Are these trees even worth bonsai-ing?

In this video I pot up three trees, a field maple, and ash and a sycamore in small ceramic pots

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes!

[@TonysBonsai]

You do love your native trees Nigel!

[@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel]

Tony, you can turn almost anything into a bonsai. What I find great about younger trees is that they can be trained early on and with time can become great trees.

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes, the movement in this field maple is excellent, and I couldn't have achieved that with a larger tree as they tend to grow very straight. As for the sycamore, I'm yet to be sold on that one mate

[@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel]

​Sometimes nature can achieve the best effects! Dont give up on the Sycamore. So many have told me that a Sycamore cant become a bonsai, but i have one in development and a few more on there way.

[@paulgeddert6125]

​@@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel I have an amazing Sycamore in training too 😊 couple of horse chestnut too. It's fun to dabble with 'difficult trees'

[@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel]

@@paulgeddert6125 Absolutely, it can get a bit boring if you stick with all of the traditional bonsai trees (Chinese Elms, Zelkovas, Ilex and such), but instead take a walk on the wild side and try something a bit harder. Makes the hobby more interesting and challanging.

[@ginahigginson9447]

Love the way you disappeared at the end magic 😅

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣🤣You can't achieve that kind of effect in editing. That's some real-deal Paul Daniels magic that! 🤣

[@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel]

Wow the roots on that Ash!

[@TonysBonsai]

Yeah, that was one seriously vigorous tree. It will be interesting to see how it responds to being confined in a small container

[@NotAnotherBonsaiChannel]

​Absolutely, May need to be repotted annually atleast. But should make for a good tree. I don't believe Ash grow well from cuttings, so having roots like that is a brilliant start.

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Nice pots Tony. And again all the right cut where right. Ps love how you fade away at the end 😂😂😂😂

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣🤣🤣I was hoping that someone would mention that mate, cheers. I've been in for a couple of days with all the rain, so I put that down to a bit of cabin fever! 🤣

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@@TonysBonsai hahaha 😅🤣

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Good stuff. I have just finished repotting all my 'mame' material. I get given sycamore regularly and all of them get turned into mame and thrive in the small pots. I have done the same with a couple of ash - although it doesnt work as well with the compound leaves they produce. As soon as the sycamore leaves reach full size in late May i remove them and then enjoy the smaller flush that is lower down the trunk. Happy bonsaiing Tony :)

[@TonysBonsai]

Interesting info cheers mate. I may well persist with these ones then, and who knows, I may even end up digging up that huge sycamore stump next year. I'm getting quite fond of these mame sized trees, and they must be fun to re-pot rather than having to use a cubic meter of soil 🤣

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@TonysBonsai Too right! I have a load of junipers left and then that should be repots done for me. I still missed a load of trees!

[@TonysBonsai]

I'm looking forward to doing a bit of pruning. I've had enough of mixing soil 🤣

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@TonysBonsai Amen :)

[@greasylimpet3323]

You'll have some fun with those trees! I think the Ash will be okay; the leaves are big, yes, but they can look like a group of leaves rather than one big compound one. Don't keep the tree too small and the foliage will blend into itself. Loved your finish today too! 😅

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣I was laughing filing that finish mate. Yeah it will be interesting seeing how these trees develop. I have some slightly larger ash and sycamore too, so I might try different growing techniques on them.

[@mattbrennan647]

Those actually have nice potential Tony. I’m with you on the sycamore. It will be interesting to see the effects of that small pot on leaf size. Thanks, keep growing

[@TonysBonsai]

Yeah, I enjoy having fun projects on the go, and I'm really feeling these small trees at the moment.

[@digitaIgorilla]

Considering where you started, you really turned these around 👍

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheers mate. It will be interesting to see how they get on in these little pots. I suspect they will do fine as they are such vigorous species

[@atroutflycrazy8057]

A timely vid on my feed Tony as i just plucked up a sycamore seedling this eve which was growing near a wall into a crack in the concrete , Its now in a plant pot to get some roots going so hopefully will survive . I have a few sycamore in pots a few yr old now and i just wired them this spring , one of them has great shape. If nothing else there free and you get to practice and be more daring than with more expensive bonsai material. Hawthorn is 1 of the best.

[@TonysBonsai]

That's a great attitude to have. Even if we just learn and practice on them, then they have served a good purpose

[@DeciduousSnurb]

Nice pots Tony. I know they're cheapy used pots, but you got a nice variety. It's fun to get trees into bonsai pots even if they aren't "bonsai ready." Looks like I'll have to get back on Facebook for facebook marketplace, even though there's probably no one around here practically giving away bonsai pots or let alone even does bonsai but who knows.. I ordered myself some Field Maple seeds recently, they won't be done stratifying in the fridge till June....⌚ Yours is looking good!

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Niki. My field maple seeds haven't germinated yet, but I've still got a bit of hope.

[@rebeccahunter725]

My computer thinks I am first!!! My thought on working on a variety you are not keen on, is that it is the opportunity to do some experimentation. Nigel is very confident with his root reductions, but I bet he started on trees he was less keen on, so losses were not tragedies. And for big leaved trees, then each leaf is a "group" of leaves, and can represent a full branch. Could make an interesting learning curve, and I look forward to it's progress!

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes, you make a good point Rebecca. They are great fun for learning on, although I still doubt that I'll be all that keen on them down the line, but you just never know!

[@Tybold63]

Think that is valid thought as you kind of need "lab rats" to experiment on and try out new techniques.

[@bonsaitime621]

That was some neat magic trick with the field maple. I didn't see all the roots coming off in a single cut 😮

[@joegarland4885]

You sure got to the root of the problem with those trees Tony, let’s see wether they survive my guess is two out of three, my guess is the maple not making it but, I have few field maples in my collection we have a full size field maple in the front garden which is magnificent, just pruned this year, only problem is the amount of seeds they drop, some I potted up. All the best with your three mate.

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Joe. I think all three will make it, but it will be interesting to see. I might need you for some identification of field maple seedlings in a few weeks Joe. I have masses and masses of seeds in trays, and i marked them all up using a numbering system, but the pen was not permanent and all the numbers have washed off 🤣

[@thebonsaiprojectkernow]

I've got a few of each of these about the same age as yours!! Another great video tony

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks you. They are worth having a play with and who knows, down te line they might end up being trees we really enjoy looking after

[@tacobonsai]

With the trees with large compound ;eaves like that, i have experimented with cutting down to the last set of the leaflets so that the tree becomes more compact. nothing has died yet, but its early on. The sycamore is a headache for me, every time i collect one and cut the tap root down, it dies. probably my fault but a frustration. i really like these kinds of projects and i look forward to the results.

[@TonysBonsai]

You'll just have to keep on trying with them, and eventually, I'm sure you will crack the code and one will make it. perhaps leave it a year longer before going in for the tap root removal?

[@Tinoshke07]

When you see them in the washing bowl and then afterwards in the bonsai pots, it's already quite a difference. Ash trees are , of these three, the least suitable for bonsai, because of their compound leafs . For a couple of years I had a lot of ashes growing almost like weeds in one part of the garden, but one by one I removed them, they're very tough ! I'm not surprised that the ash tree took over most of the available soil in the washing bowl. The maple and sycamore tree are looking quite okay (especially the maple) and with a bit of training, they can have a nice future. And now that they're in small pots, your back will be very grateful to you 😃

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes, you're not wrong about my back. I'm beginning to really appreciate these small trees! I'm going to keep the ash for a while to see how they go, but I am planning on planting a few of the trees I no longer want out in the wild in some scrubland near me.

[@Tinoshke07]

@@TonysBonsai That's an excellent idea to plant unwanted trees out in the wild, giving them back to Nature 👍

[@rctaz990]

You've always got great videos. You're a great guy. And this video was lovely.

[@TonysBonsai]

Thank you. Really nice of you to say, and I'm glad you enjoyed the video

[@bonsai4fun]

Hi Tony, I wouldn’t underestimate the sycamore and the ash tree. They can be quite nice trees and to my experience, the sycamore‘s leaves do much align to the growing conditions. I have got two, found them somewhere around, not thicker than a matchstick, and they have grown in little pots to promising trees (too early to say bonsai 😀). Let them grow, you certainly will enjoy them, the ash tree too (I’ve got a little one - very nice and tough). Enjoy your trees. Cheers Dirk

[@TonysBonsai]

Cheer Dirk. Yes, at least they are in little pots now and are nice and manageable. I've got a few other ash and sycamore a little larger too, so who knows. Maybe I'll grow to love them!

[@roryleo5629]

I like the sycamore. The branches are quite artistic.

[@Ad_DOOM]

i hope you slowly rise up from behind the table at the beginning of your next video Tony. for continuity

[@TonysBonsai]

I've just filmed it Adam, and I didn't, but I will definitely be doing it in an upcoming video thanks for the idea! Also, I'm not going to mention it. I'll just carry on with the video as if nothing unusual happened 🤣🤣

[@Ad_DOOM]

@@TonysBonsai look forward to it. it could become a feature

[@wshow11]

Cheers Tony! Fun stuff. What to do with the time after repotting season……..? lol

[@TonysBonsai]

I know what you mean. I've just re-potted 15 semi pot bound junipers and I have to say I'm glad that they're done!

[@paulgeddert6125]

Next time with a Sycamore Tony I'd grow it in a big air pot / pond pot or similar, keep a big root system and go for it. They will only work as a larger tree as a bonsai due to the leaf size 👍

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Paul. I tend to agree. I have a very large sycamore growing in the ground which I chopped 12 months ago. I will probably collect it in a year or two, so I've got large sycamore covered, I think it's going to be interested to see how small I can get the leaves on a tree like this over time

[@MikeSmith-yf8dz]

I get what you say about the sycamore. However. I like to use them as they are pretty much free around me. For some reason. I don't have any field maples around so don't have any. Ash , the compound leaves make it difficult to use I think. Great content as usual Tony.

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Mike, sycamore certainly seem to germinate easier than any other variety of tree. Round at my parents under a meduim sized tree there are 500-1000 little seedlings sprouting this year. I sowed a load of field maples this winter, so if I get a load come up, remind me in the video where I show my seeds and I will send you some mate.

[@MikeSmith-yf8dz]

​@@TonysBonsai thanks Tony. Remind me to remind you 😊

[@An1Kum]

I really enjoy your videos. From india

[@TonysBonsai]

Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying them.

[@mmjnice97]

If you think European Sycamore have big leaves and are hard to reduce try you hand at an American Sycamore tree.. the leaves are next to impossible to reduce but the bark is outstanding!! The flacky bleached white bark is truly beautiful in the winter time. I have a few pr-bonsai American Sycamore and they are not part of the Acer family.. it's was a whole rabbit hole getting to the bottom of that one..

[@TonysBonsai]

It's Interesting how each side of the Atlantic has a sycamore, both from different families. The bark on yours look very much like the London plane which is another tree with huge leaves.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Definitely needs a new pot 😂 I have three tiny mame sycamores and find the initial leaves are huge but defoliating gives a second flush of much, much smaller leaves. I have no experience of Ash.

[@TonysBonsai]

Very interesting mate. I have some slightly bigger ash and sycamore which I haven't re-potted, so I think I'll do a defoliation on those and see how they get on.

[@bonsaikastur]

I started with sycamores and ashes in the 90s. Vigorous species.

[@TonysBonsai]

They certainly are. I have no worries that these trees will be fine even after such aggressive root pruning.

[@shanewatson8581]

Ash can become amazing bonsai 1 of my favourite if im being honest. Plant in the ground and enjoy. I defoliate mine 3 time every growing season

[@TonysBonsai]

Wow, three defoliation in one year. I'm definitely going to have a crack at defoliating some larger ash and sycamore I think. When do you do the first defoliation Shane?

[@shanewatson8581]

@Tonys Bonsai here in Australia the ash is the first deciduous tree to wake up usually in Aug, so I would defoliate as soon as first flush has hardened off. Maybe end off Sep early October. 2nd December and 3rd late Jan. I know some defoliate 4 time but im more comfortable with 3. Leaf size is very small

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Shane. The ash is one of the last trees to open up here, so I'll have a go when the leaves have hardened off.

[@shanewatson8581]

@Tonys Bonsai complete opposite to us how strange. They are classified as a weed, so im going hunting for them soon. Next weekend or so I will be marking trees to collect late winter

[@TonysBonsai]

@@shanewatson8581 Hopefully your trees are not susceptible to ash dieback and it doesn't spread around the globe.

[@andrewwinslet]

Maybe better to plant the ash in your parents garden and in 15 years cutting it down for firewood 😉Love your videos 👍

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣Not a bad idea Andrew. Ash makes for great firewood, although with all the ash dieback at the moment I fear they may become quite scarce in the future

[@andrewwinslet]

That’s true. I planted half a dozen saplings on the bank behind my garden about 15 years ago and luckily they haven’t succumbed to the disease yet.

[@dorritsmedsgard5900]

Yes, there are.

[@timfreeman4242]

I think you just showed 3 trees was all have and know are not great for bonsai… I have a fair fee of each and some Facebook marketplace pots. I think I’ll have to follow your lead Tony and try some mix and match!

[@TonysBonsai]

Yeah it's like we all have these hidden guilty pleasures tucked away in the corners of our gardens. I reckon even Ryan Neil have a few 🤣🤣

[@timfreeman4242]

@@TonysBonsai 😂🤣🤣 I bet! Harry H is probably carving a sycamore under the cover of darkness!

[@KennetDeBondt]

Hello Tony If you can keep these in a shady place for a month they will be fine. Grts Kennet

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Kennet. I've got these in full shade behind my house, so I think they've got a decent chance.

[@KennetDeBondt]

@@TonysBonsai They will Fieldmaples are my favorite maples. I´m also trying to fuse 3 siccamores right now.

[@TonysBonsai]

Nice. I love the whole idea of fusion. I was a bit skeptical at first, but they are really interesting projects to follow I think.

[@Yurup]

You have big dinner plates Tony!

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣I've just been and measured them. My standard plates are 27cm in diameter, and my big ones are 30cm.

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

I always thaught Sycamore means the platanus tree,but it is really an acer pseudoplatanus which you shown here???🤔🤔🤔

[@TonysBonsai]

Yes, the European sycamore (this tree) is an acer, but the American sycamore is indeed a platanus. Strange stuff!

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

@@TonysBonsai thank you Sir Tony... Here in Germany we say Bergahorn which means Mountainmaple😁😁😁

[@TonysBonsai]

I like the sound of that. I think it suits Bergahorn better than Sycamore. I don't know why though.

[@zoltanpal3921]

Would you please recommend me a book that is good enough for beginners cause I’m really interested to learn about making my own bonsai! Please help! Subscribed yours and Herons channel

[@TonysBonsai]

Hi Zoltan. I am not a huge reader, so I can recommend you a couple of bonsai channels if you are really interested in learning the fundamentals of bonsai. www.youtube.com/@BonsaiMirai www.youtube.com/@Bonsaify

[@zoltanpal3921]

Thanks for the info!

[@Mr10russ10]

Did you press the elevator button at the end 😂

[@TonysBonsai]

🤣🤣I'm thinking of transitioning my channel into magic and special effects mate 🤣

[@andrewclack4881]

Nigel Saunders would get them in no problem! 🤣🤣🤣

[@TonysBonsai]

I was thinking that he would be proud of me for removing so much root, then I watched one of his recent videos and he put me to shame 🤣 Nobody bare roots a tree quite like Nigel!

[@catabaticanabatic3800]

You'd probably be better off putting those in cheapo clay pots and putting some of you more advanced trees into the bonsai pots. They've got twenty years to go before they can really be bonsai.

[@thome4229]

I love your youtubechannel and i like you, but i bet the sycamore will die! 😁

[@TonysBonsai]

Thanks Thome. If I had to place a bet, I'd say that it will make it. We should know in a couple of months!

[@ugopozzi5353]

Queste piantine moriranno tutte e tre