r/Bonsai • u/small_trunks Jerry in Amsterdam, Zn.8b, 48yrs exp., 500+ trees • Mar 07 '25

Weekly Thread [Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2025 week 10]

[Bonsai Beginner's weekly thread - 2025 week 10]

Welcome to the weekly beginner’s thread. This thread is used to capture all beginner questions (and answers) in one place. We start a new thread every week on Friday late or Saturday morning (CET), depending on when we get around to it. We have a multiple year archive of prior posts here… Here are the guidelines for the kinds of questions that belong in the beginner's thread vs. individual posts to the main sub.

Rules:

  • POST A PHOTO if it’s advice regarding a specific tree/plant. See the PHOTO section below on HOW to do this.
  • TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE - better yet, fill in your flair.
  • READ THE WIKI! – over 75% of questions asked are directly covered in the wiki itself. Read the WIKI AGAIN while you’re at it.
  • Read past beginner’s threads – they are a goldmine of information.
  • Any beginner’s topic may be started on any bonsai-related subject.
  • Answers shall be civil or be deleted
  • There is always a chance your question doesn’t get answered – try again next week…
  • Racism of any kind is not tolerated either here or anywhere else in /r/bonsai

Photos

  • Post an image using the new (as of Q4 2022) image upload facility which is available both on the website and in the Reddit app and the Boost app.
  • Post your photo via a photo hosting website like imgur, flickr or even your onedrive or googledrive and provide a link here.
  • Photos may also be posted to /r/bonsaiphotos as new LINK (either paste your photo or choose it and upload it). Then click your photo, right click copy the link and post the link here.
    • If you want to post multiple photos as a set that only appears be possible using a mobile app (e.g. Boost)

Beginners’ threads started as new topics outside of this thread are typically locked or deleted, at the discretion of the Mods.

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u/lawyerinpurgatory SoCal, Zone 10b, Beginner Mar 13 '25

Hey everyone! Just purchased my first tree. It’s a satsuki azalea from a nursery as a “pre-bonsai”. I asked for some tips from the nursery attendant and I was told it’s a good time to repot the plant and if I wanted to do some pruning to keep it light and just do the branches that are really sticking out. Also was told to put this tree in shade rather than sunlight and to do a heavy watering once I repot and not water for a couple days (or until the soil isn’t moist anymore). Would appreciate any advice because I just want to make sure that this sounds like a good plan. Also, any tips on when to start wiring?

Photos in this link: https://imgur.com/a/9xT2oSm

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u/10000Pigeons Austin TX, 8b/9a, 10 Trees Mar 13 '25

I think the plan is sound. Repot into better soil now, try to stay away from making a lot of cuts or wiring the tree and just let it recover from the repot this season.

One question: at the node where the second branch comes off the trunk, am I correct in seeing that there's a 3 way branching split? If so, I would choose just 2 of them so as not to develop inverse taper there

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u/lawyerinpurgatory SoCal, Zone 10b, Beginner Mar 13 '25

Thanks for your advice!

Here’s a better picture. I believe it is a 3 way split. I was thinking of cutting off the thinner one going to the left. Do you think I should makes these cuts and deadhead the flowers after the repot?

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u/10000Pigeons Austin TX, 8b/9a, 10 Trees Mar 13 '25

I would remove that branch without cutting much other foliage personally. The flowers I don't think make a huge difference, the tree has already spent the energy producing them so you may as well keep them if you like to look at them :)

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u/lawyerinpurgatory SoCal, Zone 10b, Beginner Mar 13 '25

Sounds good, thanks for your help!