Top notch tutorial Jason. A saying we have here in Connecticut is; first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap. Thanks, keep growing.
This is great! I've been growing an oak from a acorn my daughter found years ago. It's in a small pot, healthy, but definitely not well defined. This has been so helpful. All the videos I've seen talk about pruning and wiring. But not the care required to starting the bonsai. To be fair, I reckon I'll kill it. I'll lob it off at the trunk like this video suggested and it'll be a Homer Simpson moment in a years time: "Why doesn't mine look like that!?"
As a complete novice to bonsai I found this video enlightening. Unfortunately I live in a subarctic climate and cannot start trees outdoors. Appreciate all the knowledge and tips nonetheless!
Funny that this video links in nicely with my video about how i wasted 5 years with my japanese Larch. I potted itt oo quickly and kept prunign back all the lower branches before I had establsihed any sort of trunk thickness. It is avery important aspect to try and get right early in your hobby.
Bugger! As a relative newcomer to the hobby, I’ve been doing it all wrong. Now need to find some space in my garden to plant out some trees. Really useful video Jason.
I'm new to Bonsai, but have a large garden of self planted natives. This great video opened my eyes to a mistake which I was about to make with several small self planted saplings e.g. several self sown New Zealand Kowhai trees. Now I'll leave them to mature their trunks first. THANKS HEAPS for sharing your knowledge. 😃
My husband bought me a bonsai for grieving the loss of our beloved pet. Learning about this is a healthy distraction for me right now. Yours is my first subscription. You never know how you help someone. Thank you 😊
I'm not a master bonsai artist, just a hobbyist. however i think this video is a good example of your experience in bonsaiing, you have clearly explained the most crucial elements of a good bonsai tree, thank you for your knowledge.
Excellent tutorial! As newbies, we all want to immediately make something beautiful. It took me a long time to understand the 'living art' part of bonsai, and the impact different techniques have long term. It took even longer to decipher the characteristics of a good bonsai. This vid sums it all up beautifully!!
You pointed to the corner of the screen and.. nothing was there..LOL. but really. I liked your video. I'm just getting started and already have spent around 2 grand on tools and a whole slew of souls etc. I don't know what I'm doing!!!! But I love it. In taking classes though.... I've made the mistake you talk about in this video. I just wanted something to look at . I knew it wasn't ready. What got me started is a Japanese maple in my front yard. I have several trees that are 8 years old grown from seed in large pots. I gave my dad one. He planted it in the front yard. In two years it literally exploded into growth. So I said all this to say .... I heard ya. I hear ya. I will remember this and apply what I just learned
I just checked and on my phone, and tv screen I am definitely seeing a video recommendation end screen - so whether those appear correctly might be dependent on what device you are viewing with. 😮
fantistic video. clear, concise, and not patronizing! yes, we all like to see our trees in bonsai pots, but I shall be planting more of mine in the ground for a while.....
I'm so glad I found your video! I have always been fascinated by bonsai but finally now have the ability to really dive deep into the hobby. I'm just ready to pot my first jade tree and have several tiny babies that I definitely would have put right into a shallow pot ASAP. Now I'm going to put them in a dedicated spot in the yard for a while. Thank you!
Thank you for your kind comments and good luck, and enjoy the journey. If you manage to kill a tree or two, don’t be disheartened as we have all been there. Learn where you went wrong and try better on the next one, and the one after that. 👍
That was actually a really helpful video. I knew I had to watch several beginner video but this one really had the most useful information. especially the ways for better trunk development. thank you Mr. Hanrahan
I agree with all of this! Now another thing you can do is allow the roots to blow out the bottom of the pot it’s growing in and that allows the trunk to blow up! I have 2 wisteria one growing in a clay pot and one growing in a bonsai pot-trainer the one in trainer I’ve allowed to blow out the drain holes. Trunk is huge! The one in clay pot is still skinny. I have done this with other kinds of trees and shrubs and it works for all I’ve tried it with so far
Thank you so much for your video. I’ve been searching for a good bonsai basics video and they all lost me. Yours was perfect. I just recently got into bonsai and I’m growing everything from seed. Except a few trees I’ve pulled from the wood in my back yard. I’ve got Royal poinciana, wisteria and pagoda tree all about 7 month old from seed. Finally have some seedlings of Japanese black pine and black spruce after a long cold stratification period. I have most of them in 1 gallon pots. I have recently potted up a Florida strangler fig that was growing in my gutter as well. I’m so tempted to start shaping and doing bonsai with them. But I don’t want to mess up. I don’t want to start to soon and I don’t want to wait to long. Your video is very helpful. I’m going to let them grow a bit more. I’m in zone 10a in Naples, FL. Thanks again.
Great video Jason and I like that intro - 'The most important bonsai lesson you'll ever learn!' 😮 But you have raised some very interesting points and factors that we must all consider when styling and working on a bonsai.
Just found your channel. I bought a small maple/acer one year ago. And its growth is not great but it’s healthy. But I am soon to move house and wondered if the 30ltr pots I used to grow my potatoes in would be a good pot to bring on my bonsai.
Thank you so much for this video! my approach to the world of bonsai began recently and the first time I made all the mistakes you listed, but now after seeing your video I decided to try again in the most correct way as you recommended, I purchased a small pre-bonsai yesterday of fuji cherry and today while I was watching the video for the second time I planted it in a decidedly larger cultivation pot, as I don't have the possibility of planting it in the ground. and now I will let it grow and develop a good nebari and a nice thick trunk. I hope to do a nice job with my little fuji cherry tree
I found a spiraea nipponica a few years back in a forgotten corner in my local garden center. Picked it up cheap placed it in a 40l pot. And just let it sit for a few years. Now its potbound to the 40l lol. Think its time to start working on it. But its such a massive bush im afraid to ruin it.
Thank you so much for the CLEAR, slide by slide, principled explanation. I am an utter beginner, and was quite lost as to overall process, wouldn't even know where to start. And of dozens of videos, this specific video made me understand what to do. Instant subscriber.
Wow thanks for this video! Not many youtube bonsai 'teachers' talk at all about the transition from pre bonsai to potted bonsai so its refreshing. Ive also got into discussions with people online who insist that anything people call a bonsai is one because it is a 'plant in a container' totally missing that literal translations dont always give the real meaning of a word
@MrSitallewal you just said two different things. 'Tree in a pot' is the general direct translation i believe but if i have a lemon tree in a large pot that i don't prune much that's not exactly what a bonsai is is it?
I agree but to mitigate this and to put the emerging bonsai plant into a sexy pot, I just use much larger pots. Let their roots develop and grow, a larger pot is the simplest approach to stalling the plant's development into a cool bonsai. then repot it after a few good growing years into a smaller pot. Poof. bonsai achieved. But dont get me started on airlaying. what an amazing technique.
If you are able to plant into the ground for a period you will see great results, but a larger pot will see an improvement over a bonsai pot if that is not possible. The benefit of ground planting is not just space, but unrestricted access to resources.
Great tips. While I agree most bonsai content forgets about the majority of the population, which lives in cities with no or very little garden and space (balcony). The Bonsai hobby should not be only for landlords and we have to make more content about it with smart tricks and tips. Thank you
Thanks. Bonsai is absolutely for everyone. This was not about whether you have space available - it was about how to grow and progress an immature tree to a mature looking bonsai. That is best done growing a tree in the ground for development, and then refinement in a pot - it will simply be quicker. An immature tree put in a pot will always take much, much, much longer to mature due to the limited space and resources in the pot.
@@TheBonsaiGarden I agree but my point was that most people don’t have land to put a tree in the ground and that there should be more videos about tips and tricks if you don’t have the land.
The two birch’s comparison was awesome, to begin with I thought to myself quietly that doesn’t look crazy different, then you moved it back more in line with the ground planted one and wow 🤩 I’m planning a vid like this too 😎 great stuff Jason x
Thanks Jonas. It was tricky getting the two close together for those shots due to other stuff growing around, and the physical size of the pot. Those ground planted ones are easily x4 thicker than the one in the pot.🙏
Hi, thanks a lot for the video! I have a newbie question: I always thought that if you cut the tree (no branches, no leaves left), the tree dies. Bushes can be cut to a base and they survive, but I thought trees don't. So, my question, if I cut the tree from the garden, and transplant it into a bonsai pot, am I certain it will stay alive? Thank you!
Thank you Tara. Many deciduous trees will generate new buds and develop branches if done, provided they are already healthy and vigorous, and at the right time of year (I suggest late winter/early spring). If the tree has a strong store of energy it can generate new buds at the cut site in spring. Best to check how a particular species is likely to respond before such a drastic chop though I have had success with Japanese maples, hornbeam and others - not beech. Never do this on evergreens - removing all greenery will kill it.
Awesome video! Thank you. I learned I must somehow convince my dad to let me plant my trees in his garden :D Unfortunately there isnt enough free space. I already planted 11 little trees (less than 1 year old) in a small area and i have so much more little trees haha. Do you have any tips how to plant trees in a smaller area or how to manage many trees with limited space? I think the biggest problem my father has is the roots of those trees.
Thanks, Jason. I'm new to the bonsai caper and, although I have purchased some reasonably finished trees, most of what I have is bonsai-in-waiting. Just coming into the first Spring/Summer (Australia) when I have "too many trees" (an inevitable and uncurable condition it seems). I have had so many questions about why/when/how to put my nursery stock, even some tube stock, in bonsai or even smaller pots. I have been troubled by seemingly heretical thoughts like "shouldn't they go into bigger pots, not smaller ones?" You have answered all my questions. Thank you. I'm coming to see the (obvious) reality that bonsai trees don't just happen, they don't just grow, they are the result of continuous design.
@@TheBonsaiGarden Jason, I don't have the option of planting in the ground. Would you agree that as long as the pot is progressively large enough so that the roots never find the edges, and you can water and fertilize often, then you achieve the same effect?
I have a question, what about indoor bonsai? Have some neglected ficus trees, in indeed bonsai pot. Would like for it to thicken in the trunk. Thinking about letting some sacrifice branches grow at the bottom to thicken for nicer tapering. But struggling with the slow growth because if the pot. What would you advice? Don’t have lots of window space room for large pots
Repot it onto a larger pot, in Summer you can put it outside too. That will speed up the growth. If it reaches the desired size, cut the roots and repot it into a smaller pot.
I agree , put in a large pot, one that’s large and deep enough for root growth but one you can still transport outside, put a old CD underneath the root structure. I did this along with girdling right above the root structure to gain swelling. It worked like a charm. I used a good amount of pumice and sphagnum moss mixed with a well draining soil. Good luck, it worked for me.
Dear Jason, you recommand to leave the plant in the ground as long as possible. That means, even for several years, until the trunk is thick enough. But I didn't understand: when the trunk is thick enough, is this the right time to move the plant to a basket and then after few years to the bonsai pot? Or can I cut the trunk and leave the plant to develop all the time, multiple years, in the garden ground and when it has the right size (trunk and a lot of branches) move my tree to the bonsai pot? I hope you have an answer for me😊. Thank you so much for the wonderful channel😊😊😊
You can leave the tree in the ground for as long as you wish, and continue to prune and shape it in the ground. From time to time you may want to lift it out and trim back the roots so they do not become too deeply embedded. The longer it stays in the ground, the stronger and thicker it will become but if it is destined to be a bonsai tree then at some point you will need to dig it up and move it into a basket or pot for refinement. It is not an exact science but a judgement call.
Found you because "I (still) wonder how..." ♥ * Best talking-to-yet after watching countless videos - and dusted off a beginner book from past impulse "I want to try..." experiment fails.
Very informative, I learned quite a bit from it. I'm now into my second year and I am very glad to have learned these little tricks. Although I am not traditional and I have no interest in following any specific rules, I truly enjoy the time I spend with my trees and the methods you use are very intelligent. I find not being confined by guidelines I am free to enjoy without disappointment. For me it is much more therapeutic this way. Thank you very much for your video
@@TheBonsaiGarden thank you, please know I meant no offense, I guess I just never looked at bonsai as something with a guideline. Although I've never watched a video about them until today. I had just seen a few on TV and I remember seeing one at the local nursery and I decided to start. I think it's great for anybody to do whatever form of cultivation pleases them personally. You are correct in that it is a personal journey. Thank you for sharing yours with me
@TheBonsaiGarden certainly confirms what I suspected. I bought 4 trees from a supermarket, in the reduced section for 50p each. I put 3 in pots which have continued to steadily grow, but decided to plant a rowan in the ground. This plant is now 6ft high in a year.
I had a 8yr old ficus microcarpa (buhda belly) it was dying and my last option was to repot in a large 50cm self watering pot and i left it for 4yrs. It has improved the overall trunk size/trunk is full and not prune looking/ new branches have helped fill the leaves/ and it no longer 'wobbles' in the soil. Now its time to bonsai pot again, this time im going for a deeper pot, if i get faster growth than i want i think its going to be better just to maintain pruning instead.
Jason, thank you for this video is educated better in this hobby and lifestyle. I do have one question though. I have a Chinese Elm that is now 25 yrs old and I moved it to a way bigger bonsai pot in a effort to get the stump to thicken, but it seems my efforts are for nothing the stump has not increased in size. However, the branches are growing like crazy even in the off season because its an indoor Bonsai with really good UV lights.
Chinese elm have strong foliage and a rampant growth. We typically trim this back but leaving growth can increase the strength and growth of the tree. Think of each leaf as a solar panel feeding energy into the tree like tributaries of a river. As those rivers join it thickens and widens due to all that water pouring in. Eventually those streams become rivers, those rivers become estuaries. Trees are a lot like that.
Hi Jason, only just dropped on your channel I have a big problem, I only started with bonsai 18 months ago and have already run into the 'problems' but the biggest problem is that I am 86 yrs of age so time is not on my side. Long term projects are a no no so I need to develop nice looking bonsai quickly !!! Please can you make a video aimed at odd bods like myself working to a limited time scale ? This video is without doubt one of the best I have seen and I have watched quite a few
Hi Alan, thank you for your comment. Unfortunately there is no short cut to developing bonsai and it is a long term endeavour. However, when you buy bonsai, rather than develop it from scratch, what you are really buying is time already invested in developing those trees. Many of my own trees were bought (some inexpensively, others a bit more pricey - reflecting their years of care) from a local bonsai nursery and much of my time is just cultivating and caring for these trees already developed. It is still worthwhile starting trees with a view to leaving them as a legacy to others to care for and take forward. 👍
Wow - what a comprehensive overview.! Really useful to go through this in detail to help plan for a proper bonsai future. Many thanks for doing this. RM
Pine trees are generally not suitable as indoor bonsai trees because they require a period of dormancy during the winter, which is difficult to replicate indoors. Additionally, they typically need more sunlight and cooler temperatures than what is typically found indoors, making it challenging to maintain their health and appearance.
Beautifully presented Jason 🙏🏼 I did pick the thinner oak as the oldest. 1, Xavier just done a video relating to this topic. 2, I found this out myself this year by planting a birch in the ground, just from a few months in the ground this year it has thickened up sooo much! I plan on doing the same with most, if not all of my trees next year. Would have been better if this video was a few years ago 😂 Take care 🙂
thanks for your video! i made this mistake just 10 months ago. now i'm thinking about how to correct my mistake. perhaps planting it into a larger pot? I have another tree planted in a 5 gallon pot and the trunk thickened up over the summer to what I think is as thick as I would like it to be. Also has a decent amount of ramification to my beginner's eyes. But I don't want to use that tree for a bonsai. So maybe after the winter I will plant my little bonsai candidate into a large pot outdoors for it to thicken up and develop branches before repotting it in a bonsai pot... :)
When buying from a nursery, I am always suspicious that the tree may have been repotted out of season recently, just so it looks impressive enough to sell to buyers. The tree might not grow, or even die, in that little pot as it suffers from the recent stress. I have several nature sown trees that have been growing in ground all season. From experience, I know to leave them be if I want to dig them out in the future when they are dormant.
Great examples to make your point. Is there a way to avoid ending up with an ugly scar where you have been forced to chop the trunk which you have now thickened by growing rapidly in the ground rather than over many years in a more restricted container?
I bought one of those juniper itoigawa cuttings you see online at the start of the year. I currently have it in a small pond basket. Im considering doing an experiment where i take a cutting and ground plant it once rooted to see if it passes its mother out in terms of growth.
Thank you Jason. I think this is a well thought out and explained video for where I am in my bonsai journey of about 5 years. Yes, i have read most of what you explained but with the comparisons it really sinks in. Not being willing to buy a tree that someone has lovingly spent years developing in the name of 'learning' bonsai, i see i have fallen into this same trap for a few of my seedlings. 😂 I have wondered about growing trees in the ground so that they produce thicker trunks faster. Does this detract from the idea of a tree growing on a rocky hillside for many years before being 'discovered' and potted. Or is it the fast paced society we live in that wants results as quick as possible?
Thanks for your comment. I think the “bonsai mindset” for developing quality trees requires longer term planning and thinking ahead than we are regularly used to.
Love Bonsai, and I've dabbled in the past but never gone out and bought one, always tried from seed, and never particually successfully. One reason that I wouldn't want to buy one, especially a decent quality old one is the chance that I'd end up killing it. Recently I've spent a bit of money and got myself a nice 'ready made' bonsai from a garden centre. Only paid £40 so it's not like I'm making a massive financial loss IF disaster occurs, and neither am I destroying something with any historic significance. For now, I'm quite happy with my little tree, and hopefully I'll be able to learn enough in the near future to give it many years of healthy and happy life.
Be sure to know exactly what species of tree it is, and research the proper bonsai care for your exact species of tree. Websites like Bonsai Empire have great species care guides. Once you learn how to keep it alive and do the basics, your confidence will grow. I started with £5 nursery plants I styled myself and £10 garden centre Chinese elms. Good luck with your tree 🌳
Thank you for the info. I've just done some checking, and the recent one I've bought is a Chinese elm, which seems to be a great beginners bonsai from what I've read. My other that I've had for a while is a Ficus Ginsing thing. Seems to be doing ok with my current watering schedule, but I will research proper care. @@TheBonsaiGarden
What about those of us growing indoor tropical shrubs/trees who don't have the option of having them in the ground? Do you recommend leaving them in the regular gardening pots? Do you recommend putting them in much larger gardening pots to allow their roots to grow and then trim the roots back when transferring to the smaller bonsai setup?
Hi Jason , Bonsai newby here from Australia , looking at the idea of putting the trees into the baskets to help with the trunk thickening do you still use regular potting mix at this stage or bonsai mix . Thanks
Thank you. I have done a couple of videos on book recommendations you should check out. Bonsai Beginner Books: 5 Essential Reads for Beginners ua-cam.com/video/9-GJDUL3vaY/v-deo.html Top 10 Intermediate Level Bonsai Book Recommendations 📚 ua-cam.com/video/g5Bm8_bn9Tw/v-deo.html
This is just a perforated storage basket bought from a general hardware store. I like these in particular because they have perforations in the side and bottom which is good for aeration.
Im completely new to bonsai, i just bought a young tree, a Chaenomeles Superba Lava, its a little bit smaller than the one you show on the left at 5:40 with its nursery container/pot, the pot mine came with is about the same size as the one you show. If i understood this video correctly, it would be a good idea for me to move it into a bigger pot? Also, when should i start thinking about using wires, is that something i should do instantly, or wait a few years untill the trunk is thicker?
If you are new to bonsai I would suggest you spend the first year simply observing your tree and keeping it alive, while doing lots of research, reading and watching videos.
Thank you , completley agree... and so question . My bonsais are in pots of various sizes . If i remove them and place in the ground , which is a great idea , will that not increase the risk of loosing them to winters frost ?
Jason i have a question: recently planted a japanese flame seedling that had germinated and grown its first set of leaves. I dont have the space to put this tree into the ground. I have purchased a basket, at what point should i feed it, and with what NPK ratio? Thank you! Edit: this is a first stage seedling, and will be remaining indoors under a grow light until spring.
I'm new to bonsai and this video has been the most informative video that I've watched in the past month, instant sub. Look forward to learning more from you!
First bonsai vid I’ve watched from start to finish for a long time
Thanks Darren 😮😂😂
This is the video I always needed
Glad you found it 🙏
Top notch tutorial Jason. A saying we have here in Connecticut is; first year they sleep, second year they creep, third year they leap. Thanks, keep growing.
I was trying to remember that saying when putting this together but couldn’t for the life of me think how it went 😂👍
Same here in Kansas!
This is the first lesson all beginners should learn.
Agreed 👍
Wow, that was incredibly well made and extremely informative. Really nice video and beautiful bonsai.
Thank you Ryan 🙏
This is great! I've been growing an oak from a acorn my daughter found years ago. It's in a small pot, healthy, but definitely not well defined. This has been so helpful. All the videos I've seen talk about pruning and wiring. But not the care required to starting the bonsai.
To be fair, I reckon I'll kill it. I'll lob it off at the trunk like this video suggested and it'll be a Homer Simpson moment in a years time: "Why doesn't mine look like that!?"
Give it a couple of years to thicken up before you consider a trunk chop 😁👍
As a complete novice to bonsai I found this video enlightening. Unfortunately I live in a subarctic climate and cannot start trees outdoors. Appreciate all the knowledge and tips nonetheless!
Thank you. 🙏
Great comprehensive video Jason. Well done!
Thank you Raymond 🙏
Funny that this video links in nicely with my video about how i wasted 5 years with my japanese Larch. I potted itt oo quickly and kept prunign back all the lower branches before I had establsihed any sort of trunk thickness. It is avery important aspect to try and get right early in your hobby.
Absolutely right. 👍
Bugger! As a relative newcomer to the hobby, I’ve been doing it all wrong. Now need to find some space in my garden to plant out some trees. Really useful video Jason.
Thanks Chris, me too 😆
Priceless wisdom.. Brilliant.
After 14 years of growing indoor and outdoor bonsai, You've doubled my knowledge, Blessings.
♥️🙏☀️x
That’s very kind of you Andrew 🙏❤️
Thank you for your kindness. I am learning a lot.
Instant sub, this guy is chill and knows his shizzle.
Thank you for your kind comment 🙏🌟✨✨✨
I'm new to Bonsai, but have a large garden of self planted natives. This great video opened my eyes to a mistake which I was about to make with several small self planted saplings e.g. several self sown New Zealand Kowhai trees. Now I'll leave them to mature their trunks first. THANKS HEAPS for sharing your knowledge. 😃
Glad this was helpful and instructive to you 🙏
bonsai bonsai yang sangat bagus❤❤
Thank you kindly 🙏
My husband bought me a bonsai for grieving the loss of our beloved pet. Learning about this is a healthy distraction for me right now. Yours is my first subscription. You never know how you help someone. Thank you 😊
Having and caring for a bonsai is a nice way to remember someone. 👍
Best overall Bonsai video I’ve seen, without going too in-depth. Thank you so much 😊
Thank you Joanne
I'm not a master bonsai artist, just a hobbyist. however i think this video is a good example of your experience in bonsaiing, you have clearly explained the most crucial elements of a good bonsai tree, thank you for your knowledge.
Thank you for your kind words 🙏
Excellent tutorial! As newbies, we all want to immediately make something beautiful. It took me a long time to understand the 'living art' part of bonsai, and the impact different techniques have long term. It took even longer to decipher the characteristics of a good bonsai. This vid sums it all up beautifully!!
Great comment. Thanks 🙏
@@TheBonsaiGarden ❤
You pointed to the corner of the screen and.. nothing was there..LOL. but really. I liked your video. I'm just getting started and already have spent around 2 grand on tools and a whole slew of souls etc. I don't know what I'm doing!!!! But I love it. In taking classes though.... I've made the mistake you talk about in this video. I just wanted something to look at . I knew it wasn't ready. What got me started is a Japanese maple in my front yard. I have several trees that are 8 years old grown from seed in large pots. I gave my dad one. He planted it in the front yard. In two years it literally exploded into growth. So I said all this to say .... I heard ya. I hear ya. I will remember this and apply what I just learned
Thanks Adam. Japanese maples are what got me started too - such graceful, beautiful trees.
I just checked and on my phone, and tv screen I am definitely seeing a video recommendation end screen - so whether those appear correctly might be dependent on what device you are viewing with. 😮
Good advice Jason, thank you.
Thank you Jack 🙏
fantistic video. clear, concise, and not patronizing! yes, we all like to see our trees in bonsai pots, but I shall be planting more of mine in the ground for a while.....
Glad it was helpful!
I'm so glad I found your video! I have always been fascinated by bonsai but finally now have the ability to really dive deep into the hobby. I'm just ready to pot my first jade tree and have several tiny babies that I definitely would have put right into a shallow pot ASAP. Now I'm going to put them in a dedicated spot in the yard for a while. Thank you!
*The babies are pine and cedar not jade btw
Thank you for your kind comments and good luck, and enjoy the journey. If you manage to kill a tree or two, don’t be disheartened as we have all been there. Learn where you went wrong and try better on the next one, and the one after that. 👍
Saya menikmati seni bonsai yang anda tampilkan tuan,, sehat dan sukses selalu 🤲🤲 salam dari bali (indonesia) 🙏🙏
🙏🙏
Nice one Jason! Well explained video and I love the whiteboard drawings!
Thanks Adam 🙏
That was actually a really helpful video. I knew I had to watch several beginner video but this one really had the most useful information. especially the ways for better trunk development. thank you Mr. Hanrahan
Thank you for your kind comment. Glad this was helpful for you 👍
Great video and advice just what I needed but where did you get those baskets I’m in Australia..
The larger baskets from a hardware store, and pond baskets from an aquatics store.
I agree with all of this! Now another thing you can do is allow the roots to blow out the bottom of the pot it’s growing in and that allows the trunk to blow up! I have 2 wisteria one growing in a clay pot and one growing in a bonsai pot-trainer the one in trainer I’ve allowed to blow out the drain holes. Trunk is huge! The one in clay pot is still skinny. I have done this with other kinds of trees and shrubs and it works for all I’ve tried it with so far
Yes, I believe these are called escape roots.
Thank you so much for your video. I’ve been searching for a good bonsai basics video and they all lost me. Yours was perfect. I just recently got into bonsai and I’m growing everything from seed. Except a few trees I’ve pulled from the wood in my back yard. I’ve got Royal poinciana, wisteria and pagoda tree all about 7 month old from seed. Finally have some seedlings of Japanese black pine and black spruce after a long cold stratification period. I have most of them in 1 gallon pots. I have recently potted up a Florida strangler fig that was growing in my gutter as well. I’m so tempted to start shaping and doing bonsai with them. But I don’t want to mess up. I don’t want to start to soon and I don’t want to wait to long. Your video is very helpful. I’m going to let them grow a bit more. I’m in zone 10a in Naples, FL. Thanks again.
Thank you for your kind comments Tim and best of luck on your bonsai journey.
Love this video. LOVE IT....
So glad!
Thanks for the information regarding Bonsai for the beginner. I learned a lot.
You are welcome 🙏
Great video Jason and I like that intro - 'The most important bonsai lesson you'll ever learn!' 😮
But you have raised some very interesting points and factors that we must all consider when styling and working on a bonsai.
Thanks Gavin 🙏
Thank you! I learned something important tips from your video! I begin my very first bonsai!😇
Good luck Daniel
Just found your channel. I bought a small maple/acer one year ago. And its growth is not great but it’s healthy. But I am soon to move house and wondered if the 30ltr pots I used to grow my potatoes in would be a good pot to bring on my bonsai.
Impressive demonstration. Very new to this and I think this could not have come at a better time
That’s great. Glad this was helpful 👍
Thank you so much for this video! my approach to the world of bonsai began recently and the first time I made all the mistakes you listed, but now after seeing your video I decided to try again in the most correct way as you recommended, I purchased a small pre-bonsai yesterday of fuji cherry and today while I was watching the video for the second time I planted it in a decidedly larger cultivation pot, as I don't have the possibility of planting it in the ground. and now I will let it grow and develop a good nebari and a nice thick trunk. I hope to do a nice job with my little fuji cherry tree
Thank you and good luck with your tree . 👍🌳
I found a spiraea nipponica a few years back in a forgotten corner in my local garden center. Picked it up cheap placed it in a 40l pot. And just let it sit for a few years. Now its potbound to the 40l lol. Think its time to start working on it. But its such a massive bush im afraid to ruin it.
Be brave and show that tree who is the boss ;)
Thank you so much for the CLEAR, slide by slide, principled explanation. I am an utter beginner, and was quite lost as to overall process, wouldn't even know where to start. And of dozens of videos, this specific video made me understand what to do. Instant subscriber.
You're very welcome!
thanks, super informative and really simply put to be understandable! This is the one I was searching for!
Glad this was useful for you. Thank plenty more I may back catalogue 😊👍
Excellent advice and information!
Thank you Terry 🙏
Wow thanks for this video! Not many youtube bonsai 'teachers' talk at all about the transition from pre bonsai to potted bonsai so its refreshing. Ive also got into discussions with people online who insist that anything people call a bonsai is one because it is a 'plant in a container' totally missing that literal translations dont always give the real meaning of a word
Thanks for your kind comment Matt 🙏
@MrSitallewal you just said two different things. 'Tree in a pot' is the general direct translation i believe but if i have a lemon tree in a large pot that i don't prune much that's not exactly what a bonsai is is it?
Very clear and useful video for beginners
Glad you found it helpful 🙏
Fantastic video great advice 👍
Thank you for your kind comment.
Great information. Thank you so much.
You are welcome 🙏
I agree but to mitigate this and to put the emerging bonsai plant into a sexy pot, I just use much larger pots. Let their roots develop and grow, a larger pot is the simplest approach to stalling the plant's development into a cool bonsai. then repot it after a few good growing years into a smaller pot. Poof. bonsai achieved. But dont get me started on airlaying. what an amazing technique.
If you are able to plant into the ground for a period you will see great results, but a larger pot will see an improvement over a bonsai pot if that is not possible. The benefit of ground planting is not just space, but unrestricted access to resources.
I`m kind of a beginner. Your video was most excellent. It made alot of sense. Illustrations were great. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful Russell 👍
Great tips. While I agree most bonsai content forgets about the majority of the population, which lives in cities with no or very little garden and space (balcony). The Bonsai hobby should not be only for landlords and we have to make more content about it with smart tricks and tips. Thank you
Thanks. Bonsai is absolutely for everyone. This was not about whether you have space available - it was about how to grow and progress an immature tree to a mature looking bonsai. That is best done growing a tree in the ground for development, and then refinement in a pot - it will simply be quicker. An immature tree put in a pot will always take much, much, much longer to mature due to the limited space and resources in the pot.
@@TheBonsaiGarden I agree but my point was that most people don’t have land to put a tree in the ground and that there should be more videos about tips and tricks if you don’t have the land.
I’m interested to hear what kind of tips or tricks you would suggest.
Excellent Jason. Thanks 👍
Thanks 🙏
The two birch’s comparison was awesome, to begin with I thought to myself quietly that doesn’t look crazy different, then you moved it back more in line with the ground planted one and wow 🤩
I’m planning a vid like this too 😎 great stuff Jason x
Thanks Jonas. It was tricky getting the two close together for those shots due to other stuff growing around, and the physical size of the pot. Those ground planted ones are easily x4 thicker than the one in the pot.🙏
Permission to listen, boss, I know John
Thanx for your sharing information about Bonsai Sir.
I am from Indonesia appretiate for your hobby n activities.
Greeting one hobby Bonsai.
Greetings from the UK and thank you for your kind comment 🙏
Hi, thanks a lot for the video! I have a newbie question: I always thought that if you cut the tree (no branches, no leaves left), the tree dies. Bushes can be cut to a base and they survive, but I thought trees don't. So, my question, if I cut the tree from the garden, and transplant it into a bonsai pot, am I certain it will stay alive? Thank you!
Thank you Tara.
Many deciduous trees will generate new buds and develop branches if done, provided they are already healthy and vigorous, and at the right time of year (I suggest late winter/early spring). If the tree has a strong store of energy it can generate new buds at the cut site in spring. Best to check how a particular species is likely to respond before such a drastic chop though I have had success with Japanese maples, hornbeam and others - not beech. Never do this on evergreens - removing all greenery will kill it.
Awesome video! Thank you. I learned I must somehow convince my dad to let me plant my trees in his garden :D Unfortunately there isnt enough free space. I already planted 11 little trees (less than 1 year old) in a small area and i have so much more little trees haha. Do you have any tips how to plant trees in a smaller area or how to manage many trees with limited space? I think the biggest problem my father has is the roots of those trees.
You can prevent the roots growing downwards by planting them over a tile or slab. I also have only limited space for ground growing trees.
Thanks, Jason. I'm new to the bonsai caper and, although I have purchased some reasonably finished trees, most of what I have is bonsai-in-waiting. Just coming into the first Spring/Summer (Australia) when I have "too many trees" (an inevitable and uncurable condition it seems). I have had so many questions about why/when/how to put my nursery stock, even some tube stock, in bonsai or even smaller pots. I have been troubled by seemingly heretical thoughts like "shouldn't they go into bigger pots, not smaller ones?" You have answered all my questions. Thank you. I'm coming to see the (obvious) reality that bonsai trees don't just happen, they don't just grow, they are the result of continuous design.
Thank you for this great comment and I’m happy to have been able to answer your questions. Very best of luck with your own ongoing bonsai journey 👍
@@TheBonsaiGarden Jason, I don't have the option of planting in the ground. Would you agree that as long as the pot is progressively large enough so that the roots never find the edges, and you can water and fertilize often, then you achieve the same effect?
Clearest explanation on UA-cam!
Wow, thanks Diana!
I have a question, what about indoor bonsai? Have some neglected ficus trees, in indeed bonsai pot. Would like for it to thicken in the trunk. Thinking about letting some sacrifice branches grow at the bottom to thicken for nicer tapering. But struggling with the slow growth because if the pot. What would you advice? Don’t have lots of window space room for large pots
Repot it onto a larger pot, in Summer you can put it outside too. That will speed up the growth. If it reaches the desired size, cut the roots and repot it into a smaller pot.
I agree , put in a large pot, one that’s large and deep enough for root growth but one you can still transport outside, put a old CD underneath the root structure. I did this along with girdling right above the root structure to gain swelling. It worked like a charm. I used a good amount of pumice and sphagnum moss mixed with a well draining soil. Good luck, it worked for me.
Sounds great 👍
Dear Jason, you recommand to leave the plant in the ground as long as possible. That means, even for several years, until the trunk is thick enough. But I didn't understand: when the trunk is thick enough, is this the right time to move the plant to a basket and then after few years to the bonsai pot? Or can I cut the trunk and leave the plant to develop all the time, multiple years, in the garden ground and when it has the right size (trunk and a lot of branches) move my tree to the bonsai pot? I hope you have an answer for me😊. Thank you so much for the wonderful channel😊😊😊
You can leave the tree in the ground for as long as you wish, and continue to prune and shape it in the ground. From time to time you may want to lift it out and trim back the roots so they do not become too deeply embedded. The longer it stays in the ground, the stronger and thicker it will become but if it is destined to be a bonsai tree then at some point you will need to dig it up and move it into a basket or pot for refinement. It is not an exact science but a judgement call.
Thank you 🤗
Found you because "I (still) wonder how..." ♥ * Best talking-to-yet after watching countless videos - and dusted off a beginner book from past impulse "I want to try..." experiment fails.
There is no shame in experimenting or failing. Just learn from it. 👍
Very informative, I learned quite a bit from it. I'm now into my second year and I am very glad to have learned these little tricks. Although I am not traditional and I have no interest in following any specific rules, I truly enjoy the time I spend with my trees and the methods you use are very intelligent. I find not being confined by guidelines I am free to enjoy without disappointment. For me it is much more therapeutic this way. Thank you very much for your video
You have to follow what makes you happy. The hobby is a personal journey for everyone. Glad this was useful for you. 🙏
@@TheBonsaiGarden thank you, please know I meant no offense, I guess I just never looked at bonsai as something with a guideline. Although I've never watched a video about them until today. I had just seen a few on TV and I remember seeing one at the local nursery and I decided to start. I think it's great for anybody to do whatever form of cultivation pleases them personally. You are correct in that it is a personal journey. Thank you for sharing yours with me
I guess I misunderstood you, and that you referred to the way it should look from your perspective and experience. My apologies
Terrific video 😊 👍
Thank you very much Paul!
Well done, Jason!
Grts
K
Thank you Kennet 🙏
Jason, this was what I was on about a few months ago when I posed the question to you.
Thanks Kevin. I hope this answered your question. 🙏
@TheBonsaiGarden certainly confirms what I suspected. I bought 4 trees from a supermarket, in the reduced section for 50p each. I put 3 in pots which have continued to steadily grow, but decided to plant a rowan in the ground. This plant is now 6ft high in a year.
@kevinwilkes5969 sounds like a great result
I had a 8yr old ficus microcarpa (buhda belly) it was dying and my last option was to repot in a large 50cm self watering pot and i left it for 4yrs. It has improved the overall trunk size/trunk is full and not prune looking/ new branches have helped fill the leaves/ and it no longer 'wobbles' in the soil. Now its time to bonsai pot again, this time im going for a deeper pot, if i get faster growth than i want i think its going to be better just to maintain pruning instead.
Cool video Jason
Very informative thanks for sharing mate👊🏻
Thank you Dan 👍
Jason, thank you for this video is educated better in this hobby and lifestyle. I do have one question though. I have a Chinese Elm that is now 25 yrs old and I moved it to a way bigger bonsai pot in a effort to get the stump to thicken, but it seems my efforts are for nothing the stump has not increased in size. However, the branches are growing like crazy even in the off season because its an indoor Bonsai with really good UV lights.
Chinese elm have strong foliage and a rampant growth. We typically trim this back but leaving growth can increase the strength and growth of the tree. Think of each leaf as a solar panel feeding energy into the tree like tributaries of a river. As those rivers join it thickens and widens due to all that water pouring in. Eventually those streams become rivers, those rivers become estuaries. Trees are a lot like that.
Hi Jason, only just dropped on your channel
I have a big problem, I only started with bonsai 18 months ago and have already run into the 'problems' but the biggest problem is that I am 86 yrs of age so time is not on my side. Long term projects are a no no so I need to develop nice looking bonsai quickly !!!
Please can you make a video aimed at odd bods like myself
working to a limited time scale ?
This video is without doubt one of the best I have seen and I have watched quite a few
Hi Alan, thank you for your comment. Unfortunately there is no short cut to developing bonsai and it is a long term endeavour.
However, when you buy bonsai, rather than develop it from scratch, what you are really buying is time already invested in developing those trees. Many of my own trees were bought (some inexpensively, others a bit more pricey - reflecting their years of care) from a local bonsai nursery and much of my time is just cultivating and caring for these trees already developed.
It is still worthwhile starting trees with a view to leaving them as a legacy to others to care for and take forward. 👍
Wow - what a comprehensive overview.! Really useful to go through this in detail to help plan for a proper bonsai future. Many thanks for doing this. RM
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your kind comment.
Thanks your video took my stress about starting my own❤
Good to hear
Really enjoyed your white board art, very clear and helpful for beginners mate - awesome video
Thank you kindly Jonas 🙏
Thank you very much. Could you explain, why a pine tree is not suitable as an indoor Bonsai ?
Pine trees are generally not suitable as indoor bonsai trees because they require a period of dormancy during the winter, which is difficult to replicate indoors. Additionally, they typically need more sunlight and cooler temperatures than what is typically found indoors, making it challenging to maintain their health and appearance.
😁Thank you for your quick amswer. Do you know a tree I could cultivate on a shadow balcony ?
Hiya Jason, I'm a brand newbie and have just subscribed.
Thanks very much for a great video, David.
You are welcome 🙏
Very good advice, and now i can proceed accordingly,thanks.
Always welcome
I'm using a extra large pot for this reason but I may still transfer my bonsai's to the ground for spring-fall also for this reason.
Good plan
Thank you. This video helped me to understand much more about the Bonsai. I will continue to watch more of your videos.
Glad it was helpful 👍
Beautifully presented Jason 🙏🏼
I did pick the thinner oak as the oldest.
1, Xavier just done a video relating to this topic.
2, I found this out myself this year by planting a birch in the ground, just from a few months in the ground this year it has thickened up sooo much! I plan on doing the same with most, if not all of my trees next year.
Would have been better if this video was a few years ago 😂
Take care 🙂
I would I do the same but I may have that 1m x 1m spot in the corner of the garden to ground plant and grow trees.
thank you. learning curve in 15min that would have taken months/years...
Thank you for your kind words 🙏
thanks for your video! i made this mistake just 10 months ago. now i'm thinking about how to correct my mistake. perhaps planting it into a larger pot? I have another tree planted in a 5 gallon pot and the trunk thickened up over the summer to what I think is as thick as I would like it to be. Also has a decent amount of ramification to my beginner's eyes. But I don't want to use that tree for a bonsai. So maybe after the winter I will plant my little bonsai candidate into a large pot outdoors for it to thicken up and develop branches before repotting it in a bonsai pot... :)
Fantastic advice which I kind of knew but this really makes it clear; I am going to put some of my bonsai back into the ground today!
I’m doing exactly the same with some of my very earliest trees 👍
Thank you, the best bonsai video I've watched.
Thank you 🙏
When buying from a nursery, I am always suspicious that the tree may have been repotted out of season recently, just so it looks impressive enough to sell to buyers. The tree might not grow, or even die, in that little pot as it suffers from the recent stress. I have several nature sown trees that have been growing in ground all season. From experience, I know to leave them be if I want to dig them out in the future when they are dormant.
👍 sounds like great advice
Great examples to make your point.
Is there a way to avoid ending up with an ugly scar where you have been forced to chop the trunk which you have now thickened by growing rapidly in the ground rather than over many years in a more restricted container?
That’s one of the pay offs. Perhaps several more frequent trunk chops rather than on huge one?
i guess several more frequent chops could also introduce better taper and movement cheers Jason@@TheBonsaiGarden
@andrewbeattie5245 that’s my thinking 👍
I bought one of those juniper itoigawa cuttings you see online at the start of the year. I currently have it in a small pond basket. Im considering doing an experiment where i take a cutting and ground plant it once rooted to see if it passes its mother out in terms of growth.
That’s a great experiment. Please update us with the progress 👍
Glad I found this. Just got a bunch of cuttings and was going to put them straight into a pot.
Thank you Jason. I think this is a well thought out and explained video for where I am in my bonsai journey of about 5 years. Yes, i have read most of what you explained but with the comparisons it really sinks in. Not being willing to buy a tree that someone has lovingly spent years developing in the name of 'learning' bonsai, i see i have fallen into this same trap for a few of my seedlings. 😂 I have wondered about growing trees in the ground so that they produce thicker trunks faster. Does this detract from the idea of a tree growing on a rocky hillside for many years before being 'discovered' and potted. Or is it the fast paced society we live in that wants results as quick as possible?
Thanks for your comment. I think the “bonsai mindset” for developing quality trees requires longer term planning and thinking ahead than we are regularly used to.
Amazing!! thank you for the knowledge and de advice!!!!!
My pleasure
Love Bonsai, and I've dabbled in the past but never gone out and bought one, always tried from seed, and never particually successfully. One reason that I wouldn't want to buy one, especially a decent quality old one is the chance that I'd end up killing it. Recently I've spent a bit of money and got myself a nice 'ready made' bonsai from a garden centre. Only paid £40 so it's not like I'm making a massive financial loss IF disaster occurs, and neither am I destroying something with any historic significance. For now, I'm quite happy with my little tree, and hopefully I'll be able to learn enough in the near future to give it many years of healthy and happy life.
Be sure to know exactly what species of tree it is, and research the proper bonsai care for your exact species of tree. Websites like Bonsai Empire have great species care guides. Once you learn how to keep it alive and do the basics, your confidence will grow. I started with £5 nursery plants I styled myself and £10 garden centre Chinese elms. Good luck with your tree 🌳
Thank you for the info. I've just done some checking, and the recent one I've bought is a Chinese elm, which seems to be a great beginners bonsai from what I've read. My other that I've had for a while is a Ficus Ginsing thing. Seems to be doing ok with my current watering schedule, but I will research proper care. @@TheBonsaiGarden
What about those of us growing indoor tropical shrubs/trees who don't have the option of having them in the ground? Do you recommend leaving them in the regular gardening pots? Do you recommend putting them in much larger gardening pots to allow their roots to grow and then trim the roots back when transferring to the smaller bonsai setup?
I grow exclusively outdoor trees. You could try what you suggest. 👍
great video.. When is the best time of year to do that first low chop?
I tend to do in late winter/early spring. At that point the stored energy starts surging back to the tree to create new buds at the cut site.
Absolutely the best video I’ve seen. Thank you. Venetia UK
Thank you 🙏
Excellent info Jason, as a newbie to Bonsai this video has been very helpful. Patience is the key! Thanks Jason
Happy to help and provide inspiration 🙏
Hi Jason , Bonsai newby here from Australia , looking at the idea of putting the trees into the baskets to help with the trunk thickening do you still use regular potting mix at this stage or bonsai mix . Thanks
I use a free drainage soil mix: ua-cam.com/video/YqnGG6GZKAE/v-deo.htmlsi=7qqWmmhMfw7B-2pg
VERY informative video! I'm happy I watched this!👍👍
Thank you 🙏
Just subscribed….such a good tip. Thank you
Welcome!I
Great advice, thank you for sharing :-) any books that you would recommend on the subject? Thank you
Thank you.
I have done a couple of videos on book recommendations you should check out.
Bonsai Beginner Books: 5 Essential Reads for Beginners
ua-cam.com/video/9-GJDUL3vaY/v-deo.html
Top 10 Intermediate Level Bonsai Book Recommendations 📚
ua-cam.com/video/g5Bm8_bn9Tw/v-deo.html
Nice one, thank you :-) @@TheBonsaiGarden
Bagus kawan
Thanks 🙏
Thanks for that great video! Could you tell me, what is the 'basket' that was used here?
This is just a perforated storage basket bought from a general hardware store. I like these in particular because they have perforations in the side and bottom which is good for aeration.
@@TheBonsaiGarden thanks so much, Jason!!
Im completely new to bonsai, i just bought a young tree, a Chaenomeles Superba Lava, its a little bit smaller than the one you show on the left at 5:40 with its nursery container/pot, the pot mine came with is about the same size as the one you show. If i understood this video correctly, it would be a good idea for me to move it into a bigger pot? Also, when should i start thinking about using wires, is that something i should do instantly, or wait a few years untill the trunk is thicker?
If you are new to bonsai I would suggest you spend the first year simply observing your tree and keeping it alive, while doing lots of research, reading and watching videos.
Thank you , completley agree... and so question . My bonsais are in pots of various sizes . If i remove them and place in the ground , which is a great idea , will that not increase the risk of loosing them to winters frost ?
Many plants grow in the ground through winter so your bonsai should be no different. In fact the soil can act as an insulator.
Good channel. Very good information for beginners. Thank you.
My pleasure
Jason i have a question: recently planted a japanese flame seedling that had germinated and grown its first set of leaves. I dont have the space to put this tree into the ground. I have purchased a basket, at what point should i feed it, and with what NPK ratio? Thank you! Edit: this is a first stage seedling, and will be remaining indoors under a grow light until spring.
How do you manage the soil not spill out from that basket mesh?
Use a granular soil mix.
I'm new to bonsai and this video has been the most informative video that I've watched in the past month, instant sub. Look forward to learning more from you!
Glad you found it helpful 👍