in that pot, so it would be best for it to be not only in a larger pot for now (not necessarily a bonsai pot, though one that's wider vs tall would be good to encourage lateral growth of roots) but also in a proper soil mix - not potting or garden soil, as well as having enough light (there's definitely more to that). Once the tree has developed a woody trunk vs a green stem (at least 2-3 yrs), and more substance all around, then you gradually do two things - one would be to start pruning the roots to a definite pad, a shallow and wide bowl shape, which would fit into a bonsai pot, again not all done in one year, and the second would be to begin pruning branches selectively to develop new smaller ones, and foliage. The root pruning and eventual placement in a bonsai pot will slow growth quite a bit, and the new crop of leaves will only grow so large which, together with the fatter and somewhat taller trunk, will be in proper proportion for a bonsai, something you can't expect to have immediately. Schefflera's are not really traditional bonsai material, but if you know what you're doing and take proper advice, as well as providing the right environment (lots of light, which is often supplemented artificially by the right equipment, lots of humidity - not misting, but with a pebble tray of water that never reaches the pot bottom to rot roots - and watering only when a fair amount of the mix is dry (usually more than less), rather than to a schedule, or e.g. like a houseplant. I wouldn't pinch anything much yet, as while it might provoke a few more leaves now, it will otherwise slow the overall growth, and I'm sure you wouldn't want that. There's a lot of information online, so for basics, go to www.bonsai4me.com, and for tropicals in particular, www.bonsaihunk.us/cultural.html (the best there is). Also look for a club nearby as they're great for seeing how things are done vs trying to interpret terms from reading, and great for getting questions answered.

Congratulations! I know they appear to be house plants but roses are NEVER house plants. They always prefer to be outside in the ground where they will be the happiest. You can keep them potted, in a large enough pot, but they still will need to go outside as soon as the weather permits. For now, if you can't take them outside yet, keep them in as much light as possible and keep them evenly moist but not soggy. It's OK to let the top of the soil dry out a bit in between waterings. Most times people kill these plants by over watering them. They like high humidity but not wet feet. If you have a saucer under them remove them. Then find a deeper dish and put pebbles in it. Add water to just below the tops of the pebbles and then place the pot on top of the pebble but be sure that the water is not touching the bottom of the pot. This will bring up the humidity around the roses without over watering them. Hopefully you can keep them going this way until the weather warms up enough to get them outside.

Well, all I have to say is, HOLY COW Susie!! :)))) My birthday came a few days early, that's for sure! You are so sweet Susie, I can't believe how much you fit in that box, it was stuffed full! And things were wrapped up so pretty, I had so much fun opening everything! And here are the presents that were wrapped: Well, let's see here, I shall attempt to list everything that she sent me: -A book about growing plants indoors, which is just great for me, because I sure do need help with that, lol! Looks like some good info in there! -A very cute windsock -Shower gloves, which look really neat, I've never had them before -tulip and hyacinth bulbs, which I love, and will plant in my yard in the next couple days! -Eggnog flavored coffee! I love eggnog and I love coffee, but I never would've thought to put the two together, lol! I will definately be trying this, I bet it will be quite tasty -A really cute santa soap -Some fruit-scented incense, which smells very nice. I really like incense, so I will enjoy these! -Some doggie biscuits just for my babies! Thank you so much for including them, that means a lot to me. -An eye wear care kit, which comes with some glasses cleaner, (which I definately will use because my glasses are always getting dirty,) some lens cloths, and a tiny screwdriver with several little screws, which is so funny, because one of the screws on my glasses has come loose many times, and I've had to take them in and have the screw replaced and have them tightened. So now I can do it myself, how did you know Susie? -A really cute little green notebook, which I really like because green is my favorite color -A package of foot repair lotion -A light fixture to illuminate paintings and other such things! -A Reese's Peanut Butter Cup scented lip balm, which smells very yummy -Some yummy chocolates, crackers, and licorice candies -Some homemade raisin suet cakes, which I'm so excited about feeding to the birds, they will just love them!!! I was also wondering if I could have your recipe for these? I always buy the storebought suet, and would love to be able to make them myself. A little stocking filled with seeds! A very special little snowman figurine, which is just so cute and I have it sitting on my desk right now. I couldn't seem to get a good photo of it, and this pic doesn't do it justice at all, it's just so cute! -And there were also some delicious little jelly candies, I couldn't quit eating them, lol! Did you make them yourself? -And a very special gift, a cookbook on preserving what I grow. Susie says it has been her bible, and that there's a wealth of info in it. It looks like a really great book, and just what I've been wanting, too. I know I will get a lot of use out of this, thank you so much for passing it on to me! Can't wait to try the recipes out with next year's harvest. I sure hope I have not forgotten anything! I think I've remembered everything, forgive me if I left anything out. There was just so many great things in this box, I was like a kid in a candy store opening all these gifts, LOL! Thank you so much again Susie, you are so wonderful, you have no idea how much you've blessed me with this package. I have really been through a lot lately and have been pretty down, but getting this box from you has really lifted my spirits, to know that someone cares that much to send me all this neat stuff. ~Summer

Marlene, your DH's mantel gift to your sister DEFINITELY counts! What a fantastic homemade gift! I'm very lucky to have two wonderfully talented BILs that have made very special things like that for me! OA, your wooden soldiers are adorable! It's wonderful that you're able to craft with your grandchildren -- how creative and talented! Jeanne, I'll bet your tags and bookmarks are great! I've seen photos of many of your DH's beautiful woodworking creations, but nothing from his new scrollsaw work. Would love to see pictures! :) Lynne, hand-embroidered Christmas table runners would be an incredible gift! Can't wait to see what you produce! I did take a few photos to show what I've made... The bee skep didn't come out as well as I had hoped... I'm not going to try to make another before xmas though! My sister only wants to use it as garden decoration. The elbow basket came out great: I also made a sciathog for my niece from my freshly harvested willow... the photo also shows one of the many lavender sachets I made. :) Now I feel lost. I don't have anything else on my 'to make' list other than some xmas sweets!