How to Grow a Bonsai Tree Fast: Shallow vs. Deep Bonsai Pot? | Q&A

[@jesusmartinez-gd9cd]

I have to truly applaud Milton for his consistency of how many videos he uploads a week

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Try to do the righ thing...consistency...so you know what to expect. We do one short, and three long, one of which is Q&A...I will add more commentary.

[@maryweber4176]

By the way, I really like your question and answer Wednesdays. It's a wealth of bonsai knowledge you possess.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Larned over time by reading...and by making mistakes.

[@tomlawless4406]

I have 2 oaks at 1 and half years, and 13 oaks at just half a year and I’m simply letting them grow out as best as they can for now love your advice thank you!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Oak gain trunk size quickly...have fun!@

[@yashuajames]

It's always a pleasure to hear you address our comments, Thank you.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

My pleasure! Please keep the comments coming!

[@ericgray409]

I have many Hong Kong kumquats seedlings from this year up to about 3 year old ones. I would love to send you one.

[@Florian-rk9fo]

I would like to get one to❤

[@Mucosolvan18]

Great video 👍 just startet with Bonsai and have around 11 marple trees between 1 to 2, maybe 3 years to experiment with. Could you eventually make a video with young trees / seedlings and show some shaping and how you see each tree in its future. Maybe this is good topic for a future video 👍

[@Hereforstackingcash]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bF7amqmklqh5jc0si=iaSOEAyXR2rTgw6k This is a video he did with young maple seedlings should definitely give it a watch

[@jasonterry8883]

another great video! and yes….would love to hear any investing advice you have to offer!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks! Stay tuned.

[@jonathanzellner906]

I think you would do amazing with a second channel of all of your other knowledge But, I can’t believe you were a freshman 60 years ago, I’d have guessed you were only in your 60s now. Prayers to continued good health, my friend! You’ve still got alot to share with us

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I intend to 🙂

[@minosegdelwonk7851]

Thanks for the feedback! I am thrilled to have had my comment featured.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thank you for your participation. I try to answer all comments the first two days.

[@nineteen1986.]

As always, thanks for your tips and videos! Maybe you can also tell us something about your life and what you would like to pass on to others

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Short story...worked my way through college..working 20 hours a week as allowed by the immigration rule. .Always striving to work hard and do the right thing...and ttake a natural interest in learning....Lots of important mentors along the way. Not trying to brag about my success...would like to use my experience to encourage people to try, not feeling being victimized.

[@OutsidethePot]

I bonsai hibiscus. I have 6 of them. After a while some leaves reduce in size. Also they never become a traditional looking tree but they are beautiful. I’ve recently put the first of them into a bonsai pot.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes! That is good material. Let us know how it worked out for you.

[@laddieokelley6095]

Interesting choice. Although Milton might not agree, I make a distinction between bonsai and artistic plants. A plant that does not become "a traditional looking tree" might be called an artistic plant. This spring I collected a trumpet vine trunk from my yard, potted it, and it is about to bloom. It looks a bit like a literati bonsai, but others might not consider it a bonsai. It is only two months old.

[@TheGbelcher]

The fact that Milton can still fit in a shirt given to him in high school 60 years ago deserves some praise. I graduated high school 20 years ago and I can’t get my arm into any shirt I wore back then. 😂

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

:-)

[@laddieokelley6095]

Thanks for responding to my comment. Good quality plastic (usually brown) bonsai training pots are useful and not very expensive--they are usually deeper and an alternative to nursery pots. Some are quite large and I have used them for dug collected trees.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes! Good idea.I agree.

[@jonathanzellner906]

At 4:26 you answered my question, and an educated guesstimate is plenty good enough for my. Thank you!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Great!

[@alfredomarotta6604]

Thanks for sharing, sir.👍👍🤙

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

ou are welcome!

[@pavedpara]

Mind showing the rest of your garden. Maybe like a little tour?

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK...Now is not the best time...Spring is full of bloosomes...I will find a good time to do so.

[@tinogarza9091]

Been watching for a few months now love the videos keep it up

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks, will do!

[@pattymyers4729]

I was able to get hold of a copy of the book you showed the other day, Four Seasons of Bonsai. It is very inspirational! Thank you for another informative video. 🌷🌷

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

You re welcome. All books have good information...still you have to sort through to decide what is right and what is not so right. It is good that you are action oriented! Have fun.

[@tanarehbein7768]

I think you look handsome in the navy blue Hawaiian shirt 👍 Thanks for the video!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Well, thank you! 🙂

[@mrcardal6022]

I started bonsai at 18 and absolutely fall in love with this hobby now. I'm making Portulacaria Afra bonsai and everything works out great. However, when it comes to my seedlings for new materials, they tend to grow into a structure like vine plants. Should I cut it to guide it to upper directions or should I leave it for thicker trunks

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Your “elephant bush” (elephants love love to eat it) is easy to thicken. Vines tend to be lanky than thick…but will eventually thicken…jus the to cut it back from time to time to let it thicken and taper. Wisteria, for example, makes wonderful bonsai.

[@nicholascartwright2089]

Thank you Milton! Great video

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks!

[@Acheron2010]

Love your videos - so informative. At about the 12:30 mark, you demonstrate cutting to promote growth, using bypass pruning shears. Both you and I and perhaps others struggle with this tool at times to cut thicker branches. Is there a tool that can be operated with one hand that provides more mechanical advantage when cutting thick branches? I sometimes end up with a pruning saw, but that takes more effort.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Just use a cutter intended for thicker brances. The stainless steel bonsai knob cutters are really nice for that.

[@habungpaking1301]

Great video! I'm curious, can we see who is behind the camera and behind the scenes of your videos? It would be really interesting to get a glimpse of the team and the process!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

They are shy 🙂

[@gabrielfrodo9564]

Thank you for your videos Milton! I find you very admirable and wise. My question is: I want to move my ficus bonsai outdoors, but my climate is outside of the recommended temperatures I read online (it is both too cold and too hot here), will it still be better to get my bonsai outside anyways? What can I do to support my bonsai in those conditions? The tree is decently established, maybe 3-3.5" diameter trunk.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

focus can thrive in a ide range of temperature...For sure do not put it in full sun moving it from indoor...to avoid sunburn. Could damage a lot of leaves.

[@cathyplantlover2862]

What a beautiful background that is, where are you filming from?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I am filming from my garden in Northern California

[@nathaniely4169]

Can you cut back Italian cypress to have no foliage? I have a medium sized cypress with a thick base but the trunks are too long. I cut them back to the last branch with decent foliage so that hopefully it doesn’t die.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

You have some foliage...so growth will start there.

[@wolfrevenant1489]

What is the best way to prevent common diseases like powdery mildew? Late in the summer, some of my trees such as oaks always seem to get this, I spray with fungicide but wonder if I should be doing something different?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I do not have first hand knowledge of this issue. Too wet and in shade? Try full sun. I hate sprays…rarely use them.

[@AndrewParr-id2rb]

I know you recommend your soil mix of one part peat moss one part pearlite and one part sandy loam for bonsai, but do you have another soil mix for when you are growing your trees in growing pots?

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

The short answer is I use garden soil, whihc is very poor, mixed with leaf compost or wood chip...what is important is I kept my trees weatered...so the rootball does not dry out. In the old days I belive it is best to keep the soil dry,, ad I wind up klling a lot of my tees. The point is to never let the root ball dry out.

[@AndrewParr-id2rb]

Thank you for your videos! Your wisdom is always a welcome addition to my life.

[@donnaburgess2122]

Can you bonsai a cedar pine in the ground

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

GIVE IT A TRY!

[@MANNY100123]

Are Ginkgo Trees hard to maintain? I'm curious! They're such lovely looking tree and was thinking of getting one for Bonsai.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Ginkgo is one of the most ancient trees…which means they are tough. I saw fossilized fallen ginkgo tree 6’ in diameter. The problem using it for bonsai is it is slow to grow branches…so takes many years of fertile soil to develop good ramification.

[@MANNY100123]

@@bonsaiheirloom Oh, I see! Thank you, Milton! I will keep that in mind!

[@maryweber4176]

I have a random question. How do you treat spider mites?

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Orgqanic sprays may work...one shot of mild malathion does it.

[@RinusVlaar]

Hi Hello tHere, I would like to have a Pinus Nigra as I saw as a decoration in the Nijo Palace in Kyoto. Is it also suitable for inside or only for outside? V Greetings from Amsterdam, Rinus

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Japanese translation. Pinus nigra is very different from Pinus Thunbergii, which is Japanese black pine vs I think Nigra is Austrian.

[@RinusVlaar]

Thank you. Yes, I meant Pinus Thunbergii.

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks BVruce!

[@chaiwatpotichanid]

😙🥰

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Tahsnk!

[@bryanmorrion9503]

What would you recommend the balance number ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for the promotion of good root growth (NPK). I have 13/1.4/10. But im thinking the 1.4 of phosphorus may be a little low. Thanks. 👍🇦🇺🦘

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I m not sure you need to be that precise for bonsai. I use fish emulsion with kelp for mhy bonsai.... I came across slow reloiease that is 15, 15, 15 figured that is a lot for my money...so I use that for mu bvonsai trees in nursery pots.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Anything "bonsai could be expensive. The 15:15 15 slow release lawn food is about 40 bucks for fifty pounds!