Repotting Bonsai Trees

[@digitaIgorilla]

A very happy Coffee (or tea) Morning to you Breakfast Clubbers 😁

[@kevinjohnson4238]

That maple (second tree) is a life goal. Beautiful...just beautiful.

[@naturgeist]

I second that!

[@marcconles6811]

33:40 "What you like is not what other people may like" This must be the number 1 law of the universe. Long life to you Peter.

[@jamaxk1373]

I cannot wait to have a tree as magnificent as that maple! My maple is tiny currently, but will grow!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Good morning and hello Sunday Morning Bonsai Breakfast Club ❤️☕️🌲 I hope that your trees are thriving as we enjoy the warmer and brighter spring weather. My beautiful monster Heron’s Crab Apple tree has now flushed out with leaves and there is a profusion of rosy pink flower buds just beginning to open. Exciting times 🙏

[@nancyfahey7518]

Yes, I feel the joy.

[@Stettafire]

I have a crab apple tree that didn't do well over the winter. Got it from a nursery up North. I was about to write it off as dead when it produced a single bud. Now it has two buds. I still wasn't impressed with how the nursery sent me a plant with no branches and no sign of life but I have some small faith now that it's actually live.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

@@Stettafire fingers crossed the stored energy in the tree is enough to generate enough leaves to allow it to survive and thrive. Avoid it getting burned by strong sunlight (and damaging any leaves it puts out) but keep it in a well lit area to recuperate. Good luck 🤞 It is always a good idea to put any suspected dead trees aside in a shaded spot until perhaps the end of May - sometimes an otherwise “dead” tree may recover.

[@yz250jim]

Sitting at work for 12 hours. This makes the day a little better.

[@Plinko99]

Never thought I'd get addicted to watching a man making long form diy bonsai trees, but here I am 🫤

[@sureshsamuel7936]

Tat red maple is simply WOW

[@134lukey]

Stressing trees for flowers: I live in a warm climate, and to encourage another burst of flowers or at a different time of year, I stress my Bougainvillea bonsais. The first time I did this was accidental (neglect), and was amazed by the response. I stop watering and wait for the leaves to wilt and some to fall off. Then I sit the plant in a bucket of rainwater and seaweed solution, put it in a shade house (summer) or greenhouse (winter) and feed it with an orchid bloom fertiliser. The response is fabulous

[@usman4256r]

Repoting is always fun to watch.

[@andersnrregren9087]

Right for the morning caffee

[@MidniteSan]

Those are some fine trees, I like the Kiyohime the most..thx for sharing and the tips Peter. Cheers

[@briankavanagh7191]

Midnite, last year my Kiyohime (similar shape but bigger than this one) lost one major branch taking 3/4 of the finer branches and top with it. I have taken the dead branch back to the trunk and the branches left have leafed out this spring. I will have to think of a reshape but it will never get back to its former glory :(

[@paullill5604]

Peter Chan Sunday breakfast club is the reason we have day light saving 👍

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Lol

[@ryantranter8206]

@@TheBonsaiGarden 9

[@timdady4660]

White pine and its new pot truly stunning. soil information is paramount to me as being relativity new to Bonsai. Thanks Peter and Team .

[@chesterg.791]

I love the outrage for the mastic around the pot 😂

[@nordicson2835]

Rainey day here , my friend wanted to repot her Bonsai and some enormous Aloe plants , this post came in very handy.

[@kaveendrasampath6814]

Excellent Mr Peter

[@glennplatvoet7111]

The people who are working for or with you show there's a lot of trust and knowledge . looks like a great place to spend worth while time good yard

[@rsa420]

Love seeing videos like this. The pine and new pot combo worked really well indeed. Lots of tips and info in this video. Thank you Peter and team

[@bigbrobunny]

That mastic though!

[@Stettafire]

IKR?!

[@angie3504]

Thanks for that polishing block trick Steve. You’re a true inspiration.

[@privato9238]

Thank You Peter! For these Videos For all these big and little Bonsai tips And for all these little life lessons as well. Watching you videos every day as i day my stretching routine. I got a small ficus bonsai and i'm really thankful that i can learn from you. My dream is to come to England and to Herons one day. And i will do my best to fulfill this dream. So you soon Peter!

[@kastironwoman6009]

I thought all bonsai pots were shallow flat affairs - confused as to why the Wisteria was in a "normal" shaped flower pot. (That is a question in the form of a statement.) I know nothing about bonsai except that they are beautiful and I I thought they were always super expensive- never thought of doing it myself!!! . I have been enjoying watching your videos ever since I posted my mugo pines for free if someone would dig them up, and a fellow said he wanted to turn my huge, 12'X7'x5' tall mugo pine into a bonsai!!! How could he do that? Now I want to do that. So I started investigating on youtube. At first I thought your videos were too long, but you are so super informative, giving tons of information as you work, that it is like attending a class. Your delivery is very informative and pleasant - like your talking to your grandchildren or to a group of friends, and you have a wonderful cameraman. Thank you for the quality videos. From Utah USA.

[@jonawolf8023]

I'll try to answer both questions. There are very different styles of bonsai, similar to paintings. For the strictly Japanese styles, the rule regarding the pot is: no deeper than the trunk is thick and no wider than the tree is high. The rule only works under optimal climatic conditions, which is why a deeper pot is traditionally often used in China and Southeast Asia. In Europe and other western countries there are two opinions and various attempts to find compromises, some follow the Japanese rules almost slavishly, others see the optimal and simple care of the trees, taking the climate into account, as more important than the given style rules . The same applies to the trees and not just the pots, you can follow the rules but in the end you have to decide for yourself what you like and works best. Regarding your question about how to turn a large mugo into a bonsai, he will probably try to promote new buds closer to the inside of the tree by pruning and at the same time work a lot with dead wood. And here again, there is no set size for a bonsai. So it could be that it retains the entire height and only the shape is slightly improved. But it can also be that the tree is cut back to 50cm and has a very dramatic design with a lot of dead wood.

[@gregoryh4601]

This Customer has some awesome Trees. I love the Pine Tree Pot it Goes Great with that Tree.

[@lesliehiles3122]

Great thanks 😊 for the time given 😀 👍 so feeling refreshed as the beautiful 😍 😊 bonsai trees so cared for by their own ears are you 😀 😊 😄 😉 ☺ 🙂 smiling 😃 😊 😚

[@MostlyIC]

Peter, wow, I never really thought about it, but it makes sense now, if you're always trimming the branches of the tree then you'll also have to trim the roots. Peter.

[@apeman_c-137]

Such "half dead" trees are symbolic for the yin-yang life rule - that life and death are undevidable connected with each other and both embody the beauty of the circle of universe. Such kind of bonsai belongs to the most beautiful and characteristic ones, for my opinion! Could watch you for hours!!! 🌳 🤲

[@ImNotAProfessional]

Very interesting about the flowering trees i will keep note 👍🏻👍🏻

[@saro8639]

Excellent Video and you give all the secrets, hints and edifying. Thank you so much.

[@barbarafazio549]

Thank you again sir…

[@3apa3a4eva]

Thank you for another long and wonderful video! (Booked my tickets, counting days)

[@peterchan3100]

Can you please email me as I wish to update you.

[@3apa3a4eva]

@@peterchan3100 Done!

[@Alexander361cmongimmieahandle]

"If the speed limit is 40mph, you don't have to drive at 40mph" Hahaha, try not driving the speed limit in Australia and see how pissed people will get! (Love your videos by the way, really great content, both educational and entertaining. Very relaxing to watch you work)

[@chaiwatpotichanid]

Wow very enjoy and very happy to trees Amazing bonsai very so cute very beautiful tree bonsai ideas for treehouse like tree gardens tree very work to people that like tree ok thank you for good advice for tree bonsai 🥰🙏🥰

[@barbaralara-watson6935]

Thank you for your experience. Your videos give me confidence to maintain my trees here in Australia. 😊

[@jasonmacdonald78]

Those Bonsai Trees Are Absolutely Beautiful!!!!!

[@rohitawasthy2172]

Thank you for all that information that you pass away randomly. I didn't repot a single plant this year, because of the repotting series you running. I'm sure they are not root bound. Sir, I rather potted few nursery plants that come in clay soil. It's better to air layer, nursery soil is too bad. I want to thank you for making my life easier with more excitement 🙏🙏🙏

[@lifestylesew]

Hi, Just a good tip for you. If you put a good squirt or three tablespoons of white vinegar in water, leave for a few hours or overnight. The pots will look like new and all the white marks will totally dissolve. This can be done for any lime scale.

[@jballenger9240]

Exceptional and Beautiful!!! It is like buying koi from Japan!!!!

[@jessedemarcus5993]

I wanted to thank you (Mr. Heron). I have been following your channel for a long time my wife and I have our own beautiful Bonsai nursery “Gig Harbor BonsaI” I really enjoy watching your videos they are very informative I worked for a bonsai nursery when I was in high school called Elandan Gardens which was part of my bonsai journey, received an A+ when I graduated from high school I finished my high school years blessing the whole school with an demonstration into the art of Bonsai thanks for your demo’s and your video

[@Philip_Taylor]

I've been browsing the Heron Bonsai website for 20 years. Great channel too.

[@bonsaigusto1547]

Another excellent video Peter! keep up the great work 👏🏼cheers from California

[@oliverwilkinson4367]

Very well explained I really enjoy your videos 😊

[@robbybobby64]

Welcome to my world Peter. You never run into caulk and I run into it almost everyday doing tile work. Best tool to remove is a wallpaper scraper. I have 3 bonsai the oldest is 35+ years old.

[@legendarybeefcurtain]

Love that green Chinese pot !

[@shirleyandrews1152]

U can find the pumice in bathroom cleaning area of a store. It’s the same thing I use to take the scale ring off the toilet. Another way is to soak pot in white vinegar for 3 days, I do that to even to my terra cotta pots, saves on elbow grease ❤

[@danielgreenwood8000]

Not normally a fan of the Chinese style bonsai pots but that yellow one is beautiful

[@jimbersmcimbers]

Love that jacket, Peter!

[@-skalli-]

Thanks for sharing🤗 I feel I have the same problem as the owner... some of my tightly potted trees tend to not absorb the water pretty well and it spills over the rim. If you have them indoors it will spill everywhere and you have made a mess😅 so I get the sealant thing😁

[@wendywilliams9893]

Thankyou as always . Just love your informative videos. Makes my day

[@pisti7252]

I have 2 final exams tomorrow but I choose to watch bonsai tree repanting instead. Really relaxing even if I'll probably will not really keep them :D

[@robbybobby6483]

I run into this type of thing all the time. Being a tileman i see alot of homeowners caulk jobs. Some beads are so big I think they caulked the tub with their heel! If that was old silicone you never could have cut it. Good thing it was garbage. Old silicone can pull the glazing off a cast iron tub!

[@Stettafire]

I'm sure you see some interesting tiling too. I've seen some shockers. My bathroom has plastic tiles that aren't even on straight. Then they put these giant dolphin tiles above them with a "tasteful" beaded wood trim 🤢

[@robbybobby6483]

@@Stettafire horrible. I did a bathroom with a big 3d sperm whale blowing mist in the air on the back wall behind the clawfoot tub. Insane!

[@dianadominguez2758]

Good afternoon 🌞 very pleasant and informative video. Thank you

[@almac2598]

I was given a tip a couple of years ago that a spray used for cleaning and putting a shine on leaves works a treat for cleaning up pots. I've given it a go, and it seems to work fine, on both glazed and unglazed pots. I don't use it on the plants tho'. I've also found that a spray barbeque cleaner takes resin and other sticky stuff off of tools, rinse with water and then oil. Thanks for the videos.

[@brittat3533]

😮❤ that was an amazing video lots to learn

[@Stettafire]

13:10 I hear some people say (and I disagree) that all pots must have a lip to prevent water running off. I find this an odd attitude since any water that isn't absorbed into the soil and is just sitting on top is not benefitting the plant, so it should be allowed to run off in my view. I think this nasty putty stuff may be a DIY lip

[@1BergerVongSchlauigkeitHer]

I'm guessing that the idea is to force the water through the soil so it has time to absorb it evenly rather than only having some of the water get into the soil and the rest running off to the sides. Probably not necessary, but with well-draining soil it at least shouldn't do any harm.

[@Stettafire]

@@1BergerVongSchlauigkeitHer I'd worry that it is just a bandaid for people who water too much. If the soil isn't accepting the water then letting the water sit will just get rid of the air in the soil and make it harder for the roots to breathe. I feel like a lot of folk overwater. I see the idea and where it's coming from, but I don't feel it's a good practice

[@1BergerVongSchlauigkeitHer]

@@Stettafire On the other hand it would also help with not watering enough so the dry soil on top has time to loosen up and let water through, but I'm totally with you, it's a band-aid for a problem that should be addressed surgically.

[@eloisebates7827]

Both of the trees with the do-it-yourself raised rims had circling roots, one with masses of fine roots almost like a belt, and the other with a thick circling root. I wonder if it was because water just ran down the top of the plants, and collected at the rim before seeping down around the edges, meaning the edges were getting the most water.

[@CelebrityLyrics]

What species of maple is the red maple? Also how do you get that nice moss carpet grown at 42:15?

[@equisader]

That wisteria!❤️

[@equisader]

Oh wow! That maple though! ❤️❤️ (and mastic 🤣🤣)

[@santrade10]

Thanks for the upload. Enjoyed watching it. I see Steve is rocking the gmt master 2 while doing a repot.

[@jonah5952]

this might be the most esoteric guy of all time

[@graffic13]

Would love to see u visit these trees

[@BonsaiDicas]

Excelent video again, but I still a question that was not clear for me. It is advise to repot our Bonsai when the Tree still got Flowers?

[@bgertsma]

I loved hearing about the wisteria. They have been a favorite of mine for many years. Before I found your channel, almost all of my bonsai knowledge comes from books. They were not easy to find 15+ years ago and I can only find them online now. One of my books even includes pics of your trees! I have read some crazy things about getting them to bloom, including attacking a full size wisteria's roots with a spade and training it to grow the way you want by beating it with a cane. I am trying to grow them again after all these years and any info is greatly appreciated :)

[@lilyofthevalley54]

Just found this channel. I am enjoying it ❤

[@walterwjr947]

Thank you, Dr. Chan... A tremendous amount of information...

[@solecar100]

For the plants like the maple (at about 14th minute), if they have problem with water penetrating in the soil, I use the syringe with needle. I stick the needle into the soil and then press the syringe. Every time the different spots. Also, I experiment with the soil mix, as the conditions on my balcony are specific, and tend to be different from the usual in my country (region), Balkan peninsula. Also, I noticed that some plants, no matter what I do with them, won't survive, so now I'm mostly doing the ones that I know for sure will survive. Experimenting is done with much less plants, that is, with those for whom I have not yet 100% rejected, haven't done before, and are the one who interest me and for whom I know that I can provide the appropriate conditions.

[@bonshaicollection3692]

wow no words for the bonsai Just awesome

[@shieldwolffalcontrainer9040]

Living in a region that has alot of limestone(in the water) we get that ring of limescale around the edge of the pot. I use a little vinegar and a toothbrush to clean my pot edge.

[@fredspaepen1059]

Yes, I do the same

[@mahakhalil1]

Thank you so much for all this information! Highly appreciated!

[@jonnymetzger2578]

Nice watch Steve

[@beverlyannrogers3388]

Good morning from USA. How do you know what soil mixture is best for trees? I know plants have information about plant but no information on best soil. ( I have moved to a Apt, and none of my plants made it) I would like to try my hand at bonsai trees Inside, no patio here.

[@geoffreydowen5793]

wonderful Peter I wondered how old it is because of the leaves are so tiny I have oaks sycamore and a 5year old yew that actually had fruit in it in 2021 I'm watching this in 2022 . after a stroke knocked me About a bit lo love your patience and wisdom. godbless you and your team. thank you

[@stephenlay9580]

Great vlog again, I'm learning from every video you make keep them coming please 😊😊😊

[@maruitarro9629]

thanks for uploading your videos

[@ChrisPuch]

Peter the master 👍👍👍

[@DM-wb4jv]

Great video. The white stain is actually salts from the chemical fertilizer they are "salt based ". Which if not flushed out once in a while can, be very bad for any plant.

[@BuzzkillZone]

Ok, this brings to mind a question I've had. When repotting. When to upsize and when staying the same is fine. Some people argue to always upsize. But after cutting off many roots you were able to stick back in the old pot just fine.

[@Iosis6]

From what I've seen you up pot when the tree is in development or the tree has developed and your moving it to a permanent option. You keep it in the same pot when you are refining the tree. A bonsai pot is really only meant to be used when the tree has already been developed but many people are very eager for that instant bonsai.

[@carys3813]

Do you have any videos on making and caring for azalea bonsais?

[@sariders1439]

Sir i like bonsi very much but i Don't know how to increase its growth power and the proper soil please upload a video of the soil combination of yours plants and to increase growth if you help me for this i am real glad to you 🌹.

[@juniperus.itoigawa]

I guess you are refering to my question under the last repotting Video. Thanks for clarification peter. Maybe guided repotting could help build some confidence for upcoming repotting seasons. Takes a lot of time tho.

[@dirkdeluxe]

Great, learned a lot from your work. it would help even more if you could set your expectations for the development of the tree at the end of the film.

[@Blaydrnnnr]

The amount of taper on the red maple, both trunks, tells me this tree has some age because you can see that it has had many trunk cuttings over the years, then been grown out. Looks as though, each trunk cut, enabled the new leader to grow in a slightly different angle, creating movement. VERY nicely done. Decades in the making I think? I have several Tridents that I, deep down, know should be trunk cut, but at my age, I am certain, I would not be here to see them grow out and advance. So I feel kind of guilty that I have not done any "hard" pruning this year, and really dont have any trees needing repotting as I "overpotted" them last time, to help development.

[@cornepienaar5413]

A bit of Oil works wonders, can use any oil on a rag, olive or baby oil removes limescale and prevents it from building up on the pot

[@Checkmate777]

I’m going to repot mine soon. It’s pretty young but I want to get moss for my juniper. Any solid recommendations for a Juniper where the summers get over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

[@pokemonmagic.]

I've got 2 a question about watering and freshly repotted Tree's or tree's with little root's do you still treat them the same? And it say maple like to be water daily thought the growing season and this is as they like alot of water but when the soil is moist do you still water it or not I no not right always water when soil is slightly dry or is this worng information

[@Stettafire]

I think you need to judge it by the soil. If the soil is wet, I don't think you need to water. If the soil is dry then I think watering is a good idea. Directly after repotting you should always water.

[@pokemonmagic.]

Thank you for that, that's really helpful it it's right it's down to the soil I use too

[@pokemonmagic.]

Tbh I've got this werid thing where I feel like if I let the trees dry alittle bit I'm doing something Worng I no I'm not and no the soil still holds what and they don't need water everyday but I see the soil drying alittle and go water but that's all worng right should make sure the hold soil is alittle dry before not just the top as the top drys alot faster then the rest of the soil my two junipers tree's are now under stress and I don't what to do besides leave them to dry then I can try to save them alot in abit a overthinking moment when it comes to water or not if you get that 😅

[@Ben7x26]

@@pokemonmagic. junipers dont need much water. Be strict with them. Water when they are dry but not dryed out. The problem you have is that junipers show after 3-4 weeks that they are suffering. That means you are doing something wrong for weeks. If you change your routine keep in mind that the condition of your tree might get worse but you are doing the right things. It will need time to get better. Dont water junipers to much they need air on their roots and will start to rott.

[@pokemonmagic.]

Oh thank you so much for that, that everything I needed to hear about watering my Junipers I need to treat them 100% different to the other trees I've got I did think I was doing something really worng with the water as I thought why are water when comfier are 100% different tree's they should have different needs even down to the energy is backwards they store it in their needle's so their that why they don't drop them and not in the root's in winter like I understand now that they do not need much water so thankful for that and your help I very much appreciate it now I just hope they do okay and I can save them

[@hfestion.]

Great video!

[@donstor1]

I do not have experience in Bonsai trees but if it were me, the second tree i would not use the same pot. If the costumer wanted the same pot i would use the same style except another 3/4 inches deeper to give the roots more room. I am sure there is a similar pot but a little deeper. Also, you would have room for some new soil. I am very tempted to try this hobby only i am in my sixty’s and i don’t have the time to invest 20 years to shape a tree.

[@skydragonbeastm1408]

What is the soil mixture is being used for the acer maple bonsai

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Peter I can verify the flowering of trees before they die it has happened to me twice over the years fortunately not to important trees, they have flowered really well better than usual even one had never flowered before and then within a week or so they have started to die and there is no way of saving them unfortunately, just nature doing what nature does.Thank you for your video’s and tip you give us.

[@garethbaus5471]

Fish sometimes do a somewhat analogous thing where stress causes their color to get more intense a day or two before death. I don't know for certain what causes it but suspect it has something to do with stress temporarily increasing blood flow.

[@zhaneversBonsai]

Amazing bonsai 💙❤️🧡

[@carolinwahlman8467]

Thank you for another educational video :) Question: If you have/purchased a tree or material that is not planted in good soil and you feel that it would really need to be changed, even tho the tree hasn't established a foothold yet. Should you wait and hopes it makes do, in that soil or should you repott it?

[@peterchan3100]

You should wait especially if it is outside the repotting season.

[@carolinwahlman8467]

@@peterchan3100 Thank you :)

[@mariakellner5429]

Good job on the repot steve

[@alteredmood]

The sandy/loam soil in the white bag you refer to as "jonneness" 2 or 3 (?). Probably spelled wrong, but I am wondering what that is.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Great video. Thankyou.

[@Chris-oq6kn]

Hey Peter great video I love watching repots. I have a question for all trees I see online that they sell mycorrhizae by itself and also have seen a a soil product called pro mix which includes biofungicides and mycorrhizae in it I'm wondering is it ok to mix mycorrhizae with all trees and will they benefit from it or it only applies to pines ? And also now I kno for next time I just potted my kojo no mai in bonsai soil and should have went with a more black soil or potting mix soil but the flowers are coming out and these trees are great! Thanks Peter! I also bought a kojo no mai because of this channel! Great flowering cherry tree!

[@uppotukki]

What type of tree species is the last one on a video? Thx for the answer.

[@Wilfahrt21]

23:15 anerobic is bacterial process without air however that is indeed the bacterial process that leads to dead roots and putrid soil 👍

[@tangleslong499]

Any follow up on those videos? What freaks me out is to cut off those excessive roots. Wouldn't that make the bark turn brown and die back?

[@barbarafazio549]

Why do you not use chop stick when you are adding the soil?

[@R-A-F]

White vinegar will get the lime scale off the pots without much or any scrubbing 👍

[@breitemasse]

hello team! ask myself if you reuse the old soil in any way?

[@peterchan3100]

We put the old soil on our compost heap to rot with leaves etc

[@Bonsaiandknives]

Hello Peter, very nice learning videos. You could improve your videos if the camera man would Film from the right side of you. In this video we see you during the soil reducing almost from back side. Maybe you should install a second white wall in a 90 degree angle. The reporting with new soil is done from a perfect perspective. Greetings from Germany

[@Bonsaiandknives]

Perspective of the second tree (Maple) is very good!