This is one of my favorite times of year because of the chance to do a bit of work on the deciduous bonsai now that they are done being all leafy. Looked like a fun go, Darren!
I've been fascinated by bonsai since I was about 13 when I first read an article by Peter Chan. I read books, visited Peter's nursery, bought nursery stock, but it wasn't until I came across Ryan Neil at Bonsai Mirai that I finally felt I was getting the kind of knowledge I wanted. Maybe I just need to be able to watch someone work, rather than read books and look at photos which for me can be a bit ambiguous. I'm really enjoying your channel, thank you Darren :)
@@grobonsai Yes! The BSOP streams are invaluable. Real horticultural information, not just chop, chop, chop, ta da! Thank you spreading the Mirai #notsponsored word 😊
I have just found your channel and I am enjoying it a lot. We are at about the same stage in our bonsai journey and we go to the same authorities - Ryan and Walter, so its very interesting to see how you inplement the information on your trees. I love your honesty and your understated delivery. I am looking forward looking through your "back catalogue"
@@grobonsai Hi, I have been keeping bonsai for 30 years, 25 of them in south east Wales and the last 5 years in the west of the Isle of Wight. Where are you?
At Center Parcs one time, my drunken "friend" decided it what our chalet needed was a nice tree, so he pulled one out of the ground hauled it most of the way in and fell asleep on the floor. The point of this story is to mention it is a damn sight easier to pull a tree through a door trunk first when drunk than branches first when sober!
Great video very helpful I found a lovely elm in the woods I have been very lucky with it as it had hardly any roots when I found it and this year it has grown 2ft shoots form the base so that's made some roots in the pot 🌱 I wondered when it was best to refine it so thanks for your video helped me 👍👍👍👍🌱🌲 I can't wait to work on it as it has a hollow wood in pleases
To deter the birds, a not very elegant but effective method is to place "stakes", wooden BBQ skewers, lolly sticks or whatever suits around the perimeter of the pot.. and tie fishing line in a criss cross pattern an inch or so above the soil line, should give your moss a good chance to establish..
Removing protective layers of moss or leaves before winter hits is not what was taught in Mirai lessons. Rather pile even more on top. But if you're gonna bring the tree into a greenhouse maybe the roots are gonna be fine then.
Is there a limit to how young a tree can be for winter pruning? I have several about 3/4 of an inch in diameter or smaller which I have dug out of our woods. Some are tall and spindly and definitely would have to be pruned or trunk-chopped to make a more appealing bonsai. Unless, of course I go with the literati style.
Good question Tammy. There is no limit in terms of age, but pruning in winter can have risks. There is risk of die back, and reduction in winter hardiness depending on species and timing. It would be less risky to do the pruning as buds start to swell in Spring, or after the first flush of growth has ‘hardened off’. I write this having just done some pruning on a hornbeam, so feel like I’m contradicting myself! My tree was very healthy, my garden is sheltered, I have winter protection, and autumn was very late here, with some trees still in leaf in the garden! Hope that helps. Darren
Hi, it’s mostly molar clay which is sold as Sanicat Pink in the UK, with some propagation bark roughly 80:20. I think some vermiculite found its way in there unintentionally. When it goes into a bonsai pot it will most likely go into akadama. Thanks
@@grobonsai that's nice. I had this idea of making a group chat with a few people who all about at the same level, maybe even from all over the world. I think it would be really helpful if you have some people to ask for a opinion. I'll try to find a few more people
Sometimes advice comes from well meaning granny’s. And they are right in some cases. In this case I would ignore using any acid against moss, or try to experiment: if you have 2 plant that are the same use both methods with and without acid and see what happens. I’ll see if I can perform this experiment in my garden.
This is one of my favorite times of year because of the chance to do a bit of work on the deciduous bonsai now that they are done being all leafy. Looked like a fun go, Darren!
Thanks for the watch Jared, I agree, I've been waiting and waiting for fall :D
I've been fascinated by bonsai since I was about 13 when I first read an article by Peter Chan. I read books, visited Peter's nursery, bought nursery stock, but it wasn't until I came across Ryan Neil at Bonsai Mirai that I finally felt I was getting the kind of knowledge I wanted. Maybe I just need to be able to watch someone work, rather than read books and look at photos which for me can be a bit ambiguous. I'm really enjoying your channel, thank you Darren :)
Thanks for watching Becki. I have a similar experience, the Spring Fundamentals BSOP stream really opened my eyes
@@grobonsai Yes! The BSOP streams are invaluable. Real horticultural information, not just chop, chop, chop, ta da! Thank you spreading the Mirai #notsponsored word 😊
Love Bonsai Mirai for in depth info. I cant wait to see more channels like them to start popping up
Well worth the money for Mirai live 🤘
I got myself a little cork bark variety of a German Elm this year, and this video was quite helpful. Thanks a lot!
Thank you!
Nice update and work. It’s well on its way. Thanks
Thanks for watching Matt
I have just found your channel and I am enjoying it a lot. We are at about the same stage in our bonsai journey and we go to the same authorities - Ryan and Walter, so its very interesting to see how you inplement the information on your trees. I love your honesty and your understated delivery. I am looking forward looking through your "back catalogue"
Thanks for watching, it’s good to hear from you. The early videos are a bit awful 😳. Where are you based?
@@grobonsai Hi, I have been keeping bonsai for 30 years, 25 of them in south east Wales and the last 5 years in the west of the Isle of Wight. Where are you?
I’m just outside Worcester
At Center Parcs one time, my drunken "friend" decided it what our chalet needed was a nice tree, so he pulled one out of the ground hauled it most of the way in and fell asleep on the floor.
The point of this story is to mention it is a damn sight easier to pull a tree through a door trunk first when drunk than branches first when sober!
Good point well made 😁
Try putting an owl or hawk sculpture in the pot or near your trees. Might keep pests away
I’ve heard of this before but forgot about it. It’s got to be worth a try, thanks
next time turn around and go in backwards. That way the branches won’t catch on the door frame
Thanks Sharon, if I had brains, I’d be dangerous... 😁
This was very helpful! Thank you.
Amazing tree👏👏
Very nice. As for the anti birds stuff - search amazon for gutter mesh. you can buy rolls of it. looks crap, but will keep them out.
Thanks, I’ll go look 👀
Great video very helpful I found a lovely elm in the woods I have been very lucky with it as it had hardly any roots when I found it and this year it has grown 2ft shoots form the base so that's made some roots in the pot 🌱
I wondered when it was best to refine it so thanks for your video helped me 👍👍👍👍🌱🌲
I can't wait to work on it as it has a hollow wood in pleases
Sounds like a good find 👍
I also found out the trunk is hollow 🌲
So look forward to carving it out later 😷🍂🍂
It's amazing boss.I love this.
Thank you my friend 🙏🙏
I like to call pre Bonsai by a different name, Potensai as it has the Potential to become a Bonsai!!
Love that!!
To deter the birds, a not very elegant but effective method is to place "stakes", wooden BBQ skewers, lolly sticks or whatever suits around the perimeter of the pot.. and tie fishing line in a criss cross pattern an inch or so above the soil line, should give your moss a good chance to establish..
Thanks Stevie P 🙏
Removing protective layers of moss or leaves before winter hits is not what was taught in Mirai lessons. Rather pile even more on top. But if you're gonna bring the tree into a greenhouse maybe the roots are gonna be fine then.
The leaves in my garden rot and clog up the soil, but I agree on the moss - good call
Is there a limit to how young a tree can be for winter pruning? I have several about 3/4 of an inch in diameter or smaller which I have dug out of our woods. Some are tall and spindly and definitely would have to be pruned or trunk-chopped to make a more appealing bonsai. Unless, of course I go with the literati style.
Good question Tammy. There is no limit in terms of age, but pruning in winter can have risks. There is risk of die back, and reduction in winter hardiness depending on species and timing. It would be less risky to do the pruning as buds start to swell in Spring, or after the first flush of growth has ‘hardened off’. I write this having just done some pruning on a hornbeam, so feel like I’m contradicting myself! My tree was very healthy, my garden is sheltered, I have winter protection, and autumn was very late here, with some trees still in leaf in the garden! Hope that helps. Darren
What substrate mix is that, do you mind sharing? Thx in advance
Hi, it’s mostly molar clay which is sold as Sanicat Pink in the UK, with some propagation bark roughly 80:20. I think some vermiculite found its way in there unintentionally. When it goes into a bonsai pot it will most likely go into akadama. Thanks
That's some really good material! How long have you been doing bonsai?
Thanks 🙏 not all that long in bonsai terms, around 4 years. Thanks for the comment!
@@grobonsai that's nice. I had this idea of making a group chat with a few people who all about at the same level, maybe even from all over the world. I think it would be really helpful if you have some people to ask for a opinion. I'll try to find a few more people
Great idea
Why vinegar against moss? Moss love the acidity and wil happily grow back on the trunk. Ore is there some other reason?
It’s one of those things that I’ve never really questioned- just followed advice 😅
Sometimes advice comes from well meaning granny’s. And they are right in some cases. In this case I would ignore using any acid against moss, or try to experiment: if you have 2 plant that are the same use both methods with and without acid and see what happens.
I’ll see if I can perform this experiment in my garden.
Rat traps