Hi everyone, i'd like to ask the bonsai community, what type of tree would be the easiest for a bonsai?
Around here there are lilac trees, maple trees, crabapple trees, and few more, are any of the mentioned easy? Which one would you recommend? What time of year is the best to take cuttings? Which is the mest method for rooting? Can I take cutting now, the tree are just coming out from dormancy.
Please help me, and thanks in advanced.
There is no "easiest" type..
I consider deciduous trees easier than conifers, in terms of shaping and ease of maintaining shape..
lilac = No good IMO..leaves too big, flowers MUCH too big..there are dwarf lilacs though that might work...but a "normal" lilac is a poor choice for Bonsai..
crabapple trees = good choice! flowers and leaves are good size..(small)
maple trees = Japanese maples are excellent..a Bonsai classic..
"regular" maple trees, such as sugar, red, canadian red maples, not so good..leaves too big, hard to reduce the size.
contrary to popular belief, the "Red Maple" is NOT the one with the solid red leaves!
Red maples have green leaves..they look nearly identical to a sugar maple..
Red maples have green leaves with red stems..Sugar maples have green leaves with yellow/green stems..Red maples turn red in the fall..Sugar maples turn yellow in the fall.
This tree:
http://www.gardencenterejea.com/fotos/productos/1581.jpg
is the "crimson king" Norway maple"..sometimes called the "Canadian Red maple"..
although thats not the proper name..
Trident maple is good for Bonsai.
Im not sure if cuttings work well in very early spring, before leaves come out..
I would wait until they are in leaf..take SMALL cuttings, only 3-6 inches long, keep only 2 or 3 leaves..if leaves are big, cut them in half..
Scot