When is a good time to start shaping my prospective bonsai?

[brenraven]

From scanning the forum (boy there are alot of posts!) I have found that any woody stemmed plant will do for a bonsai although it would be nice to know for sure (hopefully someone will answer my "Ivy" post).

In the meantime, when is a good time to start shaping my prospective bonsai? My ivy is approx. four inches high, I have been cutting back leaves and leaders for about a year now but it is still in just a regular pot. Should I repot it as a bonsai before shaping?

Please help!

[koiboy01]

hi,
seeing that you are still looking for an answer, I would never try to bonsai an Ivy, one reason is that they are prolific growers and to be honest I just don't like Ivy's I think of them more as weeds,
Koiboy01

[bonsai addict]

I've seen a mame ivy bonsai over rock and it was very effective.who knows maybe theres a perfect rock out there for it to climb onworth a shot

[brenraven]

Thanks for the insight about the rock, I think this ivy has potential so I'll give it a go.

What about shaping, should I pot it as a bonsai first or just start where it is? I'm pretty new to this and I would like to start from scratch with a tropical because living in Northern Ontario in Canada, winters are pretty harsh.

[brenraven]

Another question, is it possible to use two styles when forming your bonsai. I was thinking I would like to do a Sekijoju (roots over a rock) as well as Fukinagashi (windswept). Would that be an 'acceptable' bonsai

[bonsai addict]

combining styles is ok if you want to doit although I don't know how windswept ivy is going to like sounds like a lot of wireing.but as far as breaking rules it seems to me there are to kinds of rules in bonsai horticultural and artistic.I personally try to follow the horticultural to a t.but the bonsai police arent going to arrest you If you break some rules

[brenraven]

LOL, thanks bonsai addict! My ivy is already sort of looking windswept as it's light source is off to one side and it is growing towards it so I won't have to worry about too much wirering for that. I'll try to get a pic up soon.

When would be a good time to re-pot it bonsai style?

[bonsai addict]

I think right after it comes out of dormancy before the buds open but youll want a second opinion on that one Ive read many contradicting bonsai books and they all have their opinion

[brenraven]

I thought my ivy was more of a tropical type as it's a house plant. Do I still need to give it a dormant period?

[bonsai addict]

didnt realise it was a house plant actually most tropicals go semi dormant in the winter I think but I havent killed a house plant by repotting it at the wrong time

[brenraven]

Thanks, I think I'll wait til the spring. It sits near an east facing window and the growth on the plants there usually slows during the winter. Patience right!