Hi - the small pots usually are used years into growing the trees which will develop fatter trunks (for mature looking trees) faster in the ground or in larger pots if indoor tropicals. Here's something I wrote to someone who wanted to buy a 'bonsai starter kit' (I realize you didn't mention it, but most of the info is the same). Just one other thing - the vast majority of bonsai (certainly these days) are created by cutting back mature trees and regrowing foliage and branches smaller, the more mature trunk then giving it the look of age relative to the rest... there is almost no more 'real'
material (ancient foot-tall trees) growing on cliff tops in Japan as all were taken for bonsai long ago.
"Hi, so glad you posted because starter kits are almost guaranteed to turn you off bonsai forever. They do not provide any of the real knowledge on growing trees, just tell you how to germinate seeds (if you're lucky) but not what to do once that happens, let alone what to do in terms of bonsai - something that only ever begins after a tree is at least 3-5 yrs old and which requires quite a bit of real knowledge and learning to get it right.

The whole thing's a long process and I strongly suggest you search for a local club to join, begin getting a feel for what bonsai's about. Start reading everything you can - Amazon's got cheap 'used' books by the barrel which is good, because no way will one bk, however good and comprehensive, begin to cover even a little of what you want... all have (unintentional) biases toward the author's environment/climate, towards the author's experience with whatever trees - tropical, evergreen, deciduous, fruit, etc. etc. and techniques he learned... whether or not he's any good at them. Look at lots of websites, tho' be particularly careful about them because there are a number of not so hot ones - often more focused on selling than informing and/or just ignorant. Join clubs, be very careful about corner stores selling 'bonsai' because clerks usually are into selling and more often than not know nothing about growing (tho' have no problem giving out wrong info!), and careful about Wal-Mart 'bonsai', etc. etc. Do not go dig up something in a nearby forest, then wonder why it died. Probably the best website (been around for yrs and is frequented by real experts) is -
http://ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com/f7-bonsai-questions

Don't forget that every tree (of potential thousands) has different needs, in different seasons, in diff. climates, particular soil mixes, sun and water requirements, etc. etc. so you do need lots of patience. And if none of that scared you off, welcome to bonsai :)!

This post was edited by moochinka on Mon, Jan 26, 15 at 5:30

A good % of tree species are appropriate for bonsai training, but some are MUCH better choices than others for a variety of reasons.

Many people become fascinated with bonsai and try their hand at it. It can be immensely rewarding and never stops presenting challenges and opportunities to improve your skills, but it wouldn't be fair not to tell you there are dues to pay. If you are to avoid being soured by the frustration that comes with not being able to keep your trees alive, you'll need to invest some time in learning how plants work (physiology) and how to keep the root systems of your trees healthy, which means you need some feel for how soils work.

In most cases, people focus more on the art of bonsai than the horticultural aspects, but IMO, that's a backward approach. It's more exciting, but in reality, dead trees or trees circling the drain are rarely pretty.

A knowledgeable mentor can really speed things along, and monthly bonsai club meetings are also very helpful, and a good place to find people willing to help. For the most part, the bonsai community is made up of kind people who want you to succeed, and will gladly offer guidance.

In short, if you're willing to pay your dues, you'll find bonsai very rewarding; if you're not, it will end up being just another thing you tried and decided it wasn't for you. That's just my take on the matter after being active in the bonsai community for 25+ years.

Al

I appreciate all the honesty and I completely understand as my hobby for years has been orchids...and if you don't know what your doing with orchids your sure to kill them but once you do some research they are quite doable. I don't plan on getting any kits I wanted to do it by myself...I may try magnolia...oak and schefflera arboricola or umbrella plant...all of which I have available pretty easy to me and won't cost any money. So if my first attempts fail it won't be a wallet buster to me...I'm understanding the soil seems pretty important so I will do some research on which works better. And if I need different soil for each type I'm going to try. I live in SW fl so I have good growing conditions almost yearround. Keep the tips and pointers coming if you think of any and I still plan on trying so you may see me around (not giving advise) probably asking questions as I think of them...Appreciate the help

Hi - tip... magnolia has very large leaves (and flowers/fruit can't be reduced on any tree as leaves can) so you might want to consider another type to start... oak are slow growing, but certainly do-able, and Schefflera are done all the time. It's funny, but there seem to be a lot of bonsai people growing orchids and vice versa!

This post was edited by moochinka on Mon, Jan 26, 15 at 12:04

I'm going to be limited in what I can share in terms of actual bonsai advice, but I can share my experience which I think may be applicable. If not, feel free to skip it and move on to comments by those far more experienced than I. About a year ago I, like you, found myself suddenly very interested in bonsai. I read, looked at examples, watched styling videos, and tried to learn what I could. As of today, I still do not own a single bonsai tree.

What I found as I started digging into bonsai was that there was a lot for me to learn before trying to care for my first tree. Unlike you, I started with NO successful gardening background. I started first trying to grow and care for plants that have potential for me to use as bonsai later. I have a couple small boxwoods in training pots. I learned a lot by absolutely murdering an azalea (such as: "Don't murder your azalea."). I have a small yellow elder with tons of "bonsai-no-nos" but I just love the plant so I hope to be able to do something with it some day. I know exactly what kind of juniper I don't want to buy from Home Depot (ugh...). I even kept the stump end of a small oak that I needed to remove from the corner of the yard and am looking forward to new growth on that this spring. I tried many different store bought and home made (not bonsai) soil mixes and learned a lot about water retention and drainage (thanks Al). I've grown (with mixed results) various vegetables, and spent more time in the past year on my general yard landscaping than I have in the rest of my life combined. Over the winter, I even got into woodworking and making planter boxes.

In short, my self imposed, "pre-bonsai learning period" has been immensely rewarding and has shown me that my interest far exceeds the smaller sphere of bonsai. I've embraced the idea that bonsai involves a very long term growing and learning process and that bonsai is the art and process of the tree, not just the tree itself. Knowing that has really let me enjoy the experience much more than if I were mostly just concerned with the end result of having the final tree in a pot. Learning to care for a plant species in less demanding conditions will, I believe, make me far better able to care for them in the restrictions of a small pot. Side note: It's also driven my wife partially mad at times, so... maybe exercise some caution...

People are all very different but, apart from any actual practical advice to share, I can tell you that, for me, the volume of what is available for me to learn about bonsai has made it something I've really latched onto and I've enjoyed all of it, even without actually having a tree yet. Looking at it in that context (long term learning experience vs. short term end result) may be useful for you as well.

Just my $0.02. Hope you enjoy whatever you choose to grow!

I can vouch for the wisdom in Cliff's approach/perspective and I agree with him completely. It's worth reading again, IMO.

I was at a business meeting in CHI and was wandering around the hotel on a Thu PM, bored stiff. I stumbled on a bonsai show being set up getting set for Fri's opening and asked if I could gawk. I was so struck by the trees, I immediately felt it was imperative that I to learn how to create the beautiful plants I was so taken with.

My first efforts, encompassing about a year, were abject failures; so, in the same vein as what Cliff related, I put the trees away and hit the books. About 4 years later, I tried again and discovered I'd learned enough that keeping my ability to trees alive/healthy was no longer the limitation it was previously.

The more you understand about how plants work and what it takes to keep them happy, the higher the level at which your interactions with your plants take place. The higher the level of interaction, the greater the potential is for a greater return, in terms of self-satisfaction, on your investment of effort.

I regularly advise NOT to let experience be your teacher. Instead, learn all you can, then let practical application (experience) serve as a way to validate what you've learned. It's a much faster route to a green thumb than depending on getting bit on the butt by your mistakes as your main source of knowledge.

Al

Yeah I need to continue to research more...I've driven my wife batty with the orchids so maybe I should only try 1 kind to start with...lol...I'll continue to watch in and ask questions as I think of them...hope I don't drive you all nuts. Thanks for the help

http://www.bonsaitreeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?34471-Bonsai-Tree-Lecture-Styling