10 Ways to increase the size of your Bonsai Trunks 

All I can say is this has been the "BEST" video I have seen on this topic! Not only sharing priceless knowledge, but at the same time going around to show perfect examples of what they are telling us about. Would "LUV" to see more like this on other Bonsai topics. Thanks so much for sharing this awesome video. Now I am going to go get started putting some of my trees in the ground. Blessed Be To You & Yours.

I would love to chill in that mans yard with him and just talk trees all afternoon.

life goal- bonsai garden that backs out on to the lake

Dan Robinson's spot looks completely magical. The wind, the adult trees around, the way the Bonsai are all arranged, the lake view. Wow.

@5:52- "No, not like that, Ben.." Hilarious!! 😂

Thanks for passing on the knowledge, what a beautiful garden you visited. Thank you!

Another great thing about ground growing pre bonsai material is that those trees are less maintenance than ones in pots. Nature and the elements tend to take care of the tree’s growth pattern and shape. I have a few trees that are planted at the edge of a retaining wall in my back yard. I’m applying the retaining wall to simulate a cliff side on a mountain top. I have placed rocks at the bases of some of the trees so that wind or the weight of heavy snow have leverage to contort the trunks. One of which is a limber pine which is partly in the shade, and it has contorted so it’s foliage can reach the light. There is a yew I got from a closing nursery which has started cascading down the retaining wall in many places. With potted trees, you have to often protect them from the cold wind so the roots don’t dry out. Easy solution would be to bury the tree still in the nursery pot for the winter. If you still really want it in the pot.

I love bonsai. Those thick trunks are beautiful.

Wow, the knowledge density here is off the charts! Subbed.

Your interview with Dan Robinson was amazingly informative....Starting plants in the ground is definitely an advantage!!!

I have my entire backyard full of different, future bonsai trees and I've been trying to find as much info on them as I can. Definitely gonna subscribe.

This is the most helpful video I’ve seen in a while. I had trees in small pots and never grew. I just planted a bunch in the ground.

You are exactly what I’ve been searching RU-vid for. Thank you for sharing your expertise and time!

Very complete video of thickening up trunks, thanks a lot!

Great video, packed full of tips and a nice chill vibe 👏 congratulations Ben ✌️

That was awesome and just what I needed! I've been wondering so much and this answered questions that didn't even deal with trunk size.

Thank you Ben for your advice I live in UK 🇬🇧 and I have been keep bonsai for several years now thanks to you and others on RU-vid I am slowly learning how to do things correctly...

Great info, really appreciate you shearing your knowledge..

Wow, what an exceptional video. Not only was it very informative but it shows your passion for the art of bonsai. It’s rare you get so much information coupled with passion for the art. Many thanks

Finally someone who is not afraid and selfish to share the knowledge.

Thank you so much fo the video, gardening is a hobby that I adore, I also raise lithops and other plants in the mesembs family. I am very new to Bonsai, I only have one small tree so far. Lithops and Bonsai are complete opposites as far as care goes. So I am constantly searching for new info. I chose bonsai not because I love to garden but because it is a test of patience and loyalty and teaches consistency. It brings someone a sense of fulfillment. I think the art of bonsai is beautiful and hopefully I can learn something about myself along the way. And hopefully I can keep my trees happy and healthy for a very, very long time.

Thank you so much for sharing your dads knowledge!

That guy Dan has some amazing plants! WOW

Great information on trunk thickening. I'm all ready a believer in growing in ground and after this video I think a lot more people will be doing it to

Great video. Great info. Understandable. The amount of info you provided in such a short time is really impressive.

Superb video Ben, really enjoyed it! Tip 7 is a simple one if you want that gnarled look at the trunk base. Tip 9 - silica - is completely new to me. I will investigate. Thanks!!

Thanks for all the advice. Just helped more than you know!

Best video ever, Thank you for so much information and so easily explained, has made my day, love gardening and learned so much from this video, Big Thank You,

Great tips! Especially the one on adding silica. I like agsil 16 as a foliar to add silica and prevent fungal issues. Basically using it as a ph up substitute for baking soda.

Great information! Thank you for sharing so many ways! I have to update some of my techniques! :)

Thank you so much. That just confirmed I’m on the right track. Cheers Stuart 🇦🇺

Wow thank you so much.. I’m new to Bonsai and this was so valuable...

this is a really extensive, knowledgable and useful synopsis of the subject and your well-spoken presentation makes it even more enjoyable

so that is how its done! i was just thinking of doing this just to see what would happen and if my trees would survive better over the long freezing winters, thank you for the tips

Fantastic video, Ben!

I had to comment again. I learned new things in your list of trunk thickening tips. Then, the field trip with Dan Robinson at the end??? What great knowledge! I got chills when he was leading us to the trees he grew in-ground! Exciting and informative. Great video.

Fellow Bonsai'er from Seattle! You have a beautiful garden, sir!

A nice video Ben and Dan!

Splendid video and splendid teaching. With gratitude.

What a lovely video. Very well-thought-out and calmly delivered. Totally subscribing!

This video was excellent! Job well done👍🏻. Thanks for sharing! Amazing trees!!

So interesting and informative too. Thank-you for sharing your knowledge. I've been practicing on my ficus but it's my first attempt and it shows! 😆💕🌱

Thanks Ben! I stumbled upon your video this morning and it was one of the most educational bonsai videos I’ve seen in quite a while! I’ve subscribed 😊

Very educational and well explained, great video thanks for sharing

Very informative and fun to watch. Thanks for the info. Just started growing bonsai tree's from a seed kit I found on sale. They have grown nicely over the past 4 months or so. So much to learn ...it's a science and art combined with plenty of patience...well worth it! Now I'm a bonsai junky. the only regret I have is not starting many years ago

Thanks for the informative video. Kindly keep updated. Love your video.

I have a jabuticaba that needs to come inside for winter, so I need to learn everything bonsai to keep it alive. These tips are really helpful. Especially #10 Grow your tree in the ground before you bonsai it. Thank you.

Excellent video. Thanks for sharing this knowledge.

What a beautiful place. Bonsai heaven

Great! this video is what I need now. Thank you very much for sharing!

Loved this video. The music in the beginning reminded me of Strobe and that was a blast from the past..

dan's backyard ....amazing

Wow. Just gobsmacked.

That's amazing! Thankyou. It filled a lot of gaps in my knowledge. You have a lovely fluid way also. Subscribed! :)

Thank you for your great sharing, I will apply it to my plants

Very well explained.. Thank you for sharing.

Thx for your clear and useful explanations. Ciao. Lori from Italy

Very interesting, l love your work, being a Nursery man, l have a small Nursery and maintain a few bonsai plants myself, l love it, very inspiring, bsafe,

I think this video quite answering my question. Tq so much👍👍👍

Fantastic video, thank you!

Awesome, thanks for all the tips. Great video 👍

Thank you for this insights in your bonsai garden!

Just found your channel. Great video. Thanks from Australia

Priceless information with the guy at the end. Thank you for sharing and got my sub 👊🌳

This helps me a lot with general planting ty

After this video, you have all my attention!

Amazing tutorial, so much information thanks soo much!

wow! amazing content! thanks for the great info bro.

Nice how to thick trunks Compilation 👍

I'm learning quite a lot about bonsai lately. This was a very good, very informative video. Thanks! Also loved the gentleman you visited. Best lesson learned here today? Plant them in the ground! Anyway, I've subscribed and am looking forward to watching more.

Man. This is some insane information. Thanks a lot. Really appreciate it :)

This is great information. Thank you

I'm so glad that I found your channel. This video was great! I just put my Psudobombax Elipictum in the ground after 3 years in a pot. I hope that I can train it to be a fabulous tree ♥

Wow amazing.. Thanks for the sharing ....

This is awesome thanks so much for sharing your knowledge

Thanks showing us all what you know i might do one bonsai as a hobby and the view @14:40 was amazing

Great video. Thank you for the education!

Fantastic video that you for all your effort you put into making this video. Much appreciated : )

Hell yeah, I learned a lot and hopefully my two seedlings make it this winter haha I got a whole new direction now!

Nice, I learned something again. Thanks.

Holy cow 😲 so much valuable information ❣️

Thanks for your valuable information.

Inspiring video. Thanks for posting

LOVE that you mentioned intentional-scarring, it's important to note that NOT all species react well to this, for instance I use this technique to GREAT effect on strong-callousing species like bald cypress & maple & ficus, however on softer-woods like my bougainvilleas I would be very hesitant (well, it's not that you wouldn't do it at all, I do this on most of my trees to 1 degree or another but the significance in difference cannot be understated, like with a BC compared to a Bougie, each with identical nebari & identical intended-results, I'd probably be making a 10X larger wounding on the BC than I'd be doing on the Bougie, also the Bougie would only get this wounding at a specific time of year ie height of its vegetative growth flushing, whereas with BC's I wound/nick them anytime of the year that they're growing if/when I see areas that'd benefit, this isn't just a thickness 'trick' it's also great just for smoothing-out/tapering things that weren't flowing as smoothly or as nicely as you'd have liked ;D ) Great vid thanks for posting!!

Ammazing videos. Thank you. Keep up the good work

oh so many questions.... great Video by the way!

Great video, thanks so much for sharing 👍👍

Amazing video, thanks!

Very informative! Thanks!

Amazing bonsai idol verry nice lessons learned to me thanks

I really love this video. and the song is perfecto.

Wow - who would have thought it....grow your trees in the ground......enjoyed this video as it emphasizes the need to be patient...I'm quite new to all this and have just started a couple of projects but with not much space I have to be selective about what goes in the ground. I was already of the opinion that they would be better started and developed in the ground for a few years then maintained in pots, Seeing those results has confirmed it for me - thankyou

Great Sharing, Tks for Video. 5-53 😄👏

Very Nice ! Was given me further knowledge, which i really appreciate ! Never stop learning - until death do me ! :)

Thanks for the tips. Thanks for sharing!

Thank you. I learned a ton.

great information. i learned a lot! Thank you!

That bonsai garden with the lake view by the end of the video. Is that paradise?

simple knowledge but very useful..

I'm trying some of these methods with my 12 foot tall Japanese Maple. I have done 2 air layerings and now waiting for roots to start forming. I used PressNSeal because it sticks to itself and I can form a bubble with the sphagnum moss and pinch the ends. I also cut a piece of the spiraled protective plastic on the lower part of the trunk to use it for air layering - that's an experiment. I already have 3 new Benj Ficus cuttings from air layering and they are doing GREAT. Also trying air layering for several different colored Bougainvilleas, but it's too early to tell if they are taking or not.