Anyone into bonsai trees?

5 years ago

Hi fellow intrepid gardeners --

Just out of curiosity, are any of you into the art of bonsai? I seem to have built up a collection of "starts" over the years (mostly from containerized volunteers that popped up in my yard: white oak, juniper, cherry, and cottonwood but also some tropicals, like jade, laurel, date palm, persimmon, coffee, etc. ) and am trying to figure out how to train them properly. I've seen the collection at the Denver Botanical Gardens, so I know it's possible to grow them in CO. I lurk around the Houzz bonsai forum, but was wondering if any of you all have some local experience, as the Fort Collins bonsai club seems to have gone AWOL(?) It'd be cool to talk tiny trees with someone who's familiar with our variable climate.

Thanks,

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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)

4 years ago

Oh wow! You guys are too kind!

I'm not really a denizen of this forum - I just saw the 'bonsai' question on the right side of the page (like PM said), remembered you from somewhere here on Houzz and thought I'd join in. The tree image you posted is beautiful. You might already know that old trees that have endured nature's hardships for hundreds of years are particularly inspiring. If you're a 'tree person', you can't help but admire their will and determination to survive. If I ever get an opportunity to be in the area, I'll try to make a point to go see those trees.

As far as bonsai goes, I can't help much with the cultural conditions you're forced to endure, other than suggest that you use an intermittent misting system (if your water isn't too terribly hard) and build your soils from ingredients that have a lot of internal porosity; this, so you don't have to sacrifice aeration in order to gain additional water retention. Example: Perlite is not internally porous, Substitute Turface MVP or pumice for perlite. Another thing you can do for your plantings is use an oversize pot to begin with, with ballast in the bottom. This allows you to use a water-retentive medium, sidestepping the negative effects associated with that normally limiting factor. Read more here. It's the best way of dealing with excess water retention (other than using a soil that's not blessed with that affliction) and would be helpful to you, I'm sure. Then, when the roots are getting to the point of being congested, you lift the plant, remove the ballast, and add more soil in its place.

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I love the mountains. I'm in the process of finalizing sale of my small corporation now, so there is nothing tying me to MI except the kids/friends, and all of them can travel, as can we. I tried to talk the better half into moving to the northwest in mountainous terrain, but I'm not gaining much traction. A friend I grew up with has a small working ranch for sale near Hamilton, MT in a valley in surrounded by Nez Perce National Forest lands that I'd love to buy. Somehow, I feel like the mountains are home, and they've been calling to me all of my adult life. I've traveled to them whenever I've had the chance, and feel so much richer than I would for a trip to _____ insert any of a long list of places you go to become a tourist.

Almost 7 AM here - time to get after chores. I have about 20 more conifers/evergreens to repot before I start on the tropicals. I have WAY too many trees to be considered a reasonable man.

Loved the chat!!