How To Bonsai - Bending large branches with Raffia

[@tannersimpson2849]

you really told the tale of an old spooky tree. well done, you did the tree a great service.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks Tanner. the tree really needed some good character added

[@bonsaiman101]

that juniper will look awesome, i am only new to bonsai only been doing it for 18months but i have a juniper that is pretty much the same style as this 1 but mine is no where near as thick. i am constantly watching your videos and im learning more each time so thank you and i look forward to seeing an update video of this juniper

[@lisawagner6076]

Excellent video!! Thank you so much!!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you so much!! I’m glad you found it helpful

[@BackSeatHump]

"It looked like a bonsai, not as a tree". Beautiful words. I love it.

[@erictrowbridge]

He he. The dog sees with his nose - it's an artist too; goes by instinct! Great viddy's, Orlando. Thanks!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

It looks visually better but there is no rule. A dead junker branch can even work in place of a live one too

[@MrElliotholman]

This is some great info. Thanks as a beginner it's appreciated to be able to see this stuff being done close up!

[@johnhilsmeyer5916]

FINALLY. A really really GOOD video on bends..(and tons of other good info!)..THANK YOU. Learned a lot from watching. Appreciate it!!

[@davidcanetti2823]

excellent tutorial, loads of interesting info, especially the bit about always leaving some green on the branch when trimming back.

[@snoekhoek]

Excelent demonstration man! I love how the tree turned out.

[@apostle333]

Thankyou! Your instructions were straight forward, and simple to digest (I fear redundancy here, but I don't think the two concepts are the same thing) As I have quite a few years before I start my bonsai journey, I've learned a great deal from you, in this short video. I have no experience, so I cannot say whether you have talent, but I believe that you do, and I would love to see more of it. Thank you

[@TheDarkHorseOne]

Just caught up to you, man, and I'll say you have a subscriber in me. The video above with the length and information and thought process really helps. I feel like I've learned quite a bit by watching all your videos and look forward to more in the future. Plus, a side note. You're human, heheh. Seems like your mind works just a hair faster than your mouth, and your hands are a fidgeting indication of such. Please, that isn't an insult at all. I consider it a compliment. Thanks for all!

[@wdsjrmd1]

very useful information. still enjoying watching all your videos. thought off you today because of Ian. hope no damage at your home and your bonsai are safe

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

William that is very nice of you to say. Thank you very much. Ian was pretty rough but no damage to the home or to my trees

[@bulldogdenham5697]

Every little detail leads to other little details..really enjoyed the work seen raffi just thought it was a national/eco way to pull branches down..Thanks for the input!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Yes bonsai is so many little lessons that you learn that will help youface any situation that a tree presents to you. Thanks very much for watching

[@jeffreyrazal9910]

Great Job! I enjoyed watching your video. Finally I found were to buy raffia here in manila Philippines. I use raffia right after buying in bonsai tree. It works and helps not cracking the branch. Thank you so much and more power.

[@TheDarkHorseOne]

Heheheh, thanks, Paul. I DO get it, because my mind works similarly. I'm just getting back into bonsai after a 10 year absence, so I'm in information gathering mode to get my mind back in the right place. Not that I was anything but a novice back then, but my situation and location changed and I left all my trees back in Seattle. BTW, if you ever get a chance, the Pacific Rim Bonsai collection out there is awesome. Look forward to more from you, and let's see those books! Heheh.

[@quotecat]

An awesome video! I never had any idea that growing a bonsai tree was so much effort, I figured you just let it do its own thing. You rambled a bit in your video, but I know it was because you had so much to say about a variety of bonsai-related topics. Your video also gave me a gift idea for my brother, who is heavily into plants and clippings and maintaining them. I hope this tree is doing well, it looked a little sparse at the end, compared to the start. Thanks a lot! :D

[@22FTA]

awesome I love how you go into detail and its not vague....never finish a video wanting to ask any questions

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you! I really try to help people understand the logic and reasons behind what we do so that you can apply it to your own tree. The more people know how to do bonsai the better all of our trees will be

[@georgewoods3884]

Michael Fulton i

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Hey that is great to hear that you found raffia in your area. Good luck and keep me posted

[@patrickparmer1648]

OrlandoBonsaiTV in order to get raffia I just bought some luau hoola skirts and dismantled them. worked wonders. but took some time. but really cheap

[@Marceeya]

Looks lovely now! And great seeing Cosmo making an apoearance!

[@graycam]

Went from good to great! The original was a nice looking tree, but the transformation is pretty amazing. Can't wait to see it in a year or two, once the new foliage fills in the pads.

[@bennydelph987]

Iv'e been in bonsai for a very short time. Having watched your videosand having learned agreat deal more since. At one stage at a meetingof our club I made a mistake, wanting to enphasize a methode of doing some thing, I told the club members to go to Orlando Blooms Bonsai videos for the ful explanation!!!! To your and my embarressment I realized my mistake only after i had spoken it. Kind regards Henk, just a fan

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Henk Vermeulen Ha ha Well I appreciate you telling everyone about my channel but Orlando Bloom looks very different from me. However thank you for watching and telling others. best regards

[@browpetj]

Modern, plus conservative to the advantage of the grower. Great info. Well would be surprised with early form and even more surprised later on! Jeez! Final form is demonstrative! This guy knows how to interpret trees for years on year progression! The recovery is the greatest part. The guy can seriously think... get a half season, where nobody else can. Believe me , this guy knows. He can achieve 2 or 4 growing seasons on these trees in a single hot summer! There are no actual shortcuts, just light cycles and care!

[@killerkiller2]

I really like the twisted base, looks awesome!

[@thomasarthurholland1372]

thank you for these vids and the way you put over the how to its a very great help cosmo looks ok too . .

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thomas Arthur Holland thanks very much for the comment. I’m glad I was able to help

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I can't wait either. The foliage will really make the tree look amazing. Hopefully a follow up by September

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

They always say you can't teach it until you understand it in simple terms. That's exactly why I present like I do. I learn from this experience too !

[@RandomK86]

Great to see you posting videos again, keep 'em coming.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks! I've learned a lot of very good things from a lot of different people. Great thing about bonsai artists, they always want to share what they know :)

[@engelwyre]

Another great vid, Paul. This will help many understand why/how to use raffia, knowledge that's somewhat difficult to come by in plain English. Junipers are currently on my sh!tlist but if I give them another go, these techniques will be a big help. -Nick

[@alexcv18]

Learning a lot with your videos, waiting for the next one. Greetings from Spain :)

[@oldmatejoeable]

Excellent and informative. I'm a beginner so I really enjoyed watching this.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks Crain, I'm glad the video was helpful. Best of luck on your new Bonsai hobby. Its really a lot of fun

[@vallettefoster5005]

Paul, I am beginning to learn about Bonsai and your videos are the absolute BEST for clear, concise education. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your talent and knowledge with us. I have a couple of young Junipers and a Brazilian Rain Tree to begin playing with. I also hope to propagate from a well established full grown Wisteria. What propagation method do you suggest for the Wisteria?

[@The_table_242]

Cool stuff. I can't wait for the follow-up video.

[@wesleystos]

Congratulations for your videos!! I'm brazilian and beginning at bonsai art, and i can say that i'm learning a lot with your videos!! Hope to watch the next one soon!! Thanks!!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you so much! I think it looks like a brand new (old) tree as well. Really looks like a struggled life. I'm looking forward to the foliage to come in too! Going to really look great.

[@ChrisRalphHoward]

really great job and great tree. I think the length of the video was just right.

[@d.v.crystal5589]

I have to admit to being distracted by how cute that dog is

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I totally agree :) Cosmo really was the star of my videos. Thanks for sending him love

[@d.v.crystal5589]

OrlandoBonsaiTV my dog, Ginny, is a red version of Cosmo. 🐕

[@paganpoetprophet6441]

novice here ; was a good informative video thank you for the knowledge

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

That sounds like a great idea. I have books all over the place, and that would be a fun video

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks I knew there was a better tree in there, but I didn't know until I really got in there and looked at it

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I appreciate that very much. I can't wait until the foliage fills in. It will look awesome

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Best coment ever! You totally get it. I'm pretty much doing a mind dump in these videos and trying to get all the information out to everyone so they can learn from what I know and not do my mistakes. It's hard for me to stay on track because everything I talk about usually leads to something else I want to share. I totally apprciate your comment!

[@jeffhurst4744]

Informative.. nice design/shaping.

[@Tieball]

Can you explain these points a little more for me? I understand leaving the green on the branch to pull the sap through. What I am wondering is do you still clip/cut the very ends to stimulate more bud development and breaking further back on the branch? Much like you would on a deciduous tree. Secondly, and related to the above cut/clip comment, does opening up the branches to new light sort of automatically stimulate new budding? What stimulates the new budding?....without some clipping I'd think the branch would just continue the leggy length. And third, when cutting off the dead fine branches/twigs from the inside (the clean-up you described) do you completely cut off dead twigs or do you leave a small portion on the branch so a bud can develop from that collar area? I am actually working on a Juniper family tree, an Eastern Red Cedar.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks! It sounds like you got a great tree to work with. Have fun and good luck withit

[@discusdiscus1]

Hi orlando, great demonstration thanks. Do you have any recent pictures or video of the tree? Thanks

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

There is a lot of information out there, some good and some bad. I always suggest that you look at the type of trees the artist is working on and the results they get. If you like the style of the artist follow their suggestions. I hope that you find my information and videos helpful as you start into the world of Bonsai

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

You can apply wire now or in the spring but keep in mind the branches really swell during that time so the chances of the wire cutting in increase. You'll have to check often to avoid scars. As far as tree types go you can try I've never used that material before but as long as you learn the growth and flexibility characteristics you will have some success

[@pirate1958]

Thanks for the video.....getting back into bonsai myself.. Would like the see this tree after re potted.

[@micmil1179]

you have a sort of cadence in your speech that reminds me of woody Allen, good vid bananas

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Good questions. So first Bonsai is actually a verb as much as it is a noun. It is a process in which we work on a tree to make it look smaller. It is not a specific kind of tree or species, but some work better than others. You can use any type of material that has a wood trunk, but we also look for material that has smaller leaves so that they will be in scale with a smaller tree. You can use pretty much any type of ficus, juniper, pines, and deciduous trees.

[@lonniehobson7724]

Great looking bonsai …. Congrats on your ability.

[@ryanmitchell1721]

Hey! Awesome videos. Making my way through them all! I have a couple questions. I'll be starting a mountain maple from scratch/sapling, which will be my forever project, but as far as acquiring older, more established trees with thick trunks and nebari, is it possible to find trees at heights of say 4-5-6 ft and cut them back shorter to begin the bonsai process? Thanks!

[@ThrallsBoys]

Im looking forward to seeing the advances, will that video be up soon?

[@mehranashkanian2747]

Enjoyed your video .Thanks 🙏

[@morosso1968]

what an impressive and new attitude with that tree! you amazed me with your craft as always and i cant wait to see the progress with this project. say hi to cosmo! ;)

[@raghavrawat6118]

This is amazing. Thank you for making this video. I recently bought Juniper which have three trunks (from the base). Can I do anything with it, I'm a biggner and don't know much about the shapes and selection of a plant.

[@davidszone2788]

Very helpful, informative and well explained. Thanks. This is going to be a great looking tree. Good stuff!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks very much. It's a slow process but developing trees can be very rewarding

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks a lot fo rthe comment. The tree surprised me a little but with all the options it gave me. BTW Cosmo says hi. He loves his fans :)

[@flassboy]

Great video - have had trouble with branches splitting and cracking the cambium (knew to bonsai) so the raffia is great idea. My question is... can "plastic" raffia be used?

[@aMcdonafy]

Absolutely awesome video!! You are a very good teacher!! Thank you!! I'm going to be a follower here on...!

[@MaggYela]

Lovely! Great piece of art

[@rafaelpascoal8207]

Nice Job! Beautiful Bonsai.

[@ch8gb16]

Your bonsai is wonderful!!!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you very much. I really appreciate that!!

[@SDKsa1]

if i want to start caring for these amazing small trees what should i do first? can you make a video about a beginners guide something like that!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I'm not familiar with the clubs in that area, but that would be a very different growing area than Florida. I strongly suggest finding someone in your area that has had success at growing bonsai there and learn from them

[@maxkinmonth1407]

Great video mate.....how's the tree looking now?

[@djkasra1]

Great Video, How long will the wires have to stay on this tree before the branches adapt to the wire path and stay the way its designed to without the wires? thanks

[@MarginWalker]

OrlandoBonsaiTV I asked you about wire-I'm just starting out and am going to do a desert rose and a crepe myrtle.

[@callmeishmael3031]

Your videos are excellent.

[@ericbrown4761]

This is a little off subject, but about how long would you recommend leaving the wire on a Japanese boxwood whose branches are about the diameter of a number two pencil. A couple are a bit thicker. Thanks, I absolutely love how you explain what and why you do things for simple minded people like me.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks Eric. I'm just as simple. Okay boxwood is a low grower and some hard wood. So during the growing season I would expect leaving the wire for 2 -3 months to hold it. If you remove the wire and it didn't hold rewire and go for another month. Good luck

[@ericbrown4761]

Thanks for the response. I'm glad I asked because I was of the mindset of six months. Certainly would have been a mistake. Thanks very much, I'd like to get down that way sometime soon. I live in southwest Georgia and really love the area for the long growing season. Thanks again and look forward to all your insight.

[@giancarlomezzogori7398]

wonderful video very interesting good, the beautiful bonsai

[@Trisha326]

That is one gorgeous tree

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thanks Chris, I really appreciate you leaving a comment and I'm glad the vieo wasn't too long

[@otto99able16]

Hey Orlando, thanks for answering my last question on my blk pine.....its still has the wire on the bend.....i will take it off next month......i had new growth since then.....but now the new growth seems to have dried up & it looks like its dyeing on me.....i have watered it......fertilized it.....& dont no why its like that.....i have it in a 5gallon pot with good bonsai soil.....i think its always better to plant these trees in the ground 1st....baffled! !!!

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Joseph Petriella Are you giving it full sun or filtered sunlight Sometimes the harsh sun is too much for newly planted trees. Also do not over water. Pines do not like to be wet, just keep the roots moist

[@michaelkelly7096]

Thank you..Very helpful. How long will you keep the raffia on? Do you need to keep the raffia wet? Thanks

[@shamplplopez376]

Great movement mate , I will do some Jin , but looking sharp.

[@jeffreyrazal2766]

I really love watching your video. I’m from Philippines and I’m working with my new bonsai specimen. Do you have any alternative soil that we can use? Akadama rock and barks or other compose mix is hard to find here in manila. Thank you very much

[@yashsultania9391]

Very nicely explained can you guide how to thicken trunk like this ? Tnx

[@Craizg35]

Where did you go? You make awesome vids.

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I love the comments! The rules are there to guide and keep the basic designs but it comes down to art and what looks best so you have freedom too

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I am so happy to hear that you like my videos! Thanks and keep watching!

[@23chitown54]

thank you for all the helpful information once again! I have an amazing pre bonsai silver birch that I'm worried about pruning because of the difficulty I've read about online. I understand they have potential for a lot of die back when pruned. the trunk on this tree is amazing and I see the bonsai in it already but I don't want to do anything until I speak with somebody who has experience with them. do you have any experience with them or any videos of any? thanks again!

[@2112design]

great video. would you do this for ficus (benjamina and retusa in my case)? so far i've just been applying gradual pressure every week or so, thanks

[@TheBillyboy78]

Nice video. What type of fertilizer is in the pot of the tree?

[@thomaskauffman983]

How do you repot trees like this. Sometimes the new tilt is even more dramatic and half the root ball might be in the air. Could you demonstrate that sometime?

[@wagg2o1o]

hi, love your bonsai looks awesome. great work. I have a question. I just brought two small junipers from a garden centre ( approx. 2 foot tall ) and the trunks haven't got much movement at all. They are about an inch thick at the base, what is the best way to style them and get some movement into them?? thanks a lot, appreciate it.

[@SonicRhythms]

Thanks for this instructive video! It's very helpful!

[@ericbrown4761]

Got another question. I recently purchased a Japanese dwarf juniper in a one gallon nursery pot. The only thing I've done thus far is removed the downward growing needles and the growth at the intersections of the main branches and trunk and some along the secondary branches as well. My question is would it be safe to shorten some of the needles that are growing up into the branch above even though they are not yet lignified or woody, or wait until they do so. I experimented with a branch I'm sure will be removed, but for now it will be used to help add some girth to the lower trunk. Thanks, I appreciate your help, oh by the way, is it hot enough for you? It's hitting 100 here today, I know its sweltering in your part of the country. Anyhow thanks.

[@johnhilsmeyer5916]

Still have it? Hows it doing?

[@richardk70]

Well done video. Very much enjoyed it. One question: How long does one need to leave those heavy wires on the bent branches? Thanks!

[@jakesweet1000]

once the trunk id that thick can you bend it at all?

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

It really depends on the tree. On a tree like this one the wire can be removed after about 3 months

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

I appreciate the comment. I'll work to balance it out :)

[@itwasentme17]

wow this tree looks awesome

[@OrlandoBonsaiTV]

Thank you! It needed the change to bring out the best aspects of the tree. I'll do an update in the next year as I have continued to make it look more gnarly

[@itwasentme17]

OrlandoBonsaiTV awesome...im just getting into bonsai. just ordered some raffia to start bending some bigger branches...so happy this video was available

[@chrissis111]

Can you use these same techniques to "shape" a 4 to 5 foot bouganvilla tree/bush in your yard? I think shaping my trees would give them more of an artistic look. I can't find any pictures of dwarf trees done this way. Is that because these techniques don't work on 4 to 5 foot trees?

[@michaeliezza5471]

hi i have watched all your videos and think its a great help, but i have a question or two. is this regular rafia ? also i have seen twine used as well is there a difference or just a matter of preference placed on the tree to prevent wire scares or to give more support so the branch does not break? second question how long is this let on the tree and what does it look like when removed?

[@Kaijiro____93]

Should I use 2x 1-2mm wire together to train my bonsai when my trunk is about 1cm in diameter, plan on creating a informal upright on a Chinese Elm

[@MRMIKEYGB]

Nice demonstration is that a grafted tree?

[@PeterLunk]

When is the best season to bend thick branches ? I guess end of summer when everything is rejuvinated thru spring and summer but I'd like some advice on this please :) Thanks in advance ! PL.