Bonsai Trees

[blue_monday]

Who has one? I've wanted to get one for a while now. I've never ran into a place that sells any except online. Any tips for a beginner? i plan on growing it indoors.

Also, i hound the video on this page:
http://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Bonsai-Tree
i think i might try how they did it in the video given that there are no places that sell bonsai trees around here. Any species recommendations?

[InspiredByMe]

I have 3 one is a japanese white pine that took me a while to get started. I bought it an a bonsai festival a while back that was at the national arboretum in DC. If your just starting go with an easy one, such as a money tree they require little maintenance.

[Reyin]

That's a great video for a beginner.

Also you asked about species so I'll try and give you my two cents worth of advice. The first thing you'll probably want to consider is cost. How much do you want to spend? If you're just starting out I wouldn't suggest investing a lot into your first plant.

Like in the video a small Juniper can look good and not cost a lot and the same goes for a ficus, which is a smaller type of fig tree. I should warn you though, ficus, like other figs, are very picky about temperature, you can't let them get cold. Juniper are much more forgiving.

If you're willing to fork out the money, I'm rather partial to Japanese maples, but they're hard to find at a low price. If you can find one, Chinese elm are a great tree for bonsai, and they're not too terribly expensive either. Like Inspired said, white pine's can be nice as well.

One that I've been meaning to try because I've seen some cool pictures, is Eastern Hemlock. Truth be told though, you can use just about any kind of conifer, and a large variety of deciduous trees as well.

[xxombie]

I'd love to get a Bonsai, but living in Canada it's tough. It's fucking cold and dry in the winter and hot and humid in the summer. Keeping plants is a nightmare. Especially picky ones. I still thing it'd be an interesting project though.

Which variety does best in freaky weather conditions?

[Reyin]

Well, if you want one that is good for your area, dig a small one up from near where you live =) Since you said Canada, a blue spruce or a douglas fir are both fairly easy to do. Juniper is also hardy for Canada. There are quite a few people that don't buy any of their trees, but rather dig up 1-2 year old trees from around where they live. Balsam firs are also pretty trees and they can give off a slight citrus smell.

[blue_monday]

I got one today. It's a small juniper. I bought it with a tray at lowes for $10, only to find out that my college's science building has the same species growing outside. I would've just made one out of a part of it if i had ever noticed it.

[Buku]

There's a cool garden thing near Lake Merritt in Oakland that has a section with bonsai trees. Get a cherry tree, the blossoms are magnificent.

[slm33d]

I reccomend most of the fig family . I prefer the "port jackson fig" its an australian fig.I found my local bunnings warehouse * australian hardware shop* Try a local gardening center?. I have lost interest in mine lately haven't done much in the way of pruning and such. I currently have a maple * forgot which one* a juniper in semi cascade style and a pj fig in its natural way. Im not big on training the plant I prefer the natural dispalys. I have created a couple of jinns *looks like when a branch falls off and becomes dead wood leaving the tree scared*. I haven't used a sealent or equivalent just let it keep growing . Good luck =).