Great video Tony ! 👍 Patience is probably the most important in creating bonsai. Most of my trees are in their first stage (very few are in their second stage) so now all I can do is waiting while they grow. Luckily we can still water and feed them , at least it's something we can do while we're waiting (patiently) 😉
Im so jealous of the fact that over on your side of the pond you can very easily get ahold of Southern beech material..i had to order seeds to even think above working on one. I love cotoneaster and European beech, so Southern beech are a species that makes my mouth water 🤤
Once again you have beaten me to the punchline on this video Tony. 😂
I have in my list of videos to do one about, pruning, growing out and redistributing energy. 😊 I’ll just copy everything you said, standing on the shoulders of giants, etc and overlay a bit of birdsong sfx😂😂😂
Hello, I have a quick question that I hope somebody can help me with.. Can a young juniper survive if there is a ring of bark removed from the base of the trunk? I bought a Chinese juniper (Stricta) from a nursery and while wiring it I accidentally managed to strip basically a complete ring around the base of the trunk, it’s about 1cm high and goes around the whole base of the trunk (😳) I didn’t realise quite how delicate the bark would be and I can’t find much online in terms of what to do.. Will it survive? Should I tape up the wound to stop moisture getting in? Any help is much appreciated!
Very informative video, Tony. I wish someone had shown me all this when I started getting interested in bonsai. And – sorry – I don't have any leopard skin handcuffs, and I don't think I'll ever have some. 😄
Tony, in Medicine: ➡️ Primary Care=GPs ➡️ Secondary Care=Hospital Consultants ➡️ Tertiary Care=Leading Specialists in Regional centres You’re now bossing the Tertiary Care in the Bonsai world 👏👏👏
Top tips Tony! The first year i got imto bonsai and there was a local bonsai nursery, the owner said he only pruned his trees twice a year. Once at the start of summer and once in autumn when the leaves have dropped. There are specie variations like willow and birch i dont prune in winter because of dieback but ive kinda lived by that for most of my trees.
Hi, Tony, I watch your videos every now and then and I like them a lot, but this one is truly special! I'm only starting my own bonsai (my first ones are maples pulled from betweeen the pavement stones) and this video might actualy save their lives 😅
Great tutorial Tony. Really easy to follow and understand which is exactly what is needed for a newbie like myself. Hopefully, I will get to meet you in person at one of the Association meets so I can learn more.
Hey Tony, this is my first year at trying my hand at Bonsai. I've recently planted 6 Elm seeds (I think they're Dutch Elms) of which 4 sprouted. All of them are starting to grow their second set of true leaves and are about 5 centimeters tall. I've put one seedling into a small indoor pot that was gifted to me by my grandma and put it by the sunniest window. The rest are living outside in a medium plastic container with enough room for them to grow roots and leaves. The one inside is more of an experiment to see if it grows as fast as the ones outside. I also want to see if it wants to grow big enough to start a small mame Bonsai after like 1 or 2 years of growing in that little pot without or with little pruning.
The tips you gave during the entirety of the video are definitely amazing for beginners as I litterally started my Bonsai journey 3 weeks ago. The end of the tip during part 14:17 – 16:52 put a smile on my face and got me excited to see where my little Elm trees are in a few years time. With your tips I believe they'll become strong and healty Bonsai trees in a few years time! 🙂
Brilliant yet again. This was really perfect- wish I would have started back a few years with a video like this. Sure to help countless others! – and always love your trees!
Mate, thank you so much, sometimes it’s the basic stuff that people might think everyone already knows that makes the difference, loads of stuff there that was helpful to me and explained in a way I can understand, thanks again and keep doing what you’re doing👍
not dodgey audio at all tony. great info. sweet trees too. just got a american elm out of the wooded lot next door to me. lol hopefully i wont kill it like i did the chinese elms i had
More like cheetah cuffs….Great tutorial with important information well illustrated by the various trees in various stages. A huge shout-out to you, your trees and sense of humor. We all need to keep the basics in mind. Good to be reminded because I don't always keep these things in my scattered brain, especially the part about letting them grow out. Most of my trees look like they need desperately need a haircut but I have deliberately hidden the pruning scissors.🪴🌳🍃
Something I wish I'd known even earlier in my journey then where this video is aimed at is the two most likely things that will be the end your first Bonsai tree are lack of patience and lack of attention.
Many people want to get straight into the activities we see in videos like this and start wiring and pruning and shaping and repotting straight away and this has been the cause of the demise of many, many Bonsai trees because one tree just can't handle that much trauma. If you manage to resist that temptation, overwatering (because there's nothing else to do to your Bonsai tree) or underwatering (because you forget about it) are the next biggest risks to Bonsai trees owned by people new to the art.
The solution for me and I suspect many of us is to have lots of trees. If you have 20 or 30 Bonsai trees there will be something to do to one of them pretty much every day and you can satisfy your desire to spend time on your hobby without doing too much to one individual tree. Because you're out there every day you won't forget to water them and you'll develop an instinct for how much water they need and avoid overwatering them. Having lots of trees can also help you overcome the fear of killing them. You'll still kill some, that's inevitable, but because you still have plenty left you won't be so scared of killing them that you never try anything.
Advice which I never learned in the bonsai books I’ve studied but thanks to people like you. It all makes sense and ought to teach us patience. Bonsai is as much about strategic growth as it is about pruning and cutting. Very well put together video Tony.
What an excellent video Tony, as other people have mentioned, non of the advice you give is in any of the books I own but it is the kind of advice us beginners need to know now. I have really enjoyed listening to and taking in what you are saying. Too many videos are just to show how good the presenter is by confusing the issues, I like that you are not one of these experts !!!😁
Hi Tony, a very brief, yet a very comprehensive summary of the basics, perfectly presented. I (we) have certainly heard this all somewhere, somewhen, but it’s always good to more internalise these points. Thanks for that. Dirk
I've kind of been having a go at bonsai for a couple of years now,not seriously but just growing small trees and chopping them about to look good.Yours is the first video I've watched that has made the light bulb shine in my head,I now know so much more about letting them grow to achieve better strength and health to achieve the end goal. Thanks so much for your clear and very understandable advice
Thank you Tony, I’ve just been watching your video’s for a couple of weeks now to learn about bonsai, since I have started making som of my own. It hurts me to hear you talk about planning your trees for the future after seeing your last video here. I wish you can enjoy your trees mature for a very long time still ❤
47 Comments
Great video Tony ! 👍 Patience is probably the most important in creating bonsai. Most of my trees are in their first stage (very few are in their second stage) so now all I can do is waiting while they grow. Luckily we can still water and feed them , at least it's something we can do while we're waiting (patiently) 😉
Why does it not matter that the wire bit into the pine tree; does the dent grow out ?
Im so jealous of the fact that over on your side of the pond you can very easily get ahold of Southern beech material..i had to order seeds to even think above working on one. I love cotoneaster and European beech, so Southern beech are a species that makes my mouth water 🤤
Once again you have beaten me to the punchline on this video Tony. 😂
I have in my list of videos to do one about, pruning, growing out and redistributing energy. 😊 I’ll just copy everything you said, standing on the shoulders of giants, etc and overlay a bit of birdsong sfx😂😂😂
Spot on info here 👍
Really nice overview. As a beginner this is really helpful info, thanks 👍
Hello, I have a quick question that I hope somebody can help me with.. Can a young juniper survive if there is a ring of bark removed from the base of the trunk? I bought a Chinese juniper (Stricta) from a nursery and while wiring it I accidentally managed to strip basically a complete ring around the base of the trunk, it’s about 1cm high and goes around the whole base of the trunk (😳) I didn’t realise quite how delicate the bark would be and I can’t find much online in terms of what to do.. Will it survive? Should I tape up the wound to stop moisture getting in? Any help is much appreciated!
thanks Toni,is high potash feed (tomato)best for young bonsai?
All wise words Tony.
Great information Tony!
Great video tony! Its a great understanding of the first stages of a bonsai.
Very informative video, Tony. I wish someone had shown me all this when I started getting interested in bonsai. And – sorry – I don't have any leopard skin handcuffs, and I don't think I'll ever have some. 😄
Very good! Cheers Tony! I’m all for wire. You?
Tony, in Medicine:
➡️ Primary Care=GPs
➡️ Secondary Care=Hospital Consultants
➡️ Tertiary Care=Leading Specialists in Regional centres
You’re now bossing the Tertiary Care in the Bonsai world 👏👏👏
Very well explained.
Great video Tony, thanks. Really informative and well presented, there's not enough information on primary development
"No, I'm not talking about your leopard skin handcuffs".
Hadn't seen that coming 😂
Top tips Tony! The first year i got imto bonsai and there was a local bonsai nursery, the owner said he only pruned his trees twice a year. Once at the start of summer and once in autumn when the leaves have dropped. There are specie variations like willow and birch i dont prune in winter because of dieback but ive kinda lived by that for most of my trees.
Hi, Tony, I watch your videos every now and then and I like them a lot, but this one is truly special! I'm only starting my own bonsai (my first ones are maples pulled from betweeen the pavement stones) and this video might actualy save their lives 😅
T.T. Teacher Tony very professional mate. Taking the long view on growing bonsai all good Tony.
good clear video!
Great tutorial Tony. Really easy to follow and understand which is exactly what is needed for a newbie like myself. Hopefully, I will get to meet you in person at one of the Association meets so I can learn more.
Hey Tony, this is my first year at trying my hand at Bonsai. I've recently planted 6 Elm seeds (I think they're Dutch Elms) of which 4 sprouted. All of them are starting to grow their second set of true leaves and are about 5 centimeters tall. I've put one seedling into a small indoor pot that was gifted to me by my grandma and put it by the sunniest window. The rest are living outside in a medium plastic container with enough room for them to grow roots and leaves.
The one inside is more of an experiment to see if it grows as fast as the ones outside. I also want to see if it wants to grow big enough to start a small mame Bonsai after like 1 or 2 years of growing in that little pot without or with little pruning.
The tips you gave during the entirety of the video are definitely amazing for beginners as I litterally started my Bonsai journey 3 weeks ago. The end of the tip during part 14:17 – 16:52 put a smile on my face and got me excited to see where my little Elm trees are in a few years time. With your tips I believe they'll become strong and healty Bonsai trees in a few years time! 🙂
Brilliant yet again. This was really perfect- wish I would have started back a few years with a video like this. Sure to help countless others! – and always love your trees!
Mate, thank you so much, sometimes it’s the basic stuff that people might think everyone already knows that makes the difference, loads of stuff there that was helpful to me and explained in a way I can understand, thanks again and keep doing what you’re doing👍
wonderful! I never thought of that stages before
not dodgey audio at all tony. great info. sweet trees too. just got a american elm out of the wooded lot next door to me. lol hopefully i wont kill it like i did the chinese elms i had
Very well put together video Tony. Thank you👍
Thank you again for sharing your knowledge.
More like cheetah cuffs….Great tutorial with important information well illustrated by the various trees in various stages. A huge shout-out to you, your trees and sense of humor. We all need to keep the basics in mind. Good to be reminded because I don't always keep these things in my scattered brain, especially the part about letting them grow out. Most of my trees look like they need desperately need a haircut but I have deliberately hidden the pruning scissors.🪴🌳🍃
I love the new apostrophe in your channel name! 😉 (Now I'm off to watch this video.)
Excellent vid. Thanks.
Something I wish I'd known even earlier in my journey then where this video is aimed at is the two most likely things that will be the end your first Bonsai tree are lack of patience and lack of attention.
Many people want to get straight into the activities we see in videos like this and start wiring and pruning and shaping and repotting straight away and this has been the cause of the demise of many, many Bonsai trees because one tree just can't handle that much trauma. If you manage to resist that temptation, overwatering (because there's nothing else to do to your Bonsai tree) or underwatering (because you forget about it) are the next biggest risks to Bonsai trees owned by people new to the art.
The solution for me and I suspect many of us is to have lots of trees. If you have 20 or 30 Bonsai trees there will be something to do to one of them pretty much every day and you can satisfy your desire to spend time on your hobby without doing too much to one individual tree. Because you're out there every day you won't forget to water them and you'll develop an instinct for how much water they need and avoid overwatering them. Having lots of trees can also help you overcome the fear of killing them. You'll still kill some, that's inevitable, but because you still have plenty left you won't be so scared of killing them that you never try anything.
Advice which I never learned in the bonsai books I’ve studied but thanks to people like you. It all makes sense and ought to teach us patience. Bonsai is as much about strategic growth as it is about pruning and cutting. Very well put together video Tony.
11:58 is that a northiofagus?
3:35 As for your Scots pine, never a real tree grows like that. Not to mention the hundreds of cork-screw bonsai we find in garden centers.
I thought, for a second, I was going to have to add leopard skin handcuffs to my bonsai tool collection
Good luck tony it looks like a nice tree
13:01 moral: leave the leaves on 🤣
A nice succinct little tutorial in a manner that is so easy to understand. Thanks Tony. 👍👍
10:00 that was a good sacrificial branch at the Wright place
Great video and great lesson the value of retaining energy
Thanks for a beginner video. I really appreciate it. What fertiliser do you suggest?
What an excellent video Tony, as other people have mentioned, non of the advice you give is in any of the books I own but it is the kind of advice us beginners need to know now. I have really enjoyed listening to and taking in what you are saying. Too many videos are just to show how good the presenter is by confusing the issues, I like that you are not one of these experts !!!😁
Hi Tony, a very brief, yet a very comprehensive summary of the basics, perfectly presented. I (we) have certainly heard this all somewhere, somewhen, but it’s always good to more internalise these points. Thanks for that. Dirk
I've kind of been having a go at bonsai for a couple of years now,not seriously but just growing small trees and chopping them about to look good.Yours is the first video I've watched that has made the light bulb shine in my head,I now know so much more about letting them grow to achieve better strength and health to achieve the end goal.
Thanks so much for your clear and very understandable advice
My name ls shaun I'll be coming
Thank you Tony, I’ve just been watching your video’s for a couple of weeks now to learn about bonsai, since I have started making som of my own. It hurts me to hear you talk about planning your trees for the future after seeing your last video here. I wish you can enjoy your trees mature for a very long time still ❤