Chinese Elm Bonsai Repotting for Beginners
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- čas přidán 21. 07. 2024
- Repotting Chinese Elm bonsai safely to maximise the health and success of our bonsai trees. In this beginners video I show you how to repot the kind of Chinese Elm bonsai material that is commonly encountered by raw bonsai beginners.
I talk about why we repot bonsai, when to repot elm bonsai, and show how to repot bonsai, minimal risk and maximum success. I detail the tools I use, the technique for removing unwanted soil, how and why to prune the roots, securing the tree into the new bonsai pot, packing the new soil and top dressing the soil with moss.
UK Links:
Soil/substrate: amzn.to/3i1Equi
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Instagram @grobonsai
Email grobonsai@gmail.com - Zábava
There's a link in the description to the soil/substrate I used (UK only sorry)
Does this timeline apply to a Seiju Elm as well?
This just popped up out of no where. You really have come a long way Darren. Gives me hope for my small channel 😅
Oh god haha
I only found this vid and channel, and have been doing bonsai for a little while. I found hoe you tie the tree in to be fascinating, I usually don't tie in the tree as I want the roots to not get damaged, as one day want to show the roots. Here where I live and because I have ptsd and bad social anxiety, I have learned much from different you tubers and people like that. I will now try this technique. great video and keep up the great work.
Hi thanks for reaching out! I also suffer social anxiety, I started my channel as a way to participate in the community in a way I can keep control of situations. So it’s very rewarding to hear a fellow enthusiast has found value in my vids 🙂 Full credit for the tie down technique to Ryan Neil at Bonsai Mirai (and most other things I’ve learned to be honest!). Keep on keeping on and good luck with future repots! Darren
David this video was so good for me. I’ve had a stroke and lost my grip in the right hand, without getting someone else involved, how to tie my Bonsai down one handed, I need to do things myself as I’m trying hard to have a hobby without help you see.
The UK is lucky. I'm in the southeast US and have never seen Chinese elm (prebonsai) anywhere other than a bonsai nursery....
Nice work -Thanks for sharing 👍Glad I discovered your channel!
Thanks for watching. Pruning video will be coming soon 😀
Thanks for the video. Have two Chinese elms at this size and am looking at repotting.
I finally took the plunge today and repotted my bonsai tree. It’s definitely not as easy as it looks! 😂 I think I did an ok job for it being my first time & I hope he likes his bigger pot and continues to do well! I’d be devastated if he dies because of something I’ve done! Thanks again! 👍🏻🌱
Good luck 👍
Hi I just got a Chinese elm through the mail & the leaves were bright green when it arrived ,now half yellow leaves only a week after it arrived. I put it in a cool room with plenty of light .
Such a relaxing video :)
Thank you! 😊
great videos, thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us. quick question as i was a bit puzzled....why did you not fill the whole new pot with fresh soil?? i thought the Tree might be happier in soil compared to the small stones????
In a shallow pot, the water dynamics within the container can cause roots to stay too wet and lacking oxygen. That's the reason for using coarse substrate. The reason I left some original soil in the rootball was because of health concerns - by leaving some roots untouched, I knew that the tree would survive and recover very quickly. Bare rooting a tree that has unknown history is risky.
Hi Darren, love you video classes, you helped me save my elm's, my question is how do I keep ants off my plants? I do see aphids, I keep rinsing the plant but they keep coming back!
So sorry I missed your message. I'm afraid I don't have any ideas for the ant problem. They farm aphids and sometimes scale insects - drives me crazy.
Great video! As a beginner, do you recommend me to repot the bonsai as soon as it gets at home? I suppose a bigger pot with better soil is good, but I'm afraid it may kill it because of all the changes at once.
If the water is soaking in and draining well it doesn’t need to be repotted. If watering is very difficult because it spills out of the pot instead of draining through, it may benefit from repotting. But it will be best to wait a few weeks to settle.
At the state this tree is in (pretty young), i would have washed out the rootball completely to see what's in there. Next time it will be even harder to take a look at it. Additionally a lot of the old soaking wet substrate remained. And generally this tree should have gone into a big container where it can grow a lot and close the big cut, where the trunk was chopped.
You raise some good points. My goal here is to help raw beginners who have never done a repot, to incrementally improve the health of their tree with minimal risk of losing it (and losing interest in the hobby). If I was going to develop it, I would air layer above the inverse taper and have a sweet little mame, but that's for another day... :D Thanks for taking the time to comment, I appreciate it.
@@grobonsai wow battle of pruning words. I'd say you won
anthony adolphe lol no battle, just clarifying my reasoning 👍 apologies if it came across like that
Hello, do you have any videos of how you would have done this? I would very much like to see it because I am new to growing Bonsai and would like to learn as quick as possible. Maybe you can refer an additional channel? Thanks
Hi great video I am new to the world of Bonsai I got a new tree as a gift and wanted to repot it on attempting this I discovered that it didn’t have much of a root ball and had real difficulty with the wiring process because of this. Hoping to now use the bamboo tip to see if that makes things more secure. Great video!
One or two stones can help weigh the roots down and prop up the trunk if needed. Thanks for watching, old vid makes me cringe haha. Are you based in the U.K.?
@@grobonsai I wouldn’t worry too much about that your doing what’s helping people and igniting people interest in bonsai and the hobby. I live in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Ah, perfect 👍 thanks Kenny
Thanks for this video. I received my first bonsai over the holidays and am contemplating repotting it into a more suitable/pleasing pot as the spring season begins in my area.
The particular tree I received has a sort of gravely top dressing (I suppose that's the correct term) along with quite a bit of moss. I thought I could just remove the gravel and moss when repotting, but further exploration revealed that the gravel is surprisingly whats to be ... glued? ... in place around the tree such that individual granules don't come off, but like whole chips of adhered globules. It's like wherever the tree was bought decided to completely spray over the top of the bonsai base some sort of adhesive to keep gravel from falling off the top.
Is there a safe way to remove this? I thought about pulling it out of its pot and literally trying to cut away just under wherever this superstrate ends. My hope is to expose wherever the actual soil surface is so that I can gauge whether I'd like to further expose the trunk and also give me some idea of what size pot I need once I remove root materials from the bottom.
Strangely enough, it seems my top dressing is more difficult than the actual root and substrate. Any suggestions/tips would be greatly appreciated!
I’m told that is common in some parts. You will need to remove it, whichever way gets the job done. Obviously avoid damage where possible, but it’s better to remove it as it will cause more issues than any damage done during removal. If it is stuck to the pot, a spare table knife might help, running it between the pot and root ball, or as a lever. If not stuck to the pot, by all means take the tree out of the pot, maybe some pliers can help break up the gravel?
It’s not something I’ve had to deal with, so a bit of improvisation might be required
Hi , I’m very new to repotting bonsai’s. I recently went to a garden centre a few days ago & brought an Chinese Elm Bonsai , I’ve noticed the roots are coming out of the soil on the surface, would you say I need to repot? I also brought some Bonsai Focus repotting mix , would this be ok to use too? Would you say now is the right time to repot if needed (I’m in the UK). Thank you
Great video mate. Do you have a video that goes through the second repot method that you mentioned where you replace the soil on the inner root system?
Do you have any information on Szechuan pepper bonsais? My one is doing quite well but it will need to be repotted in spring.
Thanks Dan. I don’t have any vids and I don’t think I have any second repots to do in Spring either. I also don’t have any of that species, sorry not very helpful this time!
@@grobonsai No problem mate. I've watched all the videos I can find on the species but I have to say they are not great. It is my first bonsai so it's Ben through a couple of near death experiences haha. I read that it should drop it's leaves but it is still growing. It even has a couple of peppercorns. weird seeing as I'm in Ireland. Also very unsure about pruning. It's has an odd leaf structure. It's grows quite well so I would recommend trying it. Has a strong lemonny smell too.
Hey Darren, How about a video giving a tour of all your trees.... Would be cool to see what your growing :)
Yeah I’ve been holding off for various reasons, but you’re right - I’ll get on it 😀 Thanks Gwyn
Cheers man, keep them coming! Enjoy your vids :)@@grobonsai
Hello! Amazing video! My only question is what rocks you used for the base? Also would you reccomend organic bonsai potting soil?
I can't remember exactly what I used in this video, but these days I use a slightly larger size particle of the same material used as the main soil. So I use a soil sieve to take larger particles and use that as the 'aeration layer'.
Feel free to share this on my group buddy, think it would be beneficial to many of our new members who are new to bonsai and do ask from time to time :)
Thanks Rob, will do...
Perhaps u have covered this in another video and maybe you could direct me to that ... but, my goal is to grow pre bonsai tree starts and sell them (and for me too!)... it seems like it might be prudent to keep them in a larger pot until they get to a certain or desired size before reporting into a shallow pot. Am I thinking correctly? And should they be started in a bonsai appropriate soil? Seems like a big issue for people dealing with bonsai tree starts from nurseries. I’m growing Chinese elm from cuttings in soil. Was thinking I should start them directly into bonsai appropriate soil... but, I also want to sell them in small and large sizes as well. I’m totally new to bonsai but love them!
OfftoShambala I have experimented a little with standard potting mix but not enough to come to any conclusions. I do know that my least favourite bonsai task is repotting nursery trees - it’s such a mucky experience. My preference for prebonsai is a substrate that doesn’t break down, such as moler clay etc. I’m afraid there is no perfect solution, only trade-offs; aggregate substrates need more frequent watering etc and cost more
Hello Darren,
Where do you keep these Chinese elms in winter? Do you leave them outside or in a cold room inside? Mine are inside but they have the tendency to stay in leaf and grow with out a dormancy period. What can you advice me?
Mine are outside as long as they are acclimatised, but my garden very rarely gets as cold as -6C. A tree that isn’t prepared for winter e.g. if it’s new and I’m not sure where it was kept, or if it had some work in autumn, I keep in an unheated greenhouse. I don’t have any indoors so can’t comment, but if what you are doing is working keep doing that. Chinese elm can live in semi tropical environments, so will keep the foliage and continue to grow - which is what is happening with yours I think
Thanks for the video =). Would be an issue to re-plant a tree in summer? if you do, would it kill the tree? I have a small Olea Europea (Olive) which I am making into Bonsai. I ordered it online and the soil seems OK but a bit loosen, I am thinking on replanting it into a Bonsai pot I got. Would you reckon it could still keep the tree well? Thanks!
Hi, Olives are quite strong, and I know of pros who repot in summer. Sadly that is all I can say because I don’t have any olives. I’d advise asking/searching for more info from someone who knows the species - sorry.
I just brought a Chinese elm online,got it out the box and a little white maggot thing fell out the soil and there’s little bugs running around in the soil,any advice? Thanks
Got your point sir, in fact I think I sent too far with the roots from a cottoneaster that I got from a nursery and now I'm not sure if it will make it, it has lost all its leaves and I just keep it in a shaded area for now...Maybe I should put it in a greenhouse (inside a huge plastic bottle that sometimes I use for that purpose)
Ise)
Humidity is the best bet, but not overwatered
I have about the same size elm. The soil is a mix of rock etc. I live in South Florida and is on my back Lanai so it on get sun on sun down, around 4 hours on elm direct but still is out side. I have no soil just the Rocky soil type. It comes from a very reputable place. Question is how much water a day should I do? Enough just to see the water the drainage?
With aggregate / inorganic soil and in Florida, I expect it would be difficult to water *too* much. Water until it drains from the bottom of the pot, pause, then repeat to ensure a thorough soaking. In the UK I could be using that watering procedure several times a day on the hottest days.
How do you know when to repot? How do you chose a pot size when you repot?
That's a great couple of questions! We repot either to aid the health of the tree, or to use a pot that looks better. A good sign that the tree needs to be repotted for health reasons is that water doesn't pass through the soil, instead it pools on the surface and spills over the edges and water water does go through the pot isn't penetrating the soil. So the tree is hard to water. Another health-related reason is to use a soil that is more suitable for the tree - more/less water retentive. We can change the pot for aesthetic reasons when the tree is healthy enough to take any root pruning that may be necessary to fit the pot. In terms of timing, the best time to repot is (with a couple of exceptions depending on the species) between the buds swelling and first leaves opening. That is the time that the tree can take the most, with the least aftercare. Repotting at other times is possible, but can be risky as the tree will need careful management afterwards. So repotting outside of the ideal window should be for experienced practitioners or emergencies. Size of pot again is a balance between health and aesthetics, bigger pots are easier to keep the tree healthy and growing well, whereas smaller pots can look better (to a point) but can require more frequent watering and slow the growth of the tree down. That said, increasing the pot size too far can result in over potting, reducing the pot too far can require removing more roots than the tree would like. Hope that helps!
Hi, I have just repotted my ginseng bonsai and have worked it in the pot. How long do I leave the wires for?
Nice! Wires stay indefinitely to keep the tree secure and safe. Unless a wire is digging into a visible root, I’ve cut the wire like that before
Hi. just found your channel (yeeaaay).Can you plant 2 trees in one pot?
Sorry, could not find the description of the substrate. Can you please guide.
Hi... I think I have a Chinese privet, but I was wondering if it can be treated as a Chinese elm...? Thanks! I have no idea how to bring it to life! It's losing its leaves. But I am considering repotting it in the spring time.
Yes you can! Losing leaves is can have several causes, including normal shedding of old foliage. Also watering issues, environment issues or pest issues
I have a chinese elm tree that seems to be potted in terrible compost not allowing the tree to thrive. It was given to me in the winter and this is my first spring with it. There isn't much foliage but when i assess beneath the trunk the tree seems to still be alive and in somewhat good health. Would you recommend repotting now to get it in to some healthy soil encouraging growth throughout the summer? I don't think it will survive another winter like this.
That sounds like a good idea, as long as you try not to damage or cut any roots. I’d leave a portion of the rootball untouched as in this video. Sick trees can’t afford damage, they need a balance of water and oxygen in the soil, and sunlight to become strong again
Can you say again what substrate you used please, is standard bonsai potting soil not OK?
It is a European aggregate that has several uses including cat litter, called moler clay. What is available in your area will be fine. Here is more details about soil czcams.com/video/eHo-hXnnu8E/video.html
Is it necessary to cover it with moss in the end, or is it just for aesthetics?
It’s not necessary, but it does have functional purpose as well as aesthetic, I made a Short explaining it all though
Hi great video. I have a Chinese elm that i've had for about 2 years now. Its about 17 years old and 25 cm in height. I have noticed that the stem is slightly soft. Could this be root rot and do i need to repot it as it has also become quite loose in its' pot. Thanks
Bit of a dilemma, how is the foliage doing?
Aoround 5-15 leaves have yellowing around half way down the leaves with spots and patches of brown in them.
Hi, im EXTREMELY new to bonsai, what was the mix that you were using? I heard some sort of clay & bark chips... is it just a sort of gravel or something else? I bought a chinese elm yesterday that had died off but just started sprouting again so i gave it a trim & a water & hoping it survives. Im unsure wheather it needs to be re-potted at this stage. I like the pot its in & it has gravel in it but im still unsure...
It’s moler clay, hard to find outside the U.K. or some countries in Europe. It’s nothing special, but is cheap and convenient. I think you shouldn’t repot your tree, let it grow until mid-summer and give it a trim. Think about repotting next spring when it has regained some strength. You’ll need to water carefully, but it will be best in the end.
@@grobonsai Is this moler clay similar to Akadama? Or does it possess some benefits?
aragn271 it’s cheaper, doesn’t break down (whether that’s good or bad depends on your POV). I prefer akadama in bonsai pots, moler for bigger training pots, these days
@@grobonsai thank you! :D
Love the bamboo wiring technique. How does the tree survive on pebbles gravel etc. Where does its nutrient come from? Oh hell i'm confused.
Trees get energy (food) from sun, air and water. The roots access supplemental nutrition in the form of fertiliser that we must provide
@@grobonsai Hell im a pest. So is the pebbly stuff the fertiliser?
Ah, no, it is the ‘soil’ - substrate is a better word. Being coarse allows a better balance of water and oxygen to the roots, which is critical in a shallow container (due to the way water behaves in a pot). The reason I’m keeping some original soil is to ensure a portion of the roots are untouched. The black stuff will be replace at the next repot (which I still haven’t gotten around to doing!)
Will Bonsai potting compost work for a report of a Chinese Elm? And can any small stone be used for a drainage on the base of the pot prior to positioning and securing the bonsai in the pot?
Compost stays wet and once dry becomes hard to fully re-wet. It will be ok if your careful with watering. But there’s much better alternatives. With the aeration layer, a larger particle size of what you are using as the main soil is best, but a single particle layer of anything will ‘do’. It’s your choice but my personal opinion is that we owe it to the tree to do the best we can for it. If you are in the U.K. I can help source some soil for you?
@@grobonsai Thanks for the reply. That would be great if you could advise on the best soil (I’m UK based). It’s my first bonsai and my first repot so I’m researching on what is best for the tree. Naturally, I don’t want to mess it up on my first attempt
Ok, I can send you a repotting parcel for very little money, quality soil, drainage screen, wire, bamboo chopstick. Email or Instagram DM if you like, details in description (I think!)
Thankyou Darren, after repotting would you leave the tree in full sun / shade or half shade? or doesn't it matter?
Good question - I put the tree back into the same environment they were in before the repot, as the repot operation performed in this video is relatively forgiving, and the UK weather in Spring is generally neither too hot nor freezing. But some protection can be given in different climates.
My tree is dying it is budding and growing new leaves, the leaves are green but get a brown stop (or completely brown) and die, the soil is very dry but I’ve watered it for about 2 weeks but there is no progress please help
Stand the pot submerged in a bowl of water for a minute or two, to rehydrate very dry soil.
It’s hard to say without seeing the tree but it could be black spot - a fungus - or spider mites. Maybe look those up to see if the symptoms fit.
hello.. I repotted a Juniper.. very small from a nursery.. 2 weeks later it turned brown and died.. It was done in June.. kept outside and watered daily with proper drainage.. :( Joe
I’m so sorry to hear that. Junipers are very sensitive to root work compared to elms. Depending where you are, maybe it was a little late for repotting, spring is the best time in most cases. I don’t grow junipers but the general guidance with them is to remove no more than 30% of fine feeder roots when very healthy, never bare root, don’t prune any foliage, and carefully monitor the soil and water only when needed. Better luck next time!
@@grobonsai ty for your time and suggestions ;)
I'm very confused! I was given a Chinese elm bonsai a couple of years and I've struggled with it. It does need repotting but that material you call soil does not look like and standard form of soil you find on the ground outside. It looks and sounds more like small stonesi fail to see how roots will grow into this stony substance. Please advise.
It’s a fired clay aggregate substrate. It’s quite complex to explain in a comment, but in a shallow bonsai pot we find airy substrate better for the roots. The roots don’t need to penetrate the particle to be effective, they absorb water as it exists between the particles, and from the particles as the water ‘evaporates’ from inside each piece of aggregate. In other words, it is more akin to hydroponic substrate than soil. Roots act more like a sponge than a straw in taking up water.
Nigel Saunders is inspirational , as is Herons Bonsai, MikBonsai Eastern Leaf, Etc. How long have you been doing Bonsai I haven't seen your channel until now ?
Thanks for the comment! Nowhere near as long as those guys. A couple of years since I stopped torturing plants and started making progress.
@@grobonsai
Same here about a couple years now I'm making progress thanks to those Bonsai Enthuists ! Good luck with your videos I've subscribed I'll be watching your videos 👍👌
Thanks 🙏
Hi there Sir. I have question about repotting? I have trees and shrubs that has been repotting and train to bonsai the first one is one month after i repotted, and the other one is 3 weeks, and the other two is almost two weeks. Im just a beginner so i dont have any idea for soils/substrate to use. I just use compost and small rock/pebbles. I watch your videos that very important is the drainage. My soil is always very wet even though i dont water it in two days. Do you think it is safe to repot or transplant my trees or shrubs? Do you think it is safe in time of fall? Thank you.
If you have them in normal nursery containers it’s really not a problem. If they are in shallow bonsai containers drainage of soil can be more of a problem. But it will be ok to leave them. Keep them in the soil you have them in until Spring 2021 or health issues show up. It might mean watering carefully in summer but it should be ok. Trees can grow in any almost substrate as long as we are careful. It’s just some are easier than others to maintain health 👍
Oh, Alright. Thank you so much Sir.
I have got a Chinese elm and the soil was really bad and hard, I think the shop had given up on it, so I had to apply a lot of pressure to get it of the roots is this ok, Will it lead to problems?
It’s always best to take a gentle approach but without seeing I can’t say - it might be your technique was perfect 🙂 Perhaps it was bone-dry soil? But elms are quite tough, a good water when it’s needed and I’m sure the tree will be fine. Either way, doing *something* is better than nothing and it dying in the shop without a chance!
@@grobonsai thank you yes the soil was hard and dry I did my best to not rip the roots. Thanks for the reply.😁
Get a plastic tea tray for when you’re repotting on camera to catch all the spillage! I normally repot in the container of mix so any spillage is contained but I’d imagine that would be difficult to film!
Those enlarged roots are a bit of a nuisance, it would have been interesting to see where they went. Did you consider washing the roots to clear the old soil? I repotted mine last year in the height of summer due to the horrid soil and small pot it came in and it didn’t do any harm. Buds are opening over the last few days so will expect to give it time growing and then prune back for ramification later in the year. Any tips on timing on that would be welcome!
Such a good idea, thanks 🙏
hi, i repoted my chinese elm in vertelised potsoil. was that a wrong decision? im really really new to bonsai. btw thanks for the tips. found them useful.
Some people add pumice or perlite to potting soil, but as long as you water carefully - don’t keep it soaking, but never let it dry out - it will be ok for now.
@@grobonsai thanks brother, u got yourself a new subscriber. hahahaha thnx man
Thanks for watching 👍
Just bought my first Chinese Elm :)
Why do you fill in around the plant with gravel? Why not use high quality dirt?
Hi that’s great! I explain the choice I made here Bonsai Soil Basics: How to Choose Bonsai Soil (2019) buuuuut I do use more japanesey soils these days. What I said still holds though
@@grobonsai I appreciate you taking the time to respond! I'll watch that video posthaste. Do you recommend repotting a nursery-bought Chinese Elm almost immediately?
Not necessarily. Is the soil a solid lump or still fairly airy looking? When watering does it drain nicely or pool up and spill over, take ages to soak in, then become dry a few hours later? If it’s airy and drains well, no need to repot. Otherwise, it’s a good idea to repot 😊
When is the best time to repot conifers, I’ve tried twice and both times my trees have died
Generally speaking, Spring is the safest period as buds start to swell, but conifers are definitely more nuanced than broadleaf. I’m not best placed to provide advice really, but some pointers that I’ve picked up from Mirai: avoid heavy styling or pruning before or after - wait for strength to return. Don’t bare root. Avoid heavy reductions of root mass. Beware overwatering - easily done until the root system has recovered and the tree is using water again hope that helps
What are you pull and twisting down TO? one end is to bamboo and the other end?
So hard to describe in words! There’s a piece of thick wire acting as a stop to two pieces of wire that are tie-downs
Yabut..one end to bonsai and where do u tie the other end to..the pot?
I mean to the bamboo
Maybe this can make it clear czcams.com/video/s88bDrAc8co/video.html
I just bought what I believe is a Chinese elm bonsai all I’ve done so far is repot it, just wondering if it is in fact a bonsai and if looks ok for now or does it need trimming
If you have recently repotted, it is a good idea to allow the tree to recover, until it starts to grow strongly again
Thank you . So I just leave it alone till spring?? Obviously watering it lol
Exactly lol yeah, that’s what I would do
Hello =)
First let me start with saying sorry for my bad English, and I hope you can understand me.
After I saw your video I went out and bought a bonsai tree, and immediately subscribed to your channel.
I'm a beginner and know nothing about my new baby. It's a Elm Zelkova Serrata, but the soil don't look soo good and I have no idea at all which soil to buy for this.
Can you please tell me which soil is best for my zelkova, what should I buy it?
I bought a bag of akadama, but I'm not sure if it's for this tree, or another.
I'm in love with bonsai now, and gonna buy some more bonsai.
But I understand that every bonsai tree need different soil and not all use the same soil, but are there some speciel soil I can use to all different bonsai trees?
I really hope that you have time to help a beginner🙏🏽🙏🏽, who have no clue what he's doing 😋.
Akadama is good for Zelkova, you made a good choice. The best time to repot is in the Spring as the leaf buds start to swell. Good luck and enjoy your tree! 🙂
Dear people,
What is sold as Zelkova serrata is almost always a wrong name. You bought a Ulmus parvifolia, a autumn flowering Chinese elm. In nature they grow in a large area throughout China down to Vietnam and is also cultivated in Japan.
I have a few and replaced the dense dirt soil totally for a gritty free draining soil with 30% good compost.
Is there anywhere I can contact you and send a picture of my bonsai? It’s very young and I don’t know whether to repot it yet however it is in a very small bio-degradable pot and you can see some roots poking out of the surface of the soil. I bought some new pots and some bonsai soil but I don’t know if the pot I bought is too large either. Thanks
Also, the stem on one of the plants has gone purple, what does this mean??
J either email some pictures to grobonsai (at) gmail (dot) com or instagram DM grobonsai
Hello, can I ask if it’s okay to repot the Bonsai just to put better soil in? I repotted my two Chinese Elms three weeks ago into basic Bonsai soil but then I saw some videos of many trees being planted into an Akadama and Lava Rock mix. So is it okay to repot again with the better quality mix?
After three weeks new roots will be forming, I would say no to the re-repot. They probably won’t die, I expect they’d stall for the majority of the growing season. That would negate the benefit of the good soil. Then in 2022 they’d be starting with less energy than if you do the repot next spring.
So repot them into the better mixture of Akadama and Lava rock about April 2022?
Yep, when spring buds are starting to swell 👍
Thank you so much 😃
What is that rock? I don’t really hear. Is it just normal pebbles?
It’s a European product called moler clay. I talk about soils more in this video Bonsai Soil Basics: How to Choose Bonsai Soil (2019) czcams.com/video/eHo-hXnnu8E/video.html hope that helps
Hello I. Have a elm and it’s my. First y kitty litter and not Bonsai soil as I’m very new to bonsai
Cat litter isn’t universally suitable for horticulture, it’s just a select few brands happen to be made from suitable materials. If you’re in any doubt, best to use a reputable brand of bonsai substrate.
I have found waving the roots around in water can help to wash soil off
I am most definitely a beginner! I managed to kill my first Chinese Elm because I pruned it wrong. It’s been a few years since ‘Bob the Elms’ passing & I’ve decided to give it another go. I’ve named this one ‘Ela the Elm’ meaning earth or tree 🙂 Great video!! I have a question.. Is it ok for me to repot Ela into a slightly bigger pot? His little fine roots are all coping out of the top literally everywhere. He’s in a 14cm x 9cm x 4.5cm pot now & I was thinking of putting him in a slightly bigger one 16cm x 12cm x 5cm. Do you think that will be ok?
Yes, definitely a good idea, it will give him a boost. You can do that without disturbing the roots very much - pop him out, place into the larger container, place some soil around the existing rootball, and water gently - job done ✅ have fun 😀
Gro Bonsai Awesome! One more thing; I have the mesh, wire, bonsai focus repotting mix & some crushed lava stones. Will it help to have a layer of the lava rocks in the bottom of the new pot to help with drainage & then use the bonsai focus mix to fill in around the edges or should I just mix the two together?
Yeah a single layer will help with aeration 👍 mix it in also
Gro Bonsai Fantastic! Thank you so much for your help & advice! Once everything arrives I’ll let you know how it all goes 😊
Hiya, are Chinese Elm good for beginners?
Definitely, one of the best species for beginners 👍
Gro Bonsai thanks :) just bought one online from Herons Bonsai, hopefully it comes okay
Isn't that pot a bit small for the plant, it could use one a little larger. Roots do not seem to have enough room to grow.
What did you use for the top-dress? Complete novice here!
Hello, the top dressing is an optional step, though I always use it. It is a 50/50 mix of shredded sphagnum moss, and moss I have collected from the neighbourhood. The collected moss is dried, shredded and sifted to remove stones, and dirt/debris. A moss top dressing has a number of benefits, but your tree will be perfectly fine without it. Thanks for watching
@@grobonsai Thanks, will Akadama soil work for the repotting?
Yes, but work it in a bit more carefully to preserve its structure 👍
@@grobonsai Thanks so much. I have recently bought a 7 year Chinese Elm and it's growing well however soil is awful and the water takes ages making its way through. Just think doing what you have done in the video and then putting it back in the same ceramic pot should fix this. I know it's not the best season to be doing this but something definitely isn't right with the soil. After doing this should I just go back to feeding as I have been or do I need to do anything different?
No worries. Resume fertiliser once it starts growing again
What is this chip?
It is fired clay from Europe called moler/molar clay
Those leaves are huge for a chinese elm I haven't done any work on mine and there Quarter that size
Most (not all) Chinese elm bonsai are a small-leaf variety. This appears to not be the case. It was indoors at the shop, which will lead to larger leaves. But mostly it’s genetics that determine the max and min leaf size in the absence of training
@@grobonsaihow’s the bonsai journey going?
Are we really using cat litter as soil?
We are using a particular material that happens to be sold as cat litter in this case. The picture on the bag doesn’t change its usefulness. You can also use akadama as cat litter 😁 in fact I use akadama for my bonsai, and cat litter as training soil to save money filling big pots
So cool I want to get I to it but I have no moneh as Im 15
Are you in the UK?
Yamadori........ Harvest it from a field for...
$FREE.99!! 😉😂😎
Please help, what are the stones you are putting in? It’s almost like you were referring to them as soil??? My tree is due it’s first repot and I don’t want it to die 🤣🙈
Hi, I have just added a link to the 'soil' I use. It's sold as cat litter but don't mind that. But, if you are in the northern hemisphere, now is not a good time to repot a bonsai (unless it's a tropical species). Is there anything else I can help with?
@@grobonsai thanks for the speedy reply it’s much appreciated, so I’m in the uk and my plant is a Chinese elm, it’s 2 years I bought it and figured it could be time to give it a bigger space to grow, when would you recommend I do it?
In the Spring is best, the tree has the most energy and the weather perfect for recovery
Bonsai master ??? He didnt wash the roots . If you Are new go see someone hwo know what He Is doing And it Is good then go to Nigel ať Bonsai zone .He Is werry werry good.
1. I have not claimed to be a ‘bonsai master’
2. It is not necessary to wash the roots
3. I discuss the reasoning in the video
How rude bonsai life !
CAN YOU TALK WITH A FLOW, YOU SOUND LIKE SOMEONE COMMUNICATING ON A RADIO, I'M FALLING ASLEEP.
I hope I have improved since making this video, however doing three things at the same time is taxing for my single-thread brain