Creating Japanese maple forest bonsai

[@markregan7639]

I've been planning on a Japanese maple forest planting from saplings that popup around my Japanese maple in the spring. Your video was inspirational. I'd love to see how looks today.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Mark! That’s truly flattering. I did do an update on it prior to selling it. It’s in this playlist kzbin.info/aero/PL07aoEnuQCWPF-O7RcfTLLO2NpVqt34HO&si=ysdLrE-177VCz0zO

[@mattbrennan647]

Forests and Penjings are fast becoming my favorites. Thanks, keep growing

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Absolutely! I love those styles too. But then again I love anything bonsai 😂

[@harrietb2141]

Hi Terry.What a clever solution,anker the forest that way.Thank you😊

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Harriet! For sure, without the fastening those trees were falling all over the place!

[@harrietb2141]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai I have to make a forest now, in spring☺️

[@kevinmitchell4960]

Great video Terry I'm looking to create my first forest group next spring

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Excellent Kevin! I foretell you are going to do many in the future.

[@juniperus.itoigawa]

Terry you my favorite Bonsai youtuber. I really apreciate your presentation style and hands on aproach to bonsai. You make it seem so easy to grow nice and mature Trees and you motivate me to keep going while trying new techniques. Thank you very much for your videos. I wish you all the best! Keep on growing 💪

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Hendrik! That’s some compliment and I am flattered. I am very happy that my videos are motivational, that always been my objective.

[@12345dyar]

Awesome work Terry. Thank you for sharing your work

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you Dyar. Much appreciated.

[@gerritdevos4707]

Thanks a lot Terry. Great video.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Very welcome Gerrit!

[@alanjay5228]

Another great video Terry, many thanks! I’ve not made a forest group before, but have many yearling seedlings from the same Acer that I’m planning on using for one next spring ( UK) , have not seen that lattice idea before, but makes great sense as I was wondering how you would secure so many trees in a pot … you’ve given me the confidence to have a go at my own 😊. Keep up the good work

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Love to hear that Alan, I am sure you are going to plant an awesome forest with all those seedlings.

[@TonysBonsai]

Loved this video terry. So relaxing and chilled. Keep up the great work!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Tony! Bonsai should be relaxing. When you need to take a break from Bonsai then you’re doing something wrong I think 😂

[@TonysBonsai]

I couldn't agree more. that's a top philosophy, and it shows in your trees.

[@AlexBraunton]

Terry, this is another marvelous video packed with experience, top tips and wonderful work. It's truly a delight to watch you work and learn from you. Thank you so much. I do have to ask, how would one grow trees specifically to go into a forest? I know you mentioned the top Japanese forest plantings are done this way but I don't quite understand how. Are forests planned years in advance and the trees grown and shaped individually to fit into that?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Alex! Well I guess the answer lies in planning really. When you plan to do a forest you will make sure all the material is grown from cuttings from the same mother plant to ensure all characteristics are identical. You will ensure that you don’t grow branches which will later need to be removed leaving scars. The trees trunks will vary in height and thickness to ensure you have visual contrast. Rootball of the trees will be contained to permit trees to be placed close together. Get the idea now? It’s all about planning.

[@mcbabs7495]

Encore une vidéo très instructive, merci pour vos précieux conseils!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Je suis ravie que tu l'apprécies et que cela t'aide ! Vous pouvez me remercier maintenant en cliquant sur le bouton "merci" sous l'une des vidéos.

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

Good Morning from Indonesia. Love your detailed explanations and instructions. Beautiful composition of trees. Can’t wait to see the progress in the future. I have a few Penjing plantings my self. Do you use local pots or imported? Would be nice to see a video on your pot collection and possibly local pot makers. Max

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Morning Max! Glad you like the content Max, you could thank me by clicking the "Thanks" button found just below the video. I use imported pots from Japan or China. I have not found a suitable source of locally produced bonsai pots in South Africa which is comparable in price, quality and consistency.

[@chompers11]

Thanks for the video

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

You bet

[@nerinat8371]

Brilliant video, thankyou

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Glad you enjoyed it Nerina! Thank you

[@seantran1285]

Thanks for a great Video, very informative!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Glad it was helpful Sean!

[@andrewbeattie5245]

Hi Terry, this is a great explanation of planting a forest. I was just wondering why you did not put a layer of growing medium below the lattice before you planted the trees? Thank you.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Andrew for the compliment. Good question! Filling it with soil first would have made it much more difficult to place the wires. Attaching the wires first, then filling with soil and then attaching the trees would probably have been the best order. Thanks for pointing that out and this is my typical process, I think the reason I did not follow it this time was as I was not sure where I wanted to place the trees. They had very little root on so it was easy to get media in but you’re 💯 correct, it would be better to have a little soil under the tree to begin with. The forest is doing really well, and all the trees are growing strongly. I’ll feature it sometime in the future.

[@andrewbeattie5245]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai Thanks for the further explanation, glad to hear the trees are doing well and i look forward to an update in the future.

[@MichaelV1024]

I just finished my 12 Japanese maple penjiing style yesterday

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

That’s awesome Michael! I am sure it looks great!

[@RanceCantem]

I love your work bud

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

🙇🏼‍♂️ that’s so kind. Thank you.

[@jiijino_bonsai_ch]

beautiful bonsai.😍😍😍

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

So nice of you!

[@grahamharlow7471]

Nice work, looks great.. Realistically how long are you looking at as far as getting those really slim thin trunks to thicken up.. Thanks

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Graham. I’m not looking for them to be very fat actually. If I wanted that sort of look I would have used more mature material which was not the point of this planting. They will thicken over time though as a matter of course.

[@grahamharlow7471]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai OK terry thanks, it's just you always seem to hear of thickening trunks up so I was just curious... 👍

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Yes, that is the fashion but especially for Japanese maple, they are also suited to feminine styles/appearance

[@grahamharlow7471]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai I did once have a 5 group zelkova planting

[@grahamharlow7471]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai may have a go at something like yours Terry, obviously jap maple saplings are readily available at supermarkets etc for around £3. All the best to you

[@chompers11]

Update video please!! Beautiful

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Coming soon! Thanks for your enthusiasm. I appreciate it.

[@chompers11]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai your content is amazing I appreciate your hard work sharing it. Do you have anything on collecting very young seedlings?

[@chompers11]

Like should I wait until the first set of true leaves forms or can I collect them just before? Probably too early :(

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much! Collecting young seedlings no, but that’s a good idea. We will experience spring around September this year. I will see if I can do something on the subject then.

[@kliether33]

Terry, I really enjoy your videos. How do you reckon the shallower pot retains more water than a deeper pot of similar circumference? Doesn't seem to make sense in terms of volume.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Test it, you will reach the same conclusion. I don’t mean it will hold more water by volume, I just mean it stays wetter for longer.

[@kliether33]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai ok thank you

[@therealruru]

Hi Terry, I wanted to ask where you get your Japanese Maple seedling stock? I've seen one or two online stores listing Japanese Maple seedlings but they have slightly different leaves compared to your seedlings in this video and so I wonder if they are a slightly ddifferent variety.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi Ruru. These are standard palmatum seedlings. If the leaves of what you are seeing look different then they are either not Japanese maples and are Trident maples, alternatively they are Dissectum or fancy leaf maples. Mine come from a wholesale nursery in the Overberg area.

[@wesleyphillips3211]

Which Nursery if I may ask 😁 thanks again for great content & new techniques!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for watching Wesley! Now if I tell you the name of the nursery there goes all my material for future vids, what am I going to do then 😉

[@wesleyphillips3211]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai haha, lucky for you I have moved to Auckland already 😁 so no chance I would put a tree through that journey. I am though a little excited to start all over again here.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@@wesleyphillips3211 oh! Did not know that. Hope you settle in well in your new home then!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@@wesleyphillips3211 oh! Did not know that. Hope you settle in well in your new home then!

[@evanhb49]

i could grow seeds into that media?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

It’s possible but you will need to use fine akadama.

[@dondo416]

Hi. When and how do you remove those wires, or we can leave them alone like that ? Thanks.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi there. The wires which secure the trees? Which wires please?

[@dondo416]

Those wires that secure the trees. Thnaks. @@TerryErasmusbonsai

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@dondo416 no. They can remain in place until repotting. There is no need to remove them and they do not harm to the root system.

[@justinjoseph510]

hypocritical."Dont want trunks crossing". Why would you recommend that, and then go the opposite direction in leu of flow from what you'd said? Are you looking for balance and biting a bullet? Or does your impression of what you've done correlate with all you've said?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Huh? That is why in part I verbally comment in my videos as the footage is not always clear. If that’s not good enough for you please feel free to move on to other less “hypocritical” free content then perhaps someone else can measure up to your exacting standards.