I bought a chinese elm today, a v small sample from a nursery. It was very unkempt and i was able to trim shape and wire it, although im a novice so im bound to have made a few mistakes. I wouldnt have been able to do anything with it without the knowledge gained on ur channel, so thanks for the videos, keep them coming please.
Your video is fantastic! I could watch you do this all day long with awe and amazement! I’m a brand new owner of a Chinese Elm and a Rock juniper and I will be referring to your videos frequently. Thank you so much! Namaste ☸️😊
just got an japanese elm to christmas im so happy to rewatch your videos now and know what i habe to do:) love from germany your are a great bonsai master wish you the best
Great video. I bought my first bonsai about a month ago, and it is a Chinese Elm. It has grown a lot of shoots, so now I’m going to try pruning it. Wish me luck :)
Tis a pretty video. The form when pruning these bonsai's is interesting and the speed you display while taking care not to damage the plant is very precise.
Chinese elm is a fun tree to grow. They grow like weeds where I live. You can just go dig them up from anywhere. They are a fast grower and difficult to kill.
I have had a fairly substantial Chinese Elm for about 30 years. I have cared for it well all this time but have never been able to let it grow out vigorously, as Peter suggests we do periodically, without having the new growth immediately starting to curl up, turn black, and die. I wish Peter, or anyone else, could tell me why this happens and what I can do about it. To prevent this, I constantly prune off any new growth beyond the first one or two new leaves on any stem and I am sure this has weakened the tree to the point where it is not very vigorous any more. I don't want to let it die because it is probably about 70 years old (like me!) and really quite beautiful. Thank you for any knowledgeable suggestions!
Sounds like you're not feeding it enough, bonsais need a lot of feeding. They're trees after all and are confined to very small resources. If you bring it in for the winter you should feed all year, if you allow for dormancy during the winter don't feed during winter.
Thank you for your reply and advice. Actually, in the 3 years since I asked this question, I have learned that fungus was likely causing the tree's new leaves to curl and turn black. Since applying fungicide preventatively, year round, I have been able to get significant extended growth on the tree, even to the point where I have been able to perform a highly successful thread graft, to replace a major limb that had been lost years previously, using a super vigorous extension that I doubled back and threaded through the tree's trunk.@@your_local_reptile6700
Looks so nice like all your bonsai. I love how dull even top is, for me it's either weak bottom or top. This is full everywhere and great spacing, with trees you can only do what you can do. Can't work with whats not there, you have to be patient.
We have Chinese elm trees all over our yard, in the lawn, in the flowerbed (as weeds)..a horrible yet hardy, resilient plant that not even the Japanese beetles can kill..i never thought of them as something that could be tamed and a beautifully peaceful like a bonsai..
I've had a Chinese Elm for 3 years and haven't had to prune it yet. You get all that growth in 4 months......why isn't mine growing? I'm in Texas USA where it's warm, I water regularly, fertilize, etc, but zero growth? Same problem with a Ficus. hmmmm???? Keep up the great work!
I bought a 7 yr old Chinese elm from Amazon nearly 7 years ago, I have never pruned it…and I have decided to do it this weekend It’s a mess. It’s loss leaves on & off over the years I left it outside on my patio I repotted it into a normal pot. Not sure prune it first than repot into a bonsai pot wired in etc. It’s got so many tiny twigs all over the plant…I was going to sell it au naturalle but maybe I keep it
Nice pot. I've had my chinese elm for 5 years from small. I have trained the roots over a rock and am proud of it from the trunk down, but the foliage is a mess. I guess it is what they call 'broom style'. I am struggling to see any structue to work on. I have used fat wire to push branches apart in an attempt to open up the branches, but I am still struggling to see any structure to work on. Having watched this video I think my starting point will be to give it a conical shape and then eliminate crossing branches. Maybe after that some kind of structure will emerge. I'm starting to get an idea of growing it out sideways so that the foliage can drop down below the the trunk as it is high on a rock. A bit like when you climb a mountain and find yourself above the clouds.
@Sebastian Alovisi Thanks for the reply - I'm interested to read about how you do things - I'm a total noob so I dont know how much I can help you. Basically my chinese elm never seems to shed its leaves?! I live in the UK and keep it outside all year except for when the temperature looks like it may drop below freezing - then I bring it in - and it still keeps its leaves - all year round! The only time it has ever shed its leaves was once when I re-potted it and it shed all its leaves and I thought I had killed it - but then they grew back again straight after! I assume my little tree must have some kind of a 'dormancy period' as I let it get cold - but because it does not drop its leaves, Im not sure? Anyhow it is thriving - this summer has been god for it and it seems very strong and healthy. I have let it grow bushy to thicken up the branches and I intend to prune it and maybe defoliate it this winter so I can see the branch structure and maybe give it some proper shape. I use peat, akadama, sphagnum moss, sand, cat litter and slow release fertilizer balls all mixed up. I try to water it with rain water in the hot weather. I have also used mycorrhizal fungi supliment in the soil to help the roots. I am counting this tree as a success, but I tried this approach with my father's chinese elm and embarrasingly killed it! His tree was bought in a supermarket and kept indoors all the time in a warm centrally heated modern house. It started to look weak and so I thought I would change the soil to give it a boost - and it died. I think I killed it with kindness. I think I have learned that sudden change can shock and even kill a tree - especially if it is weak. I suspect that trees which may seem of the same variety may also have different genetics and be acclimatised to different soil chemistry and so respond differently to the same things? I have no other experience to compare my tree with. If you are worried about the roots maybe try mycorrhizal fungi - and only make gradual changes? I have tried to aim for a soil structure that drains well while retaining moisture and air. I have read that bonsai should be kept outside as much as possible (better light and water and exposure to seasonal changes). I have also read however that Chinese elms can get acclimatised to being kept indoors and do not go dormant if so - but my tree doesnt seem to have read any of these books! I am intrigued by your tree and the fused trunks - they sound interesting! I might try that one day! You must feel a weight of responsibility to be looking after trees of 20 years of age! I wonder how age affects tree growth & vitality - so many variables!
Hi Peter, can you please do a video on pests and pest control. I recently got my first Bonsai (a Japanese Holly) and it seems to already be infested with bugs. Tiny black jumping ones, larger faster moving orange ones, white ones and I just dug a caterpillar out of the moss that was devouring chunks of my leaves under the cover of darkness. I thought my tree had spider mite to begin with so I'm currently half way though a treatment of misting the leaves just with water. Is it because my tree is stressed? Is there a treatment that will take care of all of this at once? Many thanks, Matt
Thanks a lot for all of your videos. I’ve got a question. I just bought a chinese elm and it’s soil retains so much water. What kind of potting mix would you recommend?
Mine has lost loads of leaves during the winter is this normal ? I have given it plenty of sunlight fed it once a month and watered it every 4 days. Do I need to re pot it ?
Hello I have a Chinese Elm bonsai. I had to leave home in rush and it was not take care well, the soil dried. Now my tree doesn’t have leaves. The stems are green, but I don’t see any improvement. I fertilized it every month. I spray good quality water every day and check the pot to water once or twice a week. But after 2 months, I don’t see any improvement. What can you advice me to do? Should I prune more the branches, or keep waiting? Thank you so much in advance. Perla
Thanks for all the info it has helped but I don't see any video made on Bonsai soil by you! Or is there? If no, then that would be very helpful... Thanks!
I recently got a "Seiju" Elm tree. I'm trying to get good resources on caring for it but a lot of what I find is simply for Chinese Elm. What's the difference and can I apply recommendations for Chinese Elm on my Seiju Elm.
Mine seems to have died. It would have been too warm to bring indoors. It got minus 8 outside for a couple of weeks, and although well covered up and protected on the balcony, the leaves have gone grey green. I didn't have anywhere suitable to keep it cool but not too cold.
Definately a speed cut !:) lol but i kinda guess that this trees shape was quite easy to see through the vigorous side shoots and no styling needed . Peter works fast but im sure he may of has endless pruning to do which we dont see . Herons prob have hundreds of elm just like this .
I bought my Chinese elm from Herons, in July 2021, it was a lovely tree when I first got it, but within a few months of getting it now it looks like a witches broomstick, all the leaves apart about 5 or 6 of them have fallen off, I keep it on my bedroom window sill, I water it regularly and give it liquid feed once or twice a month but it's still is not putting anymore leaves out, so I'm beginning to think its dead.😥
Hi Felecia, we get asked a lot about watering of bonsai - Indoor bonsai should be watered when needed, requiring more water during the growing season and less during the dormant period in autumn. Keep the soil damp at all times but not soaking wet. Forgetting to water indoor bonsai is the single most common cause of death of indoor bonsai. Frequency of watering will depend on the warmth and humidity of the room. Make no assumptions water when needed.
Forget Edward Scissor Hands, meet Peter Scissor Chan. Awesome video Peter.
Faster than most sped up videos! Peter Chan is a Superman!
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone haha we all learn from each other i watch you two all the time. Im even considering making my own videos
Superman or Flash ?
its seems like he's just randomly chopping away, but he's really not!
@@dennylui He was the master of Mr. Myagi.
Omg nigel im a huge fan of you
You make it look so easy. I literally sit hours watching my bonsais every day, to make sure i wont cut important branches :)
Marcel Pflaumenschmaus paralysis by analysis!
Wow you are badder than me.
I do the same, I kinda love it though
I learned more in 5 minutes here than in hours from other videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge!
This guy is a legend and his centre near East Grinstead is amazing. Can't wait to learn more from him in his workshop
I bought a chinese elm today, a v small sample from a nursery. It was very unkempt and i was able to trim shape and wire it, although im a novice so im bound to have made a few mistakes. I wouldnt have been able to do anything with it without the knowledge gained on ur channel, so thanks for the videos, keep them coming please.
Great video, I started Bonsai because of your teaching. I’m never bored with your videos. I find them relaxing even when your in a hurry
Your video is fantastic! I could watch you do this all day long with awe and amazement! I’m a brand new owner of a Chinese Elm and a Rock juniper and I will be referring to your videos frequently. Thank you so much! Namaste ☸️😊
just got an japanese elm to christmas im so happy to rewatch your videos now and know what i habe to do:) love from germany
your are a great bonsai master wish you the best
If Mr. Myagi had a master, was this gentleman. What a knowledge. Amazing. Love this videos.
I love my Bonsai and I know deep down it loves me :)
It loves you lots
If possible, could you please make a care video for the Chinese elm ? Please and thank you
Purchased a Chinese elm from you 4 weeks ago :D Incredible place!
I'm looking into it myself and was wondering what's the delivery and tree itself like if you dont mind?😁
Is it still alive
A Master willing to humbly share is a true Master indeed.
Great video. I bought my first bonsai about a month ago, and it is a Chinese Elm. It has grown a lot of shoots, so now I’m going to try pruning it. Wish me luck :)
Thank you Peter for the quick lesson, I learned so much in this short video, now if I can only get rid of these tiny white mites that plague my Elm
Tis a pretty video. The form when pruning these bonsai's is interesting and the speed you display while taking care not to damage the plant is very precise.
Very helpful thanks.. I got given a 7years old chinese elm bonsai for my birthday..
Great film. Now I will trim my elm Bonsai
Bonsai tress are lovely. Elm tree bonsai’s have great stamina .
Peter Chan is the bonsai man .he would be so proud of me if he saw my trees
Send me some pics of your trees.
Such a Beautiful piece of artwork Thank you for explaining how to prune
Chinese elm is a fun tree to grow. They grow like weeds where I live. You can just go dig them up from anywhere. They are a fast grower and difficult to kill.
Thank you so much for your movies ❤️❤️❤️👍🌳
I have had a fairly substantial Chinese Elm for about 30 years. I have cared for it well all this time but have never been able to let it grow out vigorously, as Peter suggests we do periodically, without having the new growth immediately starting to curl up, turn black, and die. I wish Peter, or anyone else, could tell me why this happens and what I can do about it. To prevent this, I constantly prune off any new growth beyond the first one or two new leaves on any stem and I am sure this has weakened the tree to the point where it is not very vigorous any more. I don't want to let it die because it is probably about 70 years old (like me!) and really quite beautiful. Thank you for any knowledgeable suggestions!
Sounds like you're not feeding it enough, bonsais need a lot of feeding. They're trees after all and are confined to very small resources. If you bring it in for the winter you should feed all year, if you allow for dormancy during the winter don't feed during winter.
Thank you for your reply and advice. Actually, in the 3 years since I asked this question, I have learned that fungus was likely causing the tree's new leaves to curl and turn black. Since applying fungicide preventatively, year round, I have been able to get significant extended growth on the tree, even to the point where I have been able to perform a highly successful thread graft, to replace a major limb that had been lost years previously, using a super vigorous extension that I doubled back and threaded through the tree's trunk.@@your_local_reptile6700
Careful, Mr. Chan...watch your fingers! Great video sir. I love your content!!
Very much enjoy your videos -- easy to understand and well demonstrated -- thank you!
Wow! I go onto youtube to look up how to prune my bonsai and what do you know, there's my bonsai! He/she is famous! Awesome video, thanks.
I find myself watching one branch and wait till he snips it lol. Thank you for the knowledge
Watched in amazement at this guys pruning dexterity, then see that everyone els is on the same lvl un real
Looks so nice like all your bonsai. I love how dull even top is, for me it's either weak bottom or top. This is full everywhere and great spacing, with trees you can only do what you can do. Can't work with whats not there, you have to be patient.
We have Chinese elm trees all over our yard, in the lawn, in the flowerbed (as weeds)..a horrible yet hardy, resilient plant that not even the Japanese beetles can kill..i never thought of them as something that could be tamed and a beautifully peaceful like a bonsai..
Clap Clap Clap it looks amazing and tells ALL the information in ONE vide :D!
Thank you sooooo much for this awesome video, very helpful! 🌳
I've had a Chinese Elm for 3 years and haven't had to prune it yet. You get all that growth in 4 months......why isn't mine growing? I'm in Texas USA where it's warm, I water regularly, fertilize, etc, but zero growth? Same problem with a Ficus. hmmmm???? Keep up the great work!
Thank you Master Chan!
Very well explained. Thank you for the video.
Thank you for sharing ❤
I love it. Thank you for the information.
You got respect the Japanese , they are so professional
Do I wait for the shoots to turn brown before I can prune? Or could I prune when the shoots are still green?
Thank you so much this great video
Thank you.
precision at the cutting-point...
Great job!! It looks amazing!!
"your hair will get completely unkempt and mis-shapen" ...watching this with dreadlocks like ...woops
Are the big shoots worth propogating? And if so how would you go about it? Rooting powder or gel?
Nice tree. Thanks for sharing.
And there's me, looking half an hour at a brach before cutting it 😄
👍 thanks Chinese sir, Weldon,🙏💞
Beautiful
0:36 I hope Nigel Saunders is watching this.
I love this so much ..
If my barber cut my hair like that I'd piss myself..
Much love tho!
Nice cut
He's deadly with those pruning shears
Great explanation
Parabéns muito lindo
I bought a 7 yr old Chinese elm from Amazon nearly 7 years ago, I have never pruned it…and I have decided to do it this weekend
It’s a mess.
It’s loss leaves on & off over the years I left it outside on my patio I repotted it into a normal pot.
Not sure prune it first than repot into a bonsai pot wired in etc.
It’s got so many tiny twigs all over the plant…I was going to sell it au naturalle but maybe I keep it
How do you prune a much small bonsai?
Nice pot. I've had my chinese elm for 5 years from small. I have trained the roots over a rock and am proud of it from the trunk down, but the foliage is a mess. I guess it is what they call 'broom style'. I am struggling to see any structue to work on. I have used fat wire to push branches apart in an attempt to open up the branches, but I am still struggling to see any structure to work on. Having watched this video I think my starting point will be to give it a conical shape and then eliminate crossing branches. Maybe after that some kind of structure will emerge. I'm starting to get an idea of growing it out sideways so that the foliage can drop down below the the trunk as it is high on a rock. A bit like when you climb a mountain and find yourself above the clouds.
@Sebastian Alovisi Thanks for the reply - I'm interested to read about how you do things - I'm a total noob so I dont know how much I can help you.
Basically my chinese elm never seems to shed its leaves?! I live in the UK and keep it outside all year except for when the temperature looks like it may drop below freezing - then I bring it in - and it still keeps its leaves - all year round! The only time it has ever shed its leaves was once when I re-potted it and it shed all its leaves and I thought I had killed it - but then they grew back again straight after!
I assume my little tree must have some kind of a 'dormancy period' as I let it get cold - but because it does not drop its leaves, Im not sure?
Anyhow it is thriving - this summer has been god for it and it seems very strong and healthy. I have let it grow bushy to thicken up the branches and I intend to prune it and maybe defoliate it this winter so I can see the branch structure and maybe give it some proper shape.
I use peat, akadama, sphagnum moss, sand, cat litter and slow release fertilizer balls all mixed up. I try to water it with rain water in the hot weather. I have also used mycorrhizal fungi supliment in the soil to help the roots.
I am counting this tree as a success, but I tried this approach with my father's chinese elm and embarrasingly killed it! His tree was bought in a supermarket and kept indoors all the time in a warm centrally heated modern house. It started to look weak and so I thought I would change the soil to give it a boost - and it died. I think I killed it with kindness. I think I have learned that sudden change can shock and even kill a tree - especially if it is weak. I suspect that trees which may seem of the same variety may also have different genetics and be acclimatised to different soil chemistry and so respond differently to the same things?
I have no other experience to compare my tree with.
If you are worried about the roots maybe try mycorrhizal fungi - and only make gradual changes?
I have tried to aim for a soil structure that drains well while retaining moisture and air.
I have read that bonsai should be kept outside as much as possible (better light and water and exposure to seasonal changes). I have also read however that Chinese elms can get acclimatised to being kept indoors and do not go dormant if so - but my tree doesnt seem to have read any of these books!
I am intrigued by your tree and the fused trunks - they sound interesting! I might try that one day! You must feel a weight of responsibility to be looking after trees of 20 years of age! I wonder how age affects tree growth & vitality - so many variables!
Hi Peter, can you please do a video on pests and pest control. I recently got my first Bonsai (a Japanese Holly) and it seems to already be infested with bugs. Tiny black jumping ones, larger faster moving orange ones, white ones and I just dug a caterpillar out of the moss that was devouring chunks of my leaves under the cover of darkness. I thought my tree had spider mite to begin with so I'm currently half way though a treatment of misting the leaves just with water. Is it because my tree is stressed? Is there a treatment that will take care of all of this at once? Many thanks, Matt
how do you get the twist so down low mine is too rigid to bend and wire
You can do a lot with that bonsai quickly.
Thanks a lot for all of your videos. I’ve got a question. I just bought a chinese elm and it’s soil retains so much water. What kind of potting mix would you recommend?
Should have been called Edward
✂ 🖐️ 🖐️
Hello Peter i repot and prune my elm at the same day? :) thank u
Mine has lost loads of leaves during the winter is this normal ? I have given it plenty of sunlight fed it once a month and watered it every 4 days. Do I need to re pot it ?
you should put links in the description as to where to buy the pruning products.
That would be helpful!
Hi, is a Japanese Elm (Zelkova) the same as this?
Hello I have a Chinese Elm bonsai. I had to leave home in rush and it was not take care well, the soil dried. Now my tree doesn’t have leaves. The stems are green, but I don’t see any improvement. I fertilized it every month. I spray good quality water every day and check the pot to water once or twice a week. But after 2 months, I don’t see any improvement. What can you advice me to do? Should I prune more the branches, or keep waiting? Thank you so much in advance. Perla
My elm is about four inches tall, when and how should I bend it? Or does that happen naturally?
Thanks for all the info it has helped but I don't see any video made on Bonsai soil by you! Or is there? If no, then that would be very helpful... Thanks!
I recently got a "Seiju" Elm tree. I'm trying to get good resources on caring for it but a lot of what I find is simply for Chinese Elm. What's the difference and can I apply recommendations for Chinese Elm on my Seiju Elm.
When do you prune it? It seems when I do this the tree goes into shock or starts to show signs of dying.
You may not be watering your tree enough or feeding it enough. Also depends on the species.
Mine seems to have died. It would have been too warm to bring indoors. It got minus 8 outside for a couple of weeks, and although well covered up and protected on the balcony, the leaves have gone grey green. I didn't have anywhere suitable to keep it cool but not too cold.
hello, can you help me choose artificial light for my cabbage bonsai?
Do I not need to put some seal and heal on the wounds after pruning?
That would have taken me 2 hours. Then another hour to plant all the cuttings then 2 alieves to recover.
Hi Peter I have a 15 year old elm. Acquired a month ago. Not sure if it's best left outside or in the conservatory, south facing. Please help
Definately a speed cut !:) lol but i kinda guess that this trees shape was quite easy to see through the vigorous side shoots and no styling needed .
Peter works fast but im sure he may of has endless pruning to do which we dont see . Herons prob have hundreds of elm just like this .
Do I need to buy specific scissors/shears please?
I bought my Chinese elm from Herons, in July 2021, it was a lovely tree when I first got it, but within a few months of getting it now it looks like a witches broomstick, all the leaves apart about 5 or 6 of them have fallen off, I keep it on my bedroom window sill, I water it regularly and give it liquid feed once or twice a month but it's still is not putting anymore leaves out, so I'm beginning to think its dead.😥
How often do you water it
Me: Scared to cut shit on my Bonsai
Him: slapping it about and *snip snip*
How come I pruned mine back and the leaves started browning
Is this an Ulmus or a Zelkova?
I would have removed three fingers cutting that quickly! Skillz
What is the best soil for Chinese Elm?
Will the tee go into shock from the loss of all those branches??🤔🤔
No
Cây gì vậy bạn
Muy bonito la verdad!! 🌳 Lo malo esque no me entero 😅 el idioma.....
si es muy verdad... sup im bylingual
Such Finesse 🤣🤣🤣
Great explanation but the camera keeps loosing focus.
Sir , Can you please tell from where I can get the bonsai pots?
Hello Atanu Dewan, it will depend where you live. We have thousands of pots at Herons.co.uk
How to propagate chinese elm?
My chinese elm does not grow at all in 3 months how to make new leaves grow
Put it outside.
how often do you water this tree? thank you.
Hi Felecia, we get asked a lot about watering of bonsai - Indoor bonsai should be watered when needed, requiring more water during the growing season and less during the dormant period in autumn. Keep the soil damp at all times but not soaking wet. Forgetting to water indoor bonsai is the single most common cause of death of indoor bonsai. Frequency of watering will depend on the warmth and humidity of the room. Make no assumptions water when needed.
king julien is that you ?
Why is he going so fast?