Bonsai For Beginners: You Won't Believe What Tree is Best to Start With!

[@donnadornbusch6738]

Xavier - don’t pay attention to harsh comments- your presentation is most informative 👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Donna. Even with an old thick skin like mine, I can often try to please everyone all of the time :)

[@bonsaiexpression]

Great video as usual Xavier, got a bit annoyed when you mentioned people saying about the quality of the sound or picture.. never had a problem with any of your videos. All great quality and very informative. Some people are very ungrateful, sharing your passion with them and that's what they have to take away from it. Shame really. Just keep doing what you're doing 👍🏻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for the support - We all try our best and I do recognise that 'translation' of languages may also cause some confusion in comments :)

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

If one person complains out of 50... Ignore it. Some of the complaints are from issues on their end, not yours. Don't go out of your way for one person. You upgrade as you learn and as you have funds for it. No matter how perfect you make your videos, there will always be one person that finds something to complain about. Chin up Xavier! Your video are much better than a lot of channels out there. Mine included!! Great Oaks!! They are on my list... But for later when I learn more and get better at overwintering... Great video Xavier!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for the lovely support Marysol. The only issue you have with your great videos...c'est etre Canadienne :)

[@kenmunro1320]

I find nothing wrong with the sound and picture quality really enjoy the videos cheers

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks so much for your support Ken. I fear my ears and eyes arre not up to the standards expected by a few people thes edays. I can't tell the difference myself :)

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Perfect timing. I was wondering what to do with my English oak this week. Thank you Xavier!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That's my pleasure - I'd love to see pictures of the finished pruning :)

[@nwilliams1540]

Hi Xavier, I really appreciate the time and efforts you put forth in making these videos. Your information is helpful 👌🏻and you have a great funny bone😃. Thank so much!!!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers for that - my wife was always trying to get that bone removed. She insisted it was defective and never matured past adolescence :)

[@sagebonsai]

Your a good friend taking on some of the updates of tony bonsai trees from other clients. This is the first video I see of you and couldn't help subscribing to your channel before the video ended.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thank you so much for those kind words. Hopefully I don't disappoint with future videos :)

[@donnajacobs1722]

We really enjoy your videos,Chuck and Donna from Florida, you really have some great friends 😉👍🏻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That's so nice to hear. I was last out in Florida back in 1991 on an RN submarine. I had 2 weeks leave with an open top mustang. Just a shame you have such low speed limits :)

[@oachkatzlsmum]

😂 this is exactly MY episode of Xavier‘s bonsai retreat 😍Hope I‘ll get my oaks big after your great advices 🙋‍♀️

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I hope so too martina - all the best :)

[@tacobonsai]

great trees all. i am trying for better luck with oak still and videos like this keep me inspired.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Taco

[@uppergorple]

Agree, oaks are ace! Some do what you want and some do what they want...

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I think you just summed it up perfectly. I am trying to make one into a mame semi cascade at the moment. It is sulking with me :)

[@mattbrennan647]

Love your oaks Xavier. I actually have a bunch of acorns (from Tony) sprouting like crazy. Many single acorns are sprouting up clumps of three to five seedlings. Thanks for your tutorial. Looking forward to working on mine and watching yours into the future. Thanks, keep growing

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Matt. I would really appreciate you keeping updates on Tony's acorns and sending me pictures or little video clips that I can add to my Tony's Bonsai updates. Cheers

[@mattbrennan647]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Absolutely, will do Xavier. Thank you

[@mandyhernon2238]

Out of about 14 acorns I only got 2 to sprout one outside all winter 1 from keeping in the fridge for months!

[@mattbrennan647]

@@mandyhernon2238 I got lucky. Tony sent me 6 acorns back in the fall. I potted them up and all six sprouted. All with multiple trunks. I’ll be sending Xavier photos to include in his updates on Tony’s trees.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@mandyhernon2238 So that will be two magnificent bonsai from you in the future. No pressure Mandy :)

[@suzynolanart]

Thanks for your videos, especially this one on oaks. I am just starting to work with oaks as bonsai

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I am sure you won't regret that choice one bit. Feel free to let me know how yours get on :)

[@davebond8251]

I’ve came hear after being on Tony’s bonsai’s .I like your style,great information 👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Dave and I just wish you found me under different circumstances. Tony became a good bonsai buddie through this community. Do you mind telling me what bonsai you have developing at the moment?

[@DrunkBonsai]

It sure works well for the beginners who decide to start a tree from seed. Few bonsai species grow better from seeds than oaks.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

So true Mike

[@greenmachinesweden]

Nice looking forest! Oaks are like weeds in my garden. One day I may colect a few for bonsai. 🙂👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Definitely make great bonsai subjects. Collect in the late autumn magnus

[@TOMSAI]

Tho Oak Group is very nice ! Thx for showing us How prune Back the Oaks ! 👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Tom - I have no doubt you are already a master at such things. Just like a hornbeam but bigger :)

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Xavier ihave lot's of oaks one of the best bonsai tree s To have thanks xavier keep it up mate

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Phillip - it has definitely become at least an equal favourite with japanese larch.

[@gayefanner731]

Good morning Xav, dunno if you know but Tom has been in hospital to have a pacemaker fitted, thought you’d like to lift him up in prayer. Also Mark Sanders(Bonsai Garden) is hoping to start a new anti cancer offensive after London hospital today.God bless all you do 🙏✝️. ✌️✌️🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦✌️✌️

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Totally unaware - thank you for letting me know.

[@gayefanner731]

I only picked up on it going through Toms comments! Mark had posted about a week ago, just discovered that this morning too✌️

[@johnpereira9594]

I have just come across your channel and I think you’re doing a great job. I have subscribed and look foward to more of them

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for that John - so what bonsai do you have at the moment?

[@Wise-Man-Say]

re the audio, it sounds like its doubled and panned to the left. there maybe something you can solve in settings. either in windows sounds or the video editor. a mic records in mono so you will have to put it to both sides in some software. worth looking into. perhaps its picking up audio from mic and cam? If you use a compressor (free software) then you can use the cam mic as a last resort and will solve going quiet when turn away. the video is fine. dont see any reason to be concerned with it. some people have expensive cameras that do look good but honestly, you do a good job of being informative and entertaining which is why people watch over anything else. and the cam quality is good enough. dont forget, the higher production people do a lot of post processing too, its not all about expensive cam.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for all of that. I do as much post-production as i am able on AVS4U. I don't really understand all of the microphone stuff so i shall try to stick with boom mic and use the lapel on collab or specific videos. Cheers

[@Naztalgic]

Thank you for the tips and thoughts on the shallow pot subject :) Great video!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers - hopefully what i say makes sense.

[@PSPMHaestros]

I think I'd prefer the sound from the mic you use that's connected to the camera, even if your voice gets a bit lower when you turn away from it from time to time

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That seems to be the consensus opinion. i shall do that from now on. thanks for your valued opinion too :)

[@howardmcgraw472]

nice little oaks sorry to hear about Tony one of my favorite bonsia channels is he going to be back

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

😢

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for your support of my little oaks. You will probably know the news by now - tragedy.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

I got a nice little oak from a guy in Grantham. Must live quite close… 😊 Ps. Audio visuals on this one seem pretty flawless watched on my big screen tv. Great little tree at 11:00 onwards.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Jason - beware of anything that comes from Grantham!

[@nickrobson2753]

First time watching your content after the recommendation from Tony. Enjoyed the content & presentation. Will be working my way through your videos. Thanks.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thank you so much for that Nick. I really enjoyed working with Tony on our collaborations and he will be a great loss to the community. So what bonsai do you have?

[@nickrobson2753]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat a Chinese elm & a couple of Ficus. Mainly similar to Tony with alot of young pre bonsai on my allotment. Hornbeam, blackthorn, Hawthorn, field maple, rowan, willow. Plus a few ACERS at home, some from Barthelemy.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@nickrobson2753 I look forward to seeing and perhaps sharing some pictures sometime then :)

[@raymondbirds2392]

Enjoyed the video, i find your videos fine, i think your sound and picture quality is very good, keep up the great work

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks so much Raymond - it will be Ash and a family announcement for Tuesdays video :)

[@raymondbirds2392]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat look forward to your videos always

[@georgegracias1564]

Very nice!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks - they are all doing very well

[@marosbonsai]

Nice video and trees Xavier, and I think your sound and video are OK. I know how complicated it is to put sound/mic issues in check. Have a nice weekend.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thank you and I look forward to your next video

[@apostlewoody]

It would be nice to have you as a neighbor. I could be a pest though.......

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I think listening to me drone on for hours to a camera could get pretty annoying too! I am guessing you are not very close to me then?

[@KennetDeBondt]

Very nice Xav!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Kennet - it is the one tree type I can pick up loads of each year if i want.

[@andrewbeattie5245]

Nice video Xavier, going out now to take a close look at the Oak i got from you. It is doing ok but not exactly racing away. I do have it in a shallow pot so may change that next year. With regards to your sound, i used to work doing technical reviews of broadcast material and have not heard any issues which are bad enough to warrant comment... if you disregard the use of the word 'FALL' and the Aussie accent 🤣 Keep up the great content, cheers.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That made me chuckle! A lot of my smaller oaks are only now just starting to show more vigour. Just keep it in semi shade and hopefully it will get through this year.

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video Xavier there all looking great 👍👍👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Andy - I just need to find a pot for that forest next year. that may put me back a few pennies :(

[@Bonsaicrazy]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat your a paid KZbinr dude 😂😂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Good point - I need to buy a Jag first though :)

[@Bonsaicrazy]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat 😂

[@mattygroves]

Oaks are fun and easy to start from seed, too. If you can keep the squirrels away.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thankfully the squirrels stay way clear of sunny grantham :)

[@joegarland4885]

Xav your doing brilliant mate,there are always people who want to be negative no matter what you do, if they want professional quality let them go somewhere else. Thanks for video on oaks, I only have a small cascade oak with reasonably large leaves, I will be looking at mine tomorrow to see if it needs any work doing to it. You have some nice oaks sooo many mate. All the best with them Xav.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Joe - I have just about finished the pruning on them now.

[@Darkfire1300]

Love the video. I gave up on our native oaks because the leaves were always ginormous! Glad to see my namesake is cooperating and budding out. It's no doubt the influence of the monkies... I too have broken branches when pruning or wiring or watering, or.. ? I have had pretty good success with taping the poor break up with painters masking tape and very light wiring. I leave everything alone for at least a year and watch the wire. The tape disintegrates on its own leaving a healed branch. I personally think that your sound and picture quality are just fine. Perhaps the whiners could set up a "go-fund-me" account and contribute to purchasing more equipment if they can't offer you constructive suggestions on how to satisfy what they don't like.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

As I once said to you Susan...I never want to get on your bad side :)

[@Darkfire1300]

🤣

[@D.RBonsai4601]

Nice video Xav Hope you’re well? If you’re looking to up your game on sound quality Active monitor speakers when you’re editing will help immensely You can also invest in a decent pair of studio headphones if you’re not keen on having speakers on your desk If you need any help suggesting options then just give me a shout 👍🏻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for that. I'm not sure my ears are good enough to know the difference truth be told. When i listen to my current productions they actually seem ok. I am obviously a sound ignoramus :)

[@D.RBonsai4601]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat it’s the same for everyone mate Active monitoring gives you true sound so when you hear it in the speakers it should then be the same for everyone else Either way it’s another expense and as I’m learning with KZbin they seem to pop up all over the place🤣

[@Ad_DOOM]

I love oaks. Thanks for the tips. I've been itching to Tony chop some of my oaks but I'll hold off until spring. Could you give us a gear tour of what you're using to film and edit your videos

[@Wise-Man-Say]

he did in previous vid. couldnt remember off top of my head

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I think you see the camera and mic and edit (AVS4U) in a video just before this one. I think its called problems faced doing youtube bonsai? Otherwise its at the end of my first ever video.

[@jennifertucker107]

No expert on anything but i think you are just fine the way you are.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That is so nice of you to say. It is difficult in these videos not to make it look like you are 'instructing' viewers. I probably stress too many times that I am just a hobbyist and still discovering new things :)

[@robertscarborough68]

Hello again Xavier 👋 would you recommend me doing the leaf cutting to my little 2 years old yamadori or just leave them to grow? I would like one to get fairly large but the other i think would be nice as a shohin possibly..? Excuse the spelling 😂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

To be honest - I leaf cut most of my large leaf material to ensure light gets right in...and also help promote the second flush. However, it is also tryign to keep the look of the tree as natural as you can. Cheers

[@karenconquest]

Nice oaks! What fertilizer did you say you use?

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I use the Oceana range. I like these because they can be mixed in with repot. Harry Harrington of Bonsai4Me got me on the idea last year. oceanabonsai.com

[@terencedixon2960]

Xavier, did you do a video of how you set your oak forest up? It is amazing 😊

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Unfortunately I set this up back in 2020 - it was originally a group of 22 trees in a wooden box. However, I did buy the pot that this is going to be put in next year. Not sure if I should change it much when I do? What do you think?

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Now I have to work out if they have been done in the same order this time ??? Cheers Bruse

[@mulatokudzava7797]

I have no problem with the picture, it´s not top-notch, but it is OK. The sound is annoying, though... I reckon other youtubers tend to use Rode mics, that could help...

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for that - I wiii have alook and see how much they cost and what the difference is :)

[@beth7467]

I had a volunteer oak seedling that I potted up and put on my front porch. Then the woodland creatures (squirrels? chipmunks?) proceeded to eat it to death.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Sometimes you just have to stay in bed and pretend the world doesnt exist Beth :)

[@thenaturecreater8906]

I would love to have a tree from Tony. Is this something we can fix xav? I live in Norway

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Hi, not quite sure how to reply to that one. the trees he passed to me were specific favourites that he wanted me to work on through the channel. Not sure what import rules are like but if the pine seedlings thrive this summer I could send one or two to you nearer the winter time? If I get back to Tony's I will ask on your behalf - the problem is most of his stuff was pretty big. Cheers

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@expressionsofgracebonsai that would be aswome mate. A little seedling would be honour to have from Tony. To keep his memory alive in my garden. I would treasure it! I feel completely heartbroken afther the news.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@thenaturecreater8906 Just send me your details via gmail and if they look good later in the year i shall see what i can manage for you :)

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@expressionsofgracebonsai thank you sir.

[@iPheek]

Do you get oak wilt?

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I thought had it on one mame oak last year but if I did it recovered pretty well. Apart from that no obvious signs.

[@mattbrennan647]

Foisting

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It must be worthy for you to get in their Foist :)