How To Make Bonsai from Collected Material

In this Bonsai video I show you how to create a Bonsai Tree from Collected Material! The species of tree we are working with in this video is Lonicera, also known as the Hedging Honeysuckle.
I explain how to set up collected material so that it can be developed into a bonsai tree, as well as how to transition a tree that has been developed in a pond basket into the later refinement stages of bonsai. Initially, this development process may seem complicated, but I'll show you how it can be quite simple! However, it may take some time for a tree to regain full health and be ready for styling after being collected.
Collected material in bonsai often gives us the most beautiful results because nature has already done much of the work! This is especially true for older trees like wild pines and junipers collected from the mountains, known as Yamadori in Japan. When collecting material, it's crucial to obtain permission from the landowner and to never dig up material that you know will not survive the collection process. (Collect Ethically!)
The material I have collected is a Lonicera, or Hedging Honeysuckle. For beginners, this species is perfect for practice when it comes to collecting material, as they are quite popular in gardens and very forgiving. It's the perfect tree for beginners to collect. The best time to collect trees is in spring! Initially, the material might not look like much, but if it has a good trunk line with interesting movement, then surely a great bonsai can come from it!
Pruning A Honeysuckle: • Pruning a Honeysuckle ...
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00:00 - Intro.
00:36 - About The Collected Material.
01:33 - The Bonsai Tools Used.
02:24 - Dealing With Collected Material (Future Bonsai Design).
03:38 - Pruning To Improve Proportion and Tree Health.
05:14 - Cleaning Up Roots.
06:38 - Repotting To Boost Tree Heath And Vigour (Pond Basket).
07:18 - The Soil Type And Soil Preparation.
08:14 - Securing The Tree For Rapid Root Growth (Chopstick Technique).
10:56 - Watering.
11:36 - How To Propagate Lonicera From Cuttings.
12:51 - Two Years Later (Refinement Stage).
13:52 - Revealing The Nebari (Surface Roots).
17:06 - Selecting A Bonsai Pot.
19:54 -Pruning The Roots.
20:56 - Preparing The Pot.
22:26 - Composition Theory In Bonsai.
23:07 - Securing The Tree In The Pot.
24:36 - Pruning The Foliage.
27:59 - Beauty Shots.
28:52 - Outro.
#bonsai #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #yamadori #gardening

[@AlexisDimitriou]

Awesome Matey, been watching your vids for a while and as someone who has been involved in Bonsai for about 5 years am learning a lot. Have also followed the man, Peter Chan, and wish I could get a slot with him at Herons but he's always booked up. Next best thing are folks like you supporting and helping us noobs. Thanks much.

[@jakesnelling8331]

Lonicera is a plant that is (almost) impossible to kill... My brother rescued two out of his hedge, i brutally cut them back, and yet they are growing like crazy!!

[@notionbonsai]

This is very true! Ah nice one! I bet yours made great Bonsai material!

[@jakesnelling8331]

@notionbonsai early days, but both have potential. One is now a root over rock, the other will be fairly formal. Both will be shohin size. We will see 🤣

[@angry9901]

Lots of pest weeds make great bonsai material.

[@kuriseon]

Bro this was SO informative! Thank you! I started this hobby and my 'development-nursery' 2 weeks ago and have been experimenting with different techniques, just to see how they respond. Your video made it clear that on certain projects, NOTHING is going to happen with them for a while, because I mixed up development and refinement. Thanks for the knowledge, keep up the great work

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! I'm really glad you found the video helpful! Bonsai is all about experimenting and learning, so it's great that you're trying out different techniques. Understanding the difference between development and refinement is a key part of the process 🙂 Keep up the good work with your trees!

[@user-tp4mo1gw6f]

I appreciate how you provided a detailed explanation of your thought process at the beginning of each project.

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Always a pleasure to watch your videos Adam. So filled with great information.

[@BlissfulBonsai]

06:38 Wow, this tutorial on making bonsai from collected material is incredibly detailed and inspiring! I appreciate the step-by-step guidance and tips on caring for the bonsai. Can't wait to try this out myself. Thanks for sharing your expertise!

[@bonsaisn]

Cách làm cây cảnh của bạn rất hay 👍

[@Javanesetropicalbonsai]

Karya seni yang tidak ada batasnya, terimakasih sudah berbagi kawan

[@nerinat8371]

This video is very helpful thankyou.. you are very artful in Bonsai , keep up the great work

[@notionbonsai]

Glad it was helpful to you!!

[@misovalachovic4988]

Another great video, very well explained things too, bit shocked by the small size of the bonsai pot, but pretty sure you know what you doing, well done!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks so much! I could have went even smaller with the pot!! Though the smaller pot you have, the more frequently it will need repot as the roots fill it faster!

[@angieb6899]

Looks great !

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks!

[@edmanescurc2823]

Amazing job, and very informative. For me, it's very useful to hear your way of thinking!Thanks! I'll try to find this bush species in Spain.

[@brendatressler1365]

Thank you so much. This has been very helpful 🙂

[@notionbonsai]

Glad it was helpful for you Brenda!

[@natrjack965]

Great video Adam 😊

[@samanthalonghurst-howes1465]

Love your channel. You always lift my mood. Xxx

[@notionbonsai]

I am glad 🙂 Thank you for watching my channel!

[@gaiabonsaicornwall]

Really informative and helpful video. Everything was explained very clearly and was great fun to watch all the stages coming together. A really nice looking tree. Thank you for sharing :-)

[@davidnewth924]

Like it. Thanks Adam

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks very much David! 😊😊🌳🌳

[@user-yl5cr3eb9w]

Great tips - thanks !

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you! 🙂

[@chongumap7219]

Great video

[@pesoverwatch9324]

Very helpfull, cheers!

[@soonzach4017]

Wonderful job, love it , very very beautiful 👍👋

[@AntoinetteCopp]

Thank you for sharing

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks for watching!

[@garyjohnson2989]

Not every bonsai has a front nor a back. I prune all mine without either. They loomk awesome all around.

[@bonsaiexpression]

Nice work Adam.

[@MadMike847]

Ich mag die deutschen Überschriften and love the vids.

[@user-ll3dt5nt8u]

Keep up the great work!

[@notionbonsai]

😃😃

[@KennetDeBondt]

Nice results!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Kennet!

[@mooneagle4772]

My young friend you have great talent for the artistry of bonsai. I hope to watch your development over the next 30 years. I wish I would have started in my younger years

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you for the kind words 🙂 It is never too late to start Bonsai!

[@gashead2]

Best info I have watched so far on KZbin on the subject so far, thanks

[@donnadornbusch6738]

A great presentation , Adam

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you Donna! 🌳🤗

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Adam, Lonicera I find are great to work with, I have about 6 different style in my collection, people who like pruning would love these as they grow so fast almost overnight, your second tree is very nice with plenty possibilities in the future, good video Adam.

[@notionbonsai]

You are so right Joe! They are almost like weeds! Thanks very much!!

[@Jossy92]

I learn so much. Keep them coming.

[@MaryHall-xc1wo]

Super informative and easy to watch/follow. Makes me believe I can do it. Thanks!

[@bonsaibywally]

I like your videos more and more. Really informative and interesting. Gives me new ideas and new species as well. Thanks for sharing.

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Wally! 😃

[@jayp4083]

Very good detail. It helps to explain the stages. Thank you!

[@HerbertDole]

This is such a gorgeous tree

[@ambidextrous5619]

thank you very much for all these explanations. it is very interesting. such important things, useful. although listening to you is a lot of work because it is full of densely packed information.

[@I_love_life_SB]

thật tuyệt vời ❤

[@sbragaglia]

Great job and nice trees (especially the second: so cute)! When will you do a tour of your benches? And how often you water with the type of soil you use? Thanks!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey Stefano!! How are you? I may do a tour some day but not sure when! I water my trees every day (even when it rains)😃

[@sbragaglia]

@@notionbonsai doing alright, still struggling to find time for the hobby… wow, only once a day? If I use a completely draining soil like yours I’d be watering all the day long… I guess it’s more humid in Derry than in London!

[@Sketchylemons]

Well done! Please do some more azalea content!

[@rorymair7596]

Hey adam, so after re potting you can put it straight into the sun? Or was that demonstration purposes. That bonsai looks awsome.

[@W9SL9Y]

Nice "Yardadori" 😜

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks! 🙂🌳 Maybe someday I will get a real Yamadori! 😉

[@W9SL9Y]

@@notionbonsai all of mine have been yardadori or nursery stock which is a great place to start, definitely allot easier (less controversial too perhaps). Think I’d be more gutted if I unsuccessfully collected from the wild 😅 great work on your channel though, nice that you cover all the basics in each video. Wish I had that level of detail when I started out!

[@azoreiro]

Adam can you tell us the ratio mixtures for your soil. Is it just even portions of all? Thank you, Great job on you videos.😊

[@frederickdominguez4829]

Really great tutorial. Is this bush available in california. Is it like a boxwood. Thanks

[@PhyllisGlassup2TheBrim]

If you have no chopsticks, you can use wooden knitting needles.......................

[@notionbonsai]

Great idea!!

[@kevwhiley3813]

Great species for bonsai, you could put those long cuttings in mud and they would root. I've made whole new trees from cut branches.

[@notionbonsai]

This is so true! They grow like weeds!! Aw nice one! Its fun to get fast results like this in Bonsai!

[@kupritbonsai]

Teknik yang menginspirasi dalam membentuk sebuah bonsai, video yang menarik sahabat

[@TheKippBot]

Another great vid Adam! Super informative and helpful! Do you have any suggestions for caring for a schefflera (umbrella tree) and when to repot etc? If you have these in your region?

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! Thanks very much! I do not have this species at the moment but you should definitely check out Nigel Saunders channel, he works on them with great success! 😃🌳 @TheBonsaiZone

[@TheKippBot]

Awesome thank you Adam!

[@mariondaniels6430]

I live in SC where can I find akadama Brussels don't sell it any more, I like this soil as well as kanuma, I've learned something from you as well this one is a great beginner video,

[@dahlmasen3084]

Today while listening to a gardening podcast they said that cut paste/putty and similar are actually bad for trees🤔 That it doesn’t help very much and can cause fungus and bacteria to get stuck in the cut🤔 Maybe it could be a fun test, make a few larger cuts on different trees and put paste/putty on half of them to see how much of a benefit it is😁

[@notionbonsai]

That's an interesting point! 😄 There's a lot of debate around the use of cut paste and similar products in bonsai. While they're often used to promote faster healing and prevent infections, some argue that they can trap moisture and pathogens! Personally I have found the cut paste (pva glue like texture) to be like this and can rot the wood underneath, though with cut putty (blue tac like texture) i did not notice this at all and seen rapid healing vs no putty used.

[@NoQuarter01]

Why do people use pond baskets in Bonsai? Great video thx 👍. Also, the trunk on that second looks amazing

[@Christian_Bonsai]

Lots of oxygen. Helps develop roots. Once roots reach the edge the air wilts them so it divides further back, eventually you can get a large root ball of fine growth roots which develops the look faster while still thickening the trunk and branches. Depending on the species pond baskets have many different uses. There’s many many reasons why. Black pine for example loves the extra oxygen so if your black pine bonsai is getting sick you can slip pot it into a pond basket and it’ll regenerate its health quickly

[@Joelobv]

Can we get a spring garden tour?

[@lisawagner6076]

I just found your channel yesterday and I am so happy I did!! You explain things so nice and clearly that us novices can see what you are talking about. I love that. I am newly interested in bonsai at my ripe old age of 61 and some other channels had me feeling like I am too old, I'll never live long enough to grow anything. LOL But I really love the way you do this and I look forward to watching more of your videos and learning a lot. BTW, I love your red hair and those striking blue eyes!! One whole half of my mom's side of the family came from County Down Ireland, and my best friend has bright red hair and blue eyes. I hope to visit Ireland some day.

[@HorizonForgottenWestBr]

Vídeo incrível. Não gostei apenas da última poda, poderia ter feito um trabalho bem melhor.

[@TheKippBot]

You showed the second tree you worked on and what it looked like two years ago. Can you give tips to a beginner on how to use the pond basket with that soil mix, what watering looks like, etc.?

[@notionbonsai]

I water my trees every day with this soil type 🙂

[@BonsaiRiaanC-bh1ug]

I hope your grandmother knows you digging up her plants :)

[@notionbonsai]

She sure does! She offered it to me to make Bonsai from 🤗🌳

[@BonsaiRiaanC-bh1ug]

@@notionbonsai Thanks for your vids, have a blessed day

[@howardmckeown7187]

Good video, Adam, do you treat collected material exactly the same as repotted material or do you make any differences? Thanks 👍

[@notionbonsai]

Hey Howard it really depends on the species. In this video I used a honeysuckle which are really resilient trees, though with the majority of collected material the No.1 priority should be to get the tree healthy. So for example if you collected a Pine or Juniper from the wild, i would pot it into the a nice big pot into good free draining soil and not touch the foliage for a year or two until I know the tree is at full health and safe to work on 😃

[@howardmckeown7187]

@@notionbonsai Thanks 👍

[@OutsidethePot]

If you truly want to fill the gaps the add a vibrater to the table.

[@notionbonsai]

Interesting idea! I can say I never seen this done before!

[@ScottTheExperimentalist]

I cant find zeolite in the US? Would vermiculite be a good substitute for zeolite?

[@satvinderpawar2568]

Hi Adam My spruce seems to be dying. Can it be revived and made into a bonsai. I tried it's dead branches.

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@notionbonsai]

🤗🌳♥

[@Trasheroin]

I would love to know more about compositional guidelines 🤔

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! You can learn about composition in photography! 📷 🙂 Composition theory can be carried over to Bonsai as a tree in a pot can be momentarily be seen as a still image or piece of art. Alongside the rule of thirds (mentioned in the video), principles such as balance, symmetry, leading lines, and depth play roles in guiding the viewer's eye and creating visual interest. Techniques like framing, contrast, pattern, and negative space are employed to draw attention to the main subject and in some cases evoke a desired emotional response. Another important compositional principle (especially in nature) is the golden ratio, which involves dividing the frame into sections based on a mathematical ratio (approximately 1:1.618) to create visually pleasing and harmonious compositions 🤗 While these guidelines serve as valuable tools, creativity often thrives when they are used as a foundation for experimentation and artistic expression so dont be afraid to break these too as they are only guidelines! 😉🌳🤗

[@jonathanbull7302]

you could have mentioned the best face of the pot too....

[@notionbonsai]

Very good point!! 😄 I will mention this in the future! Thanks!

[@Angel-lk1ir]

I love your videos, but I’m still a little confused. How do you know which branches will grow back or will not when you cut them? How do you know that cutting this branch will have other branches grow from it and then cutting this one it won't grow back.

[@notionbonsai]

Hey there! I understand your confusion. Typically, when you prune a branch, new growth will emerge from buds located along the branch. If you prune a branch back to a bud facing the direction you want the new branch to grow, it's more likely to grow in that direction. The decision on which branches to prune depends on factors like the tree's health, the season, and the tree's growth habits. If you want to be safe with some species, keep some leaves on the branch as you prune so that the branch is more likely to survive the prune. Over time, with practice, you'll develop a better understanding of how your trees respond to pruning. It's a learning process, so don't worry if things dont work out it feels a bit confusing at first! 😊🌳

[@Cuocsonghangngay_vlog]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@IbrahimKlc-jg5sf]

Adamım bunu kaç günde bir sulamak gerekiyor

[@forrestcrabbe]

🤘☕️🤘

[@notionbonsai]

😃🌳😃

[@RintaroEya]

Is it box wood? 🌳

[@notionbonsai]

This one is Lonicera. Also known as the hedging honeysuckle.

[@RintaroEya]

That's a plant with beautiful flowers!✨

[@YoungArborist]

compensating for root loss by removing foliage is a misconception.

[@carmengouvernante1873]

Je praat teveel. Ik heb geen zin meer om te kijken.

[@BonsaiForRoman]

Thank you for sharing

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you for watching!