How to Get Started in Bonsai

Learn the most suitable starting point for your bonsai adventure. It can be daunting starting a new hobby, so here are the three most accessible ways to get started in bonsai.

Gro Bonsai socials:

[Dylan-okft]

Nailed it! I like that you don’t pick a “best” way to start. The pros/cons should help most people figure out what will suit them and hopefully get more people to join and stay in the hobby!

[paulgeddert]

Start by doing all 3, and growing cuttings, and doing air layers 😉 but devour bonsai content before and regularly once you begin. The more trees you have, the quicker you learn.

[cinnamuaroll]

“You’re present throughout their entire lifecycle” made me tear up. Being there with my plants as they get big and healthy is the reason I love them so much. Thank you.

[XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Brilliant discussion from somebody who has the credibility / experience to talk about the subject honestly. Great stuff Darren

[zimmy]

Thanks. Because of the time I have left I chose to go with already established trees. I do have a tree have hade for 40 years ( Ficus ). I also have about 20 or so succulents vines, pitcher plants ect. Your content will help me also.

[danielholmes]

Great advice! Growing from cuttings is also very rewarding and skips the steps of having to germinate seeds. However, there can still be a high failure rate. Some places sell seedlings which are usually very reasonably priced. With seedlings you can skip the seed germination and still have a chance to style the bonsai how you like.

[alteredquellist]

The 4th and in my opinion easiest option is to take a fresh volunteer tree from the wild and replant it(according with the safest month for that species). You wont be as limited as option 3, and you wont have as much of a risk as option 1. And wont be as expensive as option 2. I have the benefit of being an arborist so I simply take infants from customers that want them removed, but I can guarantee that someone in your family or friends have volunteer trees that they'd be happy for you to remove.

[sbragaglia]

Absolutely smashed it, Darren! Great video for learning!

[Drift]

thank you for the video I'm 16 and am gonna start growing from seed along with forming a plant from a garden store. maybe when im 76 ill have a nice bonsai

[illmaticnj]

I live in NJ. I bought a shallow pot. Got some free copter seeds from a maple tree. They are germinating now. Wish me luck.

[FrancoisMcinnes]

3 other options. 1. propagating cuttings, saves 2 yrs and more reliable than seeds. 2. Yamadori, collect from the wild, my favorite, success 50%, but you can get some awesome looking trees, specially in alpine mountain climate. Depending on size, I can already turn them into bonzai 2nd or 3rd yr. 3. Air layering, success 30%, not easy, but also saves money and time. Can be done on any big branch of an existing tree.

[Rockmaster]

My grandma got a bonsai as a gift when I was about 10 years old. Sadly she did not really know how to take care of it. It died like 5 years late. I am sad I did not have the resources we have today so I could have saved it. Maybe I can find the pot and start a new one

[timtebo]

I just love your bonsai videos. Thanks for another great one!!

[raymondplodzien]

Great content for beginners and everyone interested in bonsai.

[ritzee]

Thankyou for your help! I got local she-oak seeds and grew seedlings and really wanted to bonsai them.

[michaelfindling]

I got into it because I just really love trees and other plants and like the process and it just blows my mind how my ten year old oak tree still fits in a pot in my front window

[rayraffiki]

I'm not quite starting from seed but from tiny pine seedlings that were growing on the edge of my mom's driveway

[Akatsuki-En]

I love the objectivity of your options towards bonsai 😊 very well put together video

[andrewdobosz]

Very well said, i gives me a little bit of hope that maybe i am doing some things correctly, i don't have any big beautiful old trees, but the ones i do have i love and i have mostly grown from seed so that's all that matters. My trees my rules

[Youshisu]

I bought 2 small sapplings, smaller than shown in video, branches are still soft so I can actually start modeling tree, and I think its better choice for first bonsai tree :D
and I do not have to do seeds :D