I feel so lucky! I am going to try and grow some Bonsai Trees!
By free_man
@free_man (7330)
United States
March 25, 2011 8:57am CST
We were out yesterday getting some gravel for our drive. I sift through all the gravel to make sure there isn't any big stones or sharp ones. While I was doing this I found 6 or 7 knew trees just getting their roots started! Wow I am so excited ! I have two trees in the yard that I have been keeping short just to see if I could do it and it has been a couple of years they are still short. I wanted to get out there early this morning but it is sleeting and raining at the same time. I did cover them I am going to plant them in small pots with the same soil and gravel they came out of so that should keep them growing. I don't have a clue as to what kinds of trees these are. Have you ever grown a Bonsai tree? Do you have any advice for growing a bonsai trees? If you found a seedling of a tree would you try it? Do you know of what some of the bonsai trees there are?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
25 Mar 11
I don't know anything about growing bonsai trees, but it sounds like fun! I never thought of doing it myself, because the few times I've found seedlings, we needed shade trees, so I let them grow full size. I might think about it the next time!
2 people like this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Hi Peavey. I have thought of growing one since the first time I seen them on HGTV . This woman I know has one but she don't take care of it. I wanted to do my own but never could find a seedling. These I think are prefect they are some kind of hard wood tree but what I don't know excatly. They are mainly the root coming through and that is what I wanted so it would take awhile to grow. I know you have to keep them pruned. I thought I would plant tow in one pot to see how it would turn out. Thanks for sharing!
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@GardenGerty (157710)
• United States
25 Mar 11
When you dig it up you will see the kind of seed it has come out of since it is not very old. You are sort of making me want to try it as well. Use a shallow planter for it as that will help stunt it's growth. When you use wire on the branches I think they are supposed to be copper wires because of the flexibility.
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@GardenGerty (157710)
• United States
25 Mar 11
I have had bonsai trees, but I do not have the discipline to grow them. Many classical bonsai are junipers and other evergreens and I have seen maples as well. I imagine any tree that is pruned and trimmed and not over fed or watered can become a bonsai. It is supposed to be a really relaxing hobby to grow bonsai.
@free_man (7330)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Hi GG. I have always wanted to grow one since I seen the first one years ago on some TV show. I have been reading up on them on the net and it seems like it will be an easy thing to do. I am starting off with all the seedlings I found. I have two trees in the yard I have been keeping as small as I could. I don't know what kinds of seedlings these are but the ash tree and walnut I have been keeping small have been doing great. On one of them I am going to try two seedlings in it to see if I can get the two to entwine and make one. Thanks for all the advice my friend.
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@GardenGerty (157710)
• United States
25 Mar 11
With free seedlings, you might as well try.
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@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
hello, if you planning to make a bonsai, I advice that you use large and hard wood trees. In the Philippines we prefer the "balete tree" , it's somewhat related to the rubber tree from the ficus family, for one it is associated with mystery and horror, really awesome because of it's aerial roots, I've seen a full grown tree, maybe more than a hundred years old and you can literally go inside it like a cave, think of something like that as a bonsai. Check this out http://www.oocities.org/fredmagdalena/balete.html
Since your from the U.S., maybe oak is a good choice or any large fruit bearing tree if you like fruits. The trick is to dwarf it by putting it in a small and shallow container with rock under to keep the roots from growing, prune leaves and branches that suggest that it is a young tree and bend it with wire to a shape that would suggest that it is old (you can take it out later). With all this you still have to wait years to see how it would come out. Good luck 
1 person likes this
@free_man (7330)
• United States
25 Mar 11
Hey Louievill. Thanks sounds like some good advice. I don't know if these seedlings are oak or not but they are some kind of hard wood. I can hardly wait to see what they turn out to be. Thanks will look at that site. Never heard of a balete tree do you have pictures of a balete tree? Would love to see what they look like. Will look on the net to see if I can find one.
