Yours is the first bonsai page that offered the concept of companion plantings. Kudos for that! Also, when I was starting out... decades ago... I was told that the best and easiest way to resculpt or reshape a bonsai was the same as carving an elephant out of a block of marble. First, you have to know what an elephant should look like. Then, simply cut away everything that doesn't look like an elephant! HA! Keep up the great work. Cheers, Dick from Vancouver.
I like it. Have a little mandarin tree started from a seed I found in a seedless fruit. Is now pruned back to about 12 inches, but chicken out on putting into a little pot from a 2 gal. Pot.
Loved this guys easy going style. As a beginner i needed this confidence to give my new Chinese Elm its first pruning. Thanks for this. Gulp....here we go....
I have brought a bonsai tree ... something I wanted to do as my bucket list. The only concern I had was how to prune is properly. By watching this video I feel confident to work on my bonsai tree. Thanks
Thanks for the video. Miniature Bamboo looks good as an accent. The type I have was labelled as arundinaria nitida, Its slow growing, and the tallest it ever reached for me was about 15 inches.
Great video as usual. I'm a total beginner to bonsai, literally started this week with some nursery plants. Can you recommend some books please. Thanks in advance
Hi thanks, I’m not expert - but I’m enthusiastic 😁 I use a balanced organic fertiliser called Dr Grow 5-5-5 on a 6 week interval. A weekly application of seaweed and fish hydrolysate. Peter Warren @ Saruyama has a video all about the products mentioned
thanks again for replying i'll will do as it will give some idea of if i'm going in the right direction and some way of knowing in future that i'm making the right decisions may thanks
I've got a Chinese Elm that has 54 main branches with smaller stubby branches growing out of them. The new branches are sprouting all ver the place at different angles. Should I just let them grow or do I need to prune to encourage thicker more prominent branches?
I bought mine from supermarket, it was almost fully dead, gave it lots of water and it started to grow. I didn't like it's shape so i cut almost all the branches because they were all over the place, I hope it will grow back as I shaped it and survive🤞
Hello, i have a Prosopis alba, of around 4 years that I've never transplanted to a bigger pot. Its really small and I decided to go for making him a bonsai. What do you recommend doing first?
I'm not familiar with the species. Generally, I will do any pruning of branches and styling first, ideally in early summer. Once the tree has recovered, I then repot in Spring to reduce the rootball. But remember to research the species first. So sorry for the delay replying
I'm new to bansia. I just transplanted my Rosewood to a big pot. It's still like 4" tall (104mm). How or where do I get little pots. Are they nessacery? Does pot size matter?
I have no bonsai, but would love to get one. I have recently chopped down a honeysuckle in my garden, about 10yrs old, could I use this? Companion planting, I grow miniture hostas in small bonsai pots, they look great.
Hi Darren. Thanks for another interesting and informative vid. Last year I acquired a beech with nice thick trunk so so wanted to develop branches and ramification. Do you apply the same principle (and if so at what time of year) as I have read that beech may need some specialist techniques to develop ramification? Keep the videos coming!
Hi Martin, thanks for supporting the channel! To be transparent I don’t have any beech at the stage to build ramification. I use Walter Palls hedge pruning method for my elms because they grow so fast and time is always short. I know that Walter uses the method on beech, but obviously I can’t comment. By the way, hedge pruning is controversial, but I prefer to pick and choose techniques depending on the situation, so I can’t even predict what I’d do for beech without testing it first. Peter Warren at Saruyama has good videos on beech, I expect that would be my starting point 🙂 hope that helps
My Grandpa was the president of bonsai in Taree, NSW, Austraila. He had approximately 150 bonsai, the oldest one was 65 years old. My grandpa bought me my first bonsai a few weeks ago which is a fig not sure what kind though. He took me to a workshop that happens one a month. Unfortunately my grandpa just passed away so suddenly, I am devastated that we didn’t have more time together and to learn from him. My fig is doing very well and is growing a lot of leaf but i’m clueless on the root systems, Grandpa cut a few small hairy roots and left a couple alone along with the structural roots but now he’s gone and I’m clueless. Also could you talk about green grass moss and design.
I have been into bonsai since I was at school, I’m 55 now & have two 40 year old oak Hyde bonsai grown from acorns they have long thick trunks & bushy crowns but no lower branches any tips on how to create lower branch growth? Do I pollard them now or early spring ie March. I was given as a oresent an S shape Chinese elm now all hairy I keep it indoors & want to prune it it’s by a big bright window in a heated room it’s Feb do I wait until the end of March? Your video video was very helpful & relaxed keep it up Daniel both London.
I don't have any experience with oaks so wouldn't want to give you any duff info sorry. Actually I have one with a similar issue! Regarding the elm, I would personally wait until after the spring flush of growth has hardened off and had a chance to build some energy, the response is going to be so much better then - at least that's what I find. If it wasn't a new addition, before the spring push is a good time, but with a change of environment etc. I'd prefer to play it safe - even as tough as elms are.
My daughter got me a bonsai tree and I have all kinds of branches growing out. Do you have to use pruning shears or can you use scissors to do it? I don’t want to kill the tree. It’s also fall here, should I wait till spring or summer? Thank you so much.
Thanks for this information. I purchased a Chinese Elm this spring (from bonsai nursery) and have not repotted it yet, however, I've pruned the new growth. Our summers here in VA (zone 7a) can go up to 100⁰ F with high humidity. I've kept it outdoors in full sun with daily watering and it's doing well. My questions are: Is it too late to repot? If it's too late, where do you recommend I place it during the winter (temperature day-time 30⁰-55⁰F evening 8⁰-30⁰)? The bonsai nursery owner recommended I bury the pot on the ground to protect the roots, do you agree? Thank you for any feedback you may share.
Hi, best time to repot is spring as new buds are about to open. I don’t recommend repotting now. Regards winter, do you have an unheated garage or similar?
hi im new to bonsai i got a chinese elm 2 months ago i took off all i dint want now i have lots of new green branches but theres a old leader that is not needed with the new growth its march in the uk is it safe to remove or should i wait.also would like to say i have learned alot from your videos thank you
Thanks Scott! If the tree is healthy prune now is fine. If you’re not sure I would say (without seeing it) to play it safe and prune late Spring / early summer when the first flush of growth has hardened off - to let the tree gain some energy. Spring time before growth is a great time to prune, don’t get me wrong, it’s just if a tree isn’t strong and healthy it’s always best to wait. Hope that makes sense. Oh also after pruning trees can temporarily use less water, so avoid habitual watering and check if it needs water first 👍
I have a gardenia bonsai that was given to my 3 months ago…it’s my very first bonsai. I want to grow it indoors and it’s doing very well. Do you think it will do well indoors indefinitely or am I just lucky for now? I don’t want to bring my bonsai in and out because I don’t want bugs in my house so that’s why I am just keeping it indoors.
I’m not familiar with the species myself but reading around it looks like indoors is fine, a bright spot in a bright room but without the sun directly on the tree. There is some general info here: www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/gardenia
Hi Daren, I think you do grate job, all the best for you. I love bark on this Elm did you know where is the best place to get one? or do you have any offcuts that you rooted already? I'm happy to bay one, I will like to add this lovely tree to my collection but is hard to find anything with this bark.
thank you for replying yes it makes sense im so new to bonsai for 2 months the tree to me looks healthy but is it i repotted it and replaced the compost soil to a bonsai mix soil is there any way i could send you a video clip or pic of the tree so you can maybe advise me more.i dont want to harm the tree as its been bought to help me from my wife
I've just got my first Chinese elm and it's 7 years old. Can I prune it all year round? At what age do you generally put them into larger pots? Any other tips would be amazing as its a constant learning curve
They can be pruned all year round provided they are healthy. If unhealthy, it's advisable to leave it to grow and build strength. If pruning an outdoor tree in Winter, you must ensure it doesn't experience freezing temperatures. Now having said that, there are optimum times to prune - Spring just before buds burst, after the first flush of growth has 'hardened off' through until leaf-fall. And, it's important to wait until the stem being pruned has 'lignified' (become woody). I'm afraid I don't keep elms indoors so can't provide any insight. Hope that helps
It depends on the species and if it is tropical or temperate. For temperate, generally spring before growth, after first flush hardens off to mid/late summer, and autumn/fall are the best times. But this is very general and doesn’t apply to tropical species
it seemed like the pads were a bit unfinished at the end? But I just ordered a little elm and so maybe I shouldnt say that till I try to trim one! haha
Yeah, dense pads don't happen in one sitting, rather it's an accumulation. That said, I prefer a more loose silhouette, personally. Have fun and thanks for watching!
@@grobonsai Thanks for answering! I am new to bonsai and am trying to figure out how to do things! I am glad you said you do it how you like it! If everyone did it the same, how boring would that be :)
I have a question. My tree I bought looks like a bonsai tree, but my dad says it is a branch of a tree that has been sprouted in a pot. Could this actually happen, and if my bonsai tree is a branch that’s been sprouted, is it still a bonsai or not.
So the term bonsai means a tree in a pot. Bonsai are created from plant material of several different sources, seed grown, garden plants, cuttings or wild trees. It doesn’t matter what plant species or where it came from - it can still be trained as bonsai (some species are better than others though). Your tree may well have been a cutting from a larger tree. Hopefully over time and with training, your tree can become more and more like a small tree in a pot.
Liked and subscribed to your channel, thanks for all your enthusiasm. Brand new to bonsai so a little scary but I can already see it will become a rewarding hobby. Need help on identifying plant I received as a present, it was sold as a Chinese Elm so I hope it is 🤞🏻. Few brown leaves which I hope is just my over protective watering. Keep up the good work 👍
It would be great it you are able to write the names of the species/names of plants you recommend ( video recommending three species of trees that are easy for beginners ) because is difficult to understand and i am not able to research them in my area thank you
How you fragmented your video unsettled my mind, if that is how it can be explained in english. I don't like that. But besides that, all good as always !
You don’t keep down grow branches on any bonsai tree. And this tree look not balanced at all, because the way how you prune is wrong. Level one branch should be same thickness and then grow the level two, usually 2/3 of thickness of level one…etc…chinese elm branches should look like chicken feet. That’s the beauty
The nursery industry (in China, Netherlands and so on) does produce a lot of low cost trees - ficus, elm and others. I’m sure it is profitable but I personally do not think it is completely ethical, the material is often marketed badly resulting in impulse purchases and incorrect care.
Yours is the first bonsai page that offered the concept of companion plantings. Kudos for that! Also, when I was starting out... decades ago... I was told that the best and easiest way to resculpt or reshape a bonsai was the same as carving an elephant out of a block of marble. First, you have to know what an elephant should look like. Then, simply cut away everything that doesn't look like an elephant! HA! Keep up the great work. Cheers, Dick from Vancouver.
That’s a really good way of thinking about it, I like that, thanks for sharing
I’ve brought two Elm bonsai , I was told it’s a outside tree ?
Dave I like how matter-of-fact you give me confidence to start pruning
Snip Snip. Always good to show some easy pruning techniques 👍
Cheers Ian
Excited for mine to start growing...I think! Yes! I’ll be pruning while shaking in my boots! 😊
Good luck, you can do it
I like it. Have a little mandarin tree started from a seed I found in a seedless fruit. Is now pruned back to about 12 inches, but chicken out on putting into a little pot from a 2 gal. Pot.
That sounds nice! Grew some lemon seeds way back before I got into bonsai
really like how you describe all that. Great for beginners.
Thanks, yes I’m making a few beginners vids 😊 will get back to progressions and updates soon though. Thanks for supporting the channel.
Great advise Daren. I love your enthusiasm and all your videos. Thanks
Thanks so much Matt
I just started with accent plants as well Darren. I love the pink flowers with green grass, and two tone blue pot. Very nice aesthetic. 😎🍺🍺
Cheers Bro😁
Loved this guys easy going style. As a beginner i needed this confidence to give my new Chinese Elm its first pruning. Thanks for this. Gulp....here we go....
You got this. Good luck
Finished product looks good. Subbed you. I started back messing with bonsai this year. God bless.
Thanks for the sub! Glad you’re getting back into bonsai 👍
Just starting out, love your channel, Greetings from Belgium!
Thanks so much !
You work is amazing
Thank you friend
I have brought a bonsai tree ... something I wanted to do as my bucket list. The only concern I had was how to prune is properly. By watching this video I feel confident to work on my bonsai tree. Thanks
Go for it!
The first time im first on anyones video and i love it
Haha thanks my friend 👍👍
Thanks, you made it look easy and it reminded me to focus, calm down and do it patiently (zen mode on). 😌👍
Yesss
Amazing. 🌳I also wanted to make a Chinese elm tree after watching your video. I hope to purchase Chinese elm seeds online as soon as possible.😊🙂
Have fun, thanks
Thanks for the video. Miniature Bamboo looks good as an accent. The type I have was labelled as arundinaria nitida, Its slow growing, and the tallest it ever reached for me was about 15 inches.
Great tip, I’ll look it up thanks
Nice video bro !👌 Trim trim trim!! Dig the accent plants .
Thanks bro 🙏
Prunning bonsai thank for sharing,nice bonsai.
Great information! Thank you for sharing.
Try miniature hostas in bonsai pots, look great.
Love this video Daren
Another great video. Fantastic choice of accent plant - very pretty!!
Thanks very much 🙏
Liked and subscribed! Great info and beautiful tree!👍🏽
That’s great, thanks so much 🙏
Love to see this video sir ... thanks for sharing ...
Most welcome, thank you for watching
Good descriptions on pruning.
Thanks for watching 🙏
Thanks for another great video.
Thanks Paul 🙏
Great video as usual. I'm a total beginner to bonsai, literally started this week with some nursery plants. Can you recommend some books please. Thanks in advance
And again a great video! Thank you!
Thank you so much!
You are a good plant expert. Nice and healthy tree. How do you fertilize it?
Hi thanks, I’m not expert - but I’m enthusiastic 😁 I use a balanced organic fertiliser called Dr Grow 5-5-5 on a 6 week interval. A weekly application of seaweed and fish hydrolysate. Peter Warren @ Saruyama has a video all about the products mentioned
Great content. Really helpful.
Thanks for watching Dan
thanks again for replying i'll will do as it will give some idea of if i'm going in the right direction and some way of knowing in future that i'm making the right decisions may thanks
Great video Darren! Lovely CE too, great trunk! I'm going to send you a DM...
Thanks Dave 👍
I’ve been subscribe to your channel Nigel and Peter Chan channel also a lot of Jason from green leaf
Thanks Nick!
I've got a Chinese Elm that has 54 main branches with smaller stubby branches growing out of them. The new branches are sprouting all ver the place at different angles. Should I just let them grow or do I need to prune to encourage thicker more prominent branches?
I bought mine from supermarket, it was almost fully dead, gave it lots of water and it started to grow. I didn't like it's shape so i cut almost all the branches because they were all over the place, I hope it will grow back as I shaped it and survive🤞
Should be ok, just be careful not to overwater while it doesn’t have leaves, the soil will dry slower without foliage using water
Hello, i have a Prosopis alba, of around 4 years that I've never transplanted to a bigger pot. Its really small and I decided to go for making him a bonsai. What do you recommend doing first?
I'm not familiar with the species. Generally, I will do any pruning of branches and styling first, ideally in early summer. Once the tree has recovered, I then repot in Spring to reduce the rootball. But remember to research the species first. So sorry for the delay replying
I'm new to bansia. I just transplanted my Rosewood to a big pot. It's still like 4" tall (104mm). How or where do I get little pots. Are they nessacery? Does pot size matter?
I have no bonsai, but would love to get one. I have recently chopped down a honeysuckle in my garden, about 10yrs old, could I use this?
Companion planting, I grow miniture hostas in small bonsai pots, they look great.
Hi Darren. Thanks for another interesting and informative vid. Last year I acquired a beech with nice thick trunk so so wanted to develop branches and ramification. Do you apply the same principle (and if so at what time of year) as I have read that beech may need some specialist techniques to develop ramification? Keep the videos coming!
Hi Martin, thanks for supporting the channel! To be transparent I don’t have any beech at the stage to build ramification. I use Walter Palls hedge pruning method for my elms because they grow so fast and time is always short. I know that Walter uses the method on beech, but obviously I can’t comment. By the way, hedge pruning is controversial, but I prefer to pick and choose techniques depending on the situation, so I can’t even predict what I’d do for beech without testing it first. Peter Warren at Saruyama has good videos on beech, I expect that would be my starting point 🙂 hope that helps
Gro Bonsai Thanks Darren. Always appreciate that you take time to answer questions and offer advice 👍
My Grandpa was the president of bonsai in Taree, NSW, Austraila. He had approximately 150 bonsai, the oldest one was 65 years old. My grandpa bought me my first bonsai a few weeks ago which is a fig not sure what kind though. He took me to a workshop that happens one a month. Unfortunately my grandpa just passed away so suddenly, I am devastated that we didn’t have more time together and to learn from him. My fig is doing very well and is growing a lot of leaf but i’m clueless on the root systems, Grandpa cut a few small hairy roots and left a couple alone along with the structural roots but now he’s gone and I’m clueless. Also could you talk about green grass moss and design.
I have been into bonsai since I was at school, I’m 55 now & have two 40 year old oak Hyde bonsai grown from acorns they have long thick trunks & bushy crowns but no lower branches any tips on how to create lower branch growth? Do I pollard them now or early spring ie March. I was given as a oresent an S shape Chinese elm now all hairy I keep it indoors & want to prune it it’s by a big bright window in a heated room it’s Feb do I wait until the end of March? Your video video was very helpful & relaxed keep it up
Daniel both London.
I don't have any experience with oaks so wouldn't want to give you any duff info sorry. Actually I have one with a similar issue! Regarding the elm, I would personally wait until after the spring flush of growth has hardened off and had a chance to build some energy, the response is going to be so much better then - at least that's what I find. If it wasn't a new addition, before the spring push is a good time, but with a change of environment etc. I'd prefer to play it safe - even as tough as elms are.
Have to go away for four days.
I am worried about watering my first indoor plants. Any tricks
My daughter got me a bonsai tree and I have all kinds of branches growing out. Do you have to use pruning shears or can you use scissors to do it? I don’t want to kill the tree. It’s also fall here, should I wait till spring or summer? Thank you so much.
Anything that works is fine. I have used nail or cuticle cutters in the past
Thanks for this information. I purchased a Chinese Elm this spring (from bonsai nursery) and have not repotted it yet, however, I've pruned the new growth. Our summers here in VA (zone 7a) can go up to 100⁰ F with high humidity. I've kept it outdoors in full sun with daily watering and it's doing well. My questions are: Is it too late to repot? If it's too late, where do you recommend I place it during the winter (temperature day-time 30⁰-55⁰F evening 8⁰-30⁰)? The bonsai nursery owner recommended I bury the pot on the ground to protect the roots, do you agree? Thank you for any feedback you may share.
Hi, best time to repot is spring as new buds are about to open. I don’t recommend repotting now. Regards winter, do you have an unheated garage or similar?
hi im new to bonsai i got a chinese elm 2 months ago i took off all i dint want now i have lots of new green branches but theres a old leader that is not needed with the new growth its march in the uk is it safe to remove or should i wait.also would like to say i have learned alot from your videos thank
you
Thanks Scott! If the tree is healthy prune now is fine. If you’re not sure I would say (without seeing it) to play it safe and prune late Spring / early summer when the first flush of growth has hardened off - to let the tree gain some energy. Spring time before growth is a great time to prune, don’t get me wrong, it’s just if a tree isn’t strong and healthy it’s always best to wait. Hope that makes sense. Oh also after pruning trees can temporarily use less water, so avoid habitual watering and check if it needs water first 👍
I have a gardenia bonsai that was given to my 3 months ago…it’s my very first bonsai. I want to grow it indoors and it’s doing very well. Do you think it will do well indoors indefinitely or am I just lucky for now? I don’t want to bring my bonsai in and out because I don’t want bugs in my house so that’s why I am just keeping it indoors.
I’m not familiar with the species myself but reading around it looks like indoors is fine, a bright spot in a bright room but without the sun directly on the tree. There is some general info here: www.bonsaiempire.com/tree-species/gardenia
@@grobonsai great….thank you so much for the link. I will look there😀👍
Is that one cork bark ?
It is yep
Hi Daren, I think you do grate job, all the best for you. I love bark on this Elm did you know where is the best place to get one? or do you have any offcuts that you rooted already? I'm happy to bay one, I will like to add this lovely tree to my collection but is hard to find anything with this bark.
Where are you located?
@@grobonsai Mansfield
thank you for replying yes it makes sense im so new to bonsai for 2 months the tree to me looks healthy but is it i repotted it and replaced the compost soil to a bonsai mix soil is there any way i could send you a video clip or pic of the tree so you can maybe advise me more.i dont want to harm the tree as its been bought to help me from my wife
If it has recently been repotted it would be best to wait, feel free to send via Instagram DM or email, details are in the video description 👍
I have in mind adding a equisetum scirpoides as accent plant. Any thoughts?
They are very interesting, I’m told they love water? They look great I’m going to add them to the list to experiment with - thanks
I've just got my first Chinese elm and it's 7 years old. Can I prune it all year round? At what age do you generally put them into larger pots? Any other tips would be amazing as its a constant learning curve
They can be pruned all year round provided they are healthy. If unhealthy, it's advisable to leave it to grow and build strength. If pruning an outdoor tree in Winter, you must ensure it doesn't experience freezing temperatures. Now having said that, there are optimum times to prune - Spring just before buds burst, after the first flush of growth has 'hardened off' through until leaf-fall. And, it's important to wait until the stem being pruned has 'lignified' (become woody). I'm afraid I don't keep elms indoors so can't provide any insight. Hope that helps
@@grobonsai thank you for the reply, its very healthy 😊
What is the best time to prune bonsai
It depends on the species and if it is tropical or temperate. For temperate, generally spring before growth, after first flush hardens off to mid/late summer, and autumn/fall are the best times. But this is very general and doesn’t apply to tropical species
@@grobonsai I am from Bangladesh. My tree is Chinese Ficus.
it seemed like the pads were a bit unfinished at the end? But I just ordered a little elm and so maybe I shouldnt say that till I try to trim one! haha
Yeah, dense pads don't happen in one sitting, rather it's an accumulation. That said, I prefer a more loose silhouette, personally. Have fun and thanks for watching!
@@grobonsai Thanks for answering! I am new to bonsai and am trying to figure out how to do things! I am glad you said you do it how you like it! If everyone did it the same, how boring would that be :)
I have a question. My tree I bought looks like a bonsai tree, but my dad says it is a branch of a tree that has been sprouted in a pot. Could this actually happen, and if my bonsai tree is a branch that’s been sprouted, is it still a bonsai or not.
So the term bonsai means a tree in a pot. Bonsai are created from plant material of several different sources, seed grown, garden plants, cuttings or wild trees. It doesn’t matter what plant species or where it came from - it can still be trained as bonsai (some species are better than others though). Your tree may well have been a cutting from a larger tree. Hopefully over time and with training, your tree can become more and more like a small tree in a pot.
Liked and subscribed to your channel, thanks for all your enthusiasm. Brand new to bonsai so a little scary but I can already see it will become a rewarding hobby. Need help on identifying plant I received as a present, it was sold as a Chinese Elm so I hope it is 🤞🏻. Few brown leaves which I hope is just my over protective watering. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks for the kind words! Be careful with the watering, it’s very hard to recover from too frequently watering
It would be great it you are able to write the names of the species/names of plants you recommend ( video recommending three species of trees that are easy for beginners ) because is difficult to understand and i am not able to research them in my area
thank you
Done! I’ve added them in the description, hope that helps
Sir can some one do bonsai plant growing business on mass scale and if yes is it good profitable ??
Me before I start: Okay....here I go...
You got this
I need help I haven’t prune my bonsai in years...
You could send a pic on Instagram DM, Facebook or email
How you fragmented your video unsettled my mind, if that is how it can be explained in english.
I don't like that. But besides that, all good as always !
Can agree on that and as they say "practice makes perfect" so keep on doing your stuff and it will improve. :)
Thanks for the feedback. Is it the kusamono section, or the general editing?
@@grobonsai Your general editing is quite good, I would even say you are talented judging from some previous videos.
Thanks, it’s helpful to know for the future videos
You don’t keep down grow branches on any bonsai tree. And this tree look not balanced at all, because the way how you prune is wrong. Level one branch should be same thickness and then grow the level two, usually 2/3 of thickness of level one…etc…chinese elm branches should look like chicken feet. That’s the beauty
Thanks for your help
Sir can some one do bonsai plant growing business on mass scale and if yes is it good profitable ??
The nursery industry (in China, Netherlands and so on) does produce a lot of low cost trees - ficus, elm and others. I’m sure it is profitable but I personally do not think it is completely ethical, the material is often marketed badly resulting in impulse purchases and incorrect care.