Use Apical Dominance for Better Bonsai 

I *really* love this biomechanical approach to explaining and thinking about bonsai techniques--as a beginner, this is the kind of thing that will help me think critically and avoid making too many beginner mistakes (already thinking about a dwarf spruce I may have mistreated....), rather than just thinking about a decision's impact on aesthetics

This is the second time I have watched this video in two weeks and I still learned so much. This video is a “must watch” for anyone in the intermediate level of their bonsai journey. Please make more of these. Possibly consider a video on recommended books for intermediate level students like me. Your channel is amazing but I really want to get more books that are beyond the bonsai basics like tools, parts of a tree, how to put mesh in the bottom of a pot. I want more advanced tutorials like how to develop an apex, how to best set up a tree for the future development, etc. and this video is right in that sweet spot. Best video I have seen yet (with a challenge to produce more of them).

*SO* helpful! Probably the clearest explanation of bonsai basics I have heard. Thanks so much!

I already knew about apical/basal dominance but what I didn't realise was that it's all shrubs that are basally dominant (doh!). This light bulb moment will help the development of my uncommon species in training (dogwood, viburnum, weigela etc etc). Thanks Jelle, I always pick up a titbit of information from your videos. Keep up the good work👍

One of the best descriptions on branch development that I have ever heard. So info packed that I'll have to watch it several times to absorb it all. Outstanding!

This is one of your best videos. I love how I think differently about sacrifice branches now (that less dominant future apex is brilliant and something I will adopt on my own trees). Keep up the great work.

Wow, I am early! I clicked thinking it was an older video instead it’s freshly baked! The part about how to make sure to have short internodes in the trunk is very interesting. Thanks.

Super video Jelle ! Dit is mijn favoriete aanpak, het theoretische. Zo begrijp ik het. Weer veel bijgeleerd en bedankt daarvoor !

Shorter internodes on weaker branches is new information I did not know. Excellently explained and demonstrated. Even when you are covering a subject I feel I have an understanding of you find a way to add information I did not know and is very helpful. Thank you.

Absolutely eye-opening video about a fundamental principle in bonsai. Your videos are unbeatable when it comes to technical knowledge about the art and I am very grateful that you share this knowledge with the world for free. I would love to see your trees live one day. As far as I know you live in Germany, so that might even be possible ;) Anyway. Thank You! Your work is greatly appreciated.

this is awesome, i love when you talk about why you make the decisions you make to develop the tree 👏 👏 thanks jelle

This is an excellent video Jelle. I am brand new to bonsai so this was ALL news to me. All except the apical dominance thing. I did know that from growing house plants. But I did not know I could have so much control with it. I saved this video so I can refer back to it and watch it often so I can understand it better. Thanks so much!!

As a novice I found this video very educational.

Oh wonderful breakdown of developing good bottom growth! I've understood the principals, but you have shown me how to manipulate and take advantage of top dominance - finer internodes and more interesting new trunk line is brilliant!!!

Agree with Stevieboy, I learnt some more today 👍

I thought this was a great video. Lot of really needed info for me.

Very helpful video. Will be rewatching in a few days to get the info to really sink in 😉

Really helpful - thank you, Jelle!

32k already wow that's really super fast with you :) Many thanks for the video. Of course I know that the tips grow better, but thinking about it intensively for a 15 minutes was very helpful. To be honest, I hadn't thought about pruning the lower part of the tree less before. Thanks Jelle!

Very informative! Great explanation of how to use sacrifice branches to create taper. Thanks!😊

Very good design “and why” explanations on current design and thoughtfulness looking into the future design one has in their mind. 👍

How informative !

Thank you, this was very helpful! 🙏

lots of new info here for me jelle, thanks again for sharing your knowledge

Fantastic video! Many thanks for your guided lesson!

Excellent video! Learning everyday. Thanks again

Great video Jelle, thank you 😊

As you are more experienced it would be nice to hear the number of years you expect before these little trees become bonsai / nice.

Went to subscribe, already subscribed. Lol good stuff.

very good video. I actually learned new things. Thanks

Great video, good choice of trees too. I think you explain a lotta things others do not - best bonsai ytber by a long shot in my opinion :)

Good insights. Thanks, Jelle.

Immediate interaction for the algorithm, will watch soon!

Great video and lesson Jelle 👊👊

Good stuff Jelle 👍

Thanks Jelle 👍

Great info thanks !

Very useful information

im new in bonsai, love your channel mate, hugs from russia!

100k here we go.

Hey Jelle, Ive recently picked up a nice little acer but its got a bit of a nasty v shaped graft. Whats the best way to reduce the knuckle bulge caused by a iffy graft? Many thanks from Wales 🤘

Very useful. Have come across some of the basic concepts before but not in such an instructional way and it seems I need lots of repetition since I always manage to cut off the wrong branches and only realise just after it has already been done or when watching your video😞

At what time of year is it best to remove sacrifice branches or leaders?

nice info!!

A dear made a rub on a small tree can I fix it

Awesome video Jelle!🏆 👏🏽 Great detail, as far as all the Pruning.. If you see this, please leave the link for that Beech, in its earlier stage(s).. Thanks so much🙏🏽

BTW finally subscribed!

Hope a book is in the works my friend.

Great video. I really needed this for my Japanese black pine that is in development. It's just another question: Does this also work with succulents like with my dwarf jade?

Hoi Jelle, bedankt voor alle leuke en interessante video's die je maakt. Ik kijk er altijd weer naar uit. Ik heb een vraag. Ik probeer al een paar jaar ruw materiaal van een nishiki gawa mapel aan te schaffen. Maar vind alleen tuincentra in de UK en USA. Weet jij of er een tuincentrum of iets dergelijks in NL is die dit verkoopt. Ik hoor het graag. Alvast bedankt.

Thank you for this informative video, but I still have a question, do you know approximately how many trees you have in your garden?, because i always see some new trees😅 but i know it because im also always buying or growing some new trees too👍

Man... Your video's are always FULL of information (a lot of which are new to me as a beginner), but I gotta be honest: they're also often quite confusing. Maybe it's in the way you explain things, or the way you cut back and forth between scenes/sentences... not sure. But I find myself having to put a lot of extra focus into filtering the info out. (And I'm usually a fast learner) For example at 6:20 - Isn't taper a variation in thickness between segments of a branch? Aren't you therefor saying the same thing twice? (And what was that 'chapter-callout' shot with the maple doing there :P) This is all meant as constructive criticism of course, and you can't cater to everyone's learning style. I just thought I'd share ;-) Thanks for the info!

You asked to comment: can you add the beech tree development youtube link?

Chào bạn ❤

i find that euro hornbeam can def be lower dom on younger trees.. not all trees or top dom..

Hi Leatherback Thank you for another great video covering fundamentals. Your new video reminded me a bit on a video I have reviewed many times because it covers a topic which is so fundamental to bonsai design. If you have not seen Peter Tea’s presentation at the Sacramento club meeting I highly suggest everyone watch this. Even you Jelle. The RU-vid channel of the American bonsai association Sacramento (ABAS) does not have the algorithm to get as many views on RU-vid. Nonetheless, the content of this one particular video is one of the very best I’ve ever seen by any presenter. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-dm5q8c49I8s.htmlsi=ZF5thxhilS2EQiSz I encourage anyone who is serious about Bonsai to review this video and go back to it for refreshed inspiration to understand branch development. The content is so important. That is not to say this video is also not of great importance. I merely want to promote quality education when I see it and Peter’s talk is just that good. For those who may not be familiar with the work of Peter Tea he is formally Japanese trained and had more winning trees at the last Pacific bonsai Expo than any other grower. Jelle I hope to meet you one day. Maybe I’ll have to fly to Europe to do that. I’m definitely due for a trip to Europe to explore the phenomenal bonsai talent on the continent. Even though California is geographically and culturally much much closer to Japan. Europe has had a huge advantage in the development of quality bonsai trees because of the importation restriction of Japanese trees to the United States. The ability to bring in mature properly developed trees as a platform to work on and learn from has made the European Bonsai community in many ways better than the American counterpart. I see the interest in Bonsai growing in almost all countries and trees of better and better quality are being developed especially using new local varieties, which is quite exciting. Very best wishes from San Francisco, Mats Hagström