名媛直播

名媛直播 forum

Beginner tree selection

  • FrogMan79
  • FrogMan79's Avatar Offline Topic Author
  • New Member
  • New Member
  • Posts: 12
  • Thanks received: 0

Beginner tree selection was created by FrogMan79

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80593
Hello! I am a beginner looking for advice on tree selection. I live in Beaumont, Southern California. It is considered zone 9b. We regularly get summer temps above 100 (Fahrenheit, 38c) and winter temps in the 40's to low 30's (4c to -1c) at night. Luckily my yard has plenty of shade for hot days and I have a heated greenhouse for the colder nights. I am considering 3 types of trees at the moment and just want to make sure I am putting myself on a path to success. The 3 I am leaning towards are the Juniperus procumbens 'Nana', dwarf jade and the Japanese black pine. From what I've read the jade will likely need the greenhouse for the cold winter nights but the others should be able to tolerate the highs and lows of my area. I just was hoping anyone who may have experience with these plants in a similar climate as mine could confirm these are suitable selections.
Thank you for any advice you can provide in advance!
by FrogMan79

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Albas
  • Albas's Avatar Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 757
  • Thanks received: 304

Replied by Albas on topic Beginner tree selection

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80599
Hello!
Juniperus seems like a good choice for your climate, not sure if it goes well as a begginer tree, but I like them, and it seems to fit your climate.
Jade is really a straight forward species, many don't consider that a bonsai, but you definatelly can make one look like a tree, my winter temperature is quite similar to yours, and jades are not in a greenhouse, maybe a porch or shed could do the job...
I don't consider Japanese Black Pine as a begginer species, it's a cool species, it seems to fit the climate there too, but most of the begginers that choose JPBs let them die, hahahah.
Chinese Elm is a tree I would consider as a good one to start, Ficus Microcarpa is also great for starting, and they can endure those winter temps, maybe just putting on a porch on the winter's peak.
Trident Maples are also very cool and rewarding.
by Albas
The following user(s) said Thank You: FrogMan79

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Albas
  • Albas's Avatar Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 757
  • Thanks received: 304

Replied by Albas on topic Beginner tree selection

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80600
PS.: About the Procumbens, many people start with it, it's really cool for begginers in term of reaching proportion, but I don't know about interventions, like repotting and stuff.
by Albas

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • FrogMan79
  • FrogMan79's Avatar Offline Topic Author
  • New Member
  • New Member
  • Posts: 12
  • Thanks received: 0

Replied by FrogMan79 on topic Beginner tree selection

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80603
Thank you! The Chinese elm wasn't on my radar until now. Some of what I have read online suggests it is a good indoor tree. The info I have found about the ficus leads me to believe it is better suited for indoors as well. Is this incorrect? I am planning on outdoor trees only at this time.
Curious to know what you mean by "let them die" regarding the pines? Just by lack of care like watering and feeding or are they harder to care for than the internet would lead one to believe?
Last Edit:1 year 6 months ago by FrogMan79
Last edit: 1 year 6 months ago by FrogMan79.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Albas
  • Albas's Avatar Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 757
  • Thanks received: 304

Replied by Albas on topic Beginner tree selection

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80605
I'm actually new into Japanese Black Pine, only after some years into 名媛直播 I chose to go for it, hahahah.
Pines in general are a bit harder to care and to do interventions like on the roots, also it has a very unique cycle of interventions you'll need to make to ramify them properly, selection of what you must remove or keep, and build it with proportion.
It's not easy to prune as other trees you know.

Pines have a bad time budding from old wood, and it has a lot o apex energy, so you'll have to balance that once in a while so you don't end up without lower branches.

JBP is a very traditional species in 名媛直播 you know, that captivate people =P. Most of the deaths I would say it's because people try to grow them indoors or try to repot them like any other plant.

It's not like every begginer will kill it, but begginers might feel lost and ruin it without knowing, and for pines it's not like you'll hard prune and start it all over again.
Last Edit:1 year 6 months ago by Albas
Last edit: 1 year 6 months ago by Albas.

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • Albas
  • Albas's Avatar Offline
  • Platinum Member
  • Platinum Member
  • Posts: 757
  • Thanks received: 304

Replied by Albas on topic Beginner tree selection

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80607
Oh yeah, the chinese elm is a very good species to learn, they have small leaves, they grow and thicken very fast, and can take a cold climate very well... Plus, it will give you that amazing leafless look (or almost) of a deciduous tree on winter.
I like to work with them, I love deciduous trees, and don't forget the Trident Maple, lol, another beast, can thicken from thumb to fist in just a few years.

Ficus is only indoors when the winter is really hard, and only during the winter, but I'm glad you're more into trees that will thrive outside on your climate, make things a lot easier.

(By the way here's the pine cycle I was mentioning, I tried to find in English but I couldn't... just have in mind that this guide is adapted to our region here.)
This image is hidden for guests.
Please log in or register to see it.
Last Edit:1 year 6 months ago by Albas
Last edit: 1 year 6 months ago by Albas.
The following user(s) said Thank You: FrogMan79

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.

  • FrogMan79
  • FrogMan79's Avatar Offline Topic Author
  • New Member
  • New Member
  • Posts: 12
  • Thanks received: 0

Replied by FrogMan79 on topic Beginner tree selection

Posted 1 year 6 months ago #80608
Looks like I have some google translate to do on that pic lol! Thank you. I have a couple more weeks of decision making and research to do before my trip to a semi local bonsai garden to look at trees and supplies. I'm in no rush, which I understand is key in this hobby haha.
by FrogMan79

Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.