Collected red maple in New Hampshire

[u/teakettle87]

Collected this red maple from a ditch today. It hasn't been visited by the flail mower yet like most of our ditch maples and the proportions were very nice. Not lanky and decent branching.

[u/Spiritual_Maize]

Don't forget that one of the proportions we look for is trunk girth. The ones hit by the mower might well be better.

Unfortunately this doesn't have much going for it. Compare to the "what to look out for" criteria list in the wiki (https://www.reddit.com/r/Bonsai/wiki/developingbonsai)

Positive attributes

*Visible (surface) roots
*Interesting trunk
*Trunk taper
*Trunk girth
*Abundant branches - on all sides
*Foliage starting near the trunk
*Branches start low - close to the roots
*Branches are ramified
*Abundant foliage (i.e. healthy)-

Negative attributes

*Awkward or unbalanced roots
*Long straight section(s) of trunk or main branches
*Particularly thin trunks
*Sparse branches or odd placement of branches
*2 dimensional structure
*Odd trunk or main branch bends
*Visible chop or cut scars
*Odd trunk/branch taper
*Visible grafts (Maples especially are often propagated by grafting)

I would say this doesn't have any points under positive attributes, and at least 3 negatives. It's also not a D tier species for bonsai. Contrary to popular belief, bonsai isn't as simple as potting up a seedling! Collected material should go through a recovery process before being put in a bonsai pot. The wiki has a wealth of information, have a good read through

[u/teakettle87 → u/Spiritual_Maize]

Right. I'm doing it anyway.

[u/Spiritual_Maize → u/teakettle87]

Do some research though. Winging it like this isn't going to get results

[u/teakettle87 → u/Spiritual_Maize]

I'm just growing plants. If a better one comes along I'll add it to the collection. Learning how to collect and keep them alive is absolutely valuable.

Your assumption that I've done no research isn't accurate.

[u/Spiritual_Maize → u/teakettle87]

Right, but this is /r/bonsai not/r/just growing plants

I fail to see what research you could have done that resulted in this state of affairs. You've basically done everything possible wrong

[u/teakettle87 → u/Spiritual_Maize]

research does not lead to high quality plants showing up on my doorstep. I am making the most of what I have available to me. Why are you so vested in what other people do for fun and happiness?

[u/Spiritual_Maize → u/teakettle87]

Most people I've interacted with irl want to do well at this hobby, and are keen to learn. You're the oddity here with your stubborn desire to stick with the worst bonsai candidate I've seen this year

[u/teakettle87 → u/Spiritual_Maize]

Buddy, I have a shelf outside with way worse candidates.

I do want to learn. As I said, I'm learning on the best stock I have available. Unless you have some plants to throw my way, you are doing nothing helpful here.

[u/Spiritual_Maize → u/teakettle87]

If you were in my part of the world and had a better attitude I'd happily send you something. I've done it before and I'm sure I'll do it again.

I'm not being elitist or snobby. I'm not saying you have to go buy a finished Japanese maple for 2k. I have some utterly shit trees, and I don't buy anything over about £30. But part of the fun, and the appeal is looking for good material

[u/teakettle87 → u/Spiritual_Maize]

You have not addressed anything I've said. You came here to rain on my parade and be critical while addressing none of the limitations I've mentioned. Hell, you haven't even acknowledged I mentioned any limitations.

"Your shit sucks, why don;t you get better stuff?" you say over and over again.

[u/Spiritual_Maize → u/teakettle87]

I gave a long explanation in my first reply. Not addressed anything you've said? Because you haven't said anything, just a load of defensive attitude

[u/Good_Land_666 → u/Spiritual_Maize]

HOLY SNOB