Ken,
Slow down a little and I can save you some money. Akadama is, as you probably know, imported from japan and as such is going to be expensive. The reason the Japanese use it is because that is what they have, you have other options.
Don't buy a set of sieves either, make them. Are you, a friend or family member comfortable using basic power tools? Some 1x4 boards and a little hardware cloth of different sizes is pretty easy to make. Two would be a good start, Anything bigger than about 1/8 or 3/16 should be excluded so a screen with a mesh about that size will work on the upper side. For the lower side a mesh of 1/6 lets whatever is too small drop through, you use what remains.
The first tool you will need is a concave cutter and a lot of the rest can be improvised for now. Besides I think all of your material is pretty young still, correct? You will not be doing much in the way of pruning right now so they can wait a little while. Perhaps you can drop some hints for a birthday or Christmas gift.
If you really want to spend some money get the Maple book I mentioned earlier; 'Bonsai with Japanese Maples' by Peter Adams. At this point in your development knowledge is more important than tools you will not be using much right now anyway.
[url]https://www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Japanese-Maples-Peter-Adams/dp/0881928097/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214755670&sr=1-1[/url]
Norm
EDIT: That should read 1/16, sorry for any confusion.
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
Yeah, You probably are right. I have dropped hints for christmas.(I joined this site 2 days after my birthday so thats too far off) Maybe some dallas bonsai giftcards or something. We'll see what happens though.
I like that seive idea. My mom suggested it but I probably just forgot. Oh-Well. I'll see about that.
About that book. It's awesome andI'm going to be earning money here in a couple days because I got a house sitting job for some friends of my moms. Anyway, I should get a fair amount of money. Other than that I still owe my parents money so that is out of the question. Although, my grandma is intown and she is a BIG spender. she might be willing to get it for me if I behave. We shall see.
I just wish we all had all the materials we need to get the job done without having the stress of money. Ya know what I mean?
Thanx so much.
I like that seive idea. My mom suggested it but I probably just forgot. Oh-Well. I'll see about that.
About that book. It's awesome andI'm going to be earning money here in a couple days because I got a house sitting job for some friends of my moms. Anyway, I should get a fair amount of money. Other than that I still owe my parents money so that is out of the question. Although, my grandma is intown and she is a BIG spender. she might be willing to get it for me if I behave. We shall see.
I just wish we all had all the materials we need to get the job done without having the stress of money. Ya know what I mean?
Thanx so much.
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
Hey guys......Havent been around a whole lot lately.
Just a quick update on my bonsai experience.
I've ditched all my bonsai except the 2 Japanese Maples seedlings.
Everything else died do to the heat.
One of the maples lost all of the its leaves except fot 2 at the way top. I watered it and put it in heavier shade. Nothing else I can really do.
The really little 2 leaf maple now has 4 or 5 leaves. One of em benig considerably big. I might post pics later. I moved the little one to a place that has just a slim more light. I don't know. It rains often and the place where I put the trees in under the deck and all the water drips down into the pot, watering the trees considerably. Just dropping by to say hi to everyone and all the new folks. I'll try to post more often but as schools coming in 2 days I might not get a good chance. Plus I'm trying out for football. And homework.........UUGGGHHHH.......homework....bleh.
Take Care everyone!
Just a quick update on my bonsai experience.
I've ditched all my bonsai except the 2 Japanese Maples seedlings.
Everything else died do to the heat.
One of the maples lost all of the its leaves except fot 2 at the way top. I watered it and put it in heavier shade. Nothing else I can really do.
The really little 2 leaf maple now has 4 or 5 leaves. One of em benig considerably big. I might post pics later. I moved the little one to a place that has just a slim more light. I don't know. It rains often and the place where I put the trees in under the deck and all the water drips down into the pot, watering the trees considerably. Just dropping by to say hi to everyone and all the new folks. I'll try to post more often but as schools coming in 2 days I might not get a good chance. Plus I'm trying out for football. And homework.........UUGGGHHHH.......homework....bleh.
Take Care everyone!
-
Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Ken,
Welcome back. My Acer seedlings are looking pretty bad this time of year as well. I don't expect them to do much for the remainder of the season. Forgive me if I've asked this before (it's hard to keep track of everyones different circumstances) but have you considered putting your seedlings in the ground for a few years?
Norm
Welcome back. My Acer seedlings are looking pretty bad this time of year as well. I don't expect them to do much for the remainder of the season. Forgive me if I've asked this before (it's hard to keep track of everyones different circumstances) but have you considered putting your seedlings in the ground for a few years?
Norm
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
rrrrrrrgggggggggg.....
I forgot to login so I typed up this big response but I had to login. Therefor I lost it so I'll try to remember what I said.
Norm,
Your memory hasnt fled you yet my friend. You havent asked me that question. I have considered putting them in the ground. We've had a problem with the critters in the ground so I'm a little nervous to do that. We do have a foot high compost line stretching the length of my fence. We use it because we have drainage problems there during hurricane season. It keeps water out of the yard. Anyway, we put cut grass on it and sometimes extra mulch. I was wondering if maybe that would be a good place to put the seedings? I'm also worried becasue this year winter is s'posed to be longer and colder. I've seen stuff on cold weather protectiong off of the Bonsai channel, Hosted by dallas bonsai. Anything you have on that?
I also need toget a new medium because the stuff I have I think is molding. I have alot of medium but its not the best stuff. I think it's medium you put your seeds in so they can grow and all that. I just spent hundreds on workout stuff so I'm in the saving stage. working on byuing a pack of acadama or something. Other than that I'm not really worried. I don't think theres anything else. I can post pictures of the compost line. It's mostly made up of grass, leaves, and mulch. Maybe a few other things. we have a compost tumbler for all the excess produce goes in that, not the line. so there no food in the line.
thnx
Take care
I forgot to login so I typed up this big response but I had to login. Therefor I lost it so I'll try to remember what I said.
Norm,
Your memory hasnt fled you yet my friend. You havent asked me that question. I have considered putting them in the ground. We've had a problem with the critters in the ground so I'm a little nervous to do that. We do have a foot high compost line stretching the length of my fence. We use it because we have drainage problems there during hurricane season. It keeps water out of the yard. Anyway, we put cut grass on it and sometimes extra mulch. I was wondering if maybe that would be a good place to put the seedings? I'm also worried becasue this year winter is s'posed to be longer and colder. I've seen stuff on cold weather protectiong off of the Bonsai channel, Hosted by dallas bonsai. Anything you have on that?
I also need toget a new medium because the stuff I have I think is molding. I have alot of medium but its not the best stuff. I think it's medium you put your seeds in so they can grow and all that. I just spent hundreds on workout stuff so I'm in the saving stage. working on byuing a pack of acadama or something. Other than that I'm not really worried. I don't think theres anything else. I can post pictures of the compost line. It's mostly made up of grass, leaves, and mulch. Maybe a few other things. we have a compost tumbler for all the excess produce goes in that, not the line. so there no food in the line.
thnx
Take care
I read your postings and I happen to have 2 Red Maples so I can tell you that from my experience and the growth rate of both, the fertilizer I use is bonsai Boy Pro Fertilizer. I used solid on one and it was ok, but the tree really has not grown great. I did switch to this liquid. This second tree I got I started with this and it is growing like you would not believe. I did not start with cuttings. I start with trees. I have all different kinds. You can get this on Amazon. also there is an awesome site to get bonsai's called Glasshouse Works. Amazing stuff. amazon is not bad. depends who you deal with. Good Luck!!!!!! Barb
-
alexinoklahoma
- Senior Member
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:21 am
- Location: Central Oklahoma
Vary the ferts!!! One fert ain't gonna give you all needed 
A point on maples and ferts: its better to use less than more as you do *not* want to get outstanding growth - the internodes will become too long too easily. I just casually fert my Acers with lowish N until late summer then go 'normal' so it can harden normally for dormancy. I tried two different sets of trees (on palmatums, tataricums, rubrums, & truncatum, fwiw) and gave one group regular N and other one low N (N = Nitrogen obviously) to see how much difference and was not surprised. I am now giving away my regular N plants as the internodes are two inches or more on average w/ the other ones sometimes having internodes stacked on top of each other (perfect!)... Just something to think about A few A rubrum are about 4-5' tall with longish nodes whilst the usable trunks are more like 6" to 2-3' at most with nice low branchings here and there... Huge differences from different ways of growing them out.
I see way too much 'thinking'/dreaming here and less focus on basics-of-care. It takes years of basic to get to where 'fancy' comes into play, and if basics were ignored, there will be no 'fancy' time, right?? I almost bit my tongue when I read about buying the Miracle-Gro soil - augh!!! So much to learn... I *highly* suggest starting at www.evergreengardenworks.com/articles.htm and fully understanding the concepts Brent so thoroughly covers. If ya grasp the things there, books become almost irrelevant as they only present same info (usually) in more verbose manners, IMO. Just my opinion, though...
Bonsai can be done dirt-cheap (pun intended) if the technical stuff is understood
This last Fall, I started a few hundred seed of numerous species and now have over 230 potensai to play with (and bury rootballs for winter - ugh!!!)...and have spent less than $50 in toto on supplies/calcined clay from Lowes hardware. Cost of pots is not included in that, LOL. Too bad I cannot buy 'time' at the stores as I ain't got much of *that* after watering and fussing on so many pots 
Alex
A point on maples and ferts: its better to use less than more as you do *not* want to get outstanding growth - the internodes will become too long too easily. I just casually fert my Acers with lowish N until late summer then go 'normal' so it can harden normally for dormancy. I tried two different sets of trees (on palmatums, tataricums, rubrums, & truncatum, fwiw) and gave one group regular N and other one low N (N = Nitrogen obviously) to see how much difference and was not surprised. I am now giving away my regular N plants as the internodes are two inches or more on average w/ the other ones sometimes having internodes stacked on top of each other (perfect!)... Just something to think about
A few A rubrum are about 4-5' tall with longish nodes whilst the usable trunks are more like 6" to 2-3' at most with nice low branchings here and there... Huge differences from different ways of growing them out.I see way too much 'thinking'/dreaming here and less focus on basics-of-care. It takes years of basic to get to where 'fancy' comes into play, and if basics were ignored, there will be no 'fancy' time, right?? I almost bit my tongue when I read about buying the Miracle-Gro soil - augh!!! So much to learn... I *highly* suggest starting at www.evergreengardenworks.com/articles.htm and fully understanding the concepts Brent so thoroughly covers. If ya grasp the things there, books become almost irrelevant as they only present same info (usually) in more verbose manners, IMO. Just my opinion, though...
Bonsai can be done dirt-cheap (pun intended) if the technical stuff is understood
This last Fall, I started a few hundred seed of numerous species and now have over 230 potensai to play with (and bury rootballs for winter - ugh!!!)...and have spent less than $50 in toto on supplies/calcined clay from Lowes hardware. Cost of pots is not included in that, LOL. Too bad I cannot buy 'time' at the stores as I ain't got much of *that* after watering and fussing on so many pots Alex
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
Hey all!!!!
Glad to see this place has picked up speed again.
A little update on my life. School is going great. I think I've already mentioned I'm on the Football team. If I havn't there it is. I cant remember the stats but we won our last game which was Wednesday. We tied the one before that and lost the one before that one.
Confusing isn't it??
Season ends in 2 weeks. Real bummer. I don count on doing winter sports. I just don't like what they're doing.
Ok, now it's plant time.
I moved my bamboo inside.( I still have yet to post a pic of that don't I??)
I just have a question about my little maples though. This years winter is supposed to be colder than normal so I was wondering whether to put them in the shed or garage or dig a hole and put em ni the ground. I would prefer putting them in either the garage or shed. The only thing I'm worried about is the probable gas fumes that might affect them.
If you guys need pix I can take some recent ones tomorrow.
OH, even if they havn't lost their leaves completely, should I still move em inside???
Still hav yet to buy that Maple book you suggested Norm. I still owe my parents like 90 bucks and I need to buy some other stuff before anything can happen.
Hope everyone is haveing a great time!
Take Care
Ken
Glad to see this place has picked up speed again.
A little update on my life. School is going great. I think I've already mentioned I'm on the Football team. If I havn't there it is. I cant remember the stats but we won our last game which was Wednesday. We tied the one before that and lost the one before that one.
Confusing isn't it??
Season ends in 2 weeks. Real bummer. I don count on doing winter sports. I just don't like what they're doing.
Ok, now it's plant time.
I moved my bamboo inside.( I still have yet to post a pic of that don't I??)
I just have a question about my little maples though. This years winter is supposed to be colder than normal so I was wondering whether to put them in the shed or garage or dig a hole and put em ni the ground. I would prefer putting them in either the garage or shed. The only thing I'm worried about is the probable gas fumes that might affect them.
If you guys need pix I can take some recent ones tomorrow.
OH, even if they havn't lost their leaves completely, should I still move em inside???
Still hav yet to buy that Maple book you suggested Norm. I still owe my parents like 90 bucks and I need to buy some other stuff before anything can happen.
Hope everyone is haveing a great time!
Take Care
Ken
-
alexinoklahoma
- Senior Member
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:21 am
- Location: Central Oklahoma
Better to let leaves fall off all the way 'naturally', IMO. However, prolly not a big deal if the leaves are 'crispy' already, and just hanging on by a thread, so to speak. When tree is dormant, 'gas fumes' will not affect tree whatsoever so long as it stays cold in there full-time to keep tree dormant.
Alex
Alex
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
Hey everyone!
I havnt posted these in awhile but here are some before and after picture of my Japanese Maple Seedlings.
Before:
[/img]
After:
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple%202/RedMaple2004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple%202/RedMaple2005.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple%202/RedMaple2006.jpg[/img]
That little 2 leafer has now turned into a 4 leafer.....*sniffs*...I'm so proud........LOL
Heres the big one that was..............
Before:
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Maple%20Seedlings/S4010004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Maple%20Seedlings/S4010003.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Maple%20Seedlings/S4010002.jpg[/img]
After:
[/img]
[/img]
[/img]
I'm sad about this one. It had like 7 leaves, now it only has 2. Thats dissappointing........*sigh*
If you have any comments, feel free to post 'em!
Take Care
I havnt posted these in awhile but here are some before and after picture of my Japanese Maple Seedlings.
Before:
[/img]After:
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple%202/RedMaple2004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple%202/RedMaple2005.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Red%20Maple%202/RedMaple2006.jpg[/img]
That little 2 leafer has now turned into a 4 leafer.....*sniffs*...I'm so proud........LOL
Heres the big one that was..............
Before:
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Maple%20Seedlings/S4010004.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Maple%20Seedlings/S4010003.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk207/Kenshin14435/Maple%20Seedlings/S4010002.jpg[/img]
After:
[/img][/img][/img]I'm sad about this one. It had like 7 leaves, now it only has 2. Thats dissappointing........*sigh*
If you have any comments, feel free to post 'em!
Take Care
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
Hey everyone!
I have now moved my little japanese Maples into the shed for winter. They should do fine. I havn't checked on 'em in a couple days but I will tomorrow.
Norm,
I've been checking local Borders and Barnes&Nobles for Bonsai with Japanese Maples by Peter Adams. I have not yet been able to buy it but I plan to a couple months before a good springs sets in so I can plan what to do and how to do it. I have yet to actually take a look at it completey but from the previews I've seen on the web I think it will be a perfect fit.
Take care
I have now moved my little japanese Maples into the shed for winter. They should do fine. I havn't checked on 'em in a couple days but I will tomorrow.
Norm,
I've been checking local Borders and Barnes&Nobles for Bonsai with Japanese Maples by Peter Adams. I have not yet been able to buy it but I plan to a couple months before a good springs sets in so I can plan what to do and how to do it. I have yet to actually take a look at it completey but from the previews I've seen on the web I think it will be a perfect fit.
Take care
-
Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Ken,
You may also want to look into a good basic book. I like this one.
[url=https://www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Workshop-Our-Garden-Variety/dp/0806905573/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228524946&sr=1-2]The Bonsai Workshop.[/url]
Norm
You may also want to look into a good basic book. I like this one.
[url=https://www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Workshop-Our-Garden-Variety/dp/0806905573/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228524946&sr=1-2]The Bonsai Workshop.[/url]
Your seedlings will need a few years of simply growing time before you can do much in the way of training. Good bonsai soil is a necessity.so I can plan what to do and how to do it.
Norm
-
alexinoklahoma
- Senior Member
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:21 am
- Location: Central Oklahoma
The only growth that matters now, and for next couple years, is the stuff that is on the first few inches of trunk. Everything else will be chopped off for tapering(s), so let 'em grow(!) to get mass onto trunk. Any pruning, higher up anyways, only sets timetable back that much more Patience, patience, patience....try typing that three times, LOL!
Enjoy,
Alex
Patience, patience, patience....try typing that three times, LOL!Enjoy,
Alex
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
Yeah, Isn't that book by Gustav somethin or other.....???
I think I've seen it.
And when I said plan out, I meant I might go out and buy a 10-20 gallon Maple, and get as much off it as I can, then cut it around the base and then grow it from there. I think I mentioned that on the 3rd page but I don't remember.
I also plan on buying some akadama(not alot but enough for a couple pots)around the end of February or the begining of March because I don't think I need to repot until the middle of March. I may be wrong but thats what I think because winter this year is supposed to be longer and colder. So We'll see. It depends on when it starts getting warmer.
I also need to buy seperate pots for each. I just wanna get 2 small, plastic pots.
BTW, I've had them in the shed for about a week but the leaves are still there.....whats up??
Take Care
I think I've seen it.
And when I said plan out, I meant I might go out and buy a 10-20 gallon Maple, and get as much off it as I can, then cut it around the base and then grow it from there. I think I mentioned that on the 3rd page but I don't remember.
I also plan on buying some akadama(not alot but enough for a couple pots)around the end of February or the begining of March because I don't think I need to repot until the middle of March. I may be wrong but thats what I think because winter this year is supposed to be longer and colder. So We'll see. It depends on when it starts getting warmer.
I also need to buy seperate pots for each. I just wanna get 2 small, plastic pots.
BTW, I've had them in the shed for about a week but the leaves are still there.....whats up??
Take Care
-
alexinoklahoma
- Senior Member
- Posts: 273
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2007 8:21 am
- Location: Central Oklahoma
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
-
Gnome
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 5122
- Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:17 am
- Location: Western PA USDA Zone 6A
Ken,
I learned the hard way not to rush things outside too early. Things in pots have a tendency to wake up earlier than a similar plant in the ground. If your trees break dormancy and there is still a chance of a late frost you will be forced to bring it back in anyway. This 'bonsai shuffle' gets tedious especially if you have more than a few trees. I try to keep things dormant as long as possible.
If your trees are not pushing new shoots there is no reason to get them outside. What's the rush? Of course if you are seeing new growth extending then light becomes important.
Your climate is different than mine so use your best judgment.
Norm
I learned the hard way not to rush things outside too early. Things in pots have a tendency to wake up earlier than a similar plant in the ground. If your trees break dormancy and there is still a chance of a late frost you will be forced to bring it back in anyway. This 'bonsai shuffle' gets tedious especially if you have more than a few trees. I try to keep things dormant as long as possible.
If your trees are not pushing new shoots there is no reason to get them outside. What's the rush? Of course if you are seeing new growth extending then light becomes important.
Your climate is different than mine so use your best judgment.
Norm
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
-
Kenshin14435
- Senior Member
- Posts: 284
- Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:33 pm
- Location: Northern VA USDA Zone 7A
I repotted my baby maples in the same but different soil. I took some pictures of the finished product. I took a very fluffy soil and seived it for what seemed like hours until I got what I as looking for. I used one of my moms old kitchen strainers as a seive. LOL
Then I put some pebbles on top to help retain moisture since it doesnt retain a whole lot now. They're outside in south facing sun. Kind of. I'll post some pictures soon.
Take Care
Then I put some pebbles on top to help retain moisture since it doesnt retain a whole lot now. They're outside in south facing sun. Kind of. I'll post some pictures soon.
Take Care