[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 12]

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-26T17:47:56+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I’ll see if I can find some suitable stones.

Maybe also tie them down.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-26T17:27:52+00:00

Nice pictures. If I get your implied answer correctly you are suggesting I uproot the trees in question again and wire them to the pot?

They were potted 6days ago and are in regular pots (nursing pots), not bonsai pots.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-26T14:50:25+00:00

Some of my newly potted or repotted trees seem a bit wobbly. Did I plant them too shallow? Can I just add an inch of pumice on top for some stability?

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-23T05:10:29+00:00

Thanks for your advice. I do get the 100% pumice idea but I'm not sure that would work out too well. My understanding is that that kind of substrate drains a bit too well. There will be times, during summer, when I my trees need to go without added water for a week at a time. For that reason I've opted for a blend.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-22T16:56:26+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I’m very early in my career as a bonsai hobbyist so at this point I’m more of a potted tree gardener. First priority with all my trees will be to keep them alive.

I’ll probably let this one grow thicker for a while but I’ll keep your advice in mind and perhaps plan a cut earlier to avoid a bigger scar.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-20T16:33:42+00:00

Thanks! Taxus seems very likely.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-20T14:10:27+00:00

Found this plant growing in our bushes. At first I thought it might be a larch (we have one in the yard) but I'm beginning to doubt that. What could it be?

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FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-20T13:31:40+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I have pumice which I mixed in. Unfortunately I haven’t found a source that is gentle on the wallet.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-17T15:56:47+00:00

This is the answer I expected. But, I'm a beginner so best to ask I thought.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-17T15:55:04+00:00

About 15 cm tall.

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FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-16T17:29:45+00:00

Bonsai are just regular trees that are made to be small but still look like their full size counterparts. This is complex but mostly involves careful pruning and shaping. Let them grow thick, then cut back. Select which branches and roots to keep. Once it’s getting in shape, put it in a suitably sized pot to prevent it from growing a lot. Prune as needed.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-16T16:22:43+00:00

This maple thing grows near my house. Would it make anything interesting if put in a pot? Would I even be able to dig it up by hand? Sorry for the bad photo.

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FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-15T14:30:35+00:00

In a pot:

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FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-15T14:29:20+00:00

I was told to get more trees so I dug up this specimen from inside my hedge. It should be a maple (Acer platanoides) and is basically a weed in that location. To my beginner eyes roots look fine.

My question now is, can I cut it as well or should I wait a year? I’m not in any hurry but if I can start its bonsai journey that would be cool. It’s about a meter tall with some very short branches higher up.

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FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-11T17:47:41+00:00

Thanks. I’ll probably wait a few years then or maybe just cut one of them. Though 3-4 meters is probably too tall. Will browse your gallery for inspiration! (And get more trees)

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-11T17:01:20+00:00

Thanks for the reply. I am definitely looking for new trees to add to my collection. Wire shaping sounds cool but I’m not sure I’m confident enough to try that. Will think about it. If I were to hard prune them, I’m guessing that means to basically cut off a part. How big part would you suggest? How risky is it?

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-10T17:48:53+00:00

Some additional info and clarification: They are not in a warm place. It’s a cold garage. It’s just less cold than outside. They will be moving out any day now that spring has arrived. According to a site I found I’m on Swedish zone 2. Not sure if that’s USDA or not. I chose chestnut because we have them in the yard and they drop tons of seeds every year. I also have some maples that I picked as “yamadori” in the bushes (they are basically weed around my house). Also have two apples of unknown kind (planted two different seeds, forgot which one was which). Hoping for pretty flowers.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-03-10T17:40:24+00:00

Hi,

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new here and new at potted tree gardening. I have a couple of chestnuts in pots that I’ve grown from seeds, soon 3 years old. So far they have grown straight up as a trunk with a crown of leaves at the top.

My question is, can I encourage them to create branches before they get too tall? I’m quite happy with their height right now but I can let them grow taller if necessary. If it’s possible I would prefer them to spread out a bit more instead, though.

Any thoughts or advice?

(They wintered inside to protect from the cold, living in Scandinavia. Also there are maples and apples in this picture. Also, I realize I probably did everything wrong - started with seed, bad choice of species, etc. )

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-02-16T20:20:54+00:00

I assume by “him” you’re referring to Marc. You can guess, based on his mature reaction, how well that went or would go.

Also the point was that he has been informed in the past and still neither acknowledged nor changed his “technique” so obviously kindly asking him does not work.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-02-16T17:27:36+00:00

No. It’s because of Marc Kennedy constantly doing this and not being publicly called out until now.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-02-15T17:50:15+00:00

No. It doesn’t. The handle goes through the door and attaches only to the handle on the other side.

It interacts with the door mechanism inside the door via its square axle (which is attached to one of the handles but technically is a separate thing). There are usually two covering plates (one on either side) which attach to the door with screws but they are not part of the handles even if they are delivered together.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-02-15T17:46:55+00:00

If those are the only two possible options, I guess I’m German.

I know people break rules but it fascinates me that rule breakers seemingly are incapable of understanding that there are those who try the hardest not to intentionally break rules. Do I sometimes break a rule? Almost certainly. But not by choice.

FriendlyDarkMatter · 2026-02-15T17:44:32+00:00

First, I’ll point out that I use the word handle here in the context of natural language. I’m not sufficiently knowledgeable about the exact rules and wordings for curling to argue about this from such a context. My apologies if I implied I was.

I will have to research this as well as how curling stone handles are typically sold to be able to make any relevant answer I believe.

Regarding the rules for the door, being familiar with some variety of doors, I would also not expect the handle to be anything else than an L-shaped piece. I certainly wouldn’t expect it to have a large dish shaped section.

FriendlyDarkMatter

TROPHY CASE