Improving root ramification on bonsai

[@brianparnell2256]

Never seen that technique before . You learn something new every day. Thanks Dan.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Happy to help

[@karakfilm]

Hi Dan, I am from Australia and the first book I read about Bonsai was yours when I was 16. I loved the photos of you in your flares and Afro hair. But it was all for the northern hemisphere so I looked for books by Australian bonsai artists and found Dorothy Koreshoff's book (I have Debora's book too)and she taught Debora everything she knew about bonsai, and literally wrote the book on Australian native plant bonsai, I was taught by Dorothy and worked at Korreshoff Bonsai nursery when it still was around. I have a few things I do differently that you may or may not be interested in, it seems to be working for you. 1 I use a hard wood rooting hormone gel and a brush I don't have access to syringes. 2 I use a turned upside down plastic plant pot with the bottom cut off and cut to height, and with a cut down one side, and wire wrapped around the outside of the pot to secure it instead of mesh and plastic wrap, the black plastic plant pot is harder for our Australia wildlife to destroy and it encourages roots to grow thicker and faster because of the darkness it the gives the roots. 3 I cut a little vertical cut in the cambium above the hole. Hope this helps and thanks for starting me on my bonsai adventure.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you for your kind comments and very usef tips - much appreciated - have you checked out the other videos on my website.

[@karakfilm]

@@danbartonslifewithbonsai745 Yes I have watched some of your other videos and I have Subscribed to your channel. I have Enjoyed them very much.

[@joegarland4885]

Really interesting method to encourage roots to form on the areas you want them to grow, never seen that done before but it does make sense as every thing you do from your vast experience. Thank you Dan, a lovely garden on a lovely day.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

So nice of you - blessings for your kind comments

[@Bonsaicrazy]

What a great technique Dan I will use this method myself thanks for sharing 👊

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

No problem 👍

[@luigiluigi2098]

Amazing video Dan! And we look forward you showing us the progress in a year or two! Who knew this was possible never seen anyone do this. So the cocktail was fertilizer and rooting hormone's in simple terms. Really useful technique to see. Huge thank you Dan sharing your knowledge

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

More to come!

[@jonathanaristone2468]

Dan, In 40 yrs I have never seen this technique. I guess you can teach and old dog new tricks. Thanks so much I look forward to seeing how this develops, but will try it myself as well.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Well there you go - something new every day - thanks for your kind comments.

[@terryc8674]

Always a great pleasure to watch, thanks so much for sharing this with us 👍👍

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

My pleasure - thanks for your kind comments

[@tenfour2215]

This was so enjoyable to watch. Someone having fun with bonsai and loving what they are doing. Simple isn't it?

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you

[@r.evanmiller1030]

Amazing technique! I imagine that the rooting hormone and the match sticks stay moist due the the matchsticks wicking up the moisture. very interesting indeed. Thank you for the video, always appreciate it!

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Nice job Dan very helpful thanks

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Glad to help

[@TheMrjoehughes]

So much sense and reason to this method as opposed to others, even if the roots don’t grow the tree won’t suffer and you could always try again

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for your kind comments

[@rebeccahunter725]

I have had Deborah's book on my bedside table for many years - it is great to revisit. I have an airlayer that is a bit sparse on roots on one side, so thank you for reminding me of this tip - roll on Spring (Australia here; dead of winter and cold!!)

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Wait until its your summer to try it out - good luc!

[@radar_radar]

Thanks Dan, how interesting! Lovely to watch you at work as always . Row xx

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Glad you enjoyed it - thanks for your kind comment - much appreciated

[@Famous27Amos]

Always enjoy your videos---how about a garden tour video next? Saw lots of interesting things as you were working on this project. Thanks!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Coming soon!

[@eggybreadplease]

I have a trident maple with lopsided roots and was thinking of a drill hole/root hormone approach… This really helps thank you Dan 👍

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PatriciaOConnorBonsaiBalcony]

Very nice show Dan! I wondered if this would work for my Maple about the time you displayed the work done to your Trident Maple.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

It should, as the summer leaves on your tre will send down all the necessary 'goodies' from the tree's leaves to help encourage root production.

[@pela1100]

Dan ! Me encanta su hulmildad al reconocer técnicas de otros bonsaístas después de escribir el libro que usted escribió, 🙇‍♂️ . Por otra parte, quisiera que sea usted el que muestre el resultado de la técnica en ésta Zelcova. Deseo que su vida se muy larga, maestro, 🙏. Siempre agradezco sus videos. SALUD !

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Gracias por sus amables comentarios - muy apreciado(masculine) Search

[@pela1100]

@@danbartonslifewithbonsai745 salud !

[@jasongannon7676]

Nice tip

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Try it

[@jasongannon7676]

@@danbartonslifewithbonsai745 I plan to 👍

[@garyerim296]

Dan, just curious. Would you use such a mix for air layering also?

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Yes, absolutely

[@greenhawk1592]

Go Dan , nice work!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks, will do!

[@mattwall3267]

Great video, appreciate you sharing the technique Dan. Got me wondering where you got that jacket/coat from though? That’s one cool looking jacket, handy pockets too 👌🏻

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for your kind comments - I bought the smock online from The Smock Shop in Cornwall, UK

[@ArdhiChannel1]

Really nice,,Love from Indonesian.

[@KurisuBonsai]

Lovely stuff! Thanks as always Dan 😊

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

My pleasure!

[@BONSAIenCORTO]

Thanks for sharing.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks for watching!

[@javanesegeograpic]

Sangat menginspirasi pak bos, semoga bertumbuh baik...

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

I'm sure it will but may take 12 - 18 months to grow.

[@alanwallis1078]

Thanks so much for sharing your incredible experience Dan. I'm an oldie too at 82 so I don't suppose I will see the results. One question. What happens to the matchsticks? Do they rot or do you remove them? Ma y tha ks

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thanks Alan for your kind comments - much appreciated. The matchsticks usually rot or just get pushed out by the roots.

[@alanwallis1078]

OK. Thank you Dan. I will be trying this in spring, assuming this is the best time?

[@mm6918]

So helpful Dan! I have been thinking about how to address the lack of roots on a couple of trees. Do you know if this technique works also for conifers?

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

I've never used it with conifers so can't give you an honest answer but I think the resin in conifers may seal off the hormone gel.

[@nicotine007]

Interesting technique, what is the success rate of the number holes drilled to them developing roots? Were u left with any empty holes? Also is there a best time of year to do this? Was thinking of trying this instead of root grafting

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Usually 100% success with all holes. Now (mid summer) is probably as good a time as ever - when the trees are growing vigorously. Any un-rooted holes will callous over.

[@nicotine007]

@@danbartonslifewithbonsai745 with that success rate this is a game changer, I have quite a few trees that I was thinking of doing root grafts but acquiring graft stock is hard, this is so much easier. I was thinking of doing this at repotting time, as I’ll have easier access to the roots, and then instead of the mesh cage just pot it up deeper iand maybe put a layer of sphagnum on top. What do u think of this?

[@W9SL9Y]

Love new techniques to try. Please could you share the authors name (spelling) really interested to read up on this'd what purpose the match sticks have, great video Dan!

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

The author's name was Deborah Koreshov. I gave my copy of her book away to a friend and can't rember its title - sorry!

[@W9SL9Y]

@@danbartonslifewithbonsai745 Bonsai: Its Art, Science, History and Philosophy by Deborah R. Koreshoff?

[@marosbonsai]

Hi Dan. I see this technique for the first time. I have a tree where I probably try it. Very interesting, indeed. Are roots supposed to grow directly at the places of drilled holes? Thanks for sharing.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

The matchsticks will rot away, and yes, the roots usually develop where the holes were drilled and treated with rooting hormone compound.

[@marcopaganelli6059]

Hi Dan this procedure is very interesting in promoting roots exactly where you would love without the need to innest new ones with other little trees. If one would just be ok to have a major mass of roots usually the best technique for getting a response from the plant would be to partially decorticate a larger reagion close to where we would love roots to appear like we do with air layering but I appreciate so much this technique u have shown cause it lead to a very precise intervention on where you want to form new roots ❤ I'm also wondering the reason you put the sticks inside the holes is it to prevent cambium just to close the hole quickly without actually form any roots eventually? Just in case of an hugely nebari the air layering technique applied with the grid just above the bad nebari as you also are showing in this process may be applied to the whole trunk of a tree with problems of equal distribution of roots and usually gives a great amount of newly formed roots in a round so the nebari will slowly form out of the tiny new roots once they start to age this works great with japanese maples for instance and can lead to that wonderful great merged and plan nebari we may observe in old bonsai maples expecially if we use a wood table underneath the roots to encourage them to fuse all together 🌹❤

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you for your kind remaks - much appreciated. The match sticks are to hold the rooting hormone in - they will rot away in time.

[@marcopaganelli6059]

U will live enough longer to see every improvement on your plants ❤

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

I hope so!

[@MehranAshkanian]

It was really interesting. But i didn,t uite get the first 3 or four chemicals names. If you can remember the name i appreciate if you let us all know. And when is the best season to do such a technique ? Already appreciate your reply. Goodluck to you my friend 🌲🙏🌲🙏

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

You can use any rooting hormone gel or powder obtainable from most garden centres. Also, "Superthrive" is a useful additive obtained through Amazon. The best time is in late spring after the first lot ot leaves have hardened off. Good luck!

[@paolomh113]

Hi, interesting! could you 'tell' how long ago you applied this technique to the example tree? I'm gonna try on a failed approach root graft. Thank you.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

It took about a year but it depends on the age of the tree. Older trunks slower than youger trunks

[@raysbonsai]

Fantastic video Dan really enjoyed it, but can't work out you're use of matchsticks

[@luigiluigi2098]

The matchsticks are pushing and holding the rooting hormone into the drilled hole.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

The matchsticks are to plug the rooting hormone gel - they'll rot away in time

[@ChannelSobari]

Nice bonsai♥️♥️🙏

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Thank you

[@ChannelSobari]

Nica bonsai👍🙏♥️❤️

[@backbudbonsai]

Clever technique…….. I thought u might have tried “thread grafting” some seedlings instead. Has this technique worked for u in the past??

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Yes - I showed you an example in the video of where I'd succeeded with the technique on a trident maple. Take another look.

[@t3dwards13]

I just bought a new house...So I'm cheap and only use cinnamon as a rooting hormone for now.

[@danbartonslifewithbonsai745]

Well that's new to me!!!