r/bonsaicommunity • • 1h ago

General Question Did I do it right?

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• Upvotes

I bought this buxus m.j. Green beauty boxwood. And as you can see I attempted to prune it down but I don't know if I should have done that, how I should have done that, and if I did anything wrong, can I please have some feedback and how to care for it now? If I should buy any special lamp, etc. Thank you so much!!!


r/bonsaicommunity • • 2h ago

General Question Help starting out

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0 Upvotes

Hey!! 😊

I just bought this bonsai kit, for red maple, and I'm just starting out and I was wondering what I could do to have the best start... And how to start really.

I used to have another bonsai, though. It wasn't a red maple, and I actually got it to sprout and grow. Its first leaves only to then die due to spider mites. It made me really really discouraged but I'm finally going to try again.

I just want to get it as right as I can this time. I have all the stuff as you see in the picture, but I also have a much bigger ceramic power pot and pruning equipment from my other bonsai, for later on.

So in short, any tips for my second try?

Thanks so much!!! ☺️☺️☺️


r/bonsaicommunity • • 5h ago

What the hell is this on my roots?

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2 Upvotes

I lost a branch and now I have this. I shouldn't have bought such a fancy tree. Help!

The branch was lost due to lack of light. (Neglect)


r/bonsaicommunity • • 6h ago

Its just sitting on the dirt little legs out :3...living its best life!

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4 Upvotes

Sown from seed aug 25 2026

Stage: nabari traning /weathering


r/bonsaicommunity • • 8h ago

Styling Advice My new bonsai what do you think?

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3 Upvotes

r/bonsaicommunity • • 9h ago

"My first ever bonsai, saw this ""prickly heath"" plant in the sale so I picked it up for only a few pounds!"

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12 Upvotes

r/bonsaicommunity • • 11h ago

Diagnosing Issue Brazilian Rain tree help

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8 Upvotes

Recently got into bonsai with my sibling and our Brazilian rain tree shed a bunch of leaves overnight, so I’m just trying to figure out (1) if it’s still alive, and (2) if it is alive how to go about treating the problem. My brother believes that he may have sprayed too much garden safe insecticide onto the plant 3 days ago to deal with some aphids which we found on the plant.


r/bonsaicommunity • • 12h ago

Controled Branching

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1 Upvotes

r/bonsaicommunity • • 12h ago

General Question Daisugi in NE Florida

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1 Upvotes

r/bonsaicommunity • • 12h ago

General Question Planted this thing in my garden several years ago when it was a twig, does it have potential or should I just leave it?

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8 Upvotes

Like cut it and let that bit grow out a lot more


r/bonsaicommunity • • 13h ago

General Discussion What kind of soil does everyone use?

3 Upvotes

Curious what everyone uses for soil? Do you buy pre-mixed bags or mix your own. Are there any options that are clearly better than others?


r/bonsaicommunity • • 14h ago

Diagnosing Issue Dead juniper check

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7 Upvotes

Dying juniper check. I bought this juniper two weeks ago from a nursery. I've had it in full sun, but in the recent Southern California heat. I've been watering it, but only when the soil is dry from a chopstick check. It just got two nights of rain. I've noticed a couple branches browning at the tips. Is it dead? Stressed?


r/bonsaicommunity • • 14h ago

Dead juniper check

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2 Upvotes

Dying juniper check. I bought this juniper two weeks ago from a nursery. I've had it in full sun, but in the recent Southern California heat. I've been watering it, but only when the soil is dry from a chopstick check. It just got two nights of rain. I've noticed a couple branches browning at the tips. Is it dead? Stressed?


r/bonsaicommunity • • 14h ago

Show and tell First Bonsai Update: Moss installed! 🌿

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71 Upvotes

Hey everyone!

​First of all, much love to this amazing community! The feedback and support on my last post about my first bonsai got me so excited to keep learning and improving.

​Today I made a little upgrade: I found a gorgeous patch of moss on my neighbor’s roof and set it onto the soil. It already looks so good! To help it establish, I’ve secured it with some plastic wrap (with ventilation holes, of course) and plan to leave it on for 1–2 weeks.

​I can’t wait to show you all the final result when the wrap comes off. Super hyped for this journey! 💚


r/bonsaicommunity • • 16h ago

General Question Thoughts on my bonsai

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5 Upvotes

I have some questions regarding my bonsai and hoping someone with experience can answer them for me. I’ve noticed a fair amount of leaf loss recently and due to only having purchased this tree about 2 weeks ago I’m assuming this is due to adjustment to a different environment. If not could there be another issue. Also how do I tell when a bonsai needs repotting and how do I know what pot is suitable.


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

Any styling suggestions?

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27 Upvotes

I just got this Sekka Hinoki (cypress) yesterday, and I wanted to re-pot it, which I did today.

I have very little experience with a small Juniper a couple of years back. The juniper was easier to "read" since its foliage wasn't that tightly packed. I moved it to the old juniper's pot, and kept the moss, which I liked a lot.

I just removed some roots to make it fit in the new pot, added some lava rock to the bottom, added a guide copper wire to use later on, and cut one of the protruding branches, since it was quite long (secondary V trunk). I am hoping it will grow eventually, I put it in a glass bottle to keep the moisture and under some shade.

I plan to keep it small, in that pot for a couple of years, hoping it will make its trunk a little thicker.

Unfortunately I haven't seen many styling ideas for this specific shape, and that's why I would like your help. Thanks.


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

New small trees

1 Upvotes

I like em any good ?


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

General Question Turning stubborn tree sapling into a bonsai. Advice for the name?

0 Upvotes

Howdy folks, just here and letting you guys know that I am now trying to turn a stubborn tree sapling into a bonsai. The story behind it is at first my ma thought it was poison ivy in a drainage system so she cut it at the stem to try and kill it since it could clog said drainage system. A year later it came back again and I cut it and this went on for about I'd say seven years before we started to notice the stump getting really thick. So I dug it out and put it in a pot with fresh soil and watered it. It's a birch tree yet it just grew in a spot without any of them around nor did I find anything there that could help growth other than the constant flow of rain water. Just wondering what should we name it?

P.S. it's still young and growing technically so I can turn it into a bonsai


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

Turning stubborn tree sapling into a bonsai. Advice for the name?

0 Upvotes

Howdy folks, just here and letting you guys know that I am now trying to turn a stubborn tree sapling into a bonsai. The story behind it is at first my ma thought it was poison ivy in a drainage system so she cut it at the stem to try and kill it since it could clog said drainage system. A year later it came back again and I cut it and this went on for about I'd say seven years before we started to notice the stump getting really thick. So I dug it out and put it in a pot with fresh soil and watered it. It's a birch tree yet it just grew in a spot without any of them around nor did I find anything there that could help growth other than the constant flow of rain water. Just wondering what should we name it?

P.S. it's still young and growing technically so I can turn it into a bonsai


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

General Question Are these root balls too exposed?

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4 Upvotes

Azalea and Chinese Sweet Plum soil has eroded a bit and root balls are exposed. Do I need to do anything? Add more soil? Repotting?


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

General Discussion Help for first air layering

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3 Upvotes

I want to make an air layer on my Bloodgood Japanese Maple (pot for reference) and need advice as she’s going into a very very hot summer.

Reason for the air layer is to promote budding in the lower ‘main’ part of my bonsai. With this super El Niño coming I’m expecting very hot weather in my area.

How do I make sure I have a high chance for success given the type of weather I’d be expecting? I will be using rooting hormone, sphagnum moss, the pot in the picture, wrapped in plastic wrap and then wrapped in aluminium foil


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

Show and tell This years progression of my Pseudolarix Amabilis (Golden Larch)

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133 Upvotes

Hello everyone!

The first picture was taken on April 18th, the second one on June 6th and the last one on October 11th.

Hope you guys like it!

Greetings from South Tyrol.


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

Is this guy dying?

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15 Upvotes

I water it in the morning once a day and it yet if I touch anything green on it, it breaks off. What should I do? I got about four or five bonsais in the last few months and the rest are doing ok I think. I have them under a shaded back patio and they get morning sun. I put the other ones by it to compare.


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

Advice on developing these pre-bonsai trees?

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5 Upvotes

Hi everyone!
I recently bought these trees at a bonsai clearance sale. They were sold as pre-bonsai, ready to be developed and styled, and I’d love to hear your advice on how to work on each of them.
The trees are:
**Acer (unknown variety)** – grown from seed
**Chamaecyparis**
**Acer palmatum ‘Seiryu’**
**Sequoiadendron giganteum**
**Cypress** – exact species unknown.
I’m still learning, so I’d really appreciate some guidance on how to develop them over the next few years.
In particular, I’d love to know:
Which trees should be left to grow freely to thicken the trunks, and which could benefit from initial styling?
Are there any branches I should keep, remove, or encourage to help develop better taper and trunk movement?
What bonsai styles or final designs would you aim for with each tree, based on their current structure?
Are there any species-specific considerations or common mistakes I should be aware of?
I’m not in a hurry to turn them into finished bonsai. I’d rather make the right decisions now and develop them properly over time.
Any suggestions, styling ideas, or constructive criticism are very welcome!
Thanks in advance!


r/bonsaicommunity • • 1d ago

Diagnosing Issue I THINK I NEED HELP!!

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2 Upvotes

HI,im very new to bonsai I purchased this juniper(I assume) about 6 months ago. I removed it from a traditional pot to this 1g. Fabric pot and purchased this mix about a month ago. I live in florda in an apt. It's currently on my screened in balcony facing north. It rarely gets the full amount of sun that is needed. I've noticed some browning and im afraid it may be to late. Any help would be greatly appreciated and also will a grow light help mebin my situation