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I recently purchased a "jacqueline hillier" dwarf elm tree to use for bonsai. I hear that it's a good one for beginners, which I am, but I want to know if there's anyone who grows bonsai trees and has any tips. I live in NC, which is zone 7, so I plan to keep it outside. Any tips for adapting it to a shallow bonsai planter?
Hi mevenson, I have never done bonsai myself but my sister-in-law does it and it looks really attractive, I know she gets very young trees (LIKE tiny saplings) and then trims the roots off them, I mean really trim, cant belive they survive, and places them into her shallow dishes, with a very gritty soil mix as she said she dont want growth, then I have watched her tie wires around the tiny branches so they take on the shape she wants, prunes off the ones she dont want ect, ect, but it takes her a good few years to get the right shape, and it seems like every other month she is trimming the roots again and unwanted shoots, then repotting into fresh soil mix. I think it is an art form, but she has gone to local shows with hers and got really involved, I do know when people buy a bonsai, the biggest mistake they make is keep it in the home as an ornament and wonder why it died, they are proper outdoor trees and not for indoors. they are kept outdoors with a shelter from the rain as she dont want too much water on them?????I know she went to a club to get her started and also got books from the net and the librery, so that might be a good starting point for you, good luck, who knows, you might be showing us your picture before long, Happy Bonsia-ing. WeeNel.
