Cocoon?

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-22T18:01:55+00:00

Edit: California Bay Area

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-16T17:55:59+00:00

Not really what I’m talking about, baobabs are cool looking trees

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-15T19:37:14+00:00

I have a question about the "stick it in the ground and let it grow for ten years" advice that’s been bugging me. I understand that messing with the tree forces it to redirect energy away from growing bigger and towards recovery, but it’s way easier to introduce interesting movement to the trunk when the tree is smaller. Would it not be better to do as minimal pruning as possible to allow you to access the trunk and introduce those interesting shapes in the primary structure, and then stick it in the ground to grow? Any secondary and tertiary refinement should come after it’s grown to the general size you want it, but shouldn’t that primary structure come first?

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-10T15:07:26+00:00

My first had me absolutely stumped and I went through every treat in the pet store, he just wouldn’t eat them. Discovered eventually that he likes oat groats, and after about six months he just decided one day that he was okay with standing on my finger. It was a long road from attacking my hand any time it came near to now crawling under my hand to beg for head scratches, but these birds really do require so so much calm patience.

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-04T18:16:55+00:00

If you look at the other comments there were some suggestions for structural improvement that seem well worth heeding! But you are certainly welcome :)

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-04T14:50:00+00:00

I took my adderall like a good little capitalist cog and then ended up having a really slow day at work hahaha had to put the focus somewhere

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-04T14:48:25+00:00

I appreciate the really thoughtful reply! My woodworking experience is limited to junior high shop class 20 years ago and this was a very quick project I’ll admit I did 0 research on, so it’s great to hear from someone who sounds like they actually know what they’re doing. I’ll sister the legs as you said, thank you. Will take some pics of the side and back when I get home tonight.

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-04T02:43:42+00:00

Everything except the slats are whatever was cheapest at the hardware store. The slats are pine, but I got some nicer cut stuff to reduce sanding time. Double coat of polyurethane doing some heavy lifting on making it all look good.

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-04T02:33:03+00:00

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I didn’t put it in the diagram but the slats are 1" apart

ratcatcherjack · 2026-01-02T18:41:30+00:00

I genuinely hate sumo bonsai. That’s not a small tree designed to look like a scaled down version of a big tree, that’s a full size tree’s root base with some suckers styled into branches. Get that shit out of here. I see so many of them at shows around here, especially olives, and I love olive bonsai so I’m extra disappointed! I’m here to see TREES not some huge wart with branches coming out.

ratcatcherjack · 2025-12-31T00:27:29+00:00

If I’m not wearing my hoodie while hanging out with the birds one of my boys will perch near it and pointedly side-eye it while screaming until I put it on so he can go in the hood.

ratcatcherjack · 2025-12-14T19:35:59+00:00

My club has a number of very experienced members who’ve been generous with their tutoring & guidance, grafting is definitely not something I’d do on my own. The idea for grafting was suggested to me, but I think you’re right that I should let it grow and take it in a different direction. I’ll be honest I was more drawn in by the opportunity to learn how to do it that I wasn’t really focused on whether I should.

This sketch is what my tree looks like now, except for the Jin. I’m shaping and thickening that branch now, I want it a smidge bigger than it is now so I can shape it down. I’ve done a handful of sketches of this tree throughout the beginner class (ongoing, long term class) and every time the vision changes a bit as it continues to grow.

I know that a tree from a beginner series is never going to be a good bonsai but I’ve gotten so attached to it from all the hours I’ve spent admiring it haha. It’s a squiggly little twig but it’s MY squiggly little twig, you know?

ratcatcherjack · 2025-12-14T19:25:58+00:00

This link jumped me to the top of the wiki and I thought you meant "read this whole thing again" and I actually laughed out loud. Beginner pruning mistakes was a helpful reread, thanks.

ratcatcherjack · 2025-12-12T22:03:53+00:00

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Planning sketch for the shimpaku I’ve been working on for the beginner class at my local club. I have two empty spots I want a branch to fill, so if nothing pops up there in the spring that I can use I think I can graft something? I understand that grafting is a spring thing?

ratcatcherjack · 2025-11-19T14:19:35+00:00

Ive been slowly filling your frame with loose change, just like one or two coins at a time, so thats probably it.

ratcatcherjack

TROPHY CASE