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Writer's pictureRoślinki

Bonsai Bootcamp: Avoid This Newbie Mistake and Level Up Your Tiny Tree Game

Updated: Jul 26


Alright, bonsai friends, let’s get straight to it. Every bonsai lover screws up at some point. And this mistake? It’s a big one. It can seriously mess with your tree’s growth and make it look like a bonsai fail. I’m about to spill the beans on what this mistake is and how you can dodge it. Trust me, this might be one of the more important bonsai lesson you ever learn.


Recognizing Age and Maturity in Bonsai

Picture this: You’ve got two oak trees. How do you figure out which one’s older? You might look at the thick trunk, gnarly bark, solid root spread (Nebari), and a dense, branching canopy. These features scream "old and wise," and they’re crucial for making your bonsai look like a miniature ancient tree.


Key Characteristics of an Aged Bonsai


  • Trunk Thickness: A thick, gnarly trunk with aged, fissured bark shows strength and resilience built over years, maybe even decades.

  • Nebari: Those visible surface roots give your tree a sense of stability, making it look like it’s been standing tall forever.

  • Branching: Gradual taper from the trunk to the branch tips with branches that divide and subdivide into a fine, twiggy structure called ramification.

  • Canopy: This is all about foliage density, leaf size, and how the pads develop.

  • Deadwood: Jin (dead branches) or shari (trunk scars) add character and tell a story of a tree that’s weathered many storms.

  • Proportions: Balanced proportions between trunk thickness, branch lines, and overall structure give your bonsai a natural, mature vibe.


The Big Newbie Mistake

We’ve all done it—throwing an immature tree into a bonsai pot way too soon, thinking we’ve nailed it. Bonsai might mean "plant in a pot," but it’s way more than that. Sticking a young tree in a confined space limits its resources and nutrients, slowing its growth and making it hard to develop into a proper bonsai.


Pot vs. Ground: The Showdown

In a pot, your tree’s growth gets stunted by limited resources, water, and nutrients. Over time, the roots get all tangled up, needing regular root work and repotting. On the flip side, a tree planted in the ground can spread its roots, access more resources, and grow like a champ, developing a thicker trunk much faster.


Real-Life Examples

Take two Elm trees from the same batch, planted at the same time. One stays in its nursery container, while the other gets planted in a pond basket, allowing better aeration and healthier root development. The pond basket tree has a way thicker trunk because of its healthier roots. Similarly, a four-year-old Juniper sapling in a nursery pot stays skinny and underdeveloped compared to its sibling planted in the ground three years ago, boasting a thicker trunk.


How to Up Your Bonsai Game


  • Good Starter Material: Invest in strong, healthy trees that are bonsai-ready. It saves you time and headaches.

  • Trunk Development: Focus on getting that thick trunk before worrying about branches and foliage. Grow your trees in baskets or the ground to speed up trunk thickening.

  • Nebari Development: Use wide, aerated baskets to develop a killer nebari with shallow, healthy roots.

  • Branching and Ramification: Once your trunk’s thick enough, start developing branches and ramification. Pruning and pinching growing tips encourage back budding and new branch formation.

  • Foliage Pads: When the trunk and branches are solid, refine those foliage pads to get the shape and density you want.


Final Thoughts

The big takeaway? Don’t rush to put an immature tree into a bonsai pot. It stunts growth and delays its transformation into a refined bonsai. Remember, bonsai is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience and planning will get you a more refined and beautiful tree in the long run. Stay cool, keep growing, and enjoy the ride!


What’s your favorite tree to work with, and why? Got any funny or epic bonsai stories? Share them below!


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