Oops - you would have been way better off (sorry!) to have left it in the ground where it would a) grow much faster, b) have the benefit of all outdoor things trees need, like natural light and humidity, gradually changing temperatures, nutrients, rain, etc.etc. and c) experience the cold dormancy it needs to survive winters. Plus, unfortunately, it really doesn't make a good bonsai - growth habits are counterproductive. For the future, potting soil makes a lousy mix for potted anything (including house plants!) as it's full of water hogging peat that interferes with good drainage and 02 use by plants when it (eventually) compacts. Bonsai can't be treated like house plants in any case on many levels, and there is a lot to learn about a lot before you either dig up trees randomly at the wrong times of year (such as now), or spend money on potted things in stores without really knowing how to keep them alive at home (and it doesn't take long before they succumb to bad management). Of course you're new, we all were and have killed many things along the way - you can't know what you don't know, including even what to ask about, so start reading basics like bonsai4me.com, more expert stuff on tropicals from bonsaihunk.us/cultural.html and more of the same on conifers and other trees that need to live outside 24/7/365 (evergreengardenworks.com).

well then....okay....it seems as though i may have miscalculated a bit....Is there any hope of survival here or...should i,dare i say, discontinue this project? Really i doubt it would have made it to next year due to it's miniscule size this far along in the season,and bad environment, but i'm really just saying that to console myself, am i not?

Oh, don't fret, there are probably lots more where it came from and they are often considered 'weed' trees to begin with. You could try replanting it, of course, but then leave it alone and forget it. Just don't forget that all trees start out tiny and manage to make it most of the time, just like 'street' kittens, etc. - nature's been pretty good at managing all these years :-).

And to be honest, I'm not so sure Poplar make good bonsai. The leaves are too big and do not reduce very well. I'm aure they can be used for larger than normal bonsai, however.

Ryan

dare i ask how much larger?:)

Well it really depends on how much the leaves reduce. They don't go reduce to too small, from what I've read and seen. Maybe you will get different results though. I still think you should give it a shot.

Liriodendron tulipifera is an amazing tree, in general!
I'm glad someone is working with it.

Josh

I've seen bonsai Liriodendron. Of the two, one was vigorous and looked ready to grow like a tuliptree in a regular garden if planted out right. The other was stunted -- even so, its leaves were large for a bonsai.

Consider the 'Ardis' cultivar which naturally has small leaves and diminutive growth (for the species). Or try the east central Florida strain which is adapted to warmth and may have the best tolerance of root pruning.

Here is a link that might be useful: Liriodendron tulipifera at Wikipedia