I just came back from PBE and was really inspired by a panel discussion I attended featuring Eric Schrader, John Eads, Ed Imholt and Dylan Ferreira. They discussed the importance of people getting into growing of pre-bonsai using techniques to create great root systems suitable for putting into bonsai containers and shaping the seedlings/saplings from a very young age so that they have good structure from the start. After all, when buying stock from a nursery it is very difficult to find trees of a certain size that have good roots and branching, as producing pre-bonsai is not what they are all about.
I’d like to get started with doing this, but would like to stay away from junipers and JBPs because there are already lots for sources for young trees. Do any of you have suggestions for species you’d like to see more of?
Maryann - I agree that it was a very good panel discussion. Eric suggested I might look into limber pine (P. flexis) based upon my location (Spokane - moderately hot dry summers and cold winters) when I asked him why my shore pine seedlings do poorly compared to several other pine species. Scots pine (P. sylvestris) is another favorite and I feel it is one of the easiest pines to grow for bonsai. I think that hedge/field maple (A. campestre) is very underrepresented in bonsai. It grows as strongly as trident maple, is more cold tolerant, and the leaves will reduce quite well. There were a couple of very nice hawthorns in the show and would like to see more them. Another I would like to see more of are the true cedars (Cedrus). Most of what we see from the mainstream nurseries have terrible roots for bonsai. - Marty
I grow Zelkova, Chojubai, A. palmatum, Hinoki, P. sylvestris and more from seed and cuttings. Mainly picked based on personal interest and a lack of affordable quality material available. Ungrafted is also a relevant consideration especially with A. palmatum.
I recommend you pick something you like because you will be investing a lot of time in them. Although pruning a tray of Zelkova is fast.
Growing your own comes with experimenting. I compared pruning Zelkova once and twice a year. Twice being significantly better already at this stage.
I’m thinking of doing trident maples, red pine or shore pine and firethorn so far. I may also consider P. flexis and sylvestris, the latter of which seems to do well for me, as well as A. campestre (thanks for the tip, Marty).
I will have to do some research in the Mirai library to see how to propagate from cuttings or seed. Does anyone have any resources for saplings, esp. for the pines? Online costs seem to be about $8-20 dollars, which seems a bit steep.
I have started most of mine from seed (a longer process but can lead to better roots). I have purchased seed from Sheffield’s Seed Company and generally had very good results if I have not been able to collect from local trees. I have purchased seedlings from Brooks Tree which is wholesale only but has allowed some smaller orders in the past when doing them for the club and have been happy with the material. I have not been happy with the material from Musser Forests Tree grower of quality seedlings and transplants, but others may have had better experience. Another good source is your local conservation district - I have had great experience with ours, but the selection for bonsai is often limited.
