Peter, I know this video is a little older, but I'd like to thank you for all your videos. I look forward to them on a daily basis. As someone new to bonsai, yours was one of the first channels I came upon when researching to get Into it. P!ease continue being bold; I have learned much from you and look forward to learning mor3
This channel has been very helpful for me and I am not a bonsai enthusiast (yet). It translates to other horticultural practices too. I wish I had someone like Mr. Chan to mentor me. ^^ Thank you!
I have become a wiring enthusiast from being unable to do😃Also about pruning. Your videos have in spired me to continue my Bonsai tree care that I have kept for six years with only once a year help! Bless you for your wonderful clear and enjoyable You Tube Videos🥰👍
No tree left outside on benches would survive our winters here in Minnesota, U.S.A., no matter how hardy they were thought to be. Bonsai enthusiasts here need to give their bonsai protection from our winters. Some have "cool" storage facilities keeping the temps a few degrees above freezing and keep a watchful eye so the soil doesn't become too dry. It all depends on what trees you are growing and where you live. I am limited to zone 4 hardy trees and a few zone 5. I guess i"m an expert on the subject since I live in Tropical Minnesota (SE MN the warm part of the state) for 50 years (we did get down to -30º F with -60º F wind chills this past cold blast). I've tried all sorts of methods and what works best for me is I bag my trees in landscape fabric or wrap large deciduous trees with strips of landscape fabric which lets in a minimum amount of light, lets water in, but protects the trees from critters and harsh winds. and bury them in the ground to the top of their pots and mulch with several inches of cedar bark mulch (cedar bark will not promote fungal growth) and erect a fence of landscape fabric for extra protection. Wintering outdoors one never needs to be concerned about soil dryness. I normally do this just before the ground freezes otherwise if done too early mice will always find a way in and can do serious damage. I even made am insulated huge box and set it on the ground which was a mistake because the ground inside the box didn't freeze soon enough and voles tunneled in and feasted on all my sweet bark trees (fruit trees, maples, and birch. For the very first time in 50+ yrs winter came extra early and the ground was frozen before I could do my normal procedure so I have them in an outside sheltered area covered with 6 or more inches of straw. I hope I don't lose too many. I have one Japanese maple and an orange tree which I grew from seed that I'm able to keep in a cool room after it loses its leaves ( the orange tree is moved in early) but it always leaves out before outside conditions are favorable and the wind always plays havoc on its tender leaves when I'm able to move it outdoors. I had to downsize a few years ago and sold all my trees. Now living in an apt. and having an outdoor area I've been back at it again. I guess bonsai is in my blood having grown them most of my life.
@@dondereng7751 zone 4 wtf... im in virginia zone 6b, but it never goes to 0 so informally 7a or 7b. its not gone below zero for as long as i can remember so basically i almost feel bad for you. what would my area be like if you are in "tropical" minnesota?
I live in USDA zone 5 and soils freeze up to 12 inches deep. I have been putting trees on the north side of house and then covering the root ball with compost. I have found that trees overwintering in structures dry out and die if not watered as soil dry out.
I have wondered about this I am also in zone 5. I have wanted to try an outdoor bonsai and additionally I live in an apartment. I wonder how I could possibly protect one through the winter.
im in zone 6b, but the temperatures are like 7b. it isnt very cold and usually the day time is from 45-60 degrees while night time is from 25-40 degrees.
Thank you for your answer Mr. Chan. I am keeping my Acer Palmatum outside then. Temperatures now only drop under 5F at night now and then, but during the day its between 20F and high 30s.
I laughed. I live in tropical SE Minnesota, U.S.A.(the warn part of our state) Zone 4b (-30ºF to-40ºF) (-34.4ºC to -40.0ºC) No bonsai not burred in the ground to at least the rim of their pots, mulched, and protected from our strong winter winds would survive our winters, and I've been wintering bonsai here for more than 50+ years. I can only grow hardy trees because I don't have a greenhouse or adequate other winter protection although for a couple of winters I had trees in an unheated shed and when it got down to 10ºF I turned on (by remote) an oscillating tower heater to keep the temperature in the shed from getting lower than the 10ºF which worked well. The best condition is when the ground freezes the soil in bonsai pots stays frozen until spring. The reason being that every time the soil had a freeze/thaw cycle some of the fine hair-roots that feed the tree get broken from the tree. Too many freeze/thaw cycles and the tree could possibly go into shock and greatly stress the tree; if stressed too much could possible die. Outdoors, I bag my trees in spun poly landscape fabric to keep the pots clean and to protect the trees from critters (mice, voles, and rabbits) bury them in the ground to at least the rims of their pots and mulch with cedar bark mulch or straw (the deeper the better) and enclose all the trees in an enclosure (fence) of landscape fabric as added protection and from strong wind. Having the pots in the ground eliminates worry about adequate sol moisture. This method has served me well for decades. Our spring usually doesn't arrive until late April or May.
I live in Ontario. Can you let me know if this makes sense? We can leave the bonsai outside from late spring to early fall. Then bring them indoors for the winter? I did that last year but it died. Am i confusing the plant because it never really feels the cold when i goes indoors. Im Confused. Also is it normal for the leaves to fall off every year? Thanks
@@Kamil__Cic Most of my plants I have is tropical plants so I take them inside during winter but I have tried a couple of small Juniper in my unheated greenhouse, without root protection, and it did not survive. I will retry the way Mr Chan suggest in this video next winter to see what is gonna happen next year.
Peter-this is excellent information even in the USA since you are located in what corresponds to US hardiness zone 7/8. One thing I do is gather my trees together in an area protected by several evergreens and then pile leaves on the pots. This mulch layer helps prevent the freeze thaw cycles which can damage roots and the evergreens prevent drying winds from damaging them.
peter chan I am in zone 7. This fall/winter we have only had a few nights in the mid 20F range. However, it looks like a polar vortex is coming this weekend and temps will plunge down near 15F a couple nights. We had a similar event last year and my plants outside didn’t skip a beat. Thanks for your videos. I would love to see more on your Austrian pine and European spruce bonsai. I have several of these and although there is a lot of information on the spruce, cultural info on the Pinus nigra is hard to come by.
Great idea, I used some leaves from my very large trident which covers my yard in several inches of leaves, I bought a leaf blower/vacuum so I think the mulched output would be great to cover the pots of the trees then just a cover over them at night, we will see this winter.
Ok video but very helpful, doing my first winter so I put all the plants on the grass, put some bubble wrap in the small spaces between the pots, wrapped my maples in some foam padding from old patio furniture, and 1 lean too of glass against the garage with small stuff in there covered in a tarp for the ends, will open during the day. Stacked some old cedar firewood around some of them too hoping for insulation, well I will be better prepared next winter but maybe get it all better by January.
My mother-in-law has a red Japanese maple pushing 25 years old that was planted in her yard and never moved or maintained. The main lead was accidentally bent down when it was young. It’s now only about 4 feet tall but it’s roughly 6 feet in diameter. I’m not sure of the trunk diameter. The canopy resembles an umbrella. Beautiful little tree. What I’m getting at is that this tree is in central Michigan, USA. Our normal winters routinely get below zero degrees Fahrenheit with some getting to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. This little tree has flourished under these harsh conditions for decades. Very hardy tree. I very much wish to bonsai this tree one day.
I live in Indiana, near Cincinnati, Ohio. Here in the Midwest we have very cold winters, but occasionally a few days or weeks of very mild temperatures. It's to my understanding that these fluctuating temps. can be more detrimental to a hardy potted plant/bonsai outdoors in the winter than just how low the temperature gets. The roots often freeze at night and thaw by day, several days at a time. The constant freeze/thaw cycle can damage or completely kill a root system in a outdoor potted plant. I only mention this because I didn't hear it addressed in the video, which I may have missed due to the audio being so low. Love the channel though.
@@WalterMelons Do you have a cold garage to keep it in over the rest of the winter? That's where I keep mine. I keep an eye on the moisture and during mild weather I take it outside to air out so the soil doesn't get moldy. If you do not have a cold and protected area to keep it in over winter, I would suggest choosing a North - East spot outside of your home and putting the pot in the ground, as the ground heat can keep the roots at a more consistent temperature as the juniper goes through its dormancy. (Just watch out for the pot cracking, unless it's plastic.) Sorry it's a long response but there are a lot of variables that can determine where to put bonsai over winter. I just do what I can and do a little research on the species I'm dealing with (junipers don't like soil too wet for too long.).....I'm no expert but I've been researching/practicing bonsai for 7 years now, if you feel like asking my opinion on anything relating to bonsai, just message me (if I don't respond try messaging my channel/profile.)
Kjbrunzo Garage is heated to maybe 50°, no windows, it’s a townhouse with attached garage and neighbors on either side. I am only able to keep it east or west facing outside, neighbors to the north and south.
@@WalterMelons Ok, I would say try putting it in the ground if you can but only up to the rim of the pot(east side preferably but west is fine.) If you aren't able to put in the ground, try setting it down somewhere outside and moving some things around to protect it from harsh winds and the sun from thawing the roots too often. There's this guy on TH-cam, his channel is Appalachian Bonsai, I think he's got a video showing how he overwintered his outside. His is one of my favorites for bonsai.
Kjbrunzo thank you much, I’m technically not allowed to plant anything (I would advise anyone to never live in a HOA) but I can keep it above ground. I can get/make a box to keep the pot surrounded and pack it with bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Would that be best? Do I just set it outside, no need for acclimating it? Supposed to be in the 30s for the next week mostly except Wednesday low 20s.
Thank you very much, that was very helpful, I didn't think about all this, I shall go out tomorrow morning and take action whatever worth plants I've!!!
Love ur videos, it’s just so informative, and the most coolest thing is that u make everything look so easy !!! Could u pls do a tour of your bonsai nursery, would love to see ur nursery!
Hi Peter, loving your videos. Keep up the good work. Anything Japanese maple related suits me, I love them. My forests from the seedling I got from you this year are doing great. Bye for now🍁
I live in northern Canada where it gets to -40 c and stays for weeks, what should I do with my trees? I've been bringing them in but they start to bud out after about 2 weeks inside. I dont have a cold storage room or a greenhouse. I live in an apartment so cant build anything. I keep them on my deck most of the year except for the extreme cold season. Once they bud I leave inside for fear of killing them.
I have some willow bonsai I’m growing from cuttings. I’m in Saskatchewan, so we have really harsh winters. I’m also living in an apartment so I don’t have any space outdoors besides a balcony (uncovered). Any advice on what I can do to protect my trees?
I live in Northern Norway, at the coast. We don't have the harshest of winters either (inland is much worse), but it does go down to -15, perhaps -20 at worst, but usually stays around -5/-10. However, we do get snow. Lots of it. I'm thinking that maybe an outdoor tree would be too much work (or worse, impossible), even if I grab a local species found in the woods, so I guess when I get a bonsai (don't have any yet but desperately wanting) I better make sure it can do well inside...
In Ontario I had luck burying the pots near the house in winter. I met a person in Nova Scotia who takes their trees out of the pots and plants them in the garden for the winter. In either case, you're using the soil's heat capacity to keep the roots from getting down to very cold temperatures.
Ich mag diesen Kanal von Bonsai Heros. Ist immer wieder sehr interessant. Leider verstehe ich kein Englisch. Leider werde ich auch nicht nach Britannien kommen können.. Es sind sehr viele schöne Pflanzen. Ich mag Laubbäume sehr ,Kiefern und Wachholder sind nicht meine Favoriten. Bitte Peter machen Sie weiter und zeigen Sie noch mehr Videos. Gruß aus Deutschland von Dirk
In this video you showed some of your citrus trees. Could we see a video of how to take care of those? Do you also have future plans to video a tree being potted from the ground? There's a very special tree back home that I would love to pot. Buuuuut I don't want it to die... Thanks for the videos! They are my new obsession as I learn about bonsai-ing.
very useful video, you give me clear ideas to winterize the plants. thanks is there any way to identify the type of the plants that we have?, if you know a way to do it, can you share it thanks
Post photos of them on the bonsai subreddit or another subreddit called whatsthisplant. You could also post on one of the Facebook groups. Also Google the most common ones and compare (chinese elm, juniper, ficus, fukien tea, chinese bird plum).
Great to see Heron's doing more videos! Im sure you have loads of ideas/info for videos but more below. You guys have clearly built up a huge business over all these decades. What a great set up, you must have been some of the earliest large scale nurseries in the UK!?! Congratulations on this work! Good to use youtube to get people involved and give your insight. Its a great tool and with professional editing and consistent uploads your subscribers will surely skyrocket! Bonsai is becoming more and more popular in the UK now for sure. You have some amazing trees and have a lot of experience. Some of the info in your videos is not scientifically correct though but the gist and successful technique or process description is always there. An example in this video is the freeze thaw action information. Do you use a winter tree wash? Do you show any trees, win awards or vend at any shows or meetings? Nice to see your tropical species, are there any tropicals from your Indian background that you would or would not recommend? Do you have experience in indoor cultivation and what are the pitfalls? Congratulations on all of these recent uploads. Subbed! :)
Which Peter Brown are you? I know two people by that name - one is a doctor friend. But thanks for your feed back. I dont claim to be a plant physiologist or any such thing but I know enough to be invited to teach in a number of famous Horticultural colleges in the UK. Much of my knowledge has been acquired by experience and by trial and error. My videos are done for passing on what knowledge I have on growing bonsai. Just that.
This year in fall I've brought a little apple tree. Unfurtunatly I put it indoors & gave leaves despite its winter now. Now in winter it's just burning the leaves & dropping them I hope it won't die.
In the video you mentioned not to put the trees in a heated greenhouse during the winter. But if I did are there any potential health problems my deciduous bonsais will have? Like do they need to go dormant? I would like to keep my bonsais growing through winter if possible.
Oh you live in England like me. I was wondering how to shape my bonsai, it has never been trimmed before, but I have no idea we’re to start and what style I want. could you help me with a video of how you shape and trim your first bonsai.
Hi Mr. Chan. Thank you for your videos. If the night temperature in the winter is not below (-3C), should I cover my bonsai from freezing? The day temperature is (+8) (+10C) the same period. For example, my ficuses Benjamin and Melania are growing outside, but the pots are enough big to protect the roots. When the night temperature goes below 0C, I usually use the fleece to cover them.
How does the shade netting protect from cold / frost? I understand that putting trees under the benches protects them because they’re closer to the ground, which is warmer.
Please can i have some advice on watering trees in winter. How often should i water them as i am a beginner and only have Acacia trees and one Creeping Juniper. Thank you so much
Hello. Just want to acknowledge that you've been a great help to me and I watch your videos regularly. Also I was hoping that you would answer a couple of questions for me. I live in upstate New York and sometimes we experience temperatures as low as -30 to 40° c. Right now our temperature range is hovering between mid-15 and mid-25 degrees Centigrade. I don't know how to tell if my junipers are in dormancy. I just don't want to bring them into the cold shelter where there's very little light for extended period time if I don't know that they're dormant. I only have a small LED plant light in my cold room right now. I have a large light for tropicals and other plants that require warm temperatures and sun all year round. I'm having a similar same problem with my desert Rose's. Both my desert Rose's have still retained all their leaves despite pretty consistent cold temperatures around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. all of my indigenous bonsai have dropped all their leaves over a month ago. Do you have any advice?
Help! i am using a mini greenhouse to house my Azalea i keep the greenhouse between 50 - 80 % humidity and as low as 2 or 3 C at night. is that too cold for the tree or should i move it away from the window ledge and keep it in a 22C dark room like a poinsettia?
That was very helpful Peter. Can I ask where you get those plastic sheet with brown mark square on them ? I want them to make screen wall of them, to give a feel of Japanese gardenish ? Do you sell them ?
Do Japanese Hollys need to have a dormant period? What do you recommend for someone in a first floor flat in the UK with an indoor Japanese Holly and Japanese Maple for winter?
Hi Peter, im Jason I could really use your advice. I live in the North west of England, in an 2nd floor apartment. I currently have a small Japanese holly bonsai (roughly 20 cm tall) I'd like to know if it will be okay on the balcony all winter, im thinking it should be okay because im quite high off the ground. Please let me know, thanks.
I already wired some of mine, they are maybe up to 1' height, wanted some motion before they harden up, just kept it kind of loose so it doesn't mar the trunk.
Can you please give me a tip about the summer and what is the best option for deciduous trees, sometimes my trees don't change color and the leaves are bornt or withered
I was wondering the same thing! I've heard with other plants to water them every couples weeks during the winter? I'm not sure if it's the same for trees though.
@@brooklynbauer8013 Yes, never let your tree dry out, it just depends on your soil, if it really drains well the roots need water, if it more like store bought soil with peat not as much. Stick a finger in and see below the surface if it's too dry, the top will always dry out.
Hi Alex, if your tree is kept outside there is no need to water it (unless you have many sunny and dry days in a row) if it is moved to an unheated greenhouse or the like you will need to check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't dry out, keep the soil moist.
@@peterboneg It's been indoors near a south facing window, I think i'll just leave it here and see if it survives this winter. Already a ton of snow outside.
@@sud6646 Definitely don't do that. All pines need to be kept cold in winter. It should never be inside a warm house. They need cold dormancy or they'll die. This is mentioned briefly in the video. A cold garage or shed would be fine. They don't need much light this time of year. Otherwise you could bury the whole pot in the ground until spring.
Living in the Chicago area, I had some serious dieback of potted Japanese maples a few years ago when it got down to -22 F (-30 Celsius) for a few days. I put them in an unheated detached garage where it stays a little warmer than outside, and most winters they do fine there, but if it gets that cold again is it safe to bring them in the warm house for a few days?
If you go on to our website and on-line store, some of my books are on sale there but postage to India is expensive - so be warned. Why dont you order via Amazon? I am sure you will find some of my books there. @@martinfernandes4941
@@peterchan3100 Thank you Sir for the help...Will order via Amazon India.But you should sell all your books in India. Because it would be a good help for all the Bonsai enthusiasts in India ...as Bonsai is growing in India. Thank you!!!
If your tree is kept outside there is no need to water it (unless you have many sunny and dry days in a row) if it is moved to an unheated greenhouse or the like you will need to check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't dry out, keep the soil moist. Check that it doesn't get water logged as this can cause root rot.
Эх, что же нам делать в Сибири, где температура минус40 градусов по Цельсию может держаться до 40 дней в году? А мы все равно выращиваем растения в садах...
Hi there! I have A question. At the beginning I saw what I think was a juniper Chinensis. I have one myself and it also turned pretty rusty brown. Since I’m new to this type of tree, I was afraid it was dying. So this completely normal, right?
I do not understand why trident maples and the holly bonsai and others need protect ? They are hardy to zone 5 which temperatures may drop to -23 C !! your nursery is in usda zone 8 minimum temperature may get -12c in worst case . How can we know if bonsai need protect ? that confuses me
But how about watering? 😕 I know the soil should not be too wet in the winter, but how do i keep the soil at the lower level in the pot moist if i cant give it to much water? If the pot dries out and i only sprinkle it with a bit of water, only the upper part of the soil will suck up the water, but then the soil at the bottom will dry out. 😕
Hi Michael, if your tree is kept outside there is no need to water it (unless you have many sunny and dry days in a row) if it is moved to an unheated greenhouse or the like you will need to check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't dry out, keep the soil moist.
When dormant the trees don't use much water. The soil also dries out much slower because of lower temperatures. So you almost never need to water in winter. This is why most bonsai growers take holidays in winter. The main thing you may need to worry about in winter is too much water. In wet weather the pots can be left tilted so that the excess water can drain off. This prevents the roots sitting in water, which could lead to root rot.
Not as much as in summer, but yes also in winter trees need humidity/water. Lack of water in winter is a high risk for the trees. Have them covered in snow, or water when it is not raining or snowing is essential every now and then.
![Prepare your Bonsai for winter [succesfully overwinter bonsai]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OO5qBend8n4/mqdefault.jpg)
Best bonsai channel in my opinion. Helped me a lot so far.
So true.
Glad you are find it helpful. Thanks for your comment.
Peter, I know this video is a little older, but I'd like to thank you for all your videos. I look forward to them on a daily basis. As someone new to bonsai, yours was one of the first channels I came upon when researching to get Into it. P!ease continue being bold; I have learned much from you and look forward to learning mor3
I like that you really care, not only your plant also the rest of bonsai community.thank you .
6:30 literally throws the tree under the bench. Epic! 😂
Peter don't like no pussy trees, they need to man up for that UK Winter
Came here for this comment 😅
I was like 😮
This channel has been very helpful for me and I am not a bonsai enthusiast (yet). It translates to other horticultural practices too. I wish I had someone like Mr. Chan to mentor me. ^^ Thank you!
I have become a wiring enthusiast from being unable to do😃Also about pruning. Your videos have in spired me to continue my Bonsai tree care that I have kept for six years with only once a year help! Bless you for your wonderful clear and enjoyable You Tube Videos🥰👍
Thank god for this video because I was freaking out about what to do after today’s frost!!
No tree left outside on benches would survive our winters here in Minnesota, U.S.A., no matter how hardy they were thought to be. Bonsai enthusiasts here need to give their bonsai protection from our winters. Some have "cool" storage facilities keeping the temps a few degrees above freezing and keep a watchful eye so the soil doesn't become too dry.
It all depends on what trees you are growing and where you live. I am limited to zone 4 hardy trees and a few zone 5. I guess i"m an expert on the subject since I live in Tropical Minnesota (SE MN the warm part of the state) for 50 years (we did get down to -30º F with -60º F wind chills this past cold blast). I've tried all sorts of methods and what works best for me is I bag my trees in landscape fabric or wrap large deciduous trees with strips of landscape fabric which lets in a minimum amount of light, lets water in, but protects the trees from critters and harsh winds. and bury them in the ground to the top of their pots and mulch with several inches of cedar bark mulch (cedar bark will not promote fungal growth) and erect a fence of landscape fabric for extra protection. Wintering outdoors one never needs to be concerned about soil dryness. I normally do this just before the ground freezes otherwise if done too early mice will always find a way in and can do serious damage. I even made am insulated huge box and set it on the ground which was a mistake because the ground inside the box didn't freeze soon enough and voles tunneled in and feasted on all my sweet bark trees (fruit trees, maples, and birch. For the very first time in 50+ yrs winter came extra early and the ground was frozen before I could do my normal procedure so I have them in an outside sheltered area covered with 6 or more inches of straw. I hope I don't lose too many. I have one Japanese maple and an orange tree which I grew from seed that I'm able to keep in a cool room after it loses its leaves ( the orange tree is moved in early) but it always leaves out before outside conditions are favorable and the wind always plays havoc on its tender leaves when I'm able to move it outdoors. I had to downsize a few years ago and sold all my trees. Now living in an apt. and having an outdoor area I've been back at it again. I guess bonsai is in my blood having grown them most of my life.
@@dondereng7751 zone 4 wtf... im in virginia zone 6b, but it never goes to 0 so informally 7a or 7b. its not gone below zero for as long as i can remember so basically i almost feel bad for you. what would my area be like if you are in "tropical" minnesota?
How much Wisdom, Peter. I can't get enough of it !!!
The video and bonsai are both of great quality! Thanks for showing the nursery and for the overwintering advice!
I live in USDA zone 5 and soils freeze up to 12 inches deep. I have been putting trees on the north side of house and then covering the root ball with compost. I have found that trees overwintering in structures dry out and die if not watered as soil dry out.
I have wondered about this I am also in zone 5. I have wanted to try an outdoor bonsai and additionally I live in an apartment. I wonder how I could possibly protect one through the winter.
im in zone 6b, but the temperatures are like 7b. it isnt very cold and usually the day time is from 45-60 degrees while night time is from 25-40 degrees.
Thank you for your answer Mr. Chan.
I am keeping my Acer Palmatum outside then.
Temperatures now only drop under 5F at night now and then, but during the day its between 20F and high 30s.
Merci. J’apprend beaucoup avec vous. Chez moi au Québec, je fait des igloos pour les protéger.
I laughed. I live in tropical SE Minnesota, U.S.A.(the warn part of our state) Zone 4b (-30ºF to-40ºF) (-34.4ºC to -40.0ºC) No bonsai not burred in the ground to at least the rim of their pots, mulched, and protected from our strong winter winds would survive our winters, and I've been wintering bonsai here for more than 50+ years. I can only grow hardy trees because I don't have a greenhouse or adequate other winter protection although for a couple of winters I had trees in an unheated shed and when it got down to 10ºF I turned on (by remote) an oscillating tower heater to keep the temperature in the shed from getting lower than the 10ºF which worked well. The best condition is when the ground freezes the soil in bonsai pots stays frozen until spring. The reason being that every time the soil had a freeze/thaw cycle some of the fine hair-roots that feed the tree get broken from the tree. Too many freeze/thaw cycles and the tree could possibly go into shock and greatly stress the tree; if stressed too much could possible die. Outdoors, I bag my trees in spun poly landscape fabric to keep the pots clean and to protect the trees from critters (mice, voles, and rabbits) bury them in the ground to at least the rims of their pots and mulch with cedar bark mulch or straw (the deeper the better) and enclose all the trees in an enclosure (fence) of landscape fabric as added protection and from strong wind. Having the pots in the ground eliminates worry about adequate sol moisture. This method has served me well for decades. Our spring usually doesn't arrive until late April or May.
Usually, in Canada, we have harsh winter, especially in January, sometime it goes below -40 C. Thank you, Mr Chan, for the great videos!
I live in Ontario. Can you let me know if this makes sense? We can leave the bonsai outside from late spring to early fall. Then bring them indoors for the winter?
I did that last year but it died. Am i confusing the plant because it never really feels the cold when i goes indoors. Im Confused. Also is it normal for the leaves to fall off every year? Thanks
@@Kamil__Cic Most of my plants I have is tropical plants so I take them inside during winter but I have tried a couple of small Juniper in my unheated greenhouse, without root protection, and it did not survive. I will retry the way Mr Chan suggest in this video next winter to see what is gonna happen next year.
Peter-this is excellent information even in the USA since you are located in what corresponds to US hardiness zone 7/8. One thing I do is gather my trees together in an area protected by several evergreens and then pile leaves on the pots. This mulch layer helps prevent the freeze thaw cycles which can damage roots and the evergreens prevent drying winds from damaging them.
What hardiness zone are you in?
peter chan I am in zone 7. This fall/winter we have only had a few nights in the mid 20F range. However, it looks like a polar vortex is coming this weekend and temps will plunge down near 15F a couple nights. We had a similar event last year and my plants outside didn’t skip a beat. Thanks for your videos. I would love to see more on your Austrian pine and European spruce bonsai. I have several of these and although there is a lot of information on the spruce, cultural info on the Pinus nigra is hard to come by.
Great idea, I used some leaves from my very large trident which covers my yard in several inches of leaves, I bought a leaf blower/vacuum so I think the mulched output would be great to cover the pots of the trees then just a cover over them at night, we will see this winter.
Thank you so much for posting this! The bubble wrap trick is a great help
Ok video but very helpful, doing my first winter so I put all the plants on the grass, put some bubble wrap in the small spaces between the pots, wrapped my maples in some foam padding from old patio furniture, and 1 lean too of glass against the garage with small stuff in there covered in a tarp for the ends, will open during the day. Stacked some old cedar firewood around some of them too hoping for insulation, well I will be better prepared next winter but maybe get it all better by January.
My mother-in-law has a red Japanese maple pushing 25 years old that was planted in her yard and never moved or maintained. The main lead was accidentally bent down when it was young. It’s now only about 4 feet tall but it’s roughly 6 feet in diameter. I’m not sure of the trunk diameter. The canopy resembles an umbrella. Beautiful little tree.
What I’m getting at is that this tree is in central Michigan, USA. Our normal winters routinely get below zero degrees Fahrenheit with some getting to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. This little tree has flourished under these harsh conditions for decades. Very hardy tree.
I very much wish to bonsai this tree one day.
Have a nice day My friend! Wonderful video.
I live in Indiana, near Cincinnati, Ohio.
Here in the Midwest we have very cold winters, but occasionally a few days or weeks of very mild temperatures. It's to my understanding that these fluctuating temps. can be more detrimental to a hardy potted plant/bonsai outdoors in the winter than just how low the temperature gets.
The roots often freeze at night and thaw by day, several days at a time. The constant freeze/thaw cycle can damage or completely kill a root system in a outdoor potted plant.
I only mention this because I didn't hear it addressed in the video, which I may have missed due to the audio being so low. Love the channel though.
Kjbrunzo I live in Chicago, just got a small juniper for Christmas. Any suggestions? Never kept a bonsai.
@@WalterMelons Do you have a cold garage to keep it in over the rest of the winter? That's where I keep mine.
I keep an eye on the moisture and during mild weather I take it outside to air out so the soil doesn't get moldy.
If you do not have a cold and protected area to keep it in over winter, I would suggest choosing a North - East spot outside of your home and putting the pot in the ground, as the ground heat can keep the roots at a more consistent temperature as the juniper goes through its dormancy. (Just watch out for the pot cracking, unless it's plastic.)
Sorry it's a long response but there are a lot of variables that can determine where to put bonsai over winter. I just do what I can and do a little research on the species I'm dealing with (junipers don't like soil too wet for too long.).....I'm no expert but I've been researching/practicing bonsai for 7 years now, if you feel like asking my opinion on anything relating to bonsai, just message me (if I don't respond try messaging my channel/profile.)
Kjbrunzo Garage is heated to maybe 50°, no windows, it’s a townhouse with attached garage and neighbors on either side. I am only able to keep it east or west facing outside, neighbors to the north and south.
@@WalterMelons Ok, I would say try putting it in the ground if you can but only up to the rim of the pot(east side preferably but west is fine.) If you aren't able to put in the ground, try setting it down somewhere outside and moving some things around to protect it from harsh winds and the sun from thawing the roots too often.
There's this guy on TH-cam, his channel is Appalachian Bonsai, I think he's got a video showing how he overwintered his outside. His is one of my favorites for bonsai.
Kjbrunzo thank you much, I’m technically not allowed to plant anything (I would advise anyone to never live in a HOA) but I can keep it above ground. I can get/make a box to keep the pot surrounded and pack it with bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Would that be best?
Do I just set it outside, no need for acclimating it? Supposed to be in the 30s for the next week mostly except Wednesday low 20s.
Thank you very much, that was very helpful, I didn't think about all this, I shall go out tomorrow morning and take action whatever worth plants I've!!!
I think the winter colors are actually rather pretty.
I got a bonsai tree inspired to do so by Kim Namjoon and now it’s time to fully learn how to properly care for it! Thank you very much
Enjoyed this show very much. Thank you.
Love ur videos, it’s just so informative, and the most coolest thing is that u make everything look so easy !!! Could u pls do a tour of your bonsai nursery, would love to see ur nursery!
No.... thank you very much!!!! Master (one whose generous in teachings)
Hi Peter, loving your videos. Keep up the good work. Anything Japanese maple related suits me, I love them. My forests from the seedling I got from you this year are doing great. Bye for now🍁
Where are you located? and do they grow well where you live?
I live in northern Canada where it gets to -40 c and stays for weeks, what should I do with my trees? I've been bringing them in but they start to bud out after about 2 weeks inside. I dont have a cold storage room or a greenhouse. I live in an apartment so cant build anything. I keep them on my deck most of the year except for the extreme cold season. Once they bud I leave inside for fear of killing them.
Great information. Thank you for this!
I am in Love with your videos, I wish you were in Australia, So jealous of your trees.
Amazing place you have wow 😁😁😁 thanks for sharing .
I have some willow bonsai I’m growing from cuttings. I’m in Saskatchewan, so we have really harsh winters. I’m also living in an apartment so I don’t have any space outdoors besides a balcony (uncovered). Any advice on what I can do to protect my trees?
This is the exact information I was looking for, for this time if the year. So thank you!
I live in Northern Norway, at the coast. We don't have the harshest of winters either (inland is much worse), but it does go down to -15, perhaps -20 at worst, but usually stays around -5/-10. However, we do get snow. Lots of it. I'm thinking that maybe an outdoor tree would be too much work (or worse, impossible), even if I grab a local species found in the woods, so I guess when I get a bonsai (don't have any yet but desperately wanting) I better make sure it can do well inside...
Ма ша Аллах
Да воздаст Алла благом вам за то что вы делитесь знаниями
He takes better care of his bonsai trees then most people do with their pets.
Here in canada we experience temperatures of -30 to - 40°. Is it better to keep a Juniper indoors for those cases?
In Ontario I had luck burying the pots near the house in winter. I met a person in Nova Scotia who takes their trees out of the pots and plants them in the garden for the winter. In either case, you're using the soil's heat capacity to keep the roots from getting down to very cold temperatures.
Ich mag diesen Kanal von Bonsai Heros. Ist immer wieder sehr interessant. Leider verstehe ich kein Englisch. Leider werde ich auch nicht nach Britannien kommen können..
Es sind sehr viele schöne Pflanzen. Ich mag Laubbäume sehr ,Kiefern und Wachholder sind nicht meine Favoriten.
Bitte Peter machen Sie weiter und zeigen Sie noch mehr Videos.
Gruß aus Deutschland von Dirk
In this video you showed some of your citrus trees. Could we see a video of how to take care of those?
Do you also have future plans to video a tree being potted from the ground? There's a very special tree back home that I would love to pot. Buuuuut I don't want it to die...
Thanks for the videos! They are my new obsession as I learn about bonsai-ing.
very useful video, you give me clear ideas to winterize the plants. thanks
is there any way to identify the type of the plants that we have?, if you know a way to do it, can you share it
thanks
Post photos of them on the bonsai subreddit or another subreddit called whatsthisplant. You could also post on one of the Facebook groups. Also Google the most common ones and compare (chinese elm, juniper, ficus, fukien tea, chinese bird plum).
Belle vidéo une fois de plus,merci beaucoup
Great to see Heron's doing more videos! Im sure you have loads of ideas/info for videos but more below. You guys have clearly built up a huge business over all these decades. What a great set up, you must have been some of the earliest large scale nurseries in the UK!?! Congratulations on this work! Good to use youtube to get people involved and give your insight. Its a great tool and with professional editing and consistent uploads your subscribers will surely skyrocket!
Bonsai is becoming more and more popular in the UK now for sure. You have some amazing trees and have a lot of experience. Some of the info in your videos is not scientifically correct though but the gist and successful technique or process description is always there. An example in this video is the freeze thaw action information.
Do you use a winter tree wash? Do you show any trees, win awards or vend at any shows or meetings? Nice to see your tropical species, are there any tropicals from your Indian background that you would or would not recommend? Do you have experience in indoor cultivation and what are the pitfalls? Congratulations on all of these recent uploads. Subbed! :)
Which Peter Brown are you? I know two people by that name - one is a doctor friend. But thanks for your feed back. I dont claim to be a plant physiologist or any such thing but I know enough to be invited to teach in a number of famous Horticultural colleges in the UK. Much of my knowledge has been acquired by experience and by trial and error. My videos are done for passing on what knowledge I have on growing bonsai. Just that.
This year in fall I've brought a little apple tree. Unfurtunatly I put it indoors & gave leaves despite its winter now.
Now in winter it's just burning the leaves & dropping them I hope it won't die.
In the video you mentioned not to put the trees in a heated greenhouse during the winter. But if I did are there any potential health problems my deciduous bonsais will have? Like do they need to go dormant? I would like to keep my bonsais growing through winter if possible.
Our greenhouses are not heated so they go down to minus 2-3 C. Most temperate species need dormancy in winter.
Oh you live in England like me. I was wondering how to shape my bonsai, it has never been trimmed before, but I have no idea we’re to start and what style I want. could you help me with a video of how you shape and trim your first bonsai.
I will be doing a course for beginners in the next few months
I have to wonder how much that vast amount of Bonsai would be worth. Fort Knox for Bonsai
Amazing nursery, thank you so much for all you do😍
Hi Mr. Chan. Thank you for your videos. If the night temperature in the winter is not below (-3C), should I cover my bonsai from freezing? The day temperature is (+8) (+10C) the same period. For example, my ficuses Benjamin and Melania are growing outside, but the pots are enough big to protect the roots. When the night temperature goes below 0C, I usually use the fleece to cover them.
Very good video. Thanks a lot!
Another great video! You should do a video just on citrus!
UK is not the best place for growing Citrus, so my knowledge about citrus is limited.
I thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. Pity that you don’t sale in Belgium.
We can ship to Belgium
How does the shade netting protect from cold / frost? I understand that putting trees under the benches protects them because they’re closer to the ground, which is warmer.
Helps to protect them from hails.
Protects the leaves from getting burned by cold winds and frost
@@hanzifaction Yes, but how? It's just netting. I can see that it would reduce wind a little, but not low temperatures.
I believe the water particles accumulate on fabric instead of the plant before turning to frost. @@peterboneg
Please can i have some advice on watering trees in winter. How often should i water them as i am a beginner and only have Acacia trees and one Creeping Juniper. Thank you so much
Hello. Just want to acknowledge that you've been a great help to me and I watch your videos regularly. Also I was hoping that you would answer a couple of questions for me. I live in upstate New York and sometimes we experience temperatures as low as -30 to 40° c. Right now our temperature range is hovering between mid-15 and mid-25 degrees Centigrade. I don't know how to tell if my junipers are in dormancy. I just don't want to bring them into the cold shelter where there's very little light for extended period time if I don't know that they're dormant. I only have a small LED plant light in my cold room right now. I have a large light for tropicals and other plants that require warm temperatures and sun all year round. I'm having a similar same problem with my desert Rose's. Both my desert Rose's have still retained all their leaves despite pretty consistent cold temperatures around 5 to 10 degrees Celsius. all of my indigenous bonsai have dropped all their leaves over a month ago. Do you have any advice?
Another none of my apple tree saplings have lost none of the leaves either nor have they changed colors.
Please do video on Pesticide for Japanese maple
Help! i am using a mini greenhouse to house my Azalea i keep the greenhouse between 50 - 80 % humidity and as low as 2 or 3 C at night. is that too cold for the tree or should i move it away from the window ledge and keep it in a 22C dark room like a poinsettia?
That was very helpful Peter. Can I ask where you get those plastic sheet with brown mark square on them ? I want them to make screen wall of them, to give a feel of Japanese gardenish ? Do you sell them ?
What about watering in winter for newly transplanted trees in pots?
Do Japanese Hollys need to have a dormant period? What do you recommend for someone in a first floor flat in the UK with an indoor Japanese Holly and Japanese Maple for winter?
Hi Peter, im Jason I could really use your advice. I live in the North west of England, in an 2nd floor apartment. I currently have a small Japanese holly bonsai (roughly 20 cm tall)
I'd like to know if it will be okay on the balcony all winter, im thinking it should be okay because im quite high off the ground. Please let me know, thanks.
Great video
Great video. I’d like see some videos about satsuki azaleas
Reming me again in May. I will do one just about Satsukis
I found some maple saplings and am extremely curious as to when you start training the trunk? I'd say they are about 3 months old.
I already wired some of mine, they are maybe up to 1' height, wanted some motion before they harden up, just kept it kind of loose so it doesn't mar the trunk.
Can you please give me a tip about the summer and what is the best option for deciduous trees, sometimes my trees don't change color and the leaves are bornt or withered
what is the fruiting tree at 13:56? looks beutiful!
How do you go about watering bonsai trees in the winter?
Thank you for the video. But I have one question: Is it necessary to water the bonsai during the winter?
I was wondering the same thing! I've heard with other plants to water them every couples weeks during the winter? I'm not sure if it's the same for trees though.
@@brooklynbauer8013 Yes, never let your tree dry out, it just depends on your soil, if it really drains well the roots need water, if it more like store bought soil with peat not as much. Stick a finger in and see below the surface if it's too dry, the top will always dry out.
It’s not the cold I’m worried about, it’s all the rain; and I have small outdoor bonsai, so can they stay out or will they get too much water?
Very helpful information. Thank you.
This grandpa makes me remember my deceased grandma 😢
J'ai des ponsai a vendre mois chaires contacté mois
How would winter a Dwarf Alberta Spruce in snowy winter Minnesota?
Love watching
Nice video. Do you have any advice for watering of deciduous bonsai over winter? Thanks in advance.
Hi Alex, if your tree is kept outside there is no need to water it (unless you have many sunny and dry days in a row) if it is moved to an unheated greenhouse or the like you will need to check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't dry out, keep the soil moist.
Any idea what the rules are for leaving Scots pine outside after it's had it's roots pruned?
Any recently repotted trees will need some protection.
@@peterboneg It's been indoors near a south facing window, I think i'll just leave it here and see if it survives this winter. Already a ton of snow outside.
@@sud6646 Definitely don't do that. All pines need to be kept cold in winter. It should never be inside a warm house. They need cold dormancy or they'll die. This is mentioned briefly in the video. A cold garage or shed would be fine. They don't need much light this time of year. Otherwise you could bury the whole pot in the ground until spring.
@@peterboneg Lol I had no idea. I know just the spot, thanks.
Good advice! @@peterboneg
Thank you Peter :)
Living in the Chicago area, I had some serious dieback of potted Japanese maples a few years ago when it got down to -22 F (-30 Celsius) for a few days. I put them in an unheated detached garage where it stays a little warmer than outside, and most winters they do fine there, but if it gets that cold again is it safe to bring them in the warm house for a few days?
Warmth will bring them out of hibernation then the cold will kill them. He mentions it at the end of the video.
@@moxee33 Yeah, I’ve given up with potted Japanese maples. They are thriving in the ground. I’m sticking to native oaks and regular maples for pots.
I thank you very much!
I have found master oogway
Thanks for the info...useful. Love the hat !
Great advice!
Yah man cool ting rasta but in Jamaica how we store in winter in mi back yard
Thank you so much!!
very nice
Hello Sir...Do you export your Bonsai's to India (Mumbai).Also it is very difficult to get your Bonsai Books in India.
Exporting trees to foreign countries is very difficult. We dont export to India I am afraid.
@@peterchan3100 Thank you Sir...Is it possible to get your Bonsai Books
If you go on to our website and on-line store, some of my books are on sale there but postage to India is expensive - so be warned. Why dont you order via Amazon? I am sure you will find some of my books there.
@@martinfernandes4941
@@peterchan3100 Thank you Sir for the help...Will order via Amazon India.But you should sell all your books in India. Because it would be a good help for all the Bonsai enthusiasts in India ...as Bonsai is growing in India. Thank you!!!
Do we water the trees in the winter ?
If your tree is kept outside there is no need to water it (unless you have many sunny and dry days in a row) if it is moved to an unheated greenhouse or the like you will need to check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't dry out, keep the soil moist. Check that it doesn't get water logged as this can cause root rot.
CCTV surveillance, now that's protecting your bonsai!
You haven't seen my guard dogs buddy!
Эх, что же нам делать в Сибири, где температура минус40 градусов по Цельсию может держаться до 40 дней в году? А мы все равно выращиваем растения в садах...
Hi there! I have A question. At the beginning I saw what I think was a juniper Chinensis. I have one myself and it also turned pretty rusty brown. Since I’m new to this type of tree, I was afraid it was dying. So this completely normal, right?
Never mind. Was to quick 🤪
Yes - most evergreen conifers turn brown or reddish brown when the frost catches the foliage. I call it Frost Blush.
I do not understand why trident maples and the holly bonsai and others need protect ? They are hardy to zone 5 which temperatures may drop to -23 C !! your nursery is in usda zone 8 minimum temperature may get -12c in worst case . How can we know if bonsai need protect ? that confuses me
Trident Maples have much finer roots which are more susceptible to freeze and thaw cycles.
www.bonsai4me.co.uk/SpeciesGuide/AcerBuergerianum%20page2.html
Oh shoot.... -10C is warm by comparison to where I live. Sometimes it gets to -10F!
anyone know how cold japanese maple leaves can withstand
Great Peter
Great video ! Thanks
I have -5c and snow alredy.
Very helpful 😊👌
hello master, what city is your bonsai nursery
Hello Alan, herons can be found in Surrey, RH7 in the UK.
But how about watering? 😕
I know the soil should not be too wet in the winter, but how do i keep the soil at the lower level in the pot moist if i cant give it to much water?
If the pot dries out and i only sprinkle it with a bit of water, only the upper part of the soil will suck up the water, but then the soil at the bottom will dry out. 😕
Hi Michael, if your tree is kept outside there is no need to water it (unless you have many sunny and dry days in a row) if it is moved to an unheated greenhouse or the like you will need to check on it regularly to ensure it doesn't dry out, keep the soil moist.
@@HeronsBonsaiUK
Ok thanks 👍
When dormant the trees don't use much water. The soil also dries out much slower because of lower temperatures. So you almost never need to water in winter. This is why most bonsai growers take holidays in winter. The main thing you may need to worry about in winter is too much water. In wet weather the pots can be left tilted so that the excess water can drain off. This prevents the roots sitting in water, which could lead to root rot.
Stupid question: do I continue to water them?
Not as much as in summer, but yes also in winter trees need humidity/water. Lack of water in winter is a high risk for the trees. Have them covered in snow, or water when it is not raining or snowing is essential every now and then.
6:30 BAM! it hurt me.
funny didn't hurt the tree.
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