Hi Nigel, I have been watching your channel since I've been watching bonsai videos on youTube. You're one of my favorites by far, you being from Ontario (I'm in Manitoba) so some of the trees like your Thuja are also my best bonsai varieties. I admire your experience and your "clip n' grow" method that you adhere to without compromise, it's very inspiring. I will be absolutely amazed if this Mugo survives. They are truly fussy and--like most evergreens--are slow to respond with any indications of their immediate health. It could well be months before you know for certain. I don't even think it is the season that is the biggest "myth" here. Bare rooting any pine is risky. If learning by making mistakes (killing trees) is an effective way to learn this art then I have sure learned a lot on my own, but I'd rather learn from others by having them share their knowledge and for that I thank you, kudos to your bravery on this one!
I just recently transplanted a black pine and did some severe rootwork on it. When I got nervous about its survival I said "Nigel does this all the time though" Ha, You just gotta be careful I guess 🤣
Nigel seems to always make a positive comment about the benefit of the pruning and how he believes the tree will survive and thrive and benefit because of the pruning as well.I t’s like a blessing and words of confidence about the energy and vigor in the plant. Such a nice positive message and vibe. So Nigel 😊😊😊
Haha, I killed a healthy pinus strobus with root pruning, it was the right time, the roots were a knotted mess, was from a nursery who only up potted it with the velt stuff still on. I got massive needle length reduction the following season. From 10 cm to 0,5 cm, and that didn’t provided much energy and it died this winter.
What I understand re. mugo repotting is that it works well in late summer because they are mountain trees. Spring comes late, and winter early. So a large part of root development is later in the year.
This is a fabulous topic as these types of trees are my kryptonite, but more so does the myth really apply across the board. In my region I'd say it does and we ( I) was advised to be cautious when dealing with pines and junipers, however, your logic has a lot of merit and I'd apply it. Thank you Nigel 🎉🎉🎉
I agree! I bare root my conifers/deciduous too since 5 years now and it always worked for me, but I never completely wash the root sistem to prevent all the micro fauna that's helpful for the plant. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge! Greetings from italy 🇮🇹
Thanks Nigel. BTW planting in pond plant containers like the "Finofil" ones really good for material that likes more aeration and free drainage. Various sizes ie. 1ltr upwards.
I agree with the myths. I think with how subjective this art can be it also has subjective opinions. We are always looking for reasons as to why something went wrong. In a way this is how we progress. But jumping to conclusions as you say can be an issue in its self. Great video as always Nigel
Totally agree that many want to simplify tips and tricks without taking as many factors as possible into account. Think that goes for many things not just the Bonsai world. The tree looks good btw 😃
Hi Nigel I hope the tree will justify the work you have done, it does worry me seeing the amount of roots removed, it will need a lot of nurturing to keep it growing into a nice tree. The comment about losing a tree, I think some times you learn more from things going wrong than the successes. My Mugo pines will be left until Autumn.Thanks once again for your videos.
Another great video. Looks really good in that pot. I find mugo pine are the hardest to work with and style because of the amount of branches it sends out at same places but yours is looking 👌
Gotta admit I’m sat there thinking Ohhhh no when the roots are coming off, but you have the greenhouse and humidity a good substrate it’s just gone in so fingers crossed for a myth buster 👍🏻
I've been watching a lot of your repotting videos. I would be super worried cutting off the obvious white new growth on the roots. cant wait to see how it turns out.
I hate to say it Nigel but I think this time you screwed the pooch with the root work. They are pretty picky this time of year speaking from experience two years ago I did mine in the end of this month March 😢. Both of them died and I was so peeved because I thought the same as you. Hopefully yours will survive because I don’t like to see trees die and I’ll pray for you and your moog 🙏🙏
I found a definitive compilation on Mugo Pine by Vance Wood on Bonsai Nut. I copied into a document for reference. Very touchy species, timing and knowledge is essential.
My motto has been...."I've never met a mugo pine I couldn't kill" because until the one I've got now, I've not found that"zone" where they are happy with my treatment. And that has meant repotting at different times of the year. Fingers crossed for yours. The one I've got now has been languishing for 3 years. Not dead. Not vigorous.
Another point of brilliance is the concept of trees creating their own soil. I’m surprised I’ve never heard it said but it is definitely the case. Soil is decomposed living matter and trees produce dead tissue as it grows and thrives.
I agree with Nigel about bonsai/gardening myths. I was told that paw paw trees must have shade to sprout from seed. Also that they require shade for the first couple years. False false. Most paw paws are started in greenhouses so they are not hardened off to full sun. If you sprout your own trees you will learn that full sun is fine from day 1. Just like any other tree shade grown leaves burn in the sun it's as simple as that.
Nice first repot. I hope it'll stay healthy and do well! I also wonder where all these myths come from... I'm sure some thing's also get lost in translation. Maybe there were people in Japan, observing the Japanese doing certain things and taking those methods as a universal fact. The problem is, the climate and weather isn't the same everywhere in the world. What works well in Japan, might not work so well in other countries. And I'd generally say Japan has great growing conditions for trees.
i had a mugo pine i was working on for 5 years, my wife dumped killed it, i guess she was pouring her unfinished left over coffee into that pot every day... :/ it is no more
Some practices are not necessarily "myths", there are horticultural reasons why you may do or not do certain practices. Not all repotting techniques are exactly the same for all species, the same reason why you don't prune all species of trees in parks, groves and urban environments the exact same way. Nature has immense resiliency built in though, so a tree is not going to automatically die if the recommended techniques are not followed to the T.
can't believe how long your candles are in early March! Buds on all my pines in Italy still haven't popped at all. Or did I miss this was filmed last year or something...
Could you comment more about root “subdivisions” and what they tell you and how they influence your pruning decisions? PS: What about sealing the cuts you made on the branches? Would that help it not “bleed out”?
I find sealing the cuts doesn't work well on pines, they seem to push out sap, even if they are sealed!! I find if a root has subdivisions, you can prune back to the sub divisions with less risk to losing the root. Pruning a long root back to a stump is riskier, some times it works, other times the root dies off.
Nigel, a question I forgot to ask...is it ok to prune off a couple of surface roots on a tree that you can see are growing in a wonky direction even if you don't repot the tree. I repotted it last year and don't plan on repotting it again until next year.
I think most of the pines you see where they don't bare root are on established trees. once the basic shape of a tree has been established, the pruning and training mehtods are different. I'm not sure many people nunderstand that. Bonsai is like just about everything else. there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Nigel, I've noticed while using Safe-T-Zorb, thaat it breaks down into a mush in about 2 years, and creates issues with drainage. have you dealt with this also?
The kind sold here doesn't break down even after many, many years. It may be a different product or from a different source? My bag states that it is a good soil additive, I wonder if it's different in Canada?
I did bareroot a mugo pine last year mid or late august. It survived. This year I barerooted a tiny pinus mugo with bad roots. It's still alive it seems (soft needles and bendable branches), but I will know in a few weeks. I have another one with a very ugly trunk (grafted and an inverse-taper-ball right under its branches) and I consider trying to airlayer it. Does this work with mugo pine?
From personal experience YES it is possible. Cut deep into the bark (because otherwise it will just heal over), use a strong dose root hormone, and then probably wait an entire year. I've done five Mugo pine air layerings so far, only the smallest/shortest one is still alive (so... not really worth it). There was another bigger layer that had let out roots and seemed like it was successful but I was impatient and separated the layer probably too soon, so let those roots really grow out into the moss ball. All my Mugo air layers were done on a really branchy old parent plant and I was going to prune all of those branches off anyway. I'd never attempt to air layer any pine branches I really wanted to keep alive. Very low success rate and if it does work it just takes way too much time.
@@TalkingLoonThank you! I will try that for practice next year when my kraken-on-a-stick-pine regained a lot more vigor. Last year i pruned it hard (it was a green blob) and stopped working on it after I saw its inverse taper on the whorl where most branches grew out.
it seems they are picky no matter what and when, maybe its not the root pruning, maybe its to much water after wards during the recovery period and they get rot and fungal or bacterial infections easily. but it sounds as though mugo pines have not survived during root pruning and repotting no matter what season it is???
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
I’m looking forward to an update on this tree!
Thanks for addressing the myths! They make it difficult when starting into bonsai
"These roots are worse than my hair"
"umm.. Maybe knot" 😅
💚💚💚
Hi Nigel, I have been watching your channel since I've been watching bonsai videos on youTube. You're one of my favorites by far, you being from Ontario (I'm in Manitoba) so some of the trees like your Thuja are also my best bonsai varieties. I admire your experience and your "clip n' grow" method that you adhere to without compromise, it's very inspiring.
I will be absolutely amazed if this Mugo survives. They are truly fussy and--like most evergreens--are slow to respond with any indications of their immediate health. It could well be months before you know for certain. I don't even think it is the season that is the biggest "myth" here. Bare rooting any pine is risky. If learning by making mistakes (killing trees) is an effective way to learn this art then I have sure learned a lot on my own, but I'd rather learn from others by having them share their knowledge and for that I thank you, kudos to your bravery on this one!
The King of Patience!!!! You amaze me every time my friend! Looking great. I hope you bust the myth.
Perfect timing of a video, once the weather lifts a little in the uk i shall repot my mugo...
I just recently transplanted a black pine and did some severe rootwork on it. When I got nervous about its survival I said "Nigel does this all the time though" Ha, You just gotta be careful I guess 🤣
I was thinking this same thing yesterday…
Nigel seems to always make a positive comment about the benefit of the pruning and how he believes the tree will survive and thrive and benefit because of the pruning as well.I t’s like a blessing and words of confidence about the energy and vigor in the plant. Such a nice positive message and vibe. So Nigel 😊😊😊
Haha, I killed a healthy pinus strobus with root pruning, it was the right time, the roots were a knotted mess, was from a nursery who only up potted it with the velt stuff still on. I got massive needle length reduction the following season. From 10 cm to 0,5 cm, and that didn’t provided much energy and it died this winter.
Gửi bạn lời chào Từ đất Nước xinh đẹp của Chúng Tôi 🇻🇳🇻🇳🇻🇳VIỆT NAM
What I understand re. mugo repotting is that it works well in late summer because they are mountain trees. Spring comes late, and winter early. So a large part of root development is later in the year.
This is a fabulous topic as these types of trees are my kryptonite, but more so does the myth really apply across the board.
In my region I'd say it does and we ( I) was advised to be cautious when dealing with pines and junipers, however, your logic has a lot of merit and I'd apply it.
Thank you Nigel 🎉🎉🎉
Fascinating information about the MP. I have confidence in the good doctor with his surgical skills on the roots. This tree is in good hands.
I hope not the hands of death!!!
I agree! I bare root my conifers/deciduous too since 5 years now and it always worked for me, but I never completely wash the root sistem to prevent all the micro fauna that's helpful for the plant.
Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge!
Greetings from italy 🇮🇹
Relaxing. Please keep us updated on this tree
Thanks Nigel. BTW planting in pond plant containers like the "Finofil" ones really good for material that likes more aeration and free drainage. Various sizes ie. 1ltr upwards.
Merci 🤩
“There are many many factors that contribute”
Truer words have never been spoken.
I agree with the myths. I think with how subjective this art can be it also has subjective opinions. We are always looking for reasons as to why something went wrong. In a way this is how we progress. But jumping to conclusions as you say can be an issue in its self. Great video as always Nigel
Yes better to walk to a conclusion!!
the issue is that a lot take too much roots away when repotting. Going back to 1/3 is too much for a Mugo. That‘s at least my experience.
Excelente trabajo. Gracias.
I repotted mine last fall when they said you should...it died. So much for that. LOL!!
Also this might have nothing to do with the time of repotting like Nigel said. Could have tons of other reasons.
I never considered that a dark colored pot could harm the roots. Thank you for mentioning that experience! Always something new to learn from you 😊
Totally agree that many want to simplify tips and tricks without taking as many factors as possible into account. Think that goes for many things not just the Bonsai world.
The tree looks good btw 😃
Looks amazing. I have had no luck with Mugos, but you’ve given me the courage to try again.
Hi Nigel I hope the tree will justify the work you have done, it does worry me seeing the amount of roots removed, it will need a lot of nurturing to keep it growing into a nice tree. The comment about losing a tree, I think some times you learn more from things going wrong than the successes. My Mugo pines will be left until Autumn.Thanks once again for your videos.
That is a cute little tree! I looked at those on sale in fall. I'm certain it will do just fine in your care!
Thanks Nigel - be interting to see how the Mugo performs, im sure itll do well under your supervision, time will tell i suppose
Slow but sure on the light thinning of the branches. Nice choice of pot for the recovery of the tree. Tree looks good in the pot.
Thanks Tom!!!👍
Wow. Bold. I’m waiting until summer to repot mine. Just scared.
Maybe a wise choice!!!
Another great video. Looks really good in that pot. I find mugo pine are the hardest to work with and style because of the amount of branches it sends out at same places but yours is looking 👌
I lost my dwarf mugo pine this year after I repotted in march (Spring). Nigel, I am eagerly looking forward to an update on this tree.
You break the rules😅,for the best and succesfully.
Gotta admit I’m sat there thinking Ohhhh no when the roots are coming off, but you have the greenhouse and humidity a good substrate it’s just gone in so fingers crossed for a myth buster 👍🏻
I've been watching a lot of your repotting videos. I would be super worried cutting off the obvious white new growth on the roots. cant wait to see how it turns out.
A bit of an experiment in progress!!
I had the same birdsnests on my new pines...not easy to sort out.
Grts
Kennet
I hate to say it Nigel but I think this time you screwed the pooch with the root work.
They are pretty picky this time of year speaking from experience two years ago I did mine in the end of this month March 😢.
Both of them died and I was so peeved because I thought the same as you.
Hopefully yours will survive because I don’t like to see trees die and I’ll pray for you and your moog 🙏🙏
Yes, it is quite possible, if it dies, I'll try again later in the year!!
I found a definitive compilation on Mugo Pine by Vance Wood on Bonsai Nut. I copied into a document for reference. Very touchy species, timing and knowledge is essential.
My motto has been...."I've never met a mugo pine I couldn't kill" because until the one I've got now, I've not found that"zone" where they are happy with my treatment. And that has meant repotting at different times of the year. Fingers crossed for yours. The one I've got now has been languishing for 3 years. Not dead. Not vigorous.
It will be interesting to see what happens to this tree, I hope it lives!!
Another point of brilliance is the concept of trees creating their own soil. I’m surprised I’ve never heard it said but it is definitely the case. Soil is decomposed living matter and trees produce dead tissue as it grows and thrives.
Hi Nigel
Maybe you could do a video on how you handle the aftercare of these trees?
I repoted Mugo pines any time of the year and all died XD Hope you will have better results :)
I agree with Nigel about bonsai/gardening myths. I was told that paw paw trees must have shade to sprout from seed. Also that they require shade for the first couple years. False false. Most paw paws are started in greenhouses so they are not hardened off to full sun. If you sprout your own trees you will learn that full sun is fine from day 1. Just like any other tree shade grown leaves burn in the sun it's as simple as that.
Nice first repot. I hope it'll stay healthy and do well!
I also wonder where all these myths come from... I'm sure some thing's also get lost in translation.
Maybe there were people in Japan, observing the Japanese doing certain things and taking those methods as a universal fact.
The problem is, the climate and weather isn't the same everywhere in the world. What works well in Japan, might not work so well in other countries.
And I'd generally say Japan has great growing conditions for trees.
I was just reading an old book on bonsai and it said to repot Mugo pines in March to April. Interesting!!
❤
That was a lot of work at one time on a pine. Have you an update on how this tree is doing after the work?
Hope I'm not late
Can I call "S.A.V" : Save and rescue" in the french air force or i will trust in you work, lol...verry good job Nigel...difficult tree the Mugo Pin...
Mugo mugo mugo!!
Irea pot all year round with no problem thanks Nigel
i had a mugo pine i was working on for 5 years, my wife dumped killed it, i guess she was pouring her unfinished left over coffee into that pot every day... :/ it is no more
Some practices are not necessarily "myths", there are horticultural reasons why you may do or not do certain practices. Not all repotting techniques are exactly the same for all species, the same reason why you don't prune all species of trees in parks, groves and urban environments the exact same way. Nature has immense resiliency built in though, so a tree is not going to automatically die if the recommended techniques are not followed to the T.
👍👌👌
can't believe how long your candles are in early March! Buds on all my pines in Italy still haven't popped at all. Or did I miss this was filmed last year or something...
hows the tree doing these days? i jjust repotted my first mugo pine a week ago, and already have new growth.
I’m curious if it’s alive!
How is this mugo pine now??? Tnx!
Could you comment more about root “subdivisions” and what they tell you and how they influence your pruning decisions?
PS: What about sealing the cuts you made on the branches? Would that help it not “bleed out”?
I find sealing the cuts doesn't work well on pines, they seem to push out sap, even if they are sealed!! I find if a root has subdivisions, you can prune back to the sub divisions with less risk to losing the root. Pruning a long root back to a stump is riskier, some times it works, other times the root dies off.
Sap can flow _down_ branches? TIL
Kind comment
How do
You rate perlite and coco coir 🌱🤙
Nigel, what is the story with the hair?
Lots of myths in bonsai world
People say you can’t grow mugo cuttings, but I got a mugo cutting growing well!
Nigel, a question I forgot to ask...is it ok to prune off a couple of surface roots on a tree that you can see are growing in a wonky direction even if you don't repot the tree. I repotted it last year and don't plan on repotting it again until next year.
Yes, unless they are important roots that are keeping the whole tree alive. If you have lots then they can be pruned away!
I think most of the pines you see where they don't bare root are on established trees. once the basic shape of a tree has been established, the pruning and training mehtods are different. I'm not sure many people nunderstand that. Bonsai is like just about everything else. there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Nigel, I've noticed while using Safe-T-Zorb, thaat it breaks down into a mush in about 2 years, and creates issues with drainage. have you dealt with this also?
The kind sold here doesn't break down even after many, many years. It may be a different product or from a different source? My bag states that it is a good soil additive, I wonder if it's different in Canada?
I did bareroot a mugo pine last year mid or late august. It survived. This year I barerooted a tiny pinus mugo with bad roots. It's still alive it seems (soft needles and bendable branches), but I will know in a few weeks.
I have another one with a very ugly trunk (grafted and an inverse-taper-ball right under its branches) and I consider trying to airlayer it. Does this work with mugo pine?
From personal experience YES it is possible. Cut deep into the bark (because otherwise it will just heal over), use a strong dose root hormone, and then probably wait an entire year. I've done five Mugo pine air layerings so far, only the smallest/shortest one is still alive (so... not really worth it). There was another bigger layer that had let out roots and seemed like it was successful but I was impatient and separated the layer probably too soon, so let those roots really grow out into the moss ball. All my Mugo air layers were done on a really branchy old parent plant and I was going to prune all of those branches off anyway. I'd never attempt to air layer any pine branches I really wanted to keep alive. Very low success rate and if it does work it just takes way too much time.
@@TalkingLoonThank you! I will try that for practice next year when my kraken-on-a-stick-pine regained a lot more vigor. Last year i pruned it hard (it was a green blob) and stopped working on it after I saw its inverse taper on the whorl where most branches grew out.
Is feeding upon oneself considered cannibalism? Lol
it seems they are picky no matter what and when, maybe its not the root pruning, maybe its to much water after wards during the recovery period and they get rot and fungal or bacterial infections easily. but it sounds as though mugo pines have not survived during root pruning and repotting no matter what season it is???
They must be very fussy after root work!!
🫣
This plant died right?
It looks like it, it was doing really well, then it slowly declined.
The tree is 90% dead. The timing is wrong! Having cut off the roots, the crown of pine trees does not need to be trimmed
The tree is doing fine!
@@TheBonsaiZone We can talk about this at least in three months or in the fall
Foist
❤😊