Hello everybody! 
I have finally stumbled upon something that i deeply would like to learn,hope you guys can help me! (I'm in Australia, entering spring now)
Follow my questions:

1- Around 5 months ago a branch from this Jade plant broke down, i hence then repotted it, removed the big leaves and let it do his things, now the root ball has formed and the foliage started growing, what's the best path to transform it into something nice? Should i move into a training pot or is it too early?

Jade

2- While digging the garden 3 days ago around the house i decided to pull out this jasmine, i saved most of the root ball with the soil that was around it and repotted, what's the best action to take from now? Is it possible to transform it into a little tree?

Jasmine

3- I bought this Juniper Lutchuensis, i would like to make a cascade bonsai, should i just let it grow more? should i start shaping from now?

J. Lutchuensis

4- I bought this Juniper Sabina, i would like to make a classic upright bonsai, it's very thin and it's already leaning on a side, what should i do to promote a straight growth?

J. Sabina

5-I bought this Juniper Conferta, I would like to make a shari style out of it, should i just let it do it's course for some years then decide what to do?

J. Conferta

And also any relevant guide for caring about tree in pots, guide for the repotting in training pot, root and foliage pruning, on internet there is load of conflicting informations so i would like to hear what's the "Bible"

Any extra suggestion or help would be extremely grateful!
Thanks in advance

Buy a book join a club. There are no pictures so can't answer your questions.

Generally beginners are in too much hurry "just to do things bonsai". You are likelly another one of them.

The advice I got when I started was to buy trees to work on in the future. And I still practice it. Only in very rare occations I start working on my trees before the one year mark. That way I can learn how to grow the species and the specimen good before any interference. I still have a few trees from my very first year in the hobby still in nurcery pots.

One must understand that development of nebari, trunk size and the feeling of age is so much faster in bigger pots without pruning than in bonsai pots with frequest pruning. The longer you have patience to wait, the better the end result.

Good luck, looking forward for photos.

Hey geoff!
Can you suggest any good book or club?
Also for the picture you just click on the specimen name and it will send you there!

Tropfrog wrote: Generally beginners are in too much hurry "just to do things bonsai". You are likelly another one of them.

The advice I got when I started was to buy trees to work on in the future. And I still practice it. Only in very rare occations I start working on my trees before the one year mark. That way I can learn how to grow the species and the specimen good before any interference. I still have a few trees from my very first year in the hobby still in nurcery pots.

One must understand that development of nebari, trunk size and the feeling of age is so much faster in bigger pots without pruning than in bonsai pots with frequest pruning. The longer you have patience to wait, the better the end result.

Good luck, looking forward for photos.

Hi Tropfrog!


I completely understand, my intention is actually not to go bonsai right now but having suggestions on understanding the trees, but for example, would a little sapling left to grow bend in the wrong direction of the final idea? Would a support be a good or bad thing? Would a little 6-7 month tree overgrow a desired shape? Is it recoverable after?

Also for the picture you just click on the specimen name and it will send you there!

A bend in the wrong direction can be moved, turned or whatever, a 6 month old seedling has a long way to go. Planted in the ground and 3 or 4 years will produce a plant that can be wired or pruned or whatever depending on the species that is. Planted in a pot it will take a lot longer to achieve a plant that can be styled. It also depends on how big you want the plant to be, for example if you want a shohin size then 20cm is the height but if it is a bigger tree then you need t think and grow it differently. As I said before join a club and buy a book.

Kebra wrote:
I completely understand, my intention is actually not to go bonsai right now but having suggestions on understanding the trees, but for example, would a little sapling left to grow bend in the wrong direction of the final idea?

 You decide the vision and take apropriate steps to get there. If something growing in the "wrong" direction, just remove or wire it.

Kebra wrote: Would a support be a good or bad thing?

If your "support" helps you to take the tree from as is to what you want it to be in the future, then it is a good thing. If not, it is a bad thing

Kebra wrote: Would a little 6-7 month tree overgrow a desired shape? Is it recoverable after?

I just told you to grow the trees for at least 1 year without interference. Would I do that if this would waste the trees potential to become a future bonsai? No, a tree will not overgrow any desirable shape in 6-7 months. Possibly 6-7 years If you want a really small tree.

Kebra wrote: Also for the picture you just click on the specimen name and it will send you there!

Bonsai empire have a functionality to upload pictures to the forum. I do not click links in forums from people I do not know. If you have a view counter on your links you will understand that not many have seen the trees you are asking about.

Kebra wrote: Hey geoff!
Can you suggest any good book or club?
Also for the picture you just click on the specimen name and it will send you there!

Ask Dr. Google for "bonsai clubs  near me".

There are a lot of major questions related to climate. A local club knows local climate.

There are many books and most are good, I think you said you are in Australia, I am in England so I don't know about clubs where you are. Just as Ivor said do a search and I am sure you will find one. If you go to abebooks and search for bonsai there are a lot of books listed.

I am also a beginner, I have few books but I prefer youtube channels personally. So, I could share few channels that could be useful for you too. Of course, there are much more channels available but for a start you could take a look at:

• www.youtube.com/@HeronsBonsaiUK
• https://www.youtube.com/@greenwoodbonsaistudio
• https://www.youtube.com/@XaviersBonsaiRetreat
• www.youtube.com/@GrowingBonsai
• www.youtube.com/@BlueSkyBonsai