Bonsaify | How to 10x Your Juniper Growth: When You Feel the Need to Speed!

[@cactsai]

Excellent tips, Eric. I have to add that I believe you missed one crucial detail in how to get trees (or any plant for that matter) to grow quickly, and that is AIR. It looks like all your large junipers are in fabric pots allowing air to prune the roots and encourage rapid root development. It's the same concept as your potting mix of 80-90% perlite and 10-20% coir. It's an ultra airy mix that stimulates root growth, and staves off problems that can occur in the root ball like disease and rot. It's not just container size, it's equally important for root health and plant development to also have plenty of access to air in the root zone. Anyway, I just thought that should be mentioned, not that anyone will read this comment lol Take care, man!

[@howardmckeown7187]

i read it

[@percyacutt3110]

All info is valuable

[@cactsai]

@@howardmckeown7187 thanks, Howard ✌🏼

[@cactsai]

@@percyacutt3110 I couldn’t agree more ✌🏼

[@69kesh]

I have been following this method for many years. 😊

[@ebenoid6643]

Whoa! 2 mins in I thought I had a flash back! Thanks! Good video had to watch it again Everytime I get a new juniper lol

[@lesijo52]

Great video Eric! If you were to make a t-shirt with that psychedelic juniper on it, I’d buy it! Beautiful effect. ❣️

[@TonysBonsai]

Another bonsaify classic! Thanks Eric

[@khizarhayat2937]

Sir i have an adult almost 5 feet tall juniper chinensis ‘Aurea’ planted in ground and i want to transplant it to a new sunny area what are the prerequisites for transplanting it safely thank you.

[@DazedPhasesofLazerbeams]

info and trippy visuals all appreciated

[@CharlieForeign]

Eric, glad to hear you got courses on pines in the works!

[@RunNGunPhoto]

That's amazing! Thanks for sharing your growing tips. The results really speak for themselves. 😲

[@pdean_photography929]

I was watching this at 6:45 am while drinking coffee and that kaleidoscope had me thinking I was having a flashback lol I’m kidding of course, very informative thank you for sharing. Coincidentally I’m getting ready to put my California Coastal redwoods and African and Madagascar.Baobabs in 30 gallon pots. The purpose here is to get thicker trunks as fast as I can without planting them in the ground.

[@heidizwaenepoel7355]

Looking forward to the JBP course too ! I have 3 2-year old I’ve grown from seed. So they can start their journey. Thank you for your interesting videos ! Keep up the good work 🙏

[@DavidJinPa]

Great Vid~! This has worked wonders with twisty itoigawa whips too. Love your vids. They're always an inspiration. Thank you

[@w.l.5468]

After a day of going through the usual bonsai channels, your video has been the most useful in terms of how to maintain, plan and dissect trunk growth. Would love to see if you can have different camera angles on your tree as it is hard to discern through the foilage when you talk about promoting the growth from the branches you left unwired in the middle. Still, great video!

[@Bonsaify]

Thanks for the constructive feedback!

[@gusvietnam5086]

Great video! Thank you for sharing. Very interesting and helpful. 👍

[@beardownchicagobears7774]

Excellent instruction! Exactly what I needed for my junipers

[@lisawagner6076]

Hi Eric, I just got a Chinese Elm. It is currently in a sac @ 4" in diameter with loose soil, and it is @ 18" tall with 6 smaller branches and one main branch shooting straight up. The trunk is 3/16" thick. Is that too fat to try and curve? The trunk is very straight. It seems to curve slightly in my hand when I push, but I am afraid of breaking it. How can I work on getting a curve on this trunk and then getting it fatter? What should my first steps be with this little guy? How big of a container can I go? Thanks so much!!

[@Bonsaify]

Hi - Elms are pretty fun and forgiving. But for detailed advice I would suggest you post your question to Bonsainut.com with some photos. There is a good community there with mixed levels of experience. Breaking a healthy elm will just result in new buds coming from the break, so assuming it's in good health I'd go for it in terms of bending. (should be growing like crazy if it's healthy and you're in the northern hemisphere.

[@lisawagner6076]

@@Bonsaify yep. NC. I will check out that site Thank you!!

[@WanderingBobAK]

Ahhh! Flashbacks! The colors. 😜

[@peterlubbers5947]

Hi there Eric, love your videos! I've a question to ask you: I've watched a lot of your Juniper videos and i am currently busy propagating Juniperus communis cuttings. Do the same rules apply to in propagating these as the other species in your opinion? Many thanks Peter!🙏

[@SuperKrats]

Really looking forward to that JBP course, as I have started some JBP seeds this year, and have been searching for info about that kinda pine 👍

[@atumrox1]

Great Eric!

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

I use #3 commercial air pots, put them on a raised garden bed so the roots can grow into the ground, my JBP and JRP love it too. I am using Azalea pots for some also, like they do in Japan (well Tokoname) and running an angled sacrifice like they do in Japan, the #3 is kicking butt on trunk size/growing wood, still too early to see, will find out next repot season on what the roots look like. I put a heavy layer of lava rock in the bottom to flatten the grow profile more bonsai pot like.

[@Cory_J]

Great video, Eric! Looking forward to the JBP class. I'm loving the neagari JBP I bought from you in February. I'm stoked to do candle cutting on it next month and compact the image a bit. It's gonna be a great tree!

[@raynorris135]

Great info Eric, Thank you

[@matthiasrommel3645]

Sooo great trees!!! Could you please tell me what kind of substrate you are using.

[@Bonsaify]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJK3i3uOgLV5m7c

[@edubb786]

Could I just put them directly into a 3 gal plastic pot or grow bag rather than the 1 gal into the 3? Sorry new to the bonsai game! Thanks for any help

[@Bonsaify]

Yes - although depending on your climate you just have to be a bit careful about not overwatering when you put a tree into an over-sized container. There is some mythology (or perhaps wisdom) about plants not growing fast when in larger containers - e.g. matching the container size to the current size of the plant - and while this is true for some plants, it does not seem to be particularly true for this variety of junipers.

[@sallyzizza2261]

I have been trying to recreate your 80% perlite 20% coco coir would your perlite be 3mm-6mm would you say?

[@Bonsaify]

If you have a choice, maybe a bit larger like 5-8mm. I've also started adding some fir bark. The coco coir works fine for about 2 years and then starts to degrade. The timeline for bark breaking down is typically longer so it makes the soil maintain a lower pH for longer. (which is better for nutrient uptake and fungal suppression.)

[@l3afl1p]

Wouldn't the roots just die off when it hits the outside of the bag and return inwards towards the root bowl?

[@Bonsaify]

if you mean air pruning - then yes - but conifer roots generally divide and continue growing when this happens. But if both sides of the bag are wet (as the case when nestling a smaller one into a larger one or putting it in the ground) they'll grow straight through...at least some bags. I've never seen a bag they didn't get through.

[@MarkusMh]

Hey Eric. I realize this video isn't related to my question what so ever, but I wanted to ask about your shohin JBP guide. Does it go into in-depth detail about germination and growing from seed? Stuff like, medium, how much sun the seedlings should get, when/if to seedling cut, when to transplant, etc? Is there anywhere where you can read like an overview of the course before buying? (I have watched the short intro video) Would be nice to know if it covers the things I'm curious about. Does it cover other climates as well? For instance, I live somewhere where decandling isn't viable, will it go over alternatives? Thanks for all the great content as always.

[@Bonsaify]

Markus - thanks for asking. First - you can go here to get a preview - including the table of contents and at least two preview videos: bonsaifyacademy.thinkific.com/courses/shohin-japanese-black-pine I'm actually planning to do a KZbin video where I have a bit more information available also. And I believe Jonas (bonsaitonight.com) is going to do a review of the course this friday in his newsletter. He has seen the entire thing and is also an expert. Drop me an email eric@ bonsaify.com - if this doesn't get you the info you need. I'd also be interested to hear more about your climate considerations (perhaps via email.)

[@sallyzizza2261]

Which fertiliser did you use?

[@Bonsaify]

Try Osamcote for young trees. Or anything you have available. When you're using large containers and want fast growth it's more important to just fertilize than be concerned about what type.

[@BlocUpGang]

Great video! Do you have a wholesale supplier for those grow bags? Definitely want to get some. Thanks!

[@Bonsaify]

Generally they're available from nursery supplies and even on Amazon. I buy mine from leftcoastbonsai.com, he's a fellow grower and is manufacturing/importing them. Some bags are quite thin, but his are nice and sturdy.

[@eeeealmo]

Growing in the ground still the best for trunk thickening?

[@Bonsaify]

If you can ground grow, or hybrid container grow with escape roots that will be faster than this method. Yes.

[@Jojosawesomeadventure]

What water fertilizer do you use for these junipers?

[@Bonsaify]

Standard municipal water from East Bay MUD. Granular time-release similar to Osmacote but commercial. I think it's like 18-8-12 or similar. We also use liquid mineral fertilizer on a variable basis. I recommend hobbyists use some organic fertilizer - I use it on my mature trees but not in the nursery. (cost and residue problems.)

[@sagebonsai]

I added sagebrush to my rocky mountain junipers, what I find is they grow much more all over compact growth compared to ones without sagebrush which growing a few long whips. Eric I think this information could be very useful in some of your work.

[@Bonsaify]

Hmm. You mean you planted a sage bush in the same pot? or you ground up a dead plant and added it? Or?

[@sagebonsai]

@@Bonsaify I've planted a live sagebrush along with the rocky mountain juniper. Here in Utah I've studied that everywhere the Sagebrush grew the juniper flourished. The juniper grew so rapidly that it later overshadowed the sagebrush eventually killing them. So I believe even if this relationship is temporary but it's quite beneficial for the health of junipers.

[@Mikakyyrv]

@@sagebonsaithat is a great observation. Love to hear more of your results on whether it definitely isn’t a coincidence.

[@sagebonsai]

@Mikakyyrv hello I'm in Utah I did some one on one studies in the wild on how beneficial sagebrush can be. I find everywhere the sagebrush grew the junipers grew right along side it. They take the nitrogen from the air and stores them into their roots. Some microbes eat the roots, then they within the soil. The juniper can't get enough of that that over time that it becomes too greedy and over shadows the sagebrush and eventually kills its companion.

[@cynicalPixels]

Would the 50 : 50 mix be okay for my larger "W.I.P." trees in USDA Zone 9A? (east coast Australia)

[@Bonsaify]

50:50 Perlite:Peat/Coir? Probably fine. Although you might do better with 1:1:1 Perlite:Lava:Coco/Peat. Or another 1:1:1 mix. Junipers like more water, JBP prefer drier - so the mixes you use might be different.

[@cynicalPixels]

​@@Bonsaify thanks for the reply 🤙

[@markwoodard659]

Since you mentioned pines, and looking forward to your blk pine videos, l have a very nice limber pine but l can’t find and maintenance videos on what to do with new growth etc… Could you do one?

[@Bonsaify]

Lol, I have one limber pine. I think that they basically need standard white pine technique. (Bjorn has a good video on it.) But I was actually planning to check Bonsai Mirai Live's archive to confirm since the one I have is only just approaching a mature state. With any white pine - decandling isn't done, but instead you cut short the stronger outer candles and leave the weaker ones alone to balance and induce backbudding. This is done in spring, as the new growth elongates and prior to the needles coming out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rX3HhqOrmNhoq6s

[@ShalomYal]

At 1:45 I stopped to put on some Grateful Dead. Then continued this great video

[@Bonsaify]

Watching tips multiply can definitely be a groovy experience.

[@69kesh]

When is the best time to take cuttings for propagation for junipers

[@cpellecer74]

summer!

[@Bonsaify]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bGOrg4SQn9l5aJY

[@jeffncompany]

are these fully grown in straight perlite or a mix?

[@Bonsaify]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJK3i3uOgLV5m7c

[@glas9791]

Eric, the jbp course is awesome. Any plans for similar course for junipers?

[@Bonsaify]

Thanks for asking, and for the kind words. Actually yes, I am planning to do a similar course on growing junipers. It took me a year of sporadic effort, including one month solid to do all the filming and editing etc the first time. So I think it will be another 6-9 months before I get another course done. But you never know! Tell all your friends and compatriots to take the pine course meanwhile! 😉

[@glas9791]

@@Bonsaify will do! Lots of information on finished bonsai out there…so little for development and refinement. Your jbp course filled that gap for me! I will definitely spread the word! Fingers crossed for jbp course > juniper course> deciduous? Trident maple?

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Great video thanks! I got a question. I bought some blawes junipers. And repoted them in some traning pots. And applied some wire and gave them a little bend. I can see now 2 months later . All the branches is dry. And the foliage just falling off. Did not but any waier on the branches. Keep most of the foliage and didn't cut any roots. What is happening?

[@Bonsaify]

Post a photo on IG/FB and tag us. Is the entire plant dying or just the part you wired?

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@Bonsaify soggy roots can that cause this? I think I am a little heavy on the water

[@Bonsaify]

Yes - most trees don't like soggy roots for extended periods of time.

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

@@thenaturecreater8906 You don't get soggy roots with a good grow medium, there is no way to over water most of my trees (pines) the young ones Perlite and Peat, older Pumice/Lava/DE/composted manure and good drainage in the pots.

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@@steveanacorteswa3979 i think it's frost damage.

[@1cleandude]

What part of the country are you in please? Thanks for your awesome videos!🙏🙏🙏

[@Bonsaify]

San Francisco Bay Area.

[@1cleandude]

@@Bonsaify thanks I’m in southern Louisiana and trying to adjust soil for our high humidity and rain! Thanks again for your lovely channel!🙏🙏🙏

[@hectorfabioguerrero1188]

what substratum are you using?

[@Bonsaify]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJK3i3uOgLV5m7c

[@raynorris135]

Are those grow bags put into the ground or out

[@Bonsaify]

The guys in Oregon seem to put them in ground - but I don't. They were nestled into an Anderson prop flat - 9 in total and sitting on the ground on top of weed fabric.

[@raynorris135]

@@Bonsaify Thanks Eric , I’m going to follow your example. Much appriciated

[@westempleman1160]

How much for one of those 1-gallon plants

[@Bonsaify]

Hi! Thanks for asking - we're not yet selling 1-gallon junipers - mostly because we have to grow them out a bit more first. But we will announce when they are available.

[@really2345]

Thank you for the tutorial. What time of year do you wire and bend the branches?

[@Bonsaify]

Almost any time. I try to avoid early spring bending because the cambium and tips are more tender/soft at that time. By June in my area they're hardened enough to bend and work with. In years past, when I could work on things at just the right time I always did most of my juniper work in August and September - that's partly because there is less work on other species at that time, but also because they are into their summer mode and a bit tougher. That said - with vigorous branches, waiting from April-September can cause it to be harder to bend things.

[@really2345]

@@Bonsaify Thank you for the quick response and thorough explanation! I look forward to winding up some little ones soon.

[@ganjajohn5748]

Trippy effects 😎😎

[@jamesbrown4042]

have you done a video of your pride and joy a tree that would hurt if it died

[@bonsaisn]

Tuyệt vời, xin chào bạn, chúc bạn nhiều sức khỏe, nhiều điều may mắn đến với bạn, ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@bonsai_life_style]

Ok they get bigger but you can end up with foliage on the end of long branches. Then what ??? I know you can graft, but I'm not good at grafting

[@JoeandAngie]

Mushrooms seem to have gotten in the mix

[@waterlover]

Makes a lot of sense, I had my juniper but it died out of nowhere. Just got a branch that turned brown then another then dead. Was sad too see it happened since it was my very first Bonsai that I made. Lived for two years before it died, was a nana juniper

[@cynicalPixels]

On the upside, atleast it wasn't a JBP or shimpaku.

[@abelcervantessalas7165]

Es como trasplantarlos directamente en el suelo Las raíces no encuentran límites de alguna maceta

[@tompeppi2635]

TOP

[@juniperPINK]

Im aredy growen anothe :>

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌🙂🙂

[@McintoshJameson-zt6oe]

❤🎉🎉🎉

[@TheDKninja]

AYAYA

[@dudesjirbonsai]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@juniperPINK]

IM GROWENE AREADY:0

[@Maplriv]

Wow that’s incredible if you put a plant in bigger pot than t can grow bigger lmao

[@Bonsaify]

Not to insult anyone - but this is actually a common bonsai mistake - trying to get a tree to grow bigger while using a tiny container. What people mistake is that this part of the bonsai growing process is important, but entirely different than what most people teach in terms of bonsai culture. It's something that many people try to skip by buying nursery stock. If I had statistics I'd guess they would say that leads to poor quality bonsai in about 99% of the cases.

[@aubinoak]

What wire did you use here?

[@Bonsaify]

Aluminum I believe. www.bonsaify.com/collections/bonsai-tools