r/Bonsai • u/away_argument58 BonsaiWarrior,Uk,Beginner • 1d ago
Styling Critique Help
I just got this bonsai for my birthday.
What can I do to take care of it and style it into something special? Can I use wiring immediately? Can I trim branches? Change soil? What can I do to make it grow into something I can be proud of. Willing to do the ground work so any tips/ advice would be greatly appreciated.
P.S I’m not particularly green fingered but I’m a good learner.
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u/Disastrous_Star6333 Subtropical Tampa Bay Area Florida… 1d ago
That soil is heavily organic. It will hold too much water for too long. Ditch the plate under. The pot could use an air gap between whatever surface it’s on. I use little blocks of wood to elevate it just a few cm. Keep it outside as much as possible. When indoors due to cold, it needs light, as much as you can manage, maybe supplement with a grow lamp on a timer.
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u/moustachiojones 11h ago
I’d get that bad boy in some bonsai soil. Water it every day, keep it outside or in an open window if it’s warm out, and it loves humidity. I bring mine into the bathroom when I shower and it’s seemingly real healthy. Use super thrive every couple of waterings, and once it’s been hanging out for a weeks use some fertilizer. It will flower if it’s thriving
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u/CrackedEggMichls 1d ago
I've got a carmosa microphilia (fukien tea) Bonsai as my first one too.
And let me tell you - you'll grow into it quickly as they are not especially beginner friendly.
I advise on reading some books about bonsai :))
Good luck with your new hobby
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u/CrackedEggMichls 1d ago
Also general rule of thumb:
Leave the tree alone for the first few weeks, place it near a window, no cold airflow
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u/Darkjellyfish Thailand Zn 13, Beginner, 70+ trees 1d ago
During the first few years I’d advise to get the horticulture right. Sunlight exposure, adequate watering schedule, soil drainage, response to pests, fertinilizing are all vital to the tree. Once you got horticulture down then move on to styling.
For northern hemisphere folks there is seasonal element into each action. But generally you should repot (root trimming and changing substrate) in spring/summer (when the tree is root bound). Styling such as trimming and wiring is done in the growing season - spring through fall - once or twice a year.
And then the quality of your output is still dictated by raw material tree, so if you want an award winning tree then you should look for to be award winning material.