Moving too fast?
Looking back on my first six months, deep in the weeds of Bonsai as a hobby, I am afraid to ask myself if I have been moving too fast. I recognize that this is a slow game of patience, where the fruit are revealed in years and not months. I am fortunate to have the time and money to invest and learn, bit by bit, but in aggregate it appears to be much. “Another tree(s)?!” is commonly heard in many bonsaist’s gardens.
“This is how it started, and this is how it’s going” is a common meme. It started on the roadside, with a poorly painted bonsai truck with an array of small trees. With my kids, we picked out a Fukien Tea Tree (about 8” tall). An indoor friendly, curved and healthy tree. It survived my care over a few years. About three years later with an itch for my next tree, the truck reappeared as we emerged from the 2020-2021 pandemic. I was directed to a large Chinese Elm in a nice blue pot, it had the stereotypical “S” trunk—although it was sickly and a bargain. I took it home and helped it rebound. While learning how to better care for my trees, I went down the bonsai Rabbit Hole.
I have a bias towards learning over achieving excellence (e.g. sports) and enjoy curating information into more accessible and efficient formats. Bonsai knowledge had seemed to be tribal or tradition, but online advice and diverse seedlings were easy to soak up.
Being frugal, I ordered and potted a wide variety of seedlings, sometimes before knowing what to do with them. I bought one or two bonsai tools, and a little bit of wire or special soil, dip in my toe into the new hobby. I attended a special bonsai show in Oakland, even volunteering just to get access. The trees on display were so magnificent and inspiring. The vendors and people you would meet we’re so friendly and helpful. And I walked away with a few more trees. I had found a beautiful Japanese maple for sale in our neighborhood and had planned to make many bonsai‘s from it. Then all of a sudden I have too many trees. Most are small, many are sticks, but it spells potential. I would typically buy collect a few of the same species so that I could practice wiring or potting them, styling them. Hoping to find at least one of them to be most desirable as it matures. Investment in time (and space).
My kids are happy to see me passionate about a hobby, though they may not see the reason. My wife recently asked, in awe of a recent shade construction over my benches, “what do you plan to do with all the tree? Do you plan to sell them?” I would be pleased if it resulted in that, as I have scrolled through eBay and Esty on pre-bonsai and bonsai material. The question “why” is a good to reflect on—but hobbies may not need a goal other than to find joy or to learn or to share.
Financial justification in bonsai, as with collecting LPs, causes me to look at my shoes. I confess that a “pre-bonsai” or “bonsai” added to a twig with a mild bend will fetch 3X the cost of the material. Something trained 3 years will fetch some 20X the cost of the initial material. So while I dread to invest a great deal of time into a prized specimen just to sell it, I do see the promise of selling off second-grade trees. The promise of propagation by seed, cuttings, or air-layering (when possible) offers opportunity to share or sell. Skills and a rhythm is needed so that growing or training is more efficient—sadly it does take up space.
I have been inspired by shows, like the Pacific Bonsai Expo (2022). I would be pleased to have trained at least one good juniper, Japanese Black Pine (hopefully a White Pine), a Japanese Maple and a flowering tree.
Where do I realistically believe I will be next summer?
I would still be pleased if 80% of my trees survived or flourished—learning along the way.
My second attempt at larch seedlings (and seed propagation) may not survive—but if they do, it will be a surprise.
My black pines will add buds and branches, but will take a few more years of trunk development. Only one is ready to focus on primary branches, if they bud and branch.
White pines hope to grow in size, but cautious of long-term health for missing freezing dormancy.
Hoping most of my junipers to continue to bulk up and start or continue Shari development.
Expecting most of my 15+ Japanese Maple air-layerings and host trunk chop heal over, develop shoots and accept some carving to improve taper.
I will be curious if any of my cuttings (trident, Japanese maple, juniper or pine) survive.
My one trident over rock may be unwrapped and hope it will have taken hold.
Of spring goes well, I can feel justified to purchase a more mature tree in training at the SBBK show next June.
I may possibly gift or sell one or two of my maple air-layerings to recoup a new tree.
I hope to have mastered bonsai pot making to sell or raffle off, that others may appreciate.
I find the cross-over craftsmanship of handmade bonsai pots or display tables would add to the full experience.