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Thanks for watching! Very true, in addition to being better for my trees, rain is also free! Although I did pay a fair bit for my rain barrel.

Thanks. I think I prune even less than you - maybe 1 tree every 2 weeks or so during the growing season. But I'm not a big pruner, I tend to let my trees go quite a bit before pruning.

Thank you for your kind comment, I sincerely appreciate it. I'm glad that you're finding my content useful. When I started I anticipated more just filming myself working on trees, but I realize that I've been doing quite a few instructional videos, like I'm an expert (which I'm definitely not). It makes me a bit nervous that people are actually listening to me, as I'm just a tad beyond being a beginner myself! So please, be sure to check me against other sources - if you hear the same thing in a few places, it's probably sound advice! I think you are smart to get your trees into a good substrate as soon as possible - it takes so much of the guesswork out of watering correctly. When I did this video, it was spring, and once a day was enough, but now that I have highs >90 deg F, I've been watering many of my smaller pots two times a day, in addition to using shade cloth. Your fertilizing routine sounds good. I do the Nigel Saunders thing - a small amount of fertilizer dissolved in my watering can (I just use Miracle-Gro) every other day or so. It seems to be working, although I might try some other ferilizers in the future.

Interesting! Thanks for the tip. I might look into that, as my city water could use some filtering. Rain water is great, but I do run out from time to time. In fact, I just ran out, with no rain in sight for at least the next ten days.

Amen, leaving trees be is often what they need most (besides water, light, and fertilizer of course).

Thank you! In bonsai (and with many other things in life), one has to find what works for them. Glad you found a watering system that works for you!

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video, and best of luck to you in developing your larches as bonsai.

Thanks! Yeah, the 'ginseng' ficus bulbous roots don't appeal to me, but I liked the foliage on this one - the internodes were particularly tight and I immediately saw a small tree in the top. Yes, I think you are correct that it's a Ficus microcarpa 'Green Mound', as the leaves are longer than they are wide and look like those of 'B' in this article: bonsaipenjing.wordpress.com/2020/07/06/confusions-in-green-island-and-green-mound-ficus-names/. They aren't round like the leaves of Ficus microcarpa 'Green Island' ('A' in the article.)

Thank you! You are right that it was kind of bold. The safer thing would have been to stagger the work, which is generally true for all bonsai work - one insult at a time, with breaks in between to allow the tree to recover. I guess I wasn't too concerned since I didn't take too many roots off; also, I've seen others repot and defoliate ficus with success.

Thank you! Yeah, I was about to post the video without the concluding footage but tacked it on at the last second. It's been a fun project - gets a little better each season.

Yeah, it seemed to have worked out well. It's been a few days since that concluding footage and the leaves are now doubled or more in size, so it's looking really nice.

Yep, kind of an odd video. The analysis really was enlightening to me. I think there can be some benefit to stepping back and analyzing your collecting habits and favorite trees, to inform what direction to take in the future.

True that..I saw the same uptick In materials purchased in the 22-23 season as well. Must be a pandemic 😷 thing!

@@luckytobehere7948 Yep, I think you're right, pandemic related. I remember hearing that houseplant sales increased substantially during the pandemic.

Thank you! I have always thought of them as being common, but maybe not. I guess they aren't too common in the Midwest, and perhaps not Tennessee either? I haven't spent much time east of the Mississippi...

@@BonsaiNorthwest it's more than likely just my lack of knowledge on the different varieties out there lol I know the basic different tree species but when it comes to the sub categories I'm still very much learning. And as for the bush species I know very little. I know boxwood and forsythia ( commonly called Easter bush in my area) but that's about it. The variety of each category is rather amazing

@@BackyardBonsai-v2w Yes, I love visiting garden centers to see all the varieties that growers are developing. Over the years I've noticed that, at least for garden centers around here, varieties often show up once and then you never see them again in coming years.

I'm glad you found the video helpful, very gratifying for me. My way is definitely not the only way. Some people do likely grow successfully in denser, more organic soils; I've heard that for trees in development (growing trees strongly to increase trunk size), an organic mix might be better. But to my understanding, most bonsai professionals and amateaurs like me use more open, less organic (many use no organic substrate components) soil mixes with larger particle sizes, like the mix that I describe here. It certainly works better for me than potting soil. Best of luck to you starting out!

Thank you!

Thanks for watching!

Good luck. There's quite a few different varieties. If you can't find them locally, Evergreen Gardenworks (in California) has a few varieties and sizes; I've bought several plants from them and have had a good experience. One downside buying from them is that you don't get to choose the individual plant.

Bonsaify has had some really nice more 'finished' (and pretty pricey, around $100) small cotoneaster bonsai in the past, nothing currently, although maybe in the future. I checked and they do have starter cotoneaser at the moment. Evergreen Gardenworks in California also sells a variety of cultivars and sizes. They are pretty common here in the NW US at garden centers - if you don't mind telling, I'm curious, where are you located?

@@BonsaiNorthwest I live in SE Indiana, near Cincinnati, OH. I figure I'll stumble upon one someday. I just need to check out some different garden centers I guess.

Perhaps they are less common in the Midwest?

Awesome, collecting at demolition sites is a great way to get material that otherwise would have just gone to waste. Glad they are working out for you, and hope you get some flowers.

One reason I love cotoneaster is as you've said - it's a great species for small bonsai. Eric with Bonsaify has been an inspiration for me; the mini cotoneaster bonsai that he has featured on TH-cam and the trees that he's had available for purchase inspired me to give the species a try. I've got another couple in the ground that I'm developing for small bonsai.

Hi Dave! Thanks for the comment, good to hear from you (I'm a fan of yours). It was indeed a fun year for me - I was very excited about bonsai. Since then I've tried to exercise more control in acquiring new plants...

@@BonsaiNorthwest control…now that’s hard to find when the obsession hits!

@DavesBonsai Yeah, I haven't quite mastered the skill of not buying too many plants, but I'm improving.

Thanks! Yes, it's indeed working much better than regular potting soil for me - there's much less guesswork involved in determining whether a plant needs a watering or not.

Thank you!

Thank you! Cheers!

Thank you. Ficus are very forgiving and tolerate a variety of conditions. And in temperate climates, it's nice to have something that is green (and growing, if you have a nice grow light) during the winter. This tree doesn't spend much time outside - I've been bringing it out in mid-to-late June, and returning it inside in Sept-Oct, I believe. I haven't ever let it go below 40-45 deg F. The rest of the year it lives in my coolish basement (55-75 deg F) under a grow light.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you for watching! Same to you - I've seen and enjoyed several of your videos now, and just subscribed.

@@BonsaiNorthwest thanks man. Same 😁

Thank you. I'm quite pleased with the progress of this tree.

Yes, I anticipate buying fewer but more expensive trees in the future. I'm already on the look out for my next Japanese Maple. I'm guessing I'll soon surpass my record of spending no more than $100 on a single tree, despite being proud of that fact. I am, however, into smaller trees, so I'm not sure if I'll necessarily move onto buying bigger trees in the future, although it's difficult to anticipate how my tastes might change in coming years.

Thanks for watching!

Me too! Several weeks later, the leaves on all of my maple cuttings (standard JM, Yuri Hime JM, and Amur Maple) are all still looking healthy and alive. So hopefully some roots are growing! I plan to give an update, whether successful or not, in the future.

Yes, the sphagnum slurry is functional. The aesthetic didn't appeal to me at first, but it's growing on me.

Thank you for all of your kind comments - much appreciated! I'm glad you're enjoying the videos.

Thanks! It's unique if nothing else. After I shoved the mugo in there, I honestly thought it was for sure going to die. But a few months in, and it's growing! I'm shocked. I got concerned about keeping it watered during July and August, so I buried the rock a couple inches in my garden box to ride out the heat.

Hi, thanks for tuning in all the way from Korea! Glad you enjoyed the tour.

Thank you, glad that you enjoyed it.

Sounds like a good plan, starting with older material is a great way to get results faster. I love how there are a lot of ways to do bonsai, as varied as are people.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

Yikes, too late! - I've already spent the money and am a year into this tree! Any other advice, now that I have it? Also, any recommendations for other dwarf varieties of Japanese White Pine? I've read that 'Aoi' is a good one. I'm enjoying this tree, the needles are beautiful, and plan to stick with it. I plan to train it slowly. It's quite healthy, but yes, I can tell and anticipated that it isn't a strong grower, like other dwarf conifers.

Yes, I love that I can grow JM in this climate. We are indeed lucky. Haha, I hear you about not really wanting to confront how much I've spent on bonsai. And when I also add in pots, tools, soil, water, etc... I've spent a fair bit. Plus all the time. But bonsai has brought me a lot of joy. There are much worse vices to have.

Thanks for watching!

Thank you!

Thank you! Yes, I was worried for a few months but it's doing great - put out a ton of growth and looking really healthy.

Thank you! And thank you for clarifying the terms. It's funny because after I used one of these incorrectly in my video, I happened to watch one of your videos where you used the term correctly, and I realized my mistake. I think I learned the term incorrectly from TH-cam...I wonder what other false info I'm perpetuating on my channel...

@@BonsaiNorthwest we all make mistakes. But think in that video I said “keep the larger leaf” (instead of smaller) by mistake 🤫 🤐 😆

Thank you! I'm flattered that you like the collection. It's definitely just a "beginner" collection developed from humble material, but it brings me a lot joy.

Thanks. Nice, I'd love to have a JM planted in the ground in my yard and have considered buying one. I hope you get some to take.

Thank you! I'm really loving my Seiju Elm especially. It's growing really well, despite being a dwarf variety. But yes, it was probably overpriced at $50.

Nice! My little oak is doing well. I did end up finding the parents, just maybe 50 meters away in a neighbor's yard. I still need to determine the species. I hope your oak is similarly thriving.

Thanks for your interest! I've been enjoying video creation, so I plan to continue for the foreseeable future. The hot dry months of July and August are indeed tough (I'm in the Inland Northwest so I think it's even hotter and drier than the west side of the Cascades). For my bigger pots, one watering a day generally seems to be enough. I also put a 40-60 percent shade cloth over many of my trees during July/August.

Thanks for reaching out, nice to meet you. Indeed your background sounds similar to mine. Yamadori, of conifers especially, is tough. I think even the pros aren't always successful, and the tree dies. Plus it can be hard to wait for years while the tree recovers from collection shock before training. Hence why I most often use nursery material. So if yamadori is getting you down, you might consider trying out some nursery stock, which is generally vigorous, ready for training, and already accustomed to pot culture.