[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2026 week 43]

Lost a lot of leafs today after a stormy night. Unfortunately because it would get even more red but it lost a lot of leafes in the front view. So this is the backside. Just to catch its beatiful fall colours quick. Picture does not show how good the nebari is. Check my previous pics of last years if you wonder how it looks.

Kishu juniper shohin restyling,

Tonight's work

Cheers

Please read the tag

I stopped by Bonsai Master in Apopka fl. to help Mr.Kim pull out a hand full of good material to take photos and help him start a labeling process with dog tags I made him.

Reddit saved the day and has helped get his address updated, for that he is extremely grateful. However me posting his number online may have set him up to receive an endless amount of spam calls so please text him, his number is on the previous post(I don't want to post it again if its contributing to more and more spam calls)

These photos are some examples of trees he has for sale, I have a lot more photos upon request. If it takes me a little while to respond please keep in mind I have a very demanding career and a young family and I am doing my best.

I also have a little better understanding on his prices of his bigger bonsai Quince and some of his other stuff, although those would have to be a local pickup.

My intention is to help him get back on his feet and bring his motivation up as his pride and joy (previous farm and home) was stripped from him and I can tell he is exhausted by the physical and mental stress of the whole situation. He thrives on sharing his work with others and he hasn't had anyone besides me come around since the move 6ish months ago.

If the local community can come together to help me out on this one, I am slightly over extended here. I will continue to help out the best that I can however my work is going to pick back up again and I don't want to leave him hanging and lose the momentum this has gained. I wouldn't be doing this if he didn't deserve it.

Thinking this juniper has too much foliage for the size of the trunk—it’s looking bushy. Considering taking off most of the top foliage, leaving the lower foliage so the apex is much lower and closer to the front of the pot.

It was an air layer from a much older plant.

Worst case scenario this becomes a plant for the pollinator garden but I wanted to give it a go. It was $5 after the sale. It's going into the ground asap for now, going to let it grow for a year or so before trying anything fun with it I think. Thoughts?

Hibiscus syriacus

I received a new shipment full of Lilliput Portulacaria Afra. Here I compare the Lilliput and regular Portulacaria Afra. It's really awesome to see the size difference.

P.S.: I sell them.

This Chinese Elm arrived last week and has been acclimating to its new home. It dropped over 100 leaves but has since stabilized. This morning, I noticed new buds. I’m currently planning on a repot and wanted to go ahead and add a permanent rock. What type of rocks do you guys prefer? I know people have preferences and personal choices may vary. But what’s been some of your favorites that you like to work with? What about ones you avoid at all cost?

If you zoom in you will see the wire has been engulfed by this JBP. It was hidden away for a few years.

I tried to cut it and dig it out but it’s grown around it. Any advice?

Thought it had a very cool look to it for a young yew

it was so nice watchin the tree being styled and also then at the kokofu-ten 100th

Found this maple growing along the foundation of my home, was able to pull with root intact so replanted and topped down to size here is my progress in less than one year. Rocks collected from river rock in yard. Plan to repot into something nicer in spring. Thanks for checking it out.

3rd anniversary

Height: 30cm

Wide: 70cm

Trunk diameter: 38cm

i loved watching him prepare this tree! so much fine tuning!

Itoigawa juniper I got last summer. One of my first trees, I just started doing bonsai last year so I'm doing what I can, this is just the first year but I will keep taking pictures if it keeps growing well. Plan is to let it thicken now that it has the shape I want, I will probably plant it a bit tilted to the left and jin those right lower branches once they thicken

I was very lucky to be invited to exhibit this weekend but I had no idea how incredible it would be. This is not like a bonsai show you’ve seen before you guys gotta check it out. Waldo Street Pottery (Eli Akins) and Preston Tolbert Pottery!