Don' t hold yourself back: Create Better Bonsai Next Year

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Easy - I am going to fertilise my trees properly

[@BonsaiBlacksmith]

it is sometimes overwhelming to remember which trees like fertilizer and which ones hate water when the collection starts getting big

[@GrowingBonsai]

Feed them sticks mate!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Sam, easy, do what Xav does and focus on a few species only!

[@themichaellerner]

I've been maintaining bonsai for 35 years and actively working to learn more and become better at developing them for the past 3 years. I found this video to be quite inspirational! Thank you.

[@ernsttencate6699]

Hele inspirerende video. Ik snoei, bedraad marcotteer verpot style doe structural pruning en alle verschillende technieken doe ik zo goed mogelijk. Maar de enige ambitie die ik heb is plezier hebben in mijn hobby/passie. Plezier...

[@GrowingBonsai]

Wonderful!

[@peacefulGHILLIE]

You have a great friend that is brave enough to tell you his view. Also I think it is humble of you, that you had the objectivity to look at your practice deeper, rather than only taking offense. This is a skill any great master sure embodies.

[@Justintanega]

I’m going to try my first air layers next year. The one I’m most excited about is from a mature Arbutus with lovely red flakey bark!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Cool! Make sure you really allow the cambium to die / scrape it off well. Biggest reason for failed layers.

[@jamesbutcher7171]

Completely agree, I’ve started to rework my favourite tree and will do the major restyling this year. Have a good Christmas 🎄

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad to trigger you!

[@sbragaglia]

Great video, Jelle! Very insightful! And I’m listening to you in Italian, even though he original is always better!

[@GrowingBonsai]

I know. I never understood voice-overs. I always prefer original audio, with subtitles. That way you get the original energy, fitting to the person speaking..

[@kahve28]

Another great video Jelle, I wish you a happy winter holiday with your family and of course with your lovely 🌳 🌲 trees. I love to watch your videos, thanks.🙋🏻‍♂️

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thank you! You too!

[@Hollylivengood]

Love the occasional kick. That's how all of mine have improved. My new challenge is better education about the trees I have, and soil.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Have you selected a course yet?

[@jeffhurst4744]

We all need to grow and learn this living art form. You are right on about growing your skill, moving forward, and learning from others, such as yourself. Thank you for this video and your other ones. I’m learning something new and better each day in my journey.

[@GrowingBonsai]

:) Keep pushing!

[@ronbrandhorst74]

I must admit I have been collecting some bonsai and was very busy with the correct way of watering. Making a plan ?, no not really, just looking at items on KZbin about bonsai, and be amazed about all these wonderfull healthy trees. You are perfectly right, making a plan, investigate, note successes and failures, etc. Thank you for your insights !

[@GrowingBonsai]

Just take one tree, and make a plan and stick to it. Next year you will see a difference and it becomes easier to make plans

[@malsrfun2956]

Just two years in, but decided to focus on trees I enjoy and have started giving up the others to beginner friends. About to retire and really interested in learning propagation techniques, expanding what I tried last year. Getting more active in my club activities. Probably most important as a beginner is learning enough to separate what I enjoy from what everyone else enjoys - not a fan of conifers or big trees. Great video. 😊

[@GrowingBonsai]

True point! You do not need to like all the same things!

[@briangarner4801]

Great advice. Setting goals is something I've been doing and I see improvements in my trees.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Amazing how it really affects the way you work trees isn't it?

[@suer666]

You are so right about growing bonsai but also developing them. I have had bonsai trees forover 30 years but it has only been the last 8 or so years that i have been developing them. There is so much to learn 😊

[@GrowingBonsai]

Much to learn and grow indeed!

[@gilmarriner3011]

Jelle, top video subject! In my workshops, I have a new basic theme every year. Most of the time, as I have noticed, people are not interested and just want a finished tree that gets nowhere in the coming years. Some we just miss the correct time to prune or whatever due to our own time constraints and busy schedules. But some people are just immune from learning any further and just plain stubborn.

[@GrowingBonsai]

hahaha, yes they are

[@coltranem]

I have a few thread graft projects for next spring. I also want to try some mame trees again. Hopefully teach a few beginners classes.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Cool!

[@pauletheridge7594]

Great advice and very motivating I am a beginner at Bonsai and in 12 months learning so much best thing I did was read a lot of books and I joined a Bonsai club so much information to take in but keep trying to get better at the art 🫶

[@GrowingBonsai]

:) Great to hear you are getting ahead!

[@nicoc357]

I don’t do new years goals. I try to get better every day. No Need to wait for a Special day to do that. My goal in bonsai is the way, to learn from my mistakes and be in contact with japanese culture in my garden. Coming into my second year of bonsai there is a lot to learn from my mistakes. Until now one of my airlayers died bc I took it off too early, one maple has wiring scars, tow pines died bc I planted them directly in bonsai pots with regular soil. I hope I wont kill anymore trees and won‘t buy more maples until the one I have are a little more developed… bonsai is highly additiv! Finding good spots for bonsais in my garden and finding a bonsai club is still challenge. Thank you for your vids and your time.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Great to hear you push yourself!

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Great idea Jelle! I am working on care through winter. Basics first. I think I do ok with root pruning, but need to improve branch pruning. It's like doing a Bonsai resolution for the new year!

[@GrowingBonsai]

yes it is. So.. Have you finalized the resultions?

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

@@GrowingBonsai Not yet. I'm afraid it will be like a promise from a politician. Not result in anything.... Learning and improving are always on the list though. Practice practice practice!

[@turkishdelight7083]

One of the most useful videos I've seen in ages, thank you.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Glad it was helpful!

[@stuartbaines2843]

Mind reading 😂👍 My List’ contains most of your suggestions. My Primary goals next year will be soil and nutrition. Separating my 4th Air layer and Perhaps a Pine branch graft attempt? Happy Xmas and 🎄 New year 🖖

[@GrowingBonsai]

Yeah, reading my viewers's mind would be a great ambition for me!

[@DavidAllan-zd8wm]

Excellent topic Jelle. Something which no one else in the bonsai KZbin world has explored (I think). As a fairly new amateur I'm always striving to improve my trees, most of which are either garden centre material or young saplings. Development is paramount and thus I look forward to your future videos.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Cool. Nice to be the first!

[@lukasmihara]

There's a lot I want to do, so I hope I'll find the time for it. Repotting, propagating, growing, keeping things happy and healthy, etc. I'd also like to learn more about each species (I also got some new ones, like Kaki (Persimmon) now), and I think I should take more notes. Watching more of your videos is probably also a good idea!

[@GrowingBonsai]

Well.. If you want to watch all of them, better settle in!

[@CarlBridge58]

Very inspiring and reflective video. It helps a lot really to snap out of the just coasting along doing maintenance on my trees without actual development into better bonsais. Thank you Jelle! - Saluti dalla Toscana... Carlos

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hm.. Toscana must be pretty!

[@gayles6321]

I enjoy all your KZbins. ...gotta say, this was my favorite! It was like you were talking directly to me. Thank you.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Wow, thank you!

[@Baru_089]

I have mostly enjoyed propagation and holticulture and have always been very cautious in drastic stylings. This year I bought a first ‚high quality‘ pre-bonsai and loved the styling process. I therefore want to work more on trees of this stage next year and get more confident with these kinds of stylings.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Wonderful!

[@bejkee]

That is a very inspirational video. Thanks Jelle, I will set a few goals. But watering and repoting will have to take first spot.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Good luck!

[@jang.1185]

I'm going to make successful airlayering on field maple, I'm going to get some young trees and prepare them for forest planting. Also a big step - I must dig out my scots pines, because else they will become only ordinary tree in the ground. I guess these will make it, because they made it thgought when I brought them from the forest in spring two years ago. I need to learn how to make them back buding, make them in an interesting shape. Actually during winter I should cut several brunches which will be no needed. I'm trying to get more and more information about scots pines, also I got interesting info about field maples which is: the more you cut, the stronger is the reaction of the tree. This is another thing I will try to confirm - but first I need that successful airlayers. Last year I probably had too wet substrate for rooting. Well, there is a lot of things :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

Plenty to do! WOuld be curious to hear how your pines do!

[@acer_p_bonsai]

Gotta give the nod to Bill Valavanis for the “Bjorn group planting” - a good friend of mine and local Virginia , USA bonsai enthusiast, Ironwood Bonsai has one of them, and showed it at the recent Wintwr Silhouette Show in North Carolina. Bill did a whole series of group planting classes back in 2006. I wonder how many sister-maple-Kabudachi are still alive from these early 2000s classes?! 😮

[@GrowingBonsai]

Thanks for the info!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Great discussion. In 2025 I’m focusing on pine development and working through Japanese pine cultivation books (specific species and species related techniques). Alongside regular maintenance of my trees. Have a plan for each of your trees, even if that plan is do nothing.

[@GrowingBonsai]

True! DOing nothing is also a choice!

[@sueb1317]

Great ideas for Bonsai New Year's Resolutions! I am going to stay on top of bugs next year. I am also going to learn about nutritional needs of different species.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Have you seen my 2 videos on fertilizers?

[@rebeccahunter725]

Thank you! A very thought provoking video. I don't have any such specific goals - although I can relate to the need for attention to detail!! I would love to see updates on that maple, though. I am growing a similar group, and a bit of a heads up every now and again for where I need to work on mine could be good! Mine is in the ground, with a goal of moving into a development pot either next spring, or the one after; depending on how the newest trunk grows this year. (By the by, a successful airlayer!!)

[@GrowingBonsai]

I think it was really aimed at making people think. Not just do :)

[@robstanley559]

Thanks for the video Jelle, very good advice. My goals for next year are to take a 121 class, which I have already booked, and to focus on the fertilising needs for my different tress.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Yeah, private tutoring can make a big difference!

[@zen-da-bonsai-ko]

I still have to learn and improve a lot of my skills ... but one think I really want to try for the first time next year ... is grafting.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Grafting is a useful skill to have

[@robertobreglia9224]

Very interesting video! Thank you very much for your important advices and reflections. 👍👍👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

You're welcome!

[@k.s.l3w158]

I'm so glad you did a video like this! I also have a question - I propagated a young weeping willow cutting in August 2024. It's small but vigorous and has refused to go dormant. However, I have other cuttings from the same tree that did go dormant. Why would a tree "stay awake"?

[@GrowingBonsai]

Is it warmer? I dunno. I usually do not second-guess my trees.

[@JungleScene]

Ive been growing bonsai for 4 years now. The trees I first started developing are coming along now... one of my juniper procumbens is starting to become a credible bonsai. This year I decided I want to finish it's development in 4 years and be starting refinement by spring 2030. I've learned a lot in 4 years and I'm getting more confident with my skills, so I'm very excited for the next few years of my hobby! I feel like I'm poised to make the next few years very productive.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Every year you add on top of what you know. And if you keep doing that, at one point you look back and wonder.. Why did I think that was complex!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video Jelle mate i hope to get in a show some day 👊👊 we can dream A 😂😂

[@GrowingBonsai]

Same here! Been in a few small regional shows but I really want to get into a bigger show!

[@theinfidel2143]

I plan on repotting and trimming roots of my juniper and probably getting a couple other trees to get more varied experience.

[@GrowingBonsai]

:)

[@derekgillan7314]

Once you realise that green side up works. It get's interesting. Excellent videos. Thanks.

[@GrowingBonsai]

lol. That is where it starts. Although, elms are forgiving if you have them topsidedown

[@MAMLeers]

If you want or need to put mesh on the soil/pot, you might consider to use insect screen? It's far more pliable and very, very much cheaper... I even often use it as pothole mesh, especially for smaller bonsaï, for years now. And so, I can tell you from my own experience that it works fine! I also use simple and cheap coated garden wire for anchoring my bonsaï. There is, in fact, no need to use our expensive alu wire for this job. Just a few tips that might be helpful to some of us. Keep up the good work, Jelle!😉

[@GrowingBonsai]

I use builders mesh for pots.

[@gil123bonsai]

Are You’re Bonsais not worth using the proper materials? I’ve bought a roll of plastic mesh years ago for 10 bucks and cut to size. Still on the same roll. Garden fence wire for repotting? Buy some 2.0 or 2.5 aluminum wire for less than 15 bucks a roll. It’s easier to work with and won’t harm the roots.

[@MAMLeers]

@@GrowingBonsai Good idea, thank you!

[@MAMLeers]

@@gil123bonsai Using also a roll of plastic mesh like that... Rather thin, coated garden (/plants) wire does the anchoring job excellent for years now. It does not harm the roots and is easy to work with. I have a lot of bonsaï and pre-bonsaï and so on. Alu wire is expensive over here and I don't see the need of using it for anchoring the trees. So, for me it's "proper material" for that job.

[@dermo1981]

Thanks Jelle 👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

gladly!

[@jang.1185]

Also very important - I must learn how to protect my trees against pests. For example, now I'm quite scared of borers (however, these are difficult to fight). Also fungus infections are my enemy. I will check your video about this issue again.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Hm.. Yes, I suppose that is true! I have accepted there will be pests in my trees though. I do basic precaustions but by large I let things be..

[@jang.1185]

Thank you Jelle, I understand. As I have been searching for more information, there was a thing that if you spray, you will kill everything. The pests and also the good bugs. So there should be a reason to spray - like a heavy infestation every year. So now I'm only going to spray my trees against fungal diseases in spring. Then I will see.

[@zapplbuddl]

Will definitiv Airlayers ausprobieren 2025! Bin schon ganz gespannt! Liebe Grüße und danke für den tollen informativen und motivierenden Inhalt!!!

[@GrowingBonsai]

You're very welcome. Good luck with layering!

[@LoveBonsai902]

Hmmm, I have many goals but think maybe I need to squeeze them into bite size achievable pieces with a timeline for the year. Thankyou for making me sort out the ideas in my head, instead of trying to do it all at once & not concentrating enough to learn or achieve anything!! 🧐 🤔

[@GrowingBonsai]

:D

[@oachkatzlsmum]

You‘re right- guess some bad experiences made me treating some of my trees kind of conservative… I‘ll work on that. 😘 Cheers

[@GrowingBonsai]

Slow but alive is better than fast and dead..

[@Bonsaicare86]

Hy also ich finde das Video sehr gut! Ich verstehe genau was du meinst ich mache seit 17 Jahren Bonsai und merke immer wieder das ich stehen bleibe😢 Dann besuche ich Workshops und bekomme wieder frische Inspirationen zum Lernen

[@GrowingBonsai]

Exactly! Take workshops, visit classes, get challenged!

[@BonsaiBlacksmith]

Im making bonsai out of unorthodox species as my self improvement goal this year. I twisted up a creeping fig, a spanish clover, and two arrowleaf sida, individually.

[@GrowingBonsai]

have fun!

[@snager80]

I am going to work on pest management. The rodents got to my plants pretty bad this year. I also have some air layers I want to do.

[@christymartin6281]

I built a cage from hardware cloth and firing strips with a hinged door for my bench, to combat the rats that chewed up my trees.

[@snager80]

@christymartin6281 I may have to do that. I was thinking of getting an old dog crate and lining it with the hardware cloth so I have an easy way to transport the trees and a good door. I could also maybe get a bike chain and chain the whole contraption to the house but so far, no human bonsai pests have been reported

[@GrowingBonsai]

Annoying when that happens. Knock on wood.. I infrequently get rodents visiting. But then again.. Dogs and cats on and around my property probably help

[@snager80]

@@GrowingBonsai I try to keep an eye out for Coyote and Bobcat scat. it's the best pest repellent. XD

[@zapplbuddl]

Bonsai: a serious hobby :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

You got that right! ;) No laughing either!

[@bijanbekhrad-zx6tb]

Hi, Is the best time to prune deciduous trees now or late winter?

[@GrowingBonsai]

I start pruning at leaf drop. In late winter some trees start pushing sap already leading to dripping of water from cuts. I am not too concerned about this, but some people really dislike late winter pruning because of this.

[@bijanbekhrad-zx6tb]

thank you🙏

[@DennisBonsai]

take propper care again of the trees i still have and continue improving them after couple years of neglect. get some new projects to work on. start some ground growing projects and take lots of cuttings to start more the year after. build new benches in the garden as the current ones are starting to break down.

[@GrowingBonsai]

Sounds like a plan!

[@marcovalsesia2020]

I wll go to have more patience with my trees

[@GrowingBonsai]

:) Push Them!

[@ludwigcodjambassis8866]

First time I hear you in spanish...is funny, I don't know the accuracy of the translation but it's fun... I'll try to see the same one in english

[@GrowingBonsai]

I am not sure I will leave the translations in place to be honest. I hear from multiple people it is not that great!

[@ludwigcodjambassis8866]

@GrowingBonsai I don't think is bad, I think it was pretty good...would be good if you and herons could be in spanish. "Escuela d bonsai on line" is trying to go in english,...with a lot more trouble. Cheers and good luck

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@GrowingBonsai]

:D

[@AlexBraunton]

Jelle, for you I will prune more 😂

[@GrowingBonsai]

Bring some wire along too mate ;)

[@JaniLaaksonen91]

Did the friend start the critique by "can I get dutch with you?..."

[@wouterblokdijk1864]

😂

[@GrowingBonsai]

Nah. He just said it.

[@Oscars_fur_racing]

My first goal is to have not so many trees dying over winter as last year... 😢

[@GrowingBonsai]

You should have a 0 mortality ambition! It is posible I hear :)

[@Oscars_fur_racing]

@GrowingBonsai Thank you for the answer. The last winter was too wet. Several coniferous trees died because of the unusial amount of moisture. Even two native maple trees died because of that (fungus infection probably). And that despite of the native maples growing like weed here... 😉🤷🏽 Best wishes and have a good start into the new year! 🌳🪴🍀🍀👍🏻👍🏻

[@rollmop99]

One thing you (I think) missed- is grafting. That's one to learn. EDIT yes you did

[@GrowingBonsai]

Did you go back in to find out whether I mentioned it? So cool!

[@rollmop99]

@@GrowingBonsai yes. what a hero 🙂

[@atomartin]

One of the most impossible thing is a bonsai that stays the same.

[@GrowingBonsai]

hahaha, a plastic one!

[@atomartin]

If you need a challenge - try to make a bonsai out of fig tree

[@GrowingBonsai]

I have several ficus bonsai in the making. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWe8dnSBf9iZlZY

[@atomartin]

@GrowingBonsai my fault. The word "edible" was occasionaly deleted during editing. Ficus carica.

[@zimartiste1]

On est toujours débutant....c'est étrange cette traduction automatique...

[@GrowingBonsai]

Does not work for you?

[@zimartiste1]

@@GrowingBonsai Not at all, it's just strange to listen another voice...

[@GrowingBonsai]

@@zimartiste1 yeah, I have now stopped it..

[@zimartiste1]

@@GrowingBonsai I prefer your real voice...Happy new year...and thanks for your video...

[@ElPods]

Lamento decirlo, pero ese doblaje automático en español es el peor doblaje que he escuchado... es como si el personaje de doblaje simplemente leyera los subtítulos sin emociones como el inglés... y es un poco irritante y no crea interés... tuve que hacerlo. cambie nuevamente a la voz en inglés para ver el video... creo que la voz del traductor de Google es mejor que esta copia automática...

[@GrowingBonsai]

I know. I never understood voice-overs. I always prefer original audio, with subtitles. That way you get the original energy, fitting to the person speaking..

[@BenshobbyStuff]

great video mate ... but why do you refuse to help me mate its not like im a con man. i genuinely need advice :/

[@GrowingBonsai]

ehm..

[@BenshobbyStuff]

@@GrowingBonsai sorry i was having a bad day. ignore this mate lol :)