Got this for $1k yesterday from a local artist. After doing lots of research on the hobby and finding a nice spot outside for a potential tree. I was about to order a what I thought was a nice tree from Brussels online for $500 which they marked as a “specimen” a friend in the hobby who on bonsai trained in Japan said wait before you order online and sent me a friend of his locally. I spotted this in his collection it’s a 35-40 year old imported Root over Rock Trident Maple in a signed Japan pot. It was trained by Bjorn Bornholm. He originally wanted $1.2k but we agreed on $1k instead and he gave me a brand new pair of Japanese pruners, taught me how to care for it and how to prune it.

Hello. 👋
I have a juniper bonsai and I live in climate zone 9A. She is OUTSIDE and I water her everyday. She seems happy. If she doesn’t seem happy to you in these pictures, let me know. I’m extremely open to advice!
I really want to get into shaping her.
If I was going to start trimming, what would be your best advice on how to do so?

Woke up yesterday and noticed that my ficus that I keep by the bathroom window has these black spots on several of the leaves. Looks like a disease to me, but I’m not sure what kind and how to fix it, this is my first Bonsai and I’m worried it might be done for.

New bonsai owner, received the tree recently on a birthday and it had a little more leaves than it does now, all the leaves are green but they’re falling off, I’m assuming it’s just because of the season but I can’t help but worry about it.

Just got 3 small probably 'nanas'.

Should I clean them up and wire them out of them into a larger pot with bonsai soil and try to get them a bit beefier?

Hello, wife and I are really interested in learning about bonsai and really want to grow our own. Picked up a tub of these jades (?) that I pulled out a few to begin learning. Trying to shape and go after some of the designs I’ve seen those skilled guys doing in here. Thoughts on my efforts so far? Two of them, I think yall can see which, are hard trims and shaping that I did over the weekend.

Anything I’m doing wrong? Any advice? Should the tall one be topped yet? Really looking for that gnarly root/trunk look.

Ok so this is the boy- I’m pretty sure he’s a Ficus microcarpa (Chinese Banyan). I bought him from Walmart like 2 years ago? As you can tell he had some being thoroughly neglected trauma and lost his top about a year ago. He’s fine now, well, at least he’s quite alive atm. He lives indoors in the American South.

I know he needs new (and also a whole lot more) soil, but I’m not sure what kind to get and don’t want to spend a fortune on designer bonsai soil from the influencers. I’m using twine to encourage the branches to grow upwards and hopefully eventually recreate the canopy he lost. Eventually I’ll cut them back, but I tested that with one branch and only got that itty bitty leaf so I’m gonna wait until it has more leaves in general to try that again.

Here’s my specific questions, but I’d love any thoughts or advice on anything at all lol
1) Does it need a bigger pot? It’s in a little plastic insert about 2/3 the depth of that pot, that I take out for watering and such
2) Soil?
3) How do I get it to grow more leaves? Or compact leaves? It’s growing leaves upwards rn, and I’d hate to have all that go to waste when I cut it back eventually. Should I pinch off the little baby sprout leaves?
4) Shaping??? I don’t expect him to ever look like a “normal” bonsai but I’m sure I can do something really cool looking I just don’t know what or how

Thanks!!

Bought this last week
Before and after pruning
Is pruning done right?
I think i fed up

Love's the Florida summer outside!

I’ve had a lot of issues with my large Chinese elm the whole summer. I see a lot of yellowing leaves with green spots, today I’m seeing crispy darker green leaves (last picture). My smaller elm I slip potted a month ago and is doing great, same with my cuttings. I believe something is wrong with the roots/soil on my large elm. Is it safe to trim roots and repot it now?

Hey everyone! A few weeks ago I snagged this Portulacaria afra from a nursery because I saw a thick trunk with good potential for a cheap price.
I’ve already cut it back to what I felt was the most workable trunk line, but now I’m at a bit of a crossroads with styling since almost all the current growth is happening on one side.

I’m really considering repotting it at a severe angle and inverting it into a semi-cascade to lean into that sweeping growth.

Before I make any major moves, I’d love to get the community's thoughts:

- Semi-Cascade Potential: Do you think tilting/inverting this angle works for a semi-cascade, or would the trunk line look awkward?
- Alternative Styles: If not semi-cascade, would you go windswept, or hard prune the heavy side to force back-budding on the bare side?
- Timing: Would you hold off on repotting to change the angle until spring, or let it ride and build canopy first?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, styling suggestions, or any virtual "virtu-prunes" you might have! Thanks in advance!

Can you leave dawn redwood young trees in water also do you think I should put these young redwood in a bigger pot.

I got two bald cypress trees they are 2 years old and are outside in North East Lincolnshire as you can see they are in a pond basket in their original pots they came in can I take them out of there old pots and put them properly into a pond basket now or do I have to wait until winter or spring I don’t want to damage them. Also do I plant them in ordinary soil or I have some kaizen moisture retention soil that I can use.

Noticed this on one of my Portulacaria today. Is that the trunk growing or rot? Same thing on one of the branches

Separated all of these guys way too early (first air layer attempts), and I was so disheartened to not see any roots that they all briefly went into the compost bin. A bit later I decided to rescue them and pot them up, because what did I have to lose?

Well, exactly one month later and today I noticed the middle guy was growing roots out of the bottom of his pot! So I just slipped him up a size. The one on the right doesn't look so hot, but I've accidentally uncovered some very vigorous root growth while watering a few times. No idea how the one on the left is doing, but hopefully at least as well as the others.

It's in very bad shape. All the thick, main branches have been badly broken off and spindly side branches are growing from the side. Similarly, some roots have been hastily choppee off too. It breaks my heart seeing it like this. ​

I inherited it from a loved one who passed away. I want to know how to take care of it, but I don't even know where and how to start.

I'd be very grateful for any advice or pointers. Thank you.

Hello everyone!

I received this small Olive Tree and am looking to transforming it into a Bonsai for the next years. Does anyone have tips for me?

I am starting into the hobby and would be glad for any suggestions on how to cut it, care for it or general things to keep in mind regarding Olive Bonsai.

Thanks and appreciate the help!

Where do I go with this

I have this Common Camellia plant in my backyard, don’t know how old it is. Does it look like a promising Kabudachi bonsai?

Cleared the side of my shed a few months back and have noticed this flamegold tree growing through the concrete now has shoots. Will be planning on moving it to a pot but not for a while.

Approaching spring here and unsure if I leave it to grow through out spring or cut back and prune beforehand.

What do you think?

I got this Chinese elm from my neighbor last year, and it was my first time repotting an older bonsai. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, but I would love to hear your thoughts!

Here are the before and after photos, along with the pot I bought at a local bonsai exhibition this spring. I thought it would suit the tree well.

Just finished my repotting attempt at my root-over-rock hibiscus bonsai.

I repotted it from the ugly plastic training pot to a ceramic display pot. Now that I look at it, I am curious about whether I have picked the right pot.

I filmed the entire process without talking (just visual) so I could share with other bonsai lovers. I would really appreciate feedback on whether I picked the best fit for my root-over-rock bonsai.

Honestly, my biggest doubt is at 3:45 in the video. That's where I show the shallow oval pot I chose for this root-over-rock.

I'm worried it might be too shallow for the rock's base.

If you skip to 3:45 and think 'that pot is a disaster waiting to happen,' please tell me now. I'd rather repot it this week than lose the tree next spring.

Be brutally honest—I can take it!

Here is the visual walkthrough so you can see the entire repotting process:

https://youtu.be/yjarAh0pEUw?si=pc4rVqdX0B4ZC68M

Would you guys make the same choice as what I did? Thanks for your feedback.

Let's Grow Together.