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So firstly, hello! I'm based in the UK near Manchester and am very much a starter in bonsai care.

I received a kit last Christmas to grow a Jerusalem Pine from seed. Nothing like starting the hard way! It was pretty scary, but of the nine seeds there are two growing strongly which are currently approx 5cm tall. Sadly the others either didn't come through or fell by the wayside. Then just the other week (when we were still allowed out!) I was in a garden centre and was taken by a fine looking (to me!) Brush Cherry (as it turns out thanks to your very helpful tree ID section). So that came home with me and together my little collection will probably be a project to help me through the daunting lock-in we are all starting out on.

I'll try and post some pics for you to see and I will be picking your brains before long with questions you will no doubt have heard a million times!

Keep well.
Jono

Hi, and welcome.

Seems that kit got you interested in the hobby. To be honest, seed starter kits (not calling them bonsai seed starter kits, as there's no such thing as bonsai seed) are no good for starters. Growing bonsai from seed is certainly possible, but it will take you years of doing mostly... nothing with them. You're growing a tree first.

So, buying something more mature was a good idea. It's not going to get you through a lockdown (which no doubt, we are facing too. It's ridiculous how people do not seem to realize what's going on and do not follow the simple instruction to not go outside when it's not necessary and to keep a distance).

However, learning about the subject, studying pines and brush cherries and finding out what would be the best species for you to c hoose (local trees, that do well in your climate, outdoors) will.

Many thanks for your reply Auk. You're right, the kit did inspire me, but then I have admired magnificent examples of bonsai trees at flower shows for many years as well. I am going to do some homework on mine, mainly the Brush Cherry at the moment because I'm wondering if I should be trimming it or not? I'm guessing it's about 4 or 5 years old and it's got quite a bit of new leaf growth, but I'm thinking if I cut that back to the older growth it will just be back to where it was. Even if the trick is to restrict growth surely it needs new leaves to be healthy? I think I read that it has a white flower? Wouldn't trimming it stop it flowering? Sorry, here come the questions!!
Regards.
Jono.