I had to listen to parts of this twice, but I got it now! So, leave it in a nursery pot and stick the whole 9 yards into the ground a few inches. Got it! I could see adding a few more drain holes would be a good thing and let the roots go wild. Brilliant!
I have a southern Magnolia tree growing in an old raised brick patio planter. It was only about 12" tall and quite spindly with no branches 4 years ago when I moved in. I let it be to see what it would do, not knowing if the planter was enclosed in brick or concrete at the bottom, leaving nowhere for the roots to go. Tne tree has grown quite rapidly since . Once the trunk had doubled in height and began branching, I removed the single leaves that were growing from the trunk last year all the way up to the apex and 2 of 5 new branching arms hoping to begin some mild shaping. I topped the center just above the 3 remaining branches right at the apex. I've let it grow completely unmolested this year. The new center branch, while clearly shorter is thriving as are the remaining three branches that I had left all on one side. Interestingly, a new branch has grown just at the apex to make the tree appear symmetrical again, much to my annoyance. What's astonishing to me though is that the tree is now spread at its top about 36" inches and the main trunk has gone from a fairly uniform circumference just over an inch to begin a rapid thickening over the growing season that starts about 6 inches above the ground and is now a good 4 inches at the very base. The height of the trunk at the original apex has changed very little as I had hoped, but the bark at the exact thickening line is entirely darker. I can feel surface roots just under the landscape cloth and single layer of small to medium river rock I've put in to stop the loss of our very sandy soil to the elements. We're in the Florida panhandle, just a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Now I'll get to the point. I don't even know if I can turn a southern Magnolia ( the kind with the saucer-sized creamy white flowers) into a proper bonsai at all, the huge leaves might be too unbalancing, but I also know I can't leave it where it is because it will eventually destroy the planter and patio. I'm terrified I'll kill it if I dig it up. I can't find anything anywhere about creating with this species of tree so I'm at a loss what to do next. Any advice on whether I should top and shape it a bit again this year and the best time to dig it up and transplant to a large landscape pot would be enormously appreciated. I'm afraid the roots will rapidly get too deep to make the move much later. Thank you in advance for any help you can offer. Katrina
I forgot tomadd that we have gotten at least one very hard freeze over the last two winters so I'm unsure if it would survive such conditions in a pot.
Any time…sooner better later because you want new growth to thicken. I would keep it in the ground until new growths get to some size close to the main trunk before digging…It will take much longer to dig now and grow in a nursery pot, because there would be less root to feed the tree.
This is what I do. I will look for mature trees that have been stunted. I also air layer. But I also work with tropicals and succulents so never running out of things to do so I can ignore the tge trees. lol.
I still don't get exactly how it works. So if you want a bonsai tree, you plant a regular tree and let it grow. And then once the trunk gets a bit thicker you just cut the top of the tree off so it's only like a foot or two tall? And it will grow branches again? The trees you pulled out at the start were already short.. how did they get that way?
Bonsai is a hobby that is mostly represented by older folks (>40yo) since it requires stability, space (homeownership), money (possible to do it cheaply but not nearly as fulfilling) and free time (retirement and kids out of the house). Bonsai professionals however, tend to be much younger and start their apprenticeships right out of high school or college. The also have talent, which most people do not have. So in short, most bonsai hobbyists start in the later half of their lives. I do think starting the hobby younger is best to develop skills (spend money on education, not trees). That way they are many steps ahead of their peers when they invest more into the hobby down the line.
Hey! Most people can live to 100 (I intend to) Can you imagine how old your bonsai will by then? That is, you won't lament at 100...why didn't I do more at 37? 🙂
Good video, very informative. But I did cringe a bit when you specified an “African” child suffering of malnutrition. Malnutrition can and does affect anyone living in poor conditions. I can think of quite a few countries in Far East Asia that have many children suffering of malnutrition.
I had to listen to parts of this twice, but I got it now! So, leave it in a nursery pot and stick the whole 9 yards into the ground a few inches. Got it! I could see adding a few more drain holes would be a good thing and let the roots go wild. Brilliant!
You've got it!
Now you have my secret!
🙂
Nice video nice discussion on the thickness of the trunk thanks Milton keep up the good work
Will do, thanks!
I have a southern Magnolia tree growing in an old raised brick patio planter. It was only about 12" tall and quite spindly with no branches 4 years ago when I moved in. I let it be to see what it would do, not knowing if the planter was enclosed in brick or concrete at the bottom, leaving nowhere for the roots to go. Tne tree has grown quite rapidly since . Once the trunk had doubled in height and began branching, I removed the single leaves that were growing from the trunk last year all the way up to the apex and 2 of 5 new branching arms hoping to begin some mild shaping. I topped the center just above the 3 remaining branches right at the apex. I've let it grow completely unmolested this year. The new center branch, while clearly shorter is thriving as are the remaining three branches that I had left all on one side. Interestingly, a new branch has grown just at the apex to make the tree appear symmetrical again, much to my annoyance. What's astonishing to me though is that the tree is now spread at its top about 36" inches and the main trunk has gone from a fairly uniform circumference just over an inch to begin a rapid thickening over the growing season that starts about 6 inches above the ground and is now a good 4 inches at the very base. The height of the trunk at the original apex has changed very little as I had hoped, but the bark at the exact thickening line is entirely darker. I can feel surface roots just under the landscape cloth and single layer of small to medium river rock I've put in to stop the loss of our very sandy soil to the elements. We're in the Florida panhandle, just a few miles from the Gulf of Mexico.
Now I'll get to the point. I don't even know if I can turn a southern Magnolia ( the kind with the saucer-sized creamy white flowers) into a proper bonsai at all, the huge leaves might be too unbalancing, but I also know I can't leave it where it is because it will eventually destroy the planter and patio. I'm terrified I'll kill it if I dig it up. I can't find anything anywhere about creating with this species of tree so I'm at a loss what to do next.
Any advice on whether I should top and shape it a bit again this year and the best time to dig it up and transplant to a large landscape pot would be enormously appreciated. I'm afraid the roots will rapidly get too deep to make the move much later.
Thank you in advance for any help you can offer.
Katrina
I forgot tomadd that we have gotten at least one very hard freeze over the last two winters so I'm unsure if it would survive such conditions in a pot.
Thank you Sir for sharing some of your Hard earned experience
You ar elcome...killd many trees in my 50 yerars of bonsai!
@@MiltonChang-ee6rq Sir,you learned the hard way but gave an insight to others to save and shape trees.
Great video, always enjoyable, interesting, informative and educational. Ty sir.
🙂
Thank you for all of your videos and knowledge! Love to watch them inthe morning with coffee, very relaxing
Sounds like a lovely morning! Thanks for watching!
You are such a wealth of knowledge, good sir.
Thank you...learned the hard way!
Thanks again, Milton. 😊❤
Welcome!
Welcome!
Thank you for the video.
Grow bags also work
Is there a best time of year to cut a tree down when the trunk is a good size? Spring or autumn?
Any time…sooner better later because you want new growth to thicken. I would keep it in the ground until new growths get to some size close to the main trunk before digging…It will take much longer to dig now and grow in a nursery pot, because there would be less root to feed the tree.
@@bonsaiheirloomthanks for the advice learned so much from your videos
I found another maple growing in my backyard! It's a much bigger one too! :D Should I prune it while it's in the ground or pot then prune it?
This is what I do. I will look for mature trees that have been stunted. I also air layer. But I also work with tropicals and succulents so never running out of things to do so I can ignore the tge trees. lol.
Thanks for point this out to reinforce more ideas.
I still don't get exactly how it works. So if you want a bonsai tree, you plant a regular tree and let it grow. And then once the trunk gets a bit thicker you just cut the top of the tree off so it's only like a foot or two tall? And it will grow branches again? The trees you pulled out at the start were already short.. how did they get that way?
👍👌🙂
Do you find the bulk of your views are by older people?
Bonsai is a hobby that is mostly represented by older folks (>40yo) since it requires stability, space (homeownership), money (possible to do it cheaply but not nearly as fulfilling) and free time (retirement and kids out of the house). Bonsai professionals however, tend to be much younger and start their apprenticeships right out of high school or college. The also have talent, which most people do not have.
So in short, most bonsai hobbyists start in the later half of their lives. I do think starting the hobby younger is best to develop skills (spend money on education, not trees). That way they are many steps ahead of their peers when they invest more into the hobby down the line.
A fool rqnge...from retirement age to teen agers. I have no firm statics. Declined in recent years due to the change in life style...digital age.
@@BuzzLiteBeer I totally agree.
Now 37 I am kicking my self for not starting earlier in my teens
Hey! Most people can live to 100 (I intend to) Can you imagine how old your bonsai will by then? That is, you won't lament at 100...why didn't I do more at 37? 🙂
I am 28 years old lol
Please pronounce the "s" sound in "bonsai," and not a "z" sound. Great video!
Good video, very informative. But I did cringe a bit when you specified an “African” child suffering of malnutrition. Malnutrition can and does affect anyone living in poor conditions. I can think of quite a few countries in Far East Asia that have many children suffering of malnutrition.
บางครั้งงง😮ในกระถางกับในลงดินบริเวณบ้าน😮การเจริญเติบโตต่างกันชัดเจน😮ที่บ้านผมตรงต้นมะนาวจากการปลุกหลายๆครั้งลงโอ่งหรอวงบ่อใน🇹🇭ผมว่าชัดตรงโตช้ากับโตเร็วออกผล🍋..ตรงจุดปลุกใหม่มะนาวโตช้าสุดจริงที่บ้านลงใหม่ในดิน😮แปลกทดลองสังเกตุ😮ต้นสนเข้าใจถูกลงดินปลุกหน้าบ้าน😮ตามไซร์ที่เราซื้อมาโตไว้หน้าบ้านคนอื่นนะ😮ของผมใส่กระถาง?เราได้คำตอบหลายอย่าง+ในกระถางอีกแบบลงดินได้อีกแบบการเจริญเติบโต❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
You've got it!
can’t understand your comment, auto-translate is poor