A lady from my local club brought in this pomegranate. She got it from a lady 24 years ago who said she grew it from seed 5 years prior.
I was absolutely blown away and thought it was an incredible example of how time will not thicken/refine/improve bonsai.
I thought this was important for anyone to see who has a, "Stick in a pot" and is under the impression that bonsai is the art of waiting.
Development happens in the ground or in big containers.
Fertilize aggressively.
Get the opportunity to work with young vigorous material as well as old, big stuff.
Also, to add, I'm not knocking this tree. It is a dainty and elegant thing.
by AJRivers
5 Comments
This is definitely a lesson everyone needs to learn, and the sooner the better.
Trees will not just get better over time if you are not doing the right things to them.
I’ve gotten some pretty impressive growth in a little pot, but it’s species fertilizer specific
Whoa, that’s wild
Great example. You can’t cheat age, but you can definitely make better (or worst) use of the time.
I think we tip toe around criticism a bit too much – constructive critique does not need to be mean or derogatory, but a mistake is a mistake. This is a clear example of how someone can waste 3 decades of time on an otherwise healthy tree.
This is not a well-developed tree, especially for an almost 30 yo specimen. It’s not only thin, but is devoid of ramification and interior branch development. I’m in my first year as a bonsai hobbyist and I’ve come to observe the trees of members in my club and how they differ drastically in terms of quality. One of our members is only 4-5 years in but is fully invested in the craft (aspiring professional) and has better trees than many of the club stalwarts who have been doing this for over 30 years. Education is critically important to developing good technique, horticulture, and a creative eye.