I would respectfully disagree with your choice of light and care. From the photo I would say your growth is very unhealthy. Internodes between leaves are much too large. Keeping a soil moderately moist is a recipe for disaster. I would read up on basic bonsai care on the FAQ page here. Looks like some kind of privet. I would encourage you to read up on bonsai and look at a lot of photos of trees you really like. I'm not sure how much time I would invest in this material. I would probably put it in the ground for a few years if it were a temperate plant and let a main trunk develop and chop off all the growth you have now. I see a lot of new to bonsai people invest a lot of time in less than adequate material like yours and after a number of years of work and training they have a less than adequate bonsai. Just my opinion though. randy

I agree with Ken. It's a weeping Atlas Cedar. They get BIG so it's painful to see how many end up being used as bushes. When I first really noticed one, it was planted up on a berm. It was absolutely stunning. Had to get my own. Mine has been in a whiskey barrel to go into the ground come Fall.

Boulderbelt, You are apsoulutely right about not knowing what organic gardening is until you begin to get certified. It's crazy! Nonetheless I truly would love to get certified but overall from hearing from others I feel I may be better off at least for now somehow obtaining all the information I can into the nop standards and just going strictly with that. For one I am just starting out, and another from what it sounds is that it is a long period of being certified and also it requires having $$$$ availiable to sustain the long process. But I can say my ultimate goal would be to offer a product that isn't just near organic. But truly 'Organic' by the strict standards without being certified. At least until I can reasonably decide the extra money and increased business would justify it. I am somewhat discouraged by what seems an unattainable goal. (certification) At least for now. But I think I can let others in that it is 'Natural' With no chemicals, or synthetic ingredients. eric wa, I so appreiciate you sharing the photo! I think that really sealed things that I can try it without the lime added in. Every mix I have ever seen has some amount of lime added in. So I just hope that I can get the plants to thrive even though the ph may be higher due to the acidity. I think it's worth a shot.! If you have any other suggestions let me on them! Thank's everyone!!! Great valid advice!

Wow, that's really interesting. Have you consulted a fireplace specialist? Looks like you might need some upgrade work done if you want to make it look different than it does now. Finding decorative vent replacements those exact sizes and then getting them installed could be a real challenge. There are a lot of things that can actually be done with the fireplace facade itself that might be easier for you, including stone washes that lighten or change the color and even re-covering the stone with different materials for a more updated look. Some people are even using really upscale materials like marble to re-cover a fireplace area. A lot of it depends on your overall decor scheme and the look you want.