Bonsai Tips for Beginners, Watering, Soil Mix, & Other Techniques | Q&A

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Hi everyone! Quick clarification to my answer for the first question. When watering bonsai, you should drip daily OR water minimally once a week (with my soil mix recipe--you can find this video on my channel). Bonsai can be drowned sitting in water, or die due to drying out.

[@JankyzFSX]

I think the watering topic is very hard to explain straight. There are many dependencies like soil mix, climate, species. But the fundamental rule is for my opinion when you are watering your trees - I do this every morning, before the sunshine or bit after and trees grow healthy. 🖖

[@bonsaiheirloom]

@@JankyzFSX Yes! That's why I am going to do a more in-depth video on watering and soil mix soon. Please subscribe and stay tuned!

[@jameswalker3416]

​@Jankyz you think time of day helps? I've been watering at 6 or 7. I haven't had any problems.

[@kuniphertze7112]

@@jameswalker3416 mostly doesn't matter as long as you don't water it under aggressive sun at noon in the summer. people tend to do it in the early morning so the soil has all day to dry. I've heard night watering is okay too, some people say it can cause mould/fungus issue but I've not encountered said problem.

[@andychapman5676]

Hi Milton! I'm really glad I found your channel and I'm enjoying it so much. Keep up the great work. Your trees and information are top notch.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you, Andrew! I really appreciate your support and kind words!

[@mame6508]

Please share a video of your bonsai garden

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Hello! I created a playlist of all my bonsai creations in my garden. I tell you a little story behind each tree and how I crafted it. Check it out: kzbin.info/aero/PLOGmEXKwsKP18K2hWcxWDGeH6uyf3G365

[@c.hockey]

I think milton is my favour bonsai person on the internet- doesn’t try to overcomplicate it and just makes bonsai enjoyable again. whoever produces the videos (his children, friends or even milton) also do such a great job

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for your kind words!

[@stephenkacer7261]

I’m so happy and excited to find your channel… Thank you for sharing your knowledge I have learned so much in just a short amount of time 🙏

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for being a part of my bonsai community! I am happy to share my bonsai knowledge with you!

[@OjaiBonsai]

For heaven sake! That’s the best way to say it. Great stuff. Thank you

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you, I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@FIZZYYAM]

Hi Milton, great video. Can you recommend any books or did you learn by trial and error?

[@yoteslaya7296]

every beginner i speak to that asks for advice i tell them to learn horticulture before even attempting bonsai. Knowing how trees grow, survive and the process of photosynthesis and basic knowledge of trees is fundamental to keeping bonsai. It supersedes knowing how to make a bonsai

[@btran0]

Milton do you have any plans to make merchandise for fans to purchase to support you?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Hi Brandon! Thank you for asking! As a team, we want the Bonsai Heirloom website to be a place where this community can get quality bonsai material to learn the art and joy of bonsai. We are working on this and have something in production, so please subscribe and stay tuned for announcements! You can sign up for our newsletter at bonsaiheirloom.com so you’ll be the first to know!

[@AlexBraunton]

A brilliant video packed with knowledge and experience. Thank you

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you so much!

[@PopsKustojo]

Excellent teacher. It’s very relaxing the way you share your knowledge, sir. I’m starting the art a bit late in life. Yup, late for the party. I plan on staying here and learning here just to simplify things. Could be overwhelming what’s out here in KZbin etc. Not planning on going crazy buying trees, but will head out to the woods to find me something I can start in. I like your vibe sir. You are my “Ip Man” in the bonsai art. ‘Appreciate you, and may you continue to be blessed 🙏🏽

[@bonsaiheirloom]

It's great that you're starting to do bonsai! Please feel free to comment or email me any questions you may have and I would be happy to share what I know!

[@rodschroeder1048]

My question is how to take care of a tree that has been growing in a warmer climate and moved to a cooler climate, like buying from southern California and having it shipped to Chicago. How should it be treated.

[@kuniphertze7112]

you have to acclimate it slowly. early spring is the best time to do it as the tree tend be dormant and won't suffer too much shock. if you have a greenhouse that'd be ideal. protect your tree from dry/cold wind

[@shaolinshadowsoldier]

This was great, thank you.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you!

[@savageblades360]

What steps would you take to bonsai an oak grown from acorn in order to have the most aesthetic result? Any oak care tips?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Plant in the ground to grow tall and fast. Top it to a bit shorter than the bonsai height, to develop lower branches…Keep in the ground for a few years to shape the tree before digging to put into a nursery growing pot…and then bonsai pot.

[@living_sculptures_za]

This was a highly informative video. It's refreshing to have several interesting topics being dealt with in the same video. I look forward to the next one and hope you can keep these Q and A videos up. Thank you.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you, I enjoy engaging with you guys and answering your questions! I look forward to doing more of these videos!

[@narayanbarailee9903]

Hellow sir, i am from nepal ,.so, i like you every vdos. I watching. My que is how to survive hunting bonai tree? u know our coutry not available ,akkadama ,pumece ,lavarock,. so which soil medea can i use sir?

[@briankavanagh7191]

Beautiful Bonsai trees behind you, but what a view superb. I think Living Sculpture means young sapling trees being tied together and being allowed to grow so the trunks fuse together, but your East/West learning styles is the only way to learn.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you so much!

[@umairbhatti2229]

Hello sir, You are really doing very well. Kindly guide on terminologies you use. As i am starting it from zero

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Will do! Also feel free to comment any questions you may have about the terminology.

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

I’m the same way… totally gave up on azaleas! I am a n00b to bonsai and niwaki pruning (started in 2016). I bought 9 hino crimson azaleas. Only one of those are alive today. Then bought 4 satsuki from House of Bonsai. Only one alive today. Later, successfully made/rooted 20+ azalea cuttings. Maybe even 30. They were doing okay until summer, now they are all dead, except 3 that are still alive today. So, only 5 left out of +40, lol. They def do not like the dry and hot weather of SoCal, Santa Ana winds and also alkaline and bad water. Every other species… are doing perfectly fine though (many J maples, junipers, J quinces JBPs, pomegranates, ume, etc., etc.) ✨ …so I know it wasn’t just me.

[@184445]

Hello Milton I have a quick question I am currently using Osmocote fertilizer on my trees, but I just picked up some fish kelp fertilizer from Amazon and my question is would it be OK to add the liquid fertilizer while using Osmocote thanks for the help

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for your question! I'll answer this in my upcoming Q&A videos. Please stay tuned!

[@johnnyyooooo]

great video :)

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks!

[@hernandotorres1234]

I'm a fan of rotted areas on trees too, I think those who seal their cuts are "missing a trick", the resulting effect of rotting patterns looks great to me.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Yes! I think deadwood (jins) emulates the look of trees in nature and adds a unique look to the design of your bonsai!

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Loved your video. Straight to the point and honest answers.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you so much! I hope to do more of these Q&A videos so please leave any questions you have!

[@jameswalker3416]

The medium the tree is is effects hoe often I have to water. My trees would be dead if I watered every other day.

[@frankhubbs5104]

Thank you for your time and the sharing of your knowledge. I am new to this art and intrigued by the possibilities and opportunities. I am in southern Canada and quickly learned to use native species. I currently have 28 "experiments " on the go from tanuki, root over rock, root on rock, air layer, forest etc. Learning as I go with help from supporters such as yourself. One thing that particularly sticks out from your video is to have an image of how the mature tree will look when completed. I was preoccupied in following bonsai technique in branch structure, pads, nebari etc, I lost track of what I actually wanted the end product to look like. If it is to resemble a mature tree then branches do grow opposite on the trunk and without pads. Do I use internet photos and try to reproduce them or look to nature and take photos of representative structure. Bit confused at the moment. You speak of bonsai and how it helped you to cope with stress. My spouse has been battling cancer for 4 yrs and I am pretty much housebound tending to her needs. I have the luxury of having built ponds and waterfalls in my yard and now the enjoyment from bonsai gives me the peace and diversion that i require. Thank you

[@deepanjanbanerjee3491]

As always, a lovely video and really enjoyed it. One question. You seem to contradict yourself when you say that a bonsai in a well-drained soil and pot can’t really be overwatered. Yet you mention that watering every other day or even once a week is enough.!I It Will of course depend on the local climate and the tree, but would appreciate a bit more clarification pls.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Hello! I apologize for the confusion. I meant that you can kill a tree only if you drown it (not by overwatering). Bonsai can be drowned by sitting in water (in a pot without drainage holes), or die due to drying out. I recommend you drip daily, or water minimally once a week (with my soil mix recipe which is 1 part sandy loam, 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite). For moisture loving trees, like Maple, add 1/2 part vermiculite to the mix. Hope this helps!

[@deepanjanbanerjee3491]

Don’t embarrass me with an apology pls🙏🏽 I do agree with what you are saying, asked that question just to reconfirm my understanding. Here in zone 7B in NC, we need to water our bonsais twice a day in peak summer. There is really no set rule, depends on the zone, the tree and the weather. With the right substrate it is always safer to overwater than under.

[@jonnytlately]

Great video a lot of positivity thanks

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for your support!

[@philippariat3793]

hello Milton , finally got your channel HI i am from india, can you please make a video on maple propagating and maple hard wood cuttting there are lots of videos out there but none shows the after care and maintenance thanks in advance

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Hi there Philip! Please stay tuned! I actually just filmed a video on how to propagate and it will be up in the next few weeks! :)

[@philippariat3793]

@@bonsaiheirloom great, eagerly waiting

[@drenamir1647]

great video - you are doing very good job I love it

[@bonsaiheirloom]

That means a lot! Thanks for your support!

[@randomsht218]

Hi ,im wondering how you determine how to style a new tree i have a acer palmatum butterfly that is growing very vigorously and im i guess confused on where to go with it when the time comes for shaping and re-potting (i bought it from a store & its a few years old 3-4 years old)

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for your question! I will answer this in my upcoming Q&A videos!

[@JankyzFSX]

I was wondering about grapevine tree as a bonsai. I've decided this year to make a try and bought plain nursery material. I think Grapevine tree is very ancient, because it is conjured in our life from centuries. Have you ever try with this? If yes, Do you have any advices?

[@imataurus9868]

Thank you for the informative Q&A! I’d like to ask if you have any pines that you’ve work on over the years. If so would you be about to do a transformation video for them

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Hi Milton, that was a great video. I really enjoy your content. Listening to you about the breaking of branches. Would you do the same for maples and from what age ? Thanks 👍👍👍

[@colebrooks7183]

How many trees do you have?

[@nicholascartwright2089]

What a great educator you are sir

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for your kind words!

[@184445]

What would you say is a general rule for the best time to do a trunk chop on deciduous trees I’ve heard some people say late summer early fall, and some people say late spring after New leaves have hardened off?

[@keefe4484]

I like your philosophy

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you! I hope to share more in my upcoming videos!