What is the Easiest Bonsai for a Beginner? 

Shows how genuine Mr Chan is. There's washing on the radiator. Love this man!

Haha! Peter looks like one of Santa's retired gangsta elfs. He used to be in the "collection and enforcement" division but now just collects bonsai and encourages others to do the same! 😂 Well done Mr Chan, another fine video, merry Christmas!

Easy is true. I bought my first bonsai 30 years ago. It was a ficus. It is still healthy and alive.

I really appreciate the Canada mention in the weather section for outdoor trees! -30 is a pretty regular winter temp lol

I have kept a ficus alive since 1977, about 45 years, but I never styled it as a bonsai until recently. It’s essentially an indoor tree, but I keep it outside in summer. I have potted up volunteer maples, mountain ash, and summersweet, all of which live outside in pots. I live in Atlantic Canada, with long periods of sub-freezing temperatures.

I always enjoy taking a walk through your garden with you Peter. Thanks for the tips!

I always enjoy listening while working on my plants and trees. Thank you

Perfect timing Peter!!! I've watched your channel on and off for a couple years and just got a beautiful pot for cheap at a second hand store... Now to get a beginner Bonsai!!! Cheers from Canada!!

I started into bonsai with cuttings off a Ficus benjamina houseplant my mother had, because that was available. F. benjamina may not be ideal, but it worked for me. Generally ficus is the easiest recommendation for indoor care, as it can do pretty well with the reduced light levels there (being an understory plant in the jungle). Portulacaria afra, the elephant bush, would be another plant that can be kept warm continuously, but is much more light-hungry. (Edit: avoid the grafted ficus styles though, like the "ginseng" and what's sometimes called "IKEA style" with the braided trunk, if you want to grow actual bonsai. You can take the foliage off a cheap "ginseng" for cuttings if you can't find better starter plants.) Outdoors I'd recommend to look at whatever is used for hedging in your area, as those plants have the same requirements as beginner bonsai (hard to kill, cheap and easy to get, react to pruning with dense, twiggy growth, small leaves etc). Here in Germany top of the list would be privet, other nice options being hornbeam, field maple, yew, firethorn and a few more. Privet also roots from thick cuttings (as does ficus).

I'm new to bonsai, still getting all my stuff ready. I'm from South Africa and I not close to any nurseries and love watching these videos to educate me and I Think Bonsai is a great hobby to start with, I'm probably going make lots of mistakes in the beginning, but that's how I'm going to learn, just wished I have started earlier with it.

I love all your videos, there is something comforting about them. I was wondering if you could do a video on Pest Management? Do you treat plants as needed? Or do you have a schedule to follow? Thank you so much for your time and sharing knowledge! :)

Hello, from Utah, USA. I’m a beginner and this has been very helpful.

In January/February it can get to minus 40 I in Toronto. I wrap my trees in burlap and put them on the ground under the plant bench. Thanks for the video. As for some easy I doors. I have lemon trees I started from seed and a couple olive trees. They are both drought tolerant and hardy.

I live in Siberia, Zone 3 (this was Zone 2 a few decades ago), and in winter I just keep the trees on the open balcony. Average winter temperature is - 15. I keep larch and Siberian pine. The Siberian pine is actually a very hardy and very close relative of the subtropical Chinese White pine.

Always a pleasure to watch your show

I've just brought mine in for the winter. Good old ficus.

Bonus Tuesday 😊 The only tropical/indoor bonsai I have is a Carmona/Fukien tea which lives outside from spring until late autumn then comes into my cool conservatory over winter to avoid frost which will kill it. All my other trees live outside all year round, including several Chinese elms and a couple of Podocarpus/Buddhist pines.

I’m thinking about grabbing one to two Mikawa Yatsubusa maples for my first ever bonsai trees :^) I really enjoy your videos, they’re helping me start to think about bonsai in the “right” way!

Thumbs up to Mr. Chan. This is a really good video for a beginner like me.

So happy to see ficus as star of this video, my collection consists of these mainly though here in India they are definitely outdoor plants, your Christmasy outfit added to the charm. Meet Xmas 🎄 🤶 in advance

Thank you Peter, from Costa Rica. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Yeap,. Ficus. Thx for sharing Peter, love the colorful outfit 😁👍.

Hello, thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world.

Just had getting a few bonsai tree from Glen here on big island. What a beautiful hobby

I am just amazed. You are preparing such nice bonsai trees.Your bonsai collection of plants is very nice.and good information thanks

Thanks to your lessons, I hoped I have made the right choices, I was tempted to go for Carmona. But as seeing that the indoor bonsai have such degrees of difficulties, I decided on keeping this advice in mind. Ficus, Chinese Elm, and Chinese pepper are the bonsai that I’m trying to see how they adapt and fare in my house. Thank you again. For all the wisdom.

This is such an informational video, and I have a lot to learn!!

Welp, he read my mind in my tree preferences with the ficus being best for indoor and chinese elm for an outdoor bonsai . My fav outside ones are the sycamores and chestnut trees , and the fav conifer I have is the Japanese larch, and my fav indoor are ficus and baobab.

I love working on ficus especially Im in a tropical country. I love your vids Peter.more power!

Thank you sir . Enjoying your channel 👍👍🍀🍀

In Massachusetts we down to 25 degrees centigrade, I bring my plants in the garage and water them regularly with rain or snow water ❤

So many beautiful trees!

I really wish you had a distributor in the US Peter. You have such a wonderful variety of beautiful bonsai. I am very thankful for all you share in your videos . 😃

Your channel is very informative .. very good work. I thank you sir and your team for such fine work. I only wish I lived in the UK to visit the nursery.

You are the best! I love your videos and I made a Bonsai with you over Zoom last Christmas.

Im definitely a new fan sir. Thank you for your valuable knowledge 🙏 ❤

Great advice thanks Peter!

Thank you Peter! Very helpful🤗

Very interesting and informative

Wow Peter, each time I watch one of your videos i see more of how professional you are including in running your nursery. Amazed to see the layout, the variety of plants and bonsai equipment. I think we all learn from you when you let us into your world. I'm in North East Queensland, Australia, on the Tropic of Capricorn. It's summer with 30 C days, 25 C nights and humidity above 75% most of the time. As to Ficus, where I live we have about 10 species growing naturally. Those found growing on trees or rocks can produce contorted roots and stems, most grow all year. With the "sandpaper" figs they often drop leaves and are dormant for our winter. They are easy to grow but you have to prune them many times through summer and grow them in deep pots. Over time you can gradually expose more roots at re-potting. A lot of figs I've collected are in forest that has been partially cleared and many are on the ground. The whole forest will go to housing soon, so i feel I'm preserving a few by potting them. The most challenging are those growing in dead trees or trees that have recently split and hit the ground. They are impossible to pot without removing 90% of the roots. These plants I wrap the main roots, bunches of small roots and the base of the stem with coconut palm fibre(directly from my own trees) and I tie them at regular intervals with twine. Each plant is hung in a tree where they get good light, air movement and a daily drink. The roots grow through the palm fibre and twine giving me a hanging fig with established leaves and roots. This way I save space and potting mix and I can work on these plants at any time in the future. It's not technically bonsai. I tend to think of it as plant sculpture. Regards Geoff.

Thank you for a good bonsai information.

Would love to visit your place, what a awesome setup you have.

Beautiful collection

Thanks for the reassurance !

I don’t have a bonsai. I just love this dude

Nice plant, thanks for share

Merry Xmas Peter love your work

Thank you for the tips

Your right about our cold Temperatures in the U.S.A. But it's a State in the East that holds the nations record, New Hampshire. -108 F, which is -77.77 C. And we hold the world record for heat at Furnace Creek Death Valley California, at 134 F, which is 56.66 C. The first Bonsai I ever made/grew was a Juniper. I've made many since. But I'm looking towards a flowering Bonsai now. Maybe an Azalea. Your videos are top notch. And your expertise and the information is awesome!

I found an Elm growing in my herbs a maple too. Theyre in their own pots now in the window.

I have three European elms on my balcony. They differ a lot in size, and they're almost one year old now. :P I hope they can become pretty bonsai in the future. :) They have small leaves, which I like.

yes in northwestern ontario it gets between -20 to -40 C sometimes in winter. So im always concerned about outdoor varieties.

Without your relaxing videos my day is not complete.

Alberta, Canada here... I've got a bit of success starting bonsai from seed. It got to -50°C this past winter so I'm thinkinf that my tiny seedlings should stay indoors this coming winter 😁 We'll see how it goes... New subscriber to your channel.

Thank you so much ❤

Joyous ❤ to find your channel Mr. Chan

I moved into a house and I'm 99% sure that there is a garden tree in the back I have aquired with the house that is a slightly neglected bonsai. The plant is healthy but everything about the way its grown (in a very shallow pot and with evidence of a lot of pruning) says bonsai to me. I know of bonsai but never tried it myself. So I thought I'd give it a go. Currently just leaving the tree for spring, I don't know what species it is yet. It has this pretty yellow twigs though with bright green leaves and lits of new growth.

Sensai, you rock. I would love one of your trees.

New subscriber cheers from Pennsylvania 👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Although I am afraid of neglecting a beautiful little tree, this video has given me hope that perhaps a Juniper would be best to buy; I have a 25 year old tree in my garden. Just to make you laugh - it always wants to be an 8-foot tall 'waterfall' no matter how I pruned it. Thank you for this video.

Great video

I come from Germany and I love youre videos 😁

Thank you 😊

Thank you!

Thank you for such a great video. 8 should of watched this earlier I've just purchased a carmona bonsai as my first bonsai Any useful information for keeping it healthy indoors? Feeding etc I'm based in the UK

Where I live it gets down to -24 f which is around -32c. It also gets to 100f in the summer.My best luck is with trees native to my area

thank you for the tips,, it gets to -30F. here in the UPPER PENINSULA of MICHIGAN, U.S.A., and that is not counting the wind chill factor or the snow,, all my outdoor bonsai are put under a layer of straw to cover their roots and i still lose a few every year due to freezing and thawing conditions

Jesteś mistrzem a ja tylko próbuję Cię naśladować. Czy jednak ujawnianie, że to taka duża, masowa produkcja nie niszczy złudzeń klientów ? Wiesz : jak z tą różą z Małego Księcia :) Co nie zmienia mego podziwu dla Twej sztuki i doświadczenia. Hi from cold Poland. Ogrodnik Pejzażysta Rafał.

Would love to see your take on making/growing bonsai in tropical islands.

Peter, I grow my bonsai in Michigan. I leave my bonsai outside for the winter, with no special protection. Over the years I've learned what species survive the cold, so I stick with those only.

My first is a 2-1/2" x 2' air layering I took from a red maple trunk. I guess it'll be a "pre-bonsai" for a while.

Colorado's relatively extreme climate is the reason I'm going to attempt to start some bonsai from local "volunteer" saplings that have popped up in my yard, come February/March. My assumption is that since they're already growing here, they might be able to actually deal with the hot, dry summers, and below-freezing winters. It might work, it might not, but hopefully I'll learn a thing or two. :D I've also got a ficus just hanging out in my room, much happier for the humidity tray and the regular watering. Now I just have to figure out what to do about it producing Really Big Leaves now that my concern isn't as much with making sure it's still alive. (It was neglected for a few years. I'm not sure how it's still kicking.)

Although not a "real" tree, Crassulas are very easy to grow, they require low maintenance and grow very nice trunks. The harshest the environment, the nicest they get. I live in a south Europe, a hundred yards from the Atlantic. My garden in south oriented and temperatures in summer can reach 40 degree C of dry air. It is the only species I can maintain there. As well Pittosporos, a hedge arbust, grow well there up to 4 meter high and every year hey produce many seeds that will grow fast and take well severe pruning so they could take interresting shapes too for bonsai. I use them to get shadow in my yard and I managed to give them a vault shape enough to cover 30m2 in 5 years. Branches are easy to zigzag and they produce very nice patterns.

hello very thk of you for all

what a nice way to spend a day when your feeling a bit under the weather watching these with a hot soothing drink

Could you talk about creating bonsai from vines like wisteria? Thank you for all your work.

Lots of very useful videos Peter, thank you for sharing. I am in the UK and have just started my bonsai path, growing oak, sycamore and sweet chestnut from seeds, so the plants are very young, a year old. I've read that these need to be wintered in a greenhouse/cold frame to protect the roots from frost, since frozen roots will kill the plants and pots freeze easily. Should the pots be protected from frost, or will the trees survive if left outside? Thanks

Great channel. Love your style. Question: what do you know about Mimosa bonsai? I'm trying to grow one. Thanks

Just getting started in Bonsai, great video for noobs like me.

Coldest in Canada -40 Celsius. -50 with wind chill easily.

Very Good, GOD Bless All People

I’m in Australia, winters aren’t a problem but our summers are deadly 🥵

i like the video! I would consider Pines more a tree for an advanced bonsai artist as it takes an higher level of horticulture experience to deal with the various requirements of the care for Pines during the growing season (needle plucking, proper fertilization, candles pinching, de-candling, branch cutting, candle selection) not a thing for a beginner. Possibly putting 1 flush pines in the easier category, but 2 flush pines are for sure to be avoided by absolute beginners...but then again just my opinion and everyone is free to experiment.

Im in the uk and i have 3 elm trees iv had them for 4 years now they really didnt like bein in the house after 4 months i put them in garden and they been there ever since there about 18 years old trees is this why they love the outside cause of the age or is it just luck never had problem since apart from needin a trim alot more

What type of feeding regimen would be necessary in the summer months.Thank you for sharing. Absolutely beautiful trees Sir. 2👍

Fun fact: somebody in the neighborhood planted a "ginseng" ficus outdoors in the ground It survived until mid December, I was shocked, because we already had some zero degree Celsius nights in November. Freaking vigorous plants...

I have a wisteria plant an Arcadia and a black pine they were planted from seeds are they indoor or outdoor plants and how do I begin to transition them from a little tray into a actual planter for them to grow I’m not sure where to start my black pine is already sprouting buds and I had a wisteria bud but it seems to be dying I would appreciate any advice on the I would appreciate any advice and help on their care thank you

If I may ask, what about citruses? Have for example kaffir lime is my long time dream. I don't have enough experiences for such (in my country) expensive plant, so I starting from lemon seed. Can I turn it to the bonsai?

What if I live in an area that gets very hot? Just started with my inside bonsai but it requires to be in a sunny area. Can’t put it outside because the heat might kill it. I keep it in my room where it can get sun and use a heat lamp when sunshine no longer is on it. My room stays fairly warm but not too bad.

Hi Peter, what potting mix would you recommend for a 2 year old Oak tree? Any suggestions for how to encourage more root growth and fertilizing? Thank you for sharing your passion.

My Chinese elm has been outside for a while. It's been 100+ f. And it's glossy and happy. Lives inside winters. ( 68)Ish can get -20 here. Tough little buggers.

Is that a Dracena in the back? Could one bonsai that? And what would be a nice style? Got a bunch of cuttings from a large plant I cut back.

I live in FL. Zone 8. What is a good bonsai for outside

I got a bosni tree and live in Florida when do they start to bloom ?

cụ nói rất hay rất tâm huyết mỗi tội em k hiểu tiếng thôi nhưg nhìn vườn cug thèm khát lắm

I tried a lot but everytime i fail please can make a good from A to Z how to start and ginish good bonsai like you

The most I have is hornbeam - a lokal tree is easy.

Can I grow Japanese Red Maple in Houston Texas or are my summers too hot?

When will you ship to the USA?

If I have a fir tree outside in the winter, how do I know when to stop watering it for the winter?