From Bush to Bonsai Cotoneaster, in 4 years

In this video the history of a Cotoneaster bonsai tree which I developed in the front yard, from a cutting is shown. I also finally remove it from its development container and plant it into a more suitable Hattori container from Tokoname, Japan

[@buonleo]

One of the best cotoneasters I've ever seen as a bonsai.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Wow, thank you so much! Thanks very kind.

[@brucejchaffee]

Beautiful bonsai - thanks for sharing

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

So nice of you, thanks for visiting.

[@thomasfallon6656]

Great tree, I really like your pot selection too.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much Thomas! Yeah that is a very nice Hattori made Tokonameware

[@mikeswain1945]

Really stunning, thank you for sharing your video. I have a dozen or so Cotoneasters in my garden and after watching this, I can't wait to go out and take a closer look at them.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

You are so welcome! I am so glad that you feel like that after watching the video. They are best developed from cutting, in the ground as a garden plant and then dug and developed in a container. Sounds like you are going to have some awesome material to work with! Enjoy

[@curtislee6173]

I agree that the original pot looked better, but this is still a fine cotoneaster. Marvelous trunk. I have a number of these plants and thoroughly enjoy when they start to flower. Enjoyed your video.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Curtis. Yes they are the best when they flower! Thanks for the comment.

[@mcbabs7495]

Un grand merci à vous pour le partage de votre expérience!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Merci beaucoup d'avoir regardé ! J'apprécie beaucoup.

[@OfficialWes]

That's one beautiful tree ! Great work!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you Sir. I try :)

[@smokyhillbonsai-gerrettmor6373]

I like the way you used the wire staple, through the bottom instead to the top like most I've seen. I tried it and think it works best!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

And it does not scratch wooden tables when you display the tree! Thanks for the comment.

[@VinnyChirayil]

Nice progression story ! I feel that some branch visibility & gaps on the top canopy might improve the look further. 👍👌

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Vinny Chirayil that's definitely something which will be taken into account. For now I am growing more branches into the canopy from the trunk to increase the ramification from there. Thanks for watching.

[@mikbonsai]

very good video and a good demonstration with a beautiful tree at the end.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you for watching!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks, appreciate the kind comment

[@robro67]

Nice work

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Many thanks!🙏🏻

[@Kevin00193]

Wow awesome tree!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Kevin!

[@chaquatics]

Hi Terry, great video! Any updates on this tree?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi there CH! Thanks for the compliment. Yes, I sold it. However the new owner is a customer so I still maintain it. Hopefully I will feature the tree in a future video. Thanks for asking.

[@chaquatics]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai thank you for the quick reply! I hope you will be able to, it’s a great tree and one of my favorite species.

[@riyahossen3348]

Nice

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you, Riya!

[@stevenvitali7404]

Can you do one outside?, Or does it need to be indoors?

[@terryerasmus]

This tree was grown and is kept outdoors.

[@stevenvitali7404]

@@terryerasmus thanks, I'm thinking of trying to create one, I have cottoneaster horizontalis in my back garden at various sizes, I have an indoor bonsai which is a Japanese plum tree that I got from my daughter 14 months ago as a birthday present and it's doing really well , what size plant would you recommend for creating a bonsai, I have some that are a year old and soon the berries in the ground will germinate, I really love the shape of yours!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Sorry Steven I missed your reply. The size of a bonsai is linked to the trunk thickness. This means if you have a very thin trunk you can only really create a small tree. If you have a fatter trunk you can create a taller tree. This is not a rule. This is also a very general comment, which is kinda in keeping with your broad question :) and the answer is one which is based on aesthetics, which to some degree is personal taste too. You could create a small tree in a relatively quick period of time but taking longer and developing something with nice movement and taper is well worth the effort.

[@jootai]

So when you water the plant.. it all runs over the floor since there are massive holes in the pot?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

jootai would you rather it drown in a pool of water?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

jootai would you rather it drown in a pool of water?

[@grobonsai]

It is important for moisture to be retained by the growing medium, but excess water drains freely away. A healthy root system - and therefore, tree - needs a balance of water and oxygen. If excess water is not allowed to drain away, anaerobic conditions will cause roots to die and rot, weakening and eventually killing the tree. Hope that helps!

[@jeff2424]

Cotoneaster bonsai is an outdoor bonsai, so the water would not run on the floor, it would run on the ground. "With bonsai it always rains twice." The first watering wets the dry soil so it can better accept moisture, followed by a second watering a few minutes later so the roots can absorb needed water.