Found Bonsai in the dumpster

16 years ago

Hello Everyone!

I found a bonsai tree, a pine variety, in the trash. It was calling to me, and I want to try to bring it back to life. I've been doing some reading and have already learned a little.

The soil isn't good. It's all dirt with those little white balls that you find in potting soil.

The needles are yellow, dry and falling off. But they are still green close the the stem.

I plan to either bury it in my mom's yard, in a spot that gets less wind and sun, but still rain and snow. OR on my 2nd floor balcony (I live in an apartment) in a large pot, buried with dirt and mulch. My balcony hardly gets sun.

Would one be better then other, and give this tree a fighting chance or are both options equal? I plan to water it occasionally, maybe bi-monthly, except when it freezes. :P

Considering that it's almost dead and winter time, should I

somehow replace it's soil? Would that be a bad idea? How would I do it? What should I use? Should I?

Thank you !

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Comments (4)

gregb_2007
16 years ago
A noble idea to save a tree. The only thing attempting to save a dying tree will do for you is turn you off from bonsai completely. Save the pot the tree was in and leave it right where you found it--you're one pot ahead! Then go out and find a really healthy living tree and resume your interest from there.
isabeau
Original Author
16 years ago
Can any normal sized tree, in baby form, become a bonsai?
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lucy
16 years ago
Most bonsai are made from trees allowed to grow to a reasonable size and then chopped back (there's more to it of course) which gives the illusion of age - a fatter trunk with new smaller branches (plus training for shape). A 'baby' anything is not a bonsai, just a young tree, and the difference will be obvious if you see them side by side.
greenman28 NorCal 7b/8a
16 years ago
Isabeau,
I think some trees are more suited to bonsai than others.
However, *many* plants can be trained into bonsai with enough care. From what I've read, people don't like to wait years for a baby plant to develop a charactered trunk - we, humans, live brief enough lives I suppose! But if you have patience, you can start with a baby and tend it over the years.

Is there a particular plant you're considering?

Josh