BEGINNER STUDY GROUP INFORMATION, PROCEDURES, STANDARDS, ETC. While still a beginner, I was asked to be a last minute substitute teacher for a Evening Adult Education Course. Then bonsai was a very secretive activity and there were very few willing to teach who could speak English. There was no printed information about growing bonsai in the tropics and suitable plants were just not available. It was difficult and I brought my own trees for students to work on. We made progress when the school mimeographed the first handbook that we created. But there was huge progress and great enthusiasm when we supplied all needed materials and Myrtle supplied prepared bonsai stock. That was the start of Fuku-Bonsai and while are primary income comes from selling bonsai, a large part of our time and effort is on teaching bonsai! We opened the Kurtistown Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center in 1996 and the direct contact with a large number of visitors from all parts of the United States showed there was great interest in purchasing and owning a bonsai, but also an interest in learning. We began offering "kits" including handbooks in 2000 that incorporated a potted Hawaiian Lava Planting that was already really nice into a larger 8" diameter x 2" pot and included all needed items. Of course it was very successful and attractive but too costly. THE STEPS TO BONSAI SUCCESS ARE STRAIGHT-FORWARD AND VERY LOGICAL! Start with an ideal plant that will grow well for you. Dwarf Schefflera is the most durable houseplant with ideal bonsai traits for the great majority who want to grow bonsai in homes and offices year-around indoors; or outdoors when night temperatures exceed 55°F. That means indoor or outdoors year-around in Hawaii; but varying situations depending upon the climate where you live. Indoor temperatures usually are between 60°F due to interior heating to 80°F due to air conditioning. That's usually the natural temperatures of Hawaii which makes this the ideal place to grow Dwarf Schefflera. Dwarf Schefflera are grown to be drought-resistant and to be able to handle the dry air of interior heating and air conditioning and there are many proven methods to create optimum growing conditions. We have successful customers in all states and the experience to advise you. Start with pre-trained plants that already have trunk and low branch character within one inch of the soil line and a shallow compact roots system within 1/2" of that soil line. Our 2" prepared bonsai stock are already 2-3 years in training and we've already done the most difficult tasks. They are the finest available at any price and the primary reason for our student success! The final result of a workshop is based upon the potential of your starter plant. Most bonsai workshops have modest or poor results due to the low quality or potential of the workshop plants. Fuku-Bonsai's Introductory Workshop Package is priced at $24.95 + $12 shipping for a single kit but with quantity discounts delivered price via FedEx drops to just $12.50 each anywhere in the United States. We've addressed the major issues and supply all needed items! Your success or failure will be determined by the care of the plants and the growing environment that you have or create! We can help or advise, but it's really up to you! BEGINNER STUDY GROUP REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS Fuku-Bonsai and the 501(3)(c) Mid-Pacific Bonsai Foundation has partnered to make possible the study groups and the first national scale vertically integrated effort that includes educational material (via website, Journal of Tropical & True Indoor Bonsai, and printed sheets), the actual workshop plants and supplies, and personalized one-on-one email assistance! To qualify, individuals must: 1. BE AN INDIVIDUAL MPBF MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING. Membership is $12 per year. 2. PURCHASE THREE EACH INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOP PACKAGES. (Current unit price is $24.95 + $12 shipping; with purchase of three, shipping is free so cost is $74.85.). For those signing up for this Beginner Study Group, several complimentary items that are not easily available are included.
3. PLEDGE TO FOLLOW STUDY GROUP PROCEDURES, STANDARDS, ETC. USING ONLY PLANT MATERIALS OBTAINED FROM FUKU-BONSAI. For the first three workshops, all materials will be supplied by Fuku-Bonsai so we can assist because we know all components and how they respond in all parts of the United States. There is extensive information with the IWP, on the website, and in the past issues of the Journal of Tropical & True Indoor Bonsai. We expect group members to do their homework to study all available materials, to make a plan and to send us a carefully composed email if there are questions and to limit to a single email per day!
4. TOTAL COST IS $86.85 WITH AN EMAIL ACKNOWLEDGING ACCEPTANCE OF STUDY GROUP REQUIREMENTS, PROCEDURES, STANDARDS, ETC. For more information, please contact me at david.f@fukubonsai.com ____________________________________________________________________ |
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ADVANCING BEYOND BEGINNER STUDY GROUP WORKSHOPS We will quote and supply additional materials as necessary and will assist study group members who will continue to adapt locally available supplies, pots, etc. Study group activities will be limited to Dwarf Schefflera provided by Fuku-Bonsai and not other plants provided by others. All photos and reports will be for publication in the Journal of Tropical and True Indoor Bonsai as selected and edited. Once past the three beginner IWP workshops study group members create their own custom workshops based upon their goals and situation. The True Indoor Bonsai Study Groups were developed to help isolated individuals and those who are willing and able to teach others. It takes a lot of time and commitment for both parties. For more information, please contact me at david.f@fukubonsai.com
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