Creating a Pine Bonsai

Learn how to make a Shohin Bonsai from a Pine! In this video we show you how to prune, wire and repot a Pine of about 8 years old.
Bonsai Empire is dedicated to share the living art of Bonsai - we created this video as a DIY tutorial to help and motivate beginners. The video is part of the online courses that we offer, for more free videos go to:
www.bonsaiempi...
Bonsai techniques explained:
- Pruning: www.bonsaiempi...
- Tools: www.bonsaiempi...
- Wiring: www.bonsaiempi...
- Repotting: www.bonsaiempi...
- Substrate: www.bonsaiempi...
- Bonsai care: www.bonsaiempi...
We like to thank:
Clingendael (Japanese garden), Bob van Ruitenbeek (Technical supervision and Bonsai expert) and Teunis Jan Klein.
Learn how to make a Bonsai tree with our online courses:
www.bonsaiempi...

[@Sakada_Ex]

You have made a great content that contain the theory and a practical. You've been a teacher for me as a beginner who always want to know about bonsai. It's helping me. Thanks and Bravo!

[@bonsaiempire]

Cool, thanks!

[@fruitlessbeast]

Great, helpful information. The music is unnecessary and distracting but like this posting in spite of that. Thanks for taking the time.

[@joshuahicks4621]

This is awesome! My pine is too small for this it’s only a year old! Looking forward to this in a few years however.

[@rachelhutchings]

Mine (the only 2 that germinated) are about a month old so definitely a long wait

[@1984-z8f]

And love from Korea! ❤️

[@jaxonsaledrab7035]

Amazing creation! Thank you! From 🇨🇦

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! 😊

[@DevenderSarohameems]

Love from India ❤️

[@GIANLUCAAGGI]

...and thank you for your teachings ! from North Italy

[@bonsaiempire]

Our pleasure!

[@carlmcclain6934]

Wow! I’m going to the local nursery tomorrow to get a pine tree! You are a true artist!

[@bonsaiempire]

Good luck!

[@seikouudoku]

Love from japan❤️

[@lks6825]

would love to see the follow up of this tree in a year or 2 to see the progress

[@bonsaiempire]

Will do!

[@DAgamChanel]

Good👍

[@nuri-garden]

You're working very delicately with the skills you learned in Japan. It's impressive.

[@guysolis5843]

Excellent video. I should be signing up for one of your classes soon but I must say, your property is piece of art in itself!

[@bonsaiempire]

Glad you enjoyed the video, Im sure you'll like the courses, which are far more in-depth plus you can ask questions to the teachers :)

[@clive363]

Excellent lesson I have some Japanese black pine that will be ready in 2 weeks time so very informative for me

[@janinebean4276]

That’s a very interesting watering can!

[@waterlover]

Makes it looks so easy

[@Long.Bacninh]

Hi Empire, I'm from Vietnam, I love what you do!

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! :-)

[@SilaSuwantara]

Best regards from Bali, Indonesia

[@thomastessier4529]

Not sure I will get an answer for this but why are the plants grown in what looks like to be a very water absorbent material (soil) and then many are placed into "Bonzai Soil" that is so free-draining? Why are the plants, when transferred to a new pot, not placed into a similar growing medium? I never understood this. All the JBPs I get from the nursery, many being around 12-inches tall, are all grown in more of a water-retaining material than a free-draining material like "Bonzai Soil".

[@bonsaiempire]

Hi Thomas! That has a lot to do with the stage of development. Young trees kept in big nurseries are planted in soils that retain lots of water and nutrients to maximize growth. Once we bonsai people work on the trees and plant them in small pots, our goals change from maximum growth to sustaining long term health. So thats why we placed the pine in bonsai substrate, which is entirely, or almost entirely, inorganic.

[@thomastessier4529]

@@bonsaiempire THANK YOU!!! Makes sense to me now.

[@defihuyz]

I am from Viet Nam. I very happy becauce your video have Vietnamese subtitles

[@bonsaiempire]

Glad it was helpful :)

[@_itsj3ss_]

This video is such a vibe 🤩

[@natrjack965]

Absolutely love your videos. You are a great inspiration, Jason, and so pleased you reached your goal plus I would love to win that Drum pot looks beautiful.... Thanks for great videos and keep them coming...

[@bonsaiempire]

Not sure who Jason is, but thanks ;-)

[@tuannguyenquang8531]

Sự khéo léo kết hợp với thẩm mỹ đã tạo nên kỳ tích ngoài sức tưởng tượng ....😮😮😮

[@quirogalorenzo1418]

Très didactique, excellente présentation. Un grand merci.

[@bonsaiempire]

Merci, Quiroga!

[@DAgamChanel]

Hadir Mr pemula Indonesia.. Pinus like wonderfuel👍👍

[@АлексейПастушенко-в3й]

It turned out great. It would be interesting to see this tree in a year or more. Sorry, but isn't it scary that the tree won't survive such an "intervention"))

[@bonsaiempire]

Its doing well, we'll do an update soon! And to me its not scary, but if you're starting out just make sure to do less at a time. So repot in early spring, and prune in fall for example. By spreading out work you'll make sure to safeguard the tree's health!

[@giogogaladze7615]

Love from Georgia❤

[@lilcurrymuncher_8404]

🇬🇪

[@bestplacesinitaly5772]

I always want to learn the art of bonsai.

[@BrutalToucan]

It takes time so i suggest you start now, i just got all my supplies and have about 5 tree projects to start

[@JordanBeagle]

I love how he gives the goods right and then explains in the meat of the video

[@ashrymanferris564]

Where do you film these videos? Is that japan? Seems to be a huge private garden? Looks amazing.

[@bonsaiempire]

This is in The Hague!

[@bonsaijapan2618]

That's excellent. informative.

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you!

[@Kadro_]

Hi

[@naturetherapyfilms]

Hello and thanks for the video. Great job. Hello from California

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks for watching!

[@ujteabonsai51]

Membuat bonsai pinus Pekerjaan yang sangat luar biasa

[@harrynadeau2103]

I have a white pine , big pot, big tree. It's drafted. Still big. Bueatiful formal.

Love from Việt Nam 🇻🇳

[@budisetiyawan5477]

Love from 🇲🇨❤

[@bonsaihomemenatureza4067]

Um belo trabalho, parabéns!

[@jonnecleef5548]

Can you also clip and grow on white pines? Just bought a small white pine, and repotted it with Some small pruning of the apex. Or is it better to wire to get the desired Shape?

[@blackwhitebd1727]

love respect fm Bangladesh💝🇧🇩

[@serwoolsley]

i've always heard that in order to grow a bonsai from seed, you need to place it initially in open soil so that the trunk is able to become thic, then slowly you'll have to cut the apex till you reach a desirable height, however here, it seems to me the apex had never been cut before, and i'm assuming that small pot is where that pine was growing all its life, yet for its young age the trunk was nicely thic, how do you do that?

[@bonsaiempire]

Hi Ser! That is the way to go - and this tree was cut and maintained carefully for several years before we made this video.

[@meare5592]

This tree is grafted (see the bulge on the trunk) so it is not seed. Also, the apex have been cut as you can see.

[@DAgamChanel]

👍👍👍

[@elaineshumaker4242]

Beautiful little tree. I was confused when you said you would protect it from freezing? I leave my pines outside all winter down to 0F where I live.

[@theoschmitt3037]

Diese Kiefer wuchs im Freiland

[@harikrisrain]

Nice to see

[@w1ldgeese]

Love it Too bad hard to come by material like that 😢

[@Jona_Villa]

Bellissimo questo pino bianco giapponese

[@bonsaidinhvuong]

Beautifully

[@FathersOfDeception]

I want to start growing a pine bonsai, but am wondering if i should start with the seed or a cutting?

[@bonsaiempire]

Seed would work well!

[@michaelbahr7267]

great instructions as always

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks Michael!

[@bopinart]

Terima kasih sudah berbagi

[@juanartesero1082]

Un bonito y "sencillo" trabajo. Aún que yo me encanten las coníferas les tengo algo de miedo. Un abrazo desde España

[@MrAntoniomalves]

Thaks from Brazil

[@minjaw754]

Mantap l.biasa mungil sangat telaten ,,saya suka

[@ehtishamvlogs59]

Love for your Passion 💗

[@ehtishamvlogs59]

From pakistan

[@HTStudio86]

tôi đã xem rẩt nhiều video của bạn thật sự tuyệt vời

[@chaminjayashan7447]

great work🌲

[@indocreatv]

Good Skill

[@janinebean4276]

Can I just do this with a cutting or sapling of any regular pine from outside?

[@bonsaiempire]

Yes you can :)

[@MultiSunny59]

Beautiful.

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@slametsetiadi4293]

Thankyou for the video.

[@hazrisibuk4381]

Love for bonsai and suiseki lover from banda aceh

[@PlantascomArtes]

Excelente, parabéns 👏👏

[@syaefudinasep3779]

U good teacher for us friend,,,,but when U come here?(Indonesia),,,,

[@bensotmohamed9985]

Good job what kind of soil

[@bonsaiempire]

We always use a mix as described here: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/bonsai-care/bonsai-soil

[@garethroberts7618]

Would it not be easier to put it back in pot when wiring etc??

[@lbroyal8137]

.., I though the same thing..

[@Alex-fg4br]

love from the caribbean

[@daniwin82]

Hi, question: are all the variaties of the paviflora suitable for bonsai? Does it matter anyway?

[@dicasdaluzia522]

I ❤ bonsai❤❤❤❤👏👏👏

[@tarian_bonsai]

Amazing amazing amazing...

[@gardenvid]

It's so interesting 😊👌🌺

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@aussieflybum165]

Just awesome!!

[@bonsaiempire]

Glad you liked it!

[@kabasakaleminosman]

Tebrikler 👍 güzel bir çalışma olmuş.

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks you!

[@embunpagisiantar]

Amazing Good job brother

[@LoaPhuongocBaoGiumBan]

Thank!

[@PNWBonsai]

Beautiful transformation! $50 is a steal for that kind of material!

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks!

[@arpadungvari7160]

I have a bonsai tree too, but how could I stop the tree lower sections oldering (there hasn't any green)???

[@donncha-fv7ne]

My scots pine has 3 branches spreading from same spot on the trunk any tips? I dont want to cut them as its weak already and i dont want tokill it

[@bonsaiempire]

Then dont cut them - plant health comes first. But three branches from one spot eventually will thicken that part on the trunk, so Id remove at least one when the tree is strong.

[@meare5592]

Nice pine! Do you know how long ago it was when it was chopped at the top?

[@marianamarza7219]

Woaw bello grazie😇💓💓🙏

[@soulhax]

We have a lots of pines in Estonia. Is it possible to just take a small one from forest and do a bonsai from it?

[@sanitychelle]

Yes! I would suggest looking up yamadori. ☺

[@Gbhmagic]

Of course!

[@bonsaiempire]

Exactly like Michelle said, here is some info on Yamadori: www.bonsaiempire.com/basics/cultivation/collecting-trees (make sure you know what to do, when to do it, and to get permission!)

[@soulhax]

Thank you for the answers y'all :).

[@zima_forever3643]

Очень интересно как выглядит эта сосна сейчас спустя два года

[@MyLagoazul]

muy bonito el video gracias por compartir

[@chinchang2011]

Love from China

[@Bonsai...]

Cảm ơn đã chia sẽ

[@carlosbenjaminmenchutavico9167]

Muy buen video muy inspirador

[@9daywonda]

Nice job.

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@naturcom83]

Very cool work

[@PriyaPans]

How do you keep a sapling so short? I have germinated a pine seed, and it's currently about 10cm tall. How do I keep it short and when do I start training it? Do you have any tips or book reccomendations?

[@joemerino3243]

These trees have the top cut off several times to achieve this short, thick look.

[@PriyaPans]

@@joemerino3243 but is that possible with pines? Some pine trees can only grow from some apexes of branches I think I read somewhere. So then then when's are how's of which branches becomes tricky. Do you know any more about this?

[@joemerino3243]

@@PriyaPans All plants grow from tiny structures called _meristems_ which are, in most species, found at the tips of roots and branches. Most plants, will, to some degree or another, favor the meristem at the top of the plant for growth. When you cut the top meristem off, other meristems will wake up and grow more. I don't know about all pines everywhere, and I don't use Japanese pines. I just use the pines that live where I live. They are strong here and can bear extensive pruning and candling. Those Japanese pines look absolutely beautiful, but the local pines are adapted to the local climate and also I can have as many as I want to experiment with for free. You'll have a lot more fun with bonsai if you have several trees to experiment with and make mistakes on than if you are trying to become a bonsai master from being a novice working on a single tree.

[@PriyaPans]

@@joemerino3243 thank you so much for such a wonderful explanation! I definitely want to give this all a go. I have a small sapling growing since April 2021, and then in autumn this year o also planted a LOT more seeds, so I'm waiting for then to germinate once the cold period is finished. Hopefully in a few years I'll be able to practise and learn from these pruning principles. Thanks again for the info!

[@JohannRandamy]

Este pino blanco japonés está injertado sobre otro tipo de pino?

[@LucasSousaS205]

Juan, parece que não.

[@GIANLUCAAGGI]

In which autumn month can pre-bonsai be made?

[@bonsaiempire]

I prefer to wire/prune in fall when the tree slows down - but you can apply these techniques at other times as well.

[@GIANLUCAAGGI]

@@bonsaiempire thank you so much !

[@vicenteortiz5315]

Se agradece mucho los subtítulos al español

[@melanesianbonsai]

the tree will be more valuable if it is in the right hands. great..👍👍

[@bonsaiempire]

Haha, let's hope so! :-)

[@melanesianbonsai]

Especially in the hands of a bonsai artist like You 🙏🏼

[@pino19631]

Ciao mi consigli che concime usare per il pino grazie ottimo lavoro lo fatto uguale super

[@arleyemg]

How will you deal with the large graft bulge?

[@bonsaipiper3773]

cut it away and then cover with bonsai putty to protect the tree as it heals.

[@michaelduncan6287]

I see it was a grafted stock,,,,,, is the rootstock a black pine? And yes, Japanese White pines here in NW WA are also expensive.

[@reneefranceschini3500]

Wat schattig. Het is nog een hele klus om dat voor elkaar te krijgen. Ik denk niet dat je het gereedschap en de andere materialen in een tuincentrum kunt kopen. Het is wel een uitdaging om dit te realiseren!

[@bonsaiempire]

The materials will definitely be for sale at (online) bonsai stores though :)

[@reneefranceschini3500]

@@bonsaiempire Thank you for your answer. Daar kan ik wat mee!

[@xdxd4634]

Hoeft geen speciaal materialen te kopen. Je kan gewoon met pliers en plastic bakken heel veel bereiken. ✌

[@Robin_grd]

great tree ! But how will you hide the graft scar ? is it possible to make a shari on it or maybe a root graft ? thank you !

[@bonsaiempire]

Thanks Robin! The graft isn't pretty - but it isn't something we'll work on soon. Over time we might be able to create a shari there, to mask the thickening a bit.

[@jackfntwist]

Did you say Pinus? Lol. I swear I'm not 5 years old. 🤣

[@mobilityjewellerydesigns399]

Botanical name for pine trees

[@ERALAWAS88]

Nice 👍👍

[@bonsaiempire]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@Bonsai_media]

The best❤❤❤

[@vi_nong_nghiep_ben_vung_2002]

you are make tree verygood

[@hs_kts_Business_KTS_HS]

良いし意味のある Yoishi iminoaru

[@jepri2729]

Good

[@우리경매장-o2n]

So good!~~