Starting Out Bonsai

I am just starting out in the art of bonsai, and have decided that I want to grow species that are native to my back yard, species native to North Carolina. I got a book, some tools, some pots, and lots of small trees near bye that I could take to use as bonsai. I really have no idea what I am doing and am writing this blog in an attempt to chronicle my explorations into growing bonsais.

I got interested in trying bonsai a few months ago, after buying a tiny little desk bonsai kit that came with a peat pellet some seeds and a tiny booklet. I followed instructions sowed the seeds and waited...nothing happened, the seeds didn't germinate. So I decided I'd start out with older stock, after all there was plenty by the roadside and in my back yard, especially under the power lines where they'll get mowed down anyways. I collected a few small seedlings and put them in pots to grow, determined to eventually do something with them. I didn't know what I was doing then and still don't now, but I am learning.

A couple months later I attended an anime con, Animazement, in Raleigh and sat in on a bonsai demonstration panel. I had a lot of fun, took a lot of notes and became more convinced that bonsai was something I wanted and could do for myself. The week after that, I set about gathering tools and ingredients I needed. Since then, I have also been reading about bonsai both online and in a book I picked up “The Bonsai Handbook” by David Prescott-the only book at the bookstore I first got around to visiting on bonsai.

The soil was the hardest part to come by. Still as I write this, I am waiting for it to come in the mail, because I eventually decided to order soil from a grower out in Charlotte, “The Bonsai Learning Center”(http://bonsailearningcenter.com/ ). For a week my great debate was weather to try and find a local place, which I am still not sure exists, that carries bonsai soil, mix it myself, or order it online. I went with ordering it from a semi-local bonsai nursery simply because it would be about the type of soil I'd be mixing up and I would like to get it right for at least the first time with my plants. Given that it was 18 bucks plus shipping, and that was a third of the cost compared to some other sites I visited, I think I'll look into mixing my own soil next time. Still the site's service was good and very quick to send out my order.

Now as I await the arrival of my soil, I am contemplating what exactly I am going to do once it gets here.