Check out my EPIC bonsai bench tour and bonsai review videos: ua-cam.com/video/at6rR3QRvFM/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/ZmFN9WOkaaM/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/siWfo5KYERI/v-deo.html
@@BlueJayBonsai there is some kind of big jade plant (large leaves) and lots and lots of cacti. There is also a large Christmas Cactus which I considered bonsai-ing after seeing Nigel’s video but my life would not be worth living… 😆
As a very new beginner to bonsai with a "bought one... killed one" ratio (a Carmona), I'm now doing what I should have done last summer - try to understand the basics before buying plants! This is a helpful video and one I will take notice of as I source my next bonsai tree (an easy one for beginners that is hard to kill). I have also ordered the DK Bonsai book which you had recommended in another video. Thanks for the advice...
Great selection of starter trees, resilient forgiving species that can also look amazing as they mature. Maybe I would also add in zelkova, boxwood, pomegranate, and olive but then maybe it would need to be top 10 instead of 5!!
Agreed, I picked these for their robustness and ease of availability. The list could have been another ten trees though 😁 You probably find pomegranate easier in your warmer climate, and olive a bit of a slow grower here. In the UK pomegranate needs some winter protection which sadly I failed to give mine 🤗. I do have two large Olive Garden trees and a small olive [pre]bonsai though. 👍
Thank you for this video. I did bring my Chinese Elms indoors not knowing they would suffer. I've lost a lot of leaves on a couple of them but a few buds have opened. A few others are doing quite well with minimal leaf loss. If they survive this winter indoors i won't bring them indoors next year. I am trying to keep the humidity up with a humidity tray, and humidifiers.
Keep them in a cool, brightly lit room and water regularly. They should be ok as they are a hardy tree species, though appreciate being outside, particularly once the colder weather has ended. I leave mine out all year round.
Lovely and interesting video. My first tree was an ash that had self seeded, got quite a few mountain ash and lemons germinated from pips. Just having another go at almonds got one last year but lost it overwinter. This time got 14 to germinate but a slug in greenhouse got a couple. If l get two l will be happy.
Thank you for your kind comments Mandy. You demonstrate perfectly that although bonsai as a hobby can be expensive, it does not have to be and you can work with locally found and seeds and native plants. It might require a little more time and patience, but the rewards for nurturing, shaping and improving are great. Good luck with your efforts. 🙏
Thanks Matt. My choices were based on how robust and easy to work and also to get hold of. The list could probably have been much longer to include larch, hornbeam and many other species. 👍
Thanks Jonathan. I also prefer non tropical trees. The only semi tropical which I have personally grown (and killed) were Carmona/ Fukien Tea which unfortunately met their end due to frost. I included the ficus based on Nigel’s videos and how they survive the punishing trimming he gives them 😆
Thanks Tony. Your feedback greatly appreciated, and I very much look forward to your take on this. As I mention elsewhere in the comments we would probably all have our own unique list based on experience or what we have seen elsewhere. On a technical note it was a real pain to put together thanks to Apple devices being notoriously incompatible with [pretty much] anything and involved struggling to transfer video files from my phone to iPad to laptop and back. 😩
That's my ultimate nightmare. I can't stand it when technology doesn't do what I want it to do. You got there in the end though and I'm sure you've cracked it now! Just been out and filmed my video inspired by yours but forgot to mention you. I'll add it in some text! 🤣
@@TonysBonsai yeah my biggest bugbear with technology is because it is constantly changing things that originally did work and were simple suddenly don’t, or you have to jump through flaming hoops to achieve anything. It used to be simple to transfer files from an iPhone (which has frustratingly very basic video editing) to a laptop (which can hold industry professional level software) but now it’s a real headache. You’ll probably notice the format getting a bit more ambitious but I’m battling technology to create what I have in mind. 🤗 I’ll keep an eye open for your upcoming video 👍
Nailed it. I love your choices and the thoughts behind each one. As i don't have any indoor trees i would, ignorantly, have overlooked the Ficus and probably have included a Trident Maple instead. Thanks Jason
Thanks Andrew. Indoor trees are not my thing either. My main criteria were relatively cheap, easily available trees which are bomb proof. If I did a top 10 maybe trident maple would have made the list 😁
Great vid! I think jade trees are better than ficus for indoors. Maybe because we don't get much sun for 4 months of winter? Ficus just suffer and drop leafs all that time. With artificial ligt it works better, but that may not be for beginners.😀👍
Thank you for your comment. Much appreciated 🙏 To be honest I’m pretty much an outdoor tree enthusiast. My inclusion of ficus was based on seeing what other have achieved (mainly @Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone) and how tolerant they appear of being cut back.
@@TheBonsaiGarden Indeed me too. Bonsai is mainly an outdoor hobby. I grow all my non hardy trees outdoors in summer and in heated overwintering room in winter. Never in living room conditions.😀👍
Now you've started something! I have a Kojo no Mai. It started as a tree to turn into a Bonsai many years ago. Then a good friend in the Orchid Channel world lost her youngest Son (aged around 12). She started a project #growitforJosh asking people to dedicate a plant/tree to her Son's memory, send her a pic or short vid and she would show these at the end of one of her vids every week. I chose this tree so put it in a larger garden tub to grow on. Now my interest in Bonsai has resumed, I'm going to get this in a large Bonsai pot this Autumn, take off unwanted branches and wait for the blossom in early Spring. Some shaping will be done towards the end of next year once the root system has recovered from the disturbance and the new growth has hardened off. It will be an 'instant Bonsai'.
A really great video Jason and I liked the presentation. Even better though...you didnt pick my top three bonsai trees for beginners. I hadnt thought of the cotoneaster but definitely a good spot. The Ficus is great except it does get that horrible sticky honeydew that drips on furniture through the winter :(
Thanks. It was a pain to put together due to filming on my iPhone, editing on my iPad and tinkering on my laptop - and none of them being particularly compatible or friendly… This is the sort of thing where we would all choose a different selection of trees based on personal experience. Personally I have not had ficus and much prefer outdoor trees.
Maples have been good growers for me here in Idaho and tolerate winters down to the occasional -10F and summers of 100F with just a little protection. Hawthorn are very hardy, small leaves, small flowers and berries, just have to deal with the thorns.
Maples would be my favourite tree for bonsai. They are beautiful and elegant, but I wouldn’t suggest one to people as a first bonsai. They can be a bit delicate and require great care. I agree hawthorn are robust and great for bonsai. I tend to clip off the end of the thorns to make them a little easier to handle 😀
Check out my EPIC bonsai bench tour and bonsai review videos:
ua-cam.com/video/at6rR3QRvFM/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/ZmFN9WOkaaM/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/siWfo5KYERI/v-deo.html
Appreciated the nod to Gavin at the beginning!
😆🤗
@notanotherbonsaichannel 😂
Good job master... Beautifull bonsai mame👍
Thank you kindly 👍
Greta job Jason! My top 2 are.. indoor: Portulacaria afra. Outdoor: larch. That’s enough for a beginner to start with! 🤣🐦💙
Thanks Jay. On an extended list I would definitely add larch. 👍
I leave the indoor plants (mostly cacti) to David.
@@TheBonsaiGarden nice! Does David have any portulacaria? Or Crown of Thorns? Love the flowers on the crown of thorns. 🐦💙
@@BlueJayBonsai there is some kind of big jade plant (large leaves) and lots and lots of cacti. There is also a large Christmas Cactus which I considered bonsai-ing after seeing Nigel’s video but my life would not be worth living… 😆
As a very new beginner to bonsai with a "bought one... killed one" ratio (a Carmona), I'm now doing what I should have done last summer - try to understand the basics before buying plants! This is a helpful video and one I will take notice of as I source my next bonsai tree (an easy one for beginners that is hard to kill). I have also ordered the DK Bonsai book which you had recommended in another video. Thanks for the advice...
Happy to help. We all started out and killed a tree or two 🤗
You are a wealth of knowledge Jason.
Thank you Raymond 👍
Great selection of starter trees, resilient forgiving species that can also look amazing as they mature. Maybe I would also add in zelkova, boxwood, pomegranate, and olive but then maybe it would need to be top 10 instead of 5!!
Agreed, I picked these for their robustness and ease of availability. The list could have been another ten trees though 😁
You probably find pomegranate easier in your warmer climate, and olive a bit of a slow grower here. In the UK pomegranate needs some winter protection which sadly I failed to give mine 🤗. I do have two large Olive Garden trees and a small olive [pre]bonsai though. 👍
Great job Jason . I have 4 out of the 5 .
I really like the cotoneasters they are interesting year round .
Cotoneasters are lovely trees. Very easy to grow and propagate and very forgiving and hardy. 👍
Thank you for this video. I did bring my Chinese Elms indoors not knowing they would suffer. I've lost a lot of leaves on a couple of them but a few buds have opened. A few others are doing quite well with minimal leaf loss. If they survive this winter indoors i won't bring them indoors next year. I am trying to keep the humidity up with a humidity tray, and humidifiers.
Keep them in a cool, brightly lit room and water regularly. They should be ok as they are a hardy tree species, though appreciate being outside, particularly once the colder weather has ended. I leave mine out all year round.
Bonsai phill very good quality video you are right with your starter tree keep upthegood work mate thanks Jason
Thanks Phill. Your support greatly appreciated 🙏
Lovely and interesting video. My first tree was an ash that had self seeded, got quite a few mountain ash and lemons germinated from pips. Just having another go at almonds got one last year but lost it overwinter. This time got 14 to germinate but a slug in greenhouse got a couple. If l get two l will be happy.
Thank you for your kind comments Mandy.
You demonstrate perfectly that although bonsai as a hobby can be expensive, it does not have to be and you can work with locally found and seeds and native plants. It might require a little more time and patience, but the rewards for nurturing, shaping and improving are great.
Good luck with your efforts. 🙏
I like your choices. Here in Connecticut we have had great success with natives like maples, hornbeams, and thuja. Thanks, keep growing
Thanks Matt. My choices were based on how robust and easy to work and also to get hold of. The list could probably have been much longer to include larch, hornbeam and many other species. 👍
All good picks for beginners. My personal preference is non topicals. Your mild winters in comparison to mine is a bonus !🎄🎄
Thanks Jonathan. I also prefer non tropical trees. The only semi tropical which I have personally grown (and killed) were Carmona/ Fukien Tea which unfortunately met their end due to frost.
I included the ficus based on Nigel’s videos and how they survive the punishing trimming he gives them 😆
Superb video mate. really enjoyed the explanations and the examples. You've inspired me to do my own take on this.
Thanks Tony. Your feedback greatly appreciated, and I very much look forward to your take on this. As I mention elsewhere in the comments we would probably all have our own unique list based on experience or what we have seen elsewhere.
On a technical note it was a real pain to put together thanks to Apple devices being notoriously incompatible with [pretty much] anything and involved struggling to transfer video files from my phone to iPad to laptop and back. 😩
That's my ultimate nightmare. I can't stand it when technology doesn't do what I want it to do. You got there in the end though and I'm sure you've cracked it now!
Just been out and filmed my video inspired by yours but forgot to mention you. I'll add it in some text! 🤣
@@TonysBonsai yeah my biggest bugbear with technology is because it is constantly changing things that originally did work and were simple suddenly don’t, or you have to jump through flaming hoops to achieve anything. It used to be simple to transfer files from an iPhone (which has frustratingly very basic video editing) to a laptop (which can hold industry professional level software) but now it’s a real headache. You’ll probably notice the format getting a bit more ambitious but I’m battling technology to create what I have in mind. 🤗
I’ll keep an eye open for your upcoming video 👍
Very well done! I loved the video which is very informative. Big plus: your own plants to exemplify the explanation for each type! 👏👏👏
Thank you Stefano. More of this style of video to come. 👍
Nailed it. I love your choices and the thoughts behind each one. As i don't have any indoor trees i would, ignorantly, have overlooked the Ficus and probably have included a Trident Maple instead.
Thanks Jason
Thanks Andrew. Indoor trees are not my thing either. My main criteria were relatively cheap, easily available trees which are bomb proof. If I did a top 10 maybe trident maple would have made the list 😁
Great vid! I think jade trees are better than ficus for indoors. Maybe because we don't get much sun for 4 months of winter? Ficus just suffer and drop leafs all that time. With artificial ligt it works better, but that may not be for beginners.😀👍
Thank you for your comment. Much appreciated 🙏
To be honest I’m pretty much an outdoor tree enthusiast. My inclusion of ficus was based on seeing what other have achieved (mainly @Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone) and how tolerant they appear of being cut back.
@@TheBonsaiGarden Indeed me too. Bonsai is mainly an outdoor hobby. I grow all my non hardy trees outdoors in summer and in heated overwintering room in winter. Never in living room conditions.😀👍
Now you've started something! I have a Kojo no Mai. It started as a tree to turn into a Bonsai many years ago. Then a good friend in the Orchid Channel world lost her youngest Son (aged around 12). She started a project #growitforJosh asking people to dedicate a plant/tree to her Son's memory, send her a pic or short vid and she would show these at the end of one of her vids every week. I chose this tree so put it in a larger garden tub to grow on. Now my interest in Bonsai has resumed, I'm going to get this in a large Bonsai pot this Autumn, take off unwanted branches and wait for the blossom in early Spring. Some shaping will be done towards the end of next year once the root system has recovered from the disturbance and the new growth has hardened off. It will be an 'instant Bonsai'.
Kojo-no-Mai is one of the few trees I have had any success air layering. I find it very robust and resilient to rough treatment and pruning. 👍
I'll have to look into this species.
A really great video Jason and I liked the presentation. Even better though...you didnt pick my top three bonsai trees for beginners. I hadnt thought of the cotoneaster but definitely a good spot. The Ficus is great except it does get that horrible sticky honeydew that drips on furniture through the winter :(
Thanks. It was a pain to put together due to filming on my iPhone, editing on my iPad and tinkering on my laptop - and none of them being particularly compatible or friendly…
This is the sort of thing where we would all choose a different selection of trees based on personal experience. Personally I have not had ficus and much prefer outdoor trees.
@@TheBonsaiGarden Yeah agree totally on that and I do like seeing all the different cinematography you try to get in on these videos.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat that will only get better (or worse) 😆
Do your bonsa pots freeze & bust in the winter
They freeze but none have yet cracked due to frost or freezing.
Maples have been good growers for me here in Idaho and tolerate winters down to the occasional -10F and summers of 100F with just a little protection. Hawthorn are very hardy, small leaves, small flowers and berries, just have to deal with the thorns.
Maples would be my favourite tree for bonsai. They are beautiful and elegant, but I wouldn’t suggest one to people as a first bonsai. They can be a bit delicate and require great care.
I agree hawthorn are robust and great for bonsai. I tend to clip off the end of the thorns to make them a little easier to handle 😀
👍👌🍎🙂
Thanks Bruce 👍