This is my favorite bonsai channel👌🏻 Your videos are so informative and you’re very humble and easy to watch and learn from. Also, I love how happy you always look when you’re working on your trees😁 I’ve just recently gotten into bonsai after just having a few small ficus and some other small trees, I’ve learned so much from you👍🏻
Thank you so much for your kind words! I'm thrilled to hear that you enjoy the channel and find the videos informative. Bonsai is such a rewarding hobby, and I'm glad to hear that you're diving into it with enthusiasm! Working on trees brings me so much joy, and I'm glad that happiness comes through in the videos. Keep up the great work with your bonsai journey!🌳😊
Great video showing that we grow our trees for different purposes, Adam! Love the channel, keep up the good work. I just planted an Acer palmatum 'Oridono Nishiki' forest this spring using a garden center tree similar to yours, that I air layered several times over the course of a few years. Finally able to put them all together into a bonsai composition, and I couldn't be more delighted! There's something special about creating trees from scratch! 🙏🪴🍁
Thank you so much for your kind words and support! It's wonderful to hear about your journey with your Forest. Creating bonsai compositions from scratch is indeed a special experience, full of patience, creativity, and joy.🤗😊 It sounds like you've put a lot of effort and dedication into your project, and I'm thrilled to hear that it's brought you such delight. Keep up the fantastic work! 🌿🍁
Thanks for the informative video, I’m fairly new to working with bonsai’s, it’s really refreshing to see some young people working on bonsais like yourself.
Great decision to treat it this way and spot on for getting it into great soil. Better roots means better branching for better airlayers later! Aphids look very happy too :)
Hi there Adam, I do exactly the same when I only have a tree of one species that I like, what I usually do as well, is to wire a branch of that tree when I want to reproduce it, and I wire it a few months before making an air layering, this way, when I cut from the parent tree with hopefully radial rooting, it's got a little bit of conicity because of the radial rooting and also it's got a little bit of structural ramification already formed. I hope seeing you more now that spring is here and wish you the best for the future and for any project you'll work on 💪🏻💪🏻😀
Hi Pascual! Thanks for sharing your technique, that sounds like a smart approach to reproduction and shaping at the same time. You get a Bonsai on a Bonsai! 💪🏻🌱😊
I had a Japanese maple in a pond basket but experienced that they break easily after just one growing season. Wooden box or tokoname training pot are the way to go.
Hello Young Adam, just got home through the rain 😉 and got a 'Larix Kaempferi 'Japanese stiff weeping larch. She will be delivered next week😃 So excited! Everything is coming in bloom slowly now ❤
Terima kasih banyak! Senang mendengarnya. Repoting maple Jepang memang proses yang penting, ya. Semoga tips dari video ini bermanfaat untuk sahabat dalam merawat bonsai mereka. Teruslah bersemangat dalam dunia bonsai! 🌿🍁
That's a great approach to creating Bonsai. I like the parent tree idea and will use it for a Cornus Kusa that has a nasty graft at the base. Great production value on your videos, too, Adam. Nice work!
Definitely good parent tree material. I've got a 15 ft by 10 ft plus Acer growing in the garden. At the moment it has the most intense red leaves that turn green later on. there are potential monster air layers all over it which I will be doing soon. Two I took Last year are doing well. One 4 ft and another multi trunk. Happy days!
That sounds like a nice maple you have in your garden! Those intense red leaves must be a stunning sight. I hope that the monster ones root for you!! 🍁🌳
Brilliant video, thanks Adam. I'm a relatively new sub, but I love the way you make vids that are relevant to the time of year and you speak plainly. Quick question: I have an acer palmatum with pink stems and lime green leaves (think it might be a bihou) but the bottom 10cm of the trunk is gnarled bark with an obvious line before the pink "stems" start.. my question is, is this evidence of grafting?.. and will it impact the trees development and the ability to take cuttings from it?
Hey RCJks. Thanks for the kind words and for being a new sub! I'm glad you find the videos relevant and easy to understand. The gnarled bark at the bottom of the trunk could indeed very well be evidence of grafting, as many Acer palmatum varieties are grafted onto rootstock to improve their growth characteristics or hardiness. While grafting doesn't necessarily impact the tree's development negatively, it can sometimes look unsightly especially when making a Bonsai. Some maple varieties may be more challenging to root from cuttings compared to others which is why it could be grafted in the first place. No harm in giving it a go though!! 🍁🌿 (I find that IBA rooting hormone works well in getting maple cuttings to root faster and more successfully)
Hey Kenny! Pond baskets are great for larger or younger trees! Training pots are more suitable for smaller or refined trees, providing greater control over root growth and size. Ultimately, it's about finding the right balance between root development and tree refinement😊🌿🌳
Great video Adam. Being from scotland i tend to struggle to find the bonsai mix in bulk? Do you hava any suggestions? Usually i just find 1L bags of each compensate
Glad you agree!! For propagating maples, the best time to take cuttings is typically in late spring to early summer when the tree is actively growing. During this time, the tree's growth hormones are most active, which can increase the success rate of propagation. Softwood cuttings, taken from the current season's growth, are often preferred for faster rooting and higher success rates. 🤗 For an even faster rooting you can use a hormone rooting powder with the active ingredient IBA (which mimics this growth hormone auxin) and converts the cells at the base of the cutting into root cells a lot faster!
I've done the same with my grafted Arakawa and Beni-Chidori parent trees, but these recent frosts have killed off a few of the uppermost leaves - will that lead to dieback or will new leaves just emerge?
With the health of the roots, I would have pruned back the taproot a bit - I agree that it makes a good tree in the near future as that trunk heals, but it could eventually make a handsome larger bonsai. Working on the nebari early never hurts, especially if the tree's root are that healthy.
Hey! Since this tree serves as a parent, I didn't prioritize pruning the roots, as its appearance isn't a concern right now. However, your point about investing in the tree's future growth is spot on! Establishing a solid foundation with healthy roots sets the stage for future bonsai success. Thanks for sharing your insight! 🌱🌳(i may eventually make the bottom of this maple a bonsai)
Good point! While organic soil can also be used for a parent tree, I chose a well-draining mixture in a pond basket to prioritize overall tree health and vigor. The setup promotes good aeration and prevents waterlogging.🌿🌳
I find that using a well-draining soil mix suitable for the specific tree species and to water consistently, allowing the soil to dry slightly between waterings to prevent overwatering and root rot. Considering pots with drainage holes can facilitate air pruning, encouraging dense, fibrous root growth. Regularly inspecting roots during repotting enables early detection of any issues such as pests or diseases. Feeding your trees with a balanced fertilizer provides essential nutrients for optimal root health too!🌱🌳
Definitely not for bonsai, as you say the trunk has quite a scarring issue going forward. TBH it would actually make a really nice patio tree in a pot. That variety has intense colours.
Oh no! It sounds like your maple tree may be experiencing damage from pests, possibly caterpillars or other chewing insects. If you spot any pests, manually remove them by hand to reduce the population and prevent further damage. You can consider using insecticidal soap or neem oil which are effective and environmentally friendly options for controlling this 🤗
I personally don't see the point in putting the tree in a pond basket if you are not concerned about the rootbase. Any other big pot with a well draining mixture would be much better for the development/ growth of the tree. You don't really want the airpruning the pond basket provides which is the best thing about these things.
That's a valid point! 😊I totally get where you're coming from. In my case, I used a large pond basket not necessarily for root development, but more to boost the overall health of the tree. Interestingly, even though I'm not particularly focused on root growth, the air pruning effect of the pond basket can still benefit the tree in other ways. By promoting better aeration and drainage, the pond basket helps enhance nutrient uptake and reduces the risk of waterlogging, leading to healthier foliage and improved vigor. Since I'm using the tree primarily as a parent tree for propagation, having a healthy and robust top growth is key for producing high-quality cuttings. So, while the focus may not be on root development per se, the pond basket still plays a crucial role in supporting the tree's overall well-being and propagation efforts. 😊🌳🌿
