Anyone into bonsai trees?

7 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)

7 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.

------------------------------------------------------- O -------------------------------------------------------

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!!

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Comments (12)

popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
7 years ago
I have always been fascinated by bonsai. I would love to have some but I'm terrified that I would kill it. I always wish I had a bonsai mentor. Have you ever been to Bonsai Nursery in Englewood?
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
7 years ago
Englewood? Nope, not yet. Any town south of Loveland seems soooo far away to this small town girl. Heh.

Guess I'll go and ask around some more. Will report back.....
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tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years ago
I've been active in the bonsai community for about 30 years now. I find it tremendously rewarding, and the challenge is closely related to how driven you are that your trees evoke feelings, or the sense that a tree has a story to tell that can be seen in how it presents.

This is a typical beginning for a bonsai tree that was about 8-10 ft tall when I dug it from my growing area:

5 year old Japanese snowbell, top chopped and some very major branches removed:

Same not very bonsai-ish tree after a summer's worth of growth:

After it was pruned:

2 years later, this spring, just after repotting and before coming into leaf:

This spring, pushing foliage:

Al
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
7 years ago
Shame you don't live closer, Al . I would love to visit, sit a spell, and learn more. I would do so much better with some in-person mentoring on how to prune (amongst the many other things you know so much about!).
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years ago
Thanks for the kind words, PM. A friend and I showed some of our trees tonight at an origami workshop, and worked on our trees between questions. It was much fun. I enjoy mentoring folks in the art of bonsai and container growing in general, so I'm sure we'd have a good time!

Al
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Lovely trees, Al.

I didn't know you were on the Rocky Mountain gardening forum -- how cool is that? :)

I'm still on the lookout for advice for bonsai care in our particularly challenging climate. I'm guessing the temperature swings are the biggest problem (70F to 20F in 24 hrs isn't unheard of) followed by intense, high altitude sun and desiccating winds.

In a way, I'm thinking it'd be almost better if I was up the High Country as opposed to being only at 5,000 ft on the wind-bitten plains. Ah, well! I'm guessing having a dedicated shelf in the garage might be useful, but I currently don't have much room there as we actually manage to squeeze both cars inside it. Maybe a cold frame against the north side of the house...?

Speaking of inspiration...the "bonsai" limber pines along Trail Ridge Road are amazing: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5b/Fog_on_the_tree_line_in_the_Rocky_Mountain_National_Park.jpg
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
7 years ago
Everyone's on every forum now because new posts show up in the "activity" feed when you open the GardenWeb. So people who aren't actually in Rocky Mountains see the activity then respond. But I'm happy to see Al here and he can come visit our Rocky Mountains any time! If he does though I call dibs on him for a couple of hours! :-)
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
7 years ago
If you are ever nearby, Al, please send one of us a message. The Rocky Mtn Garden forum exists beyond the screen. Most of us are from Colorado (some are not) and for many years, we have been meeting twice a year for plant swaps. We could easily get a meet and greet together if you are going to be pretty much anywhere in Colorado. I'm totally serious too!
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Sounds like fun. I've met up with a fair number of members from the fora - mostly to prune their trees and have lunch or dinner when I'm in town for a bonsai. Most were from the Midwest, but I've met members from both coasts, too. If I make it to CO, I'll be sure to post here to see if anyone's in the mood for lunch or dinner ..... and I'm serious, too.

Al
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado) thanked tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
7 years ago
My mom went to the Bonsai place in Englewood today and she highly recommends it. Laura, if you want to make the trek to this area, let me know. I haven't been to that Bonsai place yet and would love to go.
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado) thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
Laura (Z5a Fort Collins, Colorado)
Original Author
7 years ago
Will do! Gonna wait 'til the weather gets a little more settled before I venture out, though. Heh.