While you're waiting the 10-15 years it might take to end up with something worth starting to work on with your acorn, consider other avenues that might produce results sooner.

Propagation in my mind is fun and I love to do it, but what you are thinking of trying will do little to enhance your understanding and appreciation of bonsai.

randy

Im new too. Ive have seeds in the fridge and have bought about 5 plants and have pruned and repotted most of my ficus. I love this hobbie.
Id suggest that you go out and buy some trees that grow good in florida. If your as far south to make it to Pine Island (near Cape Coral) they have an exclent nursry there. If not, find a local nursery and get some ficus, olive, raintree and other tropical or sub tropical trees. I highly suggest a raintree. They grow out of control and look very nice. Should beable to prune 2-3 times a year down here.
In the mean time, plant about 20 acorns and you might get 5-10 to grow. I would get some hot water, not hot enough to burn and put the acorns in the water for 24-48 hours, you dont have to keep the water warm. This will simulate fall. Then get a ziplock or glad container, put a layer of peat down, about 1/2 inch. Then put sand on top, about 2 inches. Make the sand damp, not wet. Stick the acorns in the sand and put in the fridge for about 1-3 months. This will simulate winter. Then bring them out into a warm, not hot area, maybe a lani with out direct sun and let them grow. Once they get 4-6 leaves, transplant.

Hi, I am also considering a hobbie in bonsai. I would like to start with a Jade clipping I have, but am not surre where to start. Any input and info would be great.

Riot:

How large is your "clipping", have you rooted it yet, do you know how? More info please. BTW in the future you will probably get a better response if you start your own thread. In the meantime here is a pic on one of my Jades to give you some idea of what is possible, not that mine is exceptional.

Norm

Here is a link that might be useful:

Jade is an easy plant to grow, but a challenge to make it look worthy of a bonsai pot. One of my goals in life has been to train a jade as bonsai that looks decent. This one is slowly getting there.
{{gwi:2910}}
randy

Norm,

I have three "clippings" that my mother gave me when I moved, and I have started to root them. I have had them for a few months. However, they are still small, the roots and the "tree" parts. The "tree" parts are only a few inches tall and the roots are not very much more developed. So... where to go frome there I am not surre. Plan to make a stop at the book store in the morning to pick up a book or two one the subject, any suggestions on books?

Riot:

There is no trick or magic bullet for making a Jade, or any other tree for that matter, gain bulk, just time and patience. You will be waiting for years for small cuttings to approach the size of the two plants shown above. If your mother is willing, and if her plant is large enough, you can jumpstart the process by starting with a larger branch, they root easily as well. Having said that, donÂt be discouraged, you can get reasonable results in a shorter time frame, see the link below. This "clipping" is approximately 4-5 years old and in need of pruning. By the way, once you start with Jades you will eventually reach a point where yearly pruning will produce more cuttings that you can use.

Besides patience here are a few observations. I used to grow my Jades in heavy garden soil and the plants grew wonderfully but developed little rootage. A heavier soil mix serves to anchor the plant better and allows the sometimes top heavy Jade to remain more secure in a shallow bonsai pot. I suspect that a loose bonsai soil will promote more significant root development so I would suggest you go that route especially with a young plant. I have not repotted since switching soils so this is conjecture on my part.

DonÂt obsess over the exact composition of the soil mix, I have found that the single most important aspect in the culture of this plant is not the soil but the amount of water it receives. In the winter I water mine about once a month by immersing them overnight, this mimics their native environment. In the summer they are outside in full sun and growing more rapidly so can tolerate more water. Even so they require much less than my other trees.

I have read, and more importantly observed, that jades tolerate and even prefer to be root-bound. Frequent repotting is not necessary, particularly with older specimens. This plant will do well in a container that would seem to be several sizes too small to the average person, a desirable trait in potential bonsai. I have information on pruning to share as well but that can wait for another time.

As far as books go I have found that they come in two basic varieties, general and species specific, the latter taking the form of an encyclopedia listing various species suitable for bonsai, both are useful. Good general books include: "The bonsai workshop" by Herb Gustafson and "Bonsai masterclass" by Peter Chan. On the encyclopedic side, I have found that "Bonsai" by Werner M. Busch is valuable resource. Although this volume is written for the European audience nearly everything is applicable here as well. If you are looking at indoor bonsai I would suggest "Bonsai in your home" by Paul Lesniewicz. I hope this helps you.

Norm

Here is a link that might be useful:

Hi, just going to jump in with a tip - the 'workshop' book by Gustafson is fine for someone intent on shaping conifers, etc., but not as good for indoor tropicals. The Lesniewicz book's a lot better there, as are other more general bks on bonsai.