How to Get Started in Bonsai

[@grobonsai]

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[@paulgeddert6125]

Start by doing all 3, and growing cuttings, and doing air layers 😉 but devour bonsai content before and regularly once you begin. The more trees you have, the quicker you learn.

[@grobonsai]

That's how I did it! :D

[@Dylan-ok6ft]

Nailed it! I like that you don’t pick a “best” way to start. The pros/cons should help most people figure out what will suit them and hopefully get more people to join and stay in the hobby!

[@grobonsai]

I agree, everybody has different wishes

[@cinnamuaroll]

I’m glad you dove into all the pros and cons. Thats the thing that stuck out to me 😅

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Brilliant discussion from somebody who has the credibility / experience to talk about the subject honestly. Great stuff Darren

[@grobonsai]

Thanks Xav :)

[@alteredquellist9742]

The 4th and in my opinion easiest option is to take a fresh volunteer tree from the wild and replant it(according with the safest month for that species). You wont be as limited as option 3, and you wont have as much of a risk as option 1. And wont be as expensive as option 2. I have the benefit of being an arborist so I simply take infants from customers that want them removed, but I can guarantee that someone in your family or friends have volunteer trees that they'd be happy for you to remove.

[@pansepot1490]

Another great option is “urban yamadori”. Shrubs, bushes, edges that for various reasons need to get removed from gardens can be turned into bonsai instead of being thrown away.

[@cinnamuaroll]

“You’re present throughout their entire lifecycle” made me tear up. Being there with my plants as they get big and healthy is the reason I love them so much. Thank you.

[@Drift680]

thank you for the video I'm 16 and am gonna start growing from seed along with forming a plant from a garden store. maybe when im 76 ill have a nice bonsai

[@grobonsai]

:) from nursery stock, three years will be well on the way

[@zimmy1958]

Thanks. Because of the time I have left I chose to go with already established trees. I do have a tree have hade for 40 years ( Ficus ). I also have about 20 or so succulents vines, pitcher plants ect. Your content will help me also.

[@grobonsai]

Yes it’s a very important consideration- not everyone can realistically start from seed due to the number of years it takes to make progress

[@danielholmes382]

Great advice! Growing from cuttings is also very rewarding and skips the steps of having to germinate seeds. However, there can still be a high failure rate. Some places sell seedlings which are usually very reasonably priced. With seedlings you can skip the seed germination and still have a chance to style the bonsai how you like.

[@FrancoisMcinnes]

3 other options. 1. propagating cuttings, saves 2 yrs and more reliable than seeds. 2. Yamadori, collect from the wild, my favorite, success 50%, but you can get some awesome looking trees, specially in alpine mountain climate. Depending on size, I can already turn them into bonzai 2nd or 3rd yr. 3. Air layering, success 30%, not easy, but also saves money and time. Can be done on any big branch of an existing tree.

[@oversaltedsoup]

I have a single seed that has germinated and started growing I believe in the little guy only survivor in my kit

[@theinfidel2143]

I got a seed starter kit about a month ago. The bonus silk mimosa seeds are the only ones that have sprouted so far. One of the 7 I am really hoping for cause the roots have died twice but the rest of it is still very green and growing. Replanted it both times (the last time was 4 days ago). It's still growing and ever starting to grow new riny branches.

[@sbragaglia]

Absolutely smashed it, Darren! Great video for learning!

[@grobonsai]

Thanks Stefano!

[@MasonsRainforest]

I just dug up two pine saplings from my mother's property. They're still pretty small but are big enough to start with. Can't wait to get them started as bonsai trees. Im letting them get acclimated to being in pots before I attempt any pruning or shaping because I dont want to kill them from shock.

[@MasonsRainforest]

Their trunks are still thin enough that I can train them but they're tall enough that it won't take a fraction of my life to do 😭

[@grobonsai]

We have a rule of thumb with pines - 1 insult per growing season. Otherwise they get stressed. You have to go slow to go fast with pines. So wait until after 2025 growing season until you consider the next steps. Don’t worry, they won’t get away from you

[@MasonsRainforest]

@grobonsai I'll make sure to keep that in mind. As of now they're safely in their pots getting used to being in pots lol. One looks pretty good one looks a little less good but still ok. I currently have them with my other plants so I don't forget to check in on them. I did clip a singular branch off of one though because it was already broken when I got the tree and I wanted the tree to focus its energy on settling in. Im still learning about bonsai so I was gonna wait to do any major pruning and shaping anyways.

[@grobonsai]

Pruning the one branch will be fine when you potted the tree. Its more about giving plenty of time between work sessions

[@illmaticnj1991]

I live in NJ. I bought a shallow pot. Got some free copter seeds from a maple tree. They are germinating now. Wish me luck.

[@grobonsai]

Good luck!

[@timtebo1752]

I just love your bonsai videos. Thanks for another great one!!

[@grobonsai]

Thanks for watching them!

[@Rockmaster867]

My grandma got a bonsai as a gift when I was about 10 years old. Sadly she did not really know how to take care of it. It died like 5 years late. I am sad I did not have the resources we have today so I could have saved it. Maybe I can find the pot and start a new one

[@grobonsai]

That would be a great idea

[@Rockmaster867]

​@@grobonsaiI found the pot! Going to the garden center today to find a good candidate :)

[@jh_esports]

@@Rockmaster867 Any update? What species did you choose?

[@FelipeEchavarria-ko9ot]

@@Rockmaster867could we get an update on

[@andrewdobosz3682]

Very well said, i gives me a little bit of hope that maybe i am doing some things correctly , i don't have any big beautiful old trees, but the ones i do have i love and i have mostly grown from seed so that's all that matters. My trees my rules

[@rayraffiki1856]

I'm not quite starting from seed but from tiny pine seedlings that were growing on the edge of my mom's driveway

[@bjsteg79]

Just remember, like human children they are all perfect. Each tree may not grow up to the idea or vision you had over a 20 year period, but it grew and developed. It is perfect. And if you get annoyed with the end result you can return it to the wild and let the tree correct issues you created.

[@tyco337]

Children and bonsai trees are just like pancakes... the first one always ends up a bit weird.

[@bjsteg79]

@@tyco337 can confirm, oldest sib 😂

[@ritzee13]

Thankyou for your help! I got local she-oak seeds and grew seedlings and really wanted to bonsai them.

[@grobonsai]

I believe she-oak make fun bonsai!

[@michaelfindling8568]

I got into it because I just really love trees and other plants and like the process and it just blows my mind how my ten year old oak tree still fits in a pot in my front window

[@grobonsai]

Love to hear it, trees are great!

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Great content for beginners and everyone interested in bonsai.

[@grobonsai]

Thank you for watching

[@Youshisu]

I bought 2 small sapplings, smaller than shown in video, branches are still soft so I can actually start modeling tree, and I think its better choice for first bonsai tree :D and I do not have to do seeds :D

[@Akatsuki-En]

I love the objectivity of your options towards bonsai 😊 very well put together video

[@OjaiBonsai]

My favorite is Yamadori or yardadori. Thanks and cheers from Ojai California

[@grobonsai]

Oh for sure, and you are in the best country for it too!

[@lizsurbanroost3624]

As someone who really wants to get a bonsai, thanks for this. Do you have other, longer videos on how to get started, what trees or plants are best for it along with soil and things?

[@grobonsai]

Hi, I do have some scattered across the channel, but this year I’m specifically focussing on informational videos for beginners in a comprehensive but digestible way. So this is the first in a series covering everything beginners need to know to get a good start in this hobby. In the meantime I reply to comments and messages as much as possible, I have a very quiet Facebook group and discord server, and am active on Instagram stories and DMs if you have specific questions. When it’s busy I prioritise patreon members but I haven’t gone viral for months now so I don’t have a backlog 😊

[@TheBonsaiZone]

A nice video Darren!!

[@grobonsai]

Many thanks Nigel

[@gaiabonsai]

This is a very helpful and informative video. Thank you for sharing :-)

[@grobonsai]

Thanks for the comment!

[@BonsaiCornwall]

Awesome video mate… brilliantly produced 😎

[@grobonsai]

Thanks Jonas!

[@emy1111]

Every path, was the right path for me.😊

[@grobonsai]

Same tbh

[@STP19]

Excellent Video. Very Educational. Many Thanks. STP

[@grobonsai]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Stu.Williams]

Great video, I'm the type of guy who buys the 1-5 gallon potted trees from nurseries. I recently bought a Blue Atlas Cedar from a nursery and would like to know the best time/season to start wiring and bending the tree, because at the moment, the tree has very little movement in the trunk line. Any help would be appreciated.

[@grobonsai]

Hi Stu, the best time to do the big moves is in spring, when the buds start swelling but before the needles show up. It is best to allow time for recovery between styling and repotting, so if you haven’t touched the roots already, next spring will be the time to repot

[@MeadowViewBonsai]

Great stuff mate, thank you

[@grobonsai]

Thank you mate

[@derivativecrumb754]

Hey, great video! Do you have any recommendations for starter plants to go for when going for option 2?

[@grobonsai]

Choosing species depends on a few factors, climate, availability, where it will be kept being the most important. If you hop over to DM, email, discord where it's easier to chat, I can help make specific recommendations (details in the description above). But my faves for beginners generally are: chinese elm, cotoneaster, ficus microcarpa, portulacaria afra, schefflera luseana. There are many others but these tend to be fairly widely available and easy to keep. The ficus, portulcaria and schefflera must not freeze, so usually kept indoors over winter.

[@derivativecrumb754]

@@grobonsai thanks so much for all the advice! After a few hours of research, I've decided to go for the Chinese Elm from seeds to start my journey into Bonsai from the beginning :) I'll definitely be using this channel as a source of info to help!

[@jimpanse5375]

Great video as always🌳 Hi folks, beginner question here: Would you recommend one of the following for an indoor placement (Temperate climate)? Ficus Elm Or some other? Greetings

[@grobonsai]

Hi Jim thanks for the patreon pledge! The three most suitable species are ficus microcarpa, schefflera, Portulacaria afra. All three cannot tolerate frost so have to be protected during the cold weather. They will be easier to keep healthy if grown outside in the warmer months, or if grown under LED lights. As much sunlight as you can find. I’ll have more videos on indoor growing shortly, in the meantime feel free to ask any questions.

[@jimpanse5375]

@@grobonsaioh wow thanks for these information and your help man. I already killed a Schefflera and had this ficus which I gifted to someone. Now I feel more safe to get something new lol. Cant wait for any content. So chill

[@stephenlay9580]

Great content my friend, keep up the good work 👍

[@grobonsai]

Thank you 👍

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Great video Darren 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@grobonsai]

Cheers J

[@grobonsai]

Oh I have a favour to ask, I'll send you a message shortly

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

@@grobonsaiyeah of course, I’ll watch out for it 👍

[@Tiff9221]

thank you so much for your content ! I just started my bonsai journey. I do have some juniper seeds that have germinated, theres 4 to one pot. When would the approprate time be to put them into there own pots? can they live together for awhile? I was also gifted a bonsai for christmas thats fairly grown. Not many branches to work with, It has alot of shoots on the top and 2 super long ones that shoot out to the right and left. Do i just let them grow into branches ? I have so many questions lol.

[@grobonsai]

Hi it’s easier to advise when I’ve seen pics, but: I separate seedlings when their first foliage has matured - when it’s firm and no longer soft and delicate. The baby leaves (cotyledons) don’t count, so Google what they look like to tell the difference on your species. The long branches can be cut back if you don’t want the length. If you want the branches to look thicker you can let them shoots grow and cut them back later. I will be making videos that explain all of this better than I can in the comments 😊

[@Tiff9221]

@@grobonsai thank you so much

[@hiraqureshi5918]

have you ever grown from a cutting? I got a cutting from CZ Bonsai a year ago but it didn’t survive 🙁 I’ve always dreamed of having a weeping willow bonsai but can’t find one readily available to start with!

[@grobonsai]

Yes I grow lots of cuttings! Willow are very annoying to train as bonsai, they lose branches frustratingly often and tend to die back for no good reason. I’d prefer to train a different species to look like a weeping willow.

[@a.m.g.karlsson7165]

You didn’t mention one possibility that occurs to me: finding a small seedling near a tree (assuming it’s in a place where it’s legitimate for you to take from). Does that offer less time and fewer risks than starting from seeds but a greater possibility of initial input than a larger seedling from a garden centre?

[@grobonsai]

Yes, as long as it survives collection, it can save some time :) seedlings are usually robust so more often than not survive

[@HerbertDole]

You can also grab some saplings from your or your neighbor’s garden (ask them first, please don’t steal)

[@DominikGuzowski]

I just had 2 sycamore seedlings pop up in my garden, both still have their first leaves and only 2 real leaves at the moment. I don't want to touch them yet in case I kill them by accident but when would be a good time to transfer them to a pot?

[@grobonsai]

I have a video in progress about this. Any time from when the true leaves are formed and 'hardened off' (develop a waxy coating, feels thicker and more firm rather than soft and flimsy). That's when I do mine. Seedlings are surprisingly tough as long as they are healthy. You can tell when they aren't healthy because they die pretty quickly at this age - it's not a drawn out process, literally here today collapsed tomorrow.

[@DominikGuzowski]

@@grobonsai right thanks for the response, they've been here for a few weeks now, the true leaves have started growing about 2 weeks ago and are now over an inch in length if not more, I'll be sure to check what they're like tomorrow. as to the soil, is there anything specific at this stage while it develops a bit more or is anything fine? or should I keep it in what it is now?

[@BillyBobJoeSnr]

I find myself drawn to growing seeds /cuttings as buying from nursery is a little trickier as they're not normally twisted or curved.

[@k8marlowe]

Would a 4th option be to harvest a tree from your property, or with the permission of the property owner, and refine your tree into a bonsai?

[@grobonsai]

Yes absolutely, it can save time and money. The disadvantage is nursing back to health after digging has risks. With a bit of research and patience it should be ok. Another option is propagation from landscape trees or shrubs using the air layering technique. Good luck, let me know if you have questions etc

[@k8marlowe]

@@grobonsai Thanks so much for the encouragement, and for sharing your knowledge. I’m going for it!

[@aris_balcony]

I am doing a nursery or gardencenter approach to learn bonsai. I bought most tiny trees online, it's a bit of a gamble what I get. I am trying to make the best out of it. I also tend to buy seedlings / 1-3 year old trees. I can still do the shaping I think fits to the tree and if I mess up root pruning I didn't loose to much money. I also bought some low cost premade indoor bonsai for practice and made lots of cuttings (port, ficus). One I bought out of curiosity (1 year old plecthrantus ernestii mame) and now I am in love with it. :-)

[@grobonsai]

Sounds like a perfect approach!

[@aris_balcony]

@@grobonsai I am quite happy. I would like to propagate seedlings myself, just to improve horticulture knowledge and experience, but I have no more space left for this :-) It's plant tetris on my balcony.

[@timmywood9677]

I tried growing protea plants from seed extremely difficult to get them to sprout 🌱

[@emmbabyrocks6830]

I think I would like to try seeds this year ❤

[@grobonsai]

Now is the time to get a head start on spring 😃

[@loinguyenngoc8603]

Beautiful ❤❤

[@grobonsai]

Thank you! 😊

[@SuperOcelot_]

I just grabbed a sprout from outside lol

[@grobonsai]

Why not!

[@browpetj]

This one has some legs. Good to re-visit.

[@tavinconstable9784]

Could you do a video on growing a dill bonsai? I would love to see one

[@grobonsai]

What is the botanical name please? Is it the herb?

[@tavinconstable9784]

@@grobonsai ya the herb it’s commonly called dill weed

[@HuisacheIronworks]

Anethum graveolens

[@lidiagracielamontaldo4846]

Excelent 👍🌲🌲🌎

[@grobonsai]

Thanks!

[@lidiagracielamontaldo4846]

@@grobonsai Saludos 🌲🌲🌲🌎

[@Fr3ddyFazbear87]

Hi man, I really need some help. I live in Australia, and we just had an unexpected heat wave. My Chinese elms' leaves have all gone crispy, but the cambium is still alive. Is there a chance it will come back?

[@grobonsai]

Absolutely! Don’t let it get bone dry, don’t keep it constantly drowned, it should be fine in a couple weeks

[@Fr3ddyFazbear87]

@@grobonsai thanks man

[@jacktheflyboy]

what about Bonsai from cuttings?

[@justanotherpersonhi7215]

ive gotten starter kits from Walmart/Mall and they only have like 5 seeds and they never sprout

[@grobonsai]

Yeah they aren’t good value, buying seeds from a seed supplier is way cheaper and more will germinate

[@simonstarc9540]

❤

[@TheNightPainterNr1]

Hi, I like your videos and watch them quite often, but I'm not very good at English, is it possible for you to make a Danish translation? (translated on Google) etc. Peter 😊

[@grobonsai]

Thanks Peter, I will look into it and see if I can figure out how to do it

[@Pickle-e9h]

I have a pine tree can you help me

[@mattbrennan647]

Foisting 😊

[@Akatsuki-En]

8:50 😅

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌

[@grobonsai]

:):D

[@marietta8807]

...or Tanuki ;)

[@grobonsai]

arrrrrgh haha

[@zachrohr4712]

Think u forgot digging up a tree and training it

[@grobonsai]

Nah, I chose to omit it

[@loinguyenngoc8603]

Hello❤❤

[@grobonsai]

Good morning!

[@ConductorRyan]

Fourth option, dig a tree.

[@grobonsai]

This is true, but not always ethical

[@OutsidethePot]

Growing from seeds is a waste of if time.

[@grobonsai]

I discourage such binary thinking on my channel. Hence pointing out the pros and cons as well as providing other suggestions. But you do you!

[@ElkMeatAndDMT]

Love your videos!

[@grobonsai]

Thanks, love the username haha sounds like a wild weekend

[@SJ95111]

Can i make a mango tree bonsai??

[@DeciduousSnurb]

I watched this video even though I've been in the hobby 12 years. A well thought out guide for beginners that I can share with anyone curious about starting the hobby. 👍 Also I respect the fact that you reply to comments/questions, some bonsai channels just leave you hangin.' 🫡

[@grobonsai]

Glad to put out something useful, thanks 😊