Welcome to my bonsai filled backyard. My name is Xavier and I have been learning and collecting trees since 2002. My kids encouraged me to start this channel after the death of my wife, Zita. I am definitely not an expert but what I do know I hope to share with you. Most of my technical knowledge is based on information provided through watching Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai or Peter Chan of Heron's.
I love 'acting the clown' in front of the camera so beware of some of my quirky humour that pops up in my videos. This style may not appeal to everyone but life is far to difficult not to have a laugh once in a while!
If you are new to this hobby then I encourage you to have a look at my Bonsai Basics series in which I 'start again'...
@ 18:43 or 18:44 i see can also be a tree. Cascade the one branch to the right and maybe even shorten and bend the deadwood to the right . Man soo many possibilities with this one. I just like the curve of the trunk at that position. Powerfull little tree and that branch flows with trunk also
Ur dawn redwood looks great ! How do i get a bald cypress to biforcate? I seem to have problem with my bald cypress i cut into some older wood after the fronz hardened off in spring but no biforcation. Is it possible only younger branches give better ramification then older ones? I wonder if i should keep the older branches or younger ones around. Any tips? Thanks . Great video
Good morning Xavier 😘 Congratulations on your Dawn redwood - incredible 🥰 Lovely development on your Chinese elm. I can imagine markjagger7139‘s idea of wrapping around the two top branches around the dead wood 🤩🙏 Although the present style is absolutely perfect in its way too. 😍 Enjoy your day, cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
I know that this may sound absolutely barmy but I think I would have tried to use at least one of those long branches as a "tanuki". The height could remain the same and over time once it had thickened the branch /branches would look totally natural.
My dawn red wood needs some love to i got it as the 50$ bonsai challange 2 years agoe where we had to find tree soil and pot for 50$ and i am still waiting for the next update challenge to see when/if get to buy a 50$ pot or what part 2 will be or if we get a part 2 or if ppl evin try to style or repot em
Got some root over rock going myself, next year I will check the(underground) progress of them. Already looking forward to it ,especially when seeing your root over rocks!
3 great projects !!! i have a c/elm an seeing yours i'm going to try my luck at r/o/rock...as for the granny knot on the first crossing do it twice as it will hold somewhat as you do the last crossing...working with two hands can be a task...keep filming !!!
They looking good and especially the Chinese elm has a cool setup. Not sure if it is the colour balance of video but that elm looked a bit yellowish but guess it might be the juvenile leaves mostly?
Been thinking about your fertilizer schedule… or lack there of 😂… have you tried slow release lawn fertilizer, i understand it’s cheap can can feed for a solid season (spring or summer). Milton Chang from Bonsai Heirloom uses it.
I met a bonsai master last week. Been waiting 2yrs and had make appointments ahead of time. When I finally went, after I saw everything I saw I understand why u must make appointments, but anyways...he had ginkos in flower pots that were old and around a meter tall. Round 20yrs old. Hefty trunks. I'm going back with a lot of $😂 the 30th this month. His trees seem centuries ahead of mine, (20+yrs). I'm a maple fan so I want one. A Ginko, and maybe a black Pine...which are still in growing pots but have been trained and pruned the past 30yrs for bonsai. Something magical about Tim's place. And the feeling u get when ur standing in front of one of his bonsai masterpieces is unexplainable. But I'm sure u guys know what I'm talking about as u guys are the only ones that understand me.
I know exactly what you mean. Strangely, when I look at some of my older trees I don't see them as anything special but the journey is always worth remembering :)
Oh, these bonsais are really progressing! What a treat that Fuji Cherry will be in spring. The trident and elm are going to be stunning as they mature and more of the rock is revealed. Absolutely a labour of love Xavier!
Love this video Xavier, I shall be working on a couple myself now over the next week or two , I have a Japanese white pine I’ve grown from seed about 3 yrs old I might use or a selection of black pines around the same age. Inspired to give it go now
@@dkstott29 I actually have quite a few of them but never get around to doing videos. I tend to label them generically as Jade. Thanks for the suggestion
Rock plantings are coming along probably better than expected so all systems have justified the time it has taken to put them together. The rocks I think came from your trip last year weren’t they ? The Chinese elm I think may be the best of the three Xav.
Gorgeous 😍 I love roots over the rock and yours are going to be exceptional trees 🤩 2 years ago I buried some rocks myself, can’t wait to see if there are some roots attached too. 😅 Absolutely enjoyed this fantastic episode 🥰 Thanks Xavier 🙏 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
I can honestly say that I started doing my ROR's before either of us started on RU-vid. I added tin foil when I investigated them last year - that may have come from your video? They are a longer term project but so worth the time and effort :)
thanks for amazing vids and tuts, lots to learn as novice enthusiast. my spouse once said to me that size does not matter. Bonsai masters seem to prefer (and the public) the bigger the better. is it penis envy? I have a lot to learn about size and matter. what are your thoughts? thanks
