Making Bonsai from a Mugo Pine

You don't need to spend the earth to create a bonsai. In this video I take Mugo Pine material that can be purchased at a garden centre or nursery and turn it into a very respectable Bonsai.
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[@mame6508]

Please update us the health of the pines in the future. I have learned so much from your free youtube videos. Thank you dear Peter

[@headingnorth5701]

I loved hearing even you say, "I don't know if I've done the right thing " after making the drastic chop. It's heartening to know even learned experts can doubt themselves and even make mistakes.

[@peterchan3100]

We are all human

[@5877user]

Yes, I agree. With all his expertise he’s still humble, but very informative.

[@yopage]

I go back and watch Peter's video's several times. So inspirational!! These Pines are beautiful.

[@my_bonsai_and_koi]

It's wonderful to get this inspiration on Sunday mornings. Thank you, I'm going to my trees right now ...

[@sallyhumphreys2410]

I can see that it doesn't get that much easier making 'the big cut,' even after all your years of experience. But look, two beautiful trees. Lovely job, Peter 😊 SML

[@colincrawford4397]

Nothing gets me more stoked than when Peter pulls out the big loppers

[@jerrefisher2184]

Thank you Peter for another lovely teaching! I’ve never been disappointed with your instruction. Also,.... I always love the shirts!

[@MidniteSan]

Splendid..less is more indeed Peter. Beautiful and look healthy, surely they will grow strong and beautiful..can't wait for the next video..cheers

[@pip110.5]

Amazing Peter. Love the shirt. Thank you.

[@angie3504]

Such a beautiful bonsai...thank you for your inspiration and mentoring

[@smee1969]

Excellent Peter !! I have 4 of these Mugo in pots !!! Love how soft they are ..Thankyou again 🤗

[@mykorizzo6579]

Yet another colourful and extravagant shirt. Keep doing what you're doing Peter!

[@Mjmcarlson]

Many thanks and life’s blessings to you, good teacher!

[@lightningslim]

I love your books Peter, but I think that these videos are going to be a great legacy! Don't pop your clogs for a long time yet though! 😊

[@mattildahubbardo]

your videos are apreciated. i just got my first mugo pine today

[@saldan702]

I would never ever thought in my life to hear a "bonsai drama". I will use it as much as I can

[@angelaraneta159]

been watching your videos and every time i drive to work and see trees along my route i picture them out as bonsais.. is it just me? lol!!

[@peterchan3100]

No no - we all do that. Even now I still get distracted by beautiful trees growing by the roadside

[@RicksAquariumsuk]

Lovely work, I've been watching your videos for a very long time, and learned a lot about bonsai helping me with my own trees great work

[@harkarajrai6377]

Wow! A great result from a great decision! 🙏🙏🙏

[@MF-fc5vk]

Stunning work peter😊

[@joshhhuagarcia1890]

Excellent video and nice shirts. Thank you for sharing your work.

[@anorganist]

Thank you for offering your thought process.

[@yoyis95]

thanks Peter, excellent video,

[@Alypinkflower]

Lots of work put into this big boy.. excellent job on it

[@sallybeck7822]

I bought one sometime ago from a garden nursery intending to bonsai it but ended up planting it in garden for fear of mismanaging it. I shall now dig it up and brave some work on it after your very helpful instruction. Really enjoyed my visit last year to your wonderful nursery. Many thanks again for your video.

[@markn3586]

Thank you for the video. Inspiring, and instructive.

[@makeshiftmonk]

I was pondering if I should save a mugo pine from my local nursery in Minnesota, now I am running there to bring it home!!! Thanks again Peter and best wishes friend!! :::=^)

[@anthonykatss1865]

Nice Peter!

[@adrianeggleton980]

Hi Sam, Great irrigation and cool wisteria.... awesome shout out too mate👍 Cheers Adrian

[@matthewhaviland5314]

You sir are amazing! You have a gift. Thank you for information and inspiration

[@bruh_hahaha]

ugh he makes it look so easy! 😁

[@TheNatrjack965]

Excellent video peter thank you ..

[@russelldooley6262]

Excellent after work. Mugos can be quite a handful. Nice video

[@youtute7135]

yo that parrot shirt is LIT AF

[@timdady4660]

Love the large pine , I have two small Mugo Pines on the go . Thanks

[@mamanbear1]

Beautiful job and I that shirt.

[@mattbrennan647]

Great job as usual Peter. Here in Connecticut Mugo’s are readily available at garden centers, I love working with them. Thanks

[@theponk1]

I love you sensei. You have taught me well... I must visit and say hi next time I'm down Rye.

[@doscucharas]

Fantastic video this one

[@simon-qy2xe]

amazing video. I really like your long videos because you can watch the whole video or skip some parts

[@dennisbeers]

What a great video, thank you.

[@rolineland5207]

Thanks for the awesome video

[@brianlam9736]

Would love to see an update on this big mugo pine you did last year!

[@cerabellamoanism6845]

💔🙀⚔️Beautiful!!!❤️🧑🏼‍🎨 You’re an artist!

[@nikandluketravel]

Beautiful. Plus you can set your watch by the planes flying overhead in a Herons video.

[@peterchan3100]

I dont hear the planes even though I live here

[@margaretsims4344]

What a fine result. Iv just obtained a small Mugo mops I’m going to practice on. It Looks multi trunk but I will remove some top soil to see what ‘lies beneath’ ! Thanks for your guidance. (And I must get some of your plastic training pots).

[@davidm8857]

Precioso trabajo.

[@Ben-lo7cy]

I’m in the US and have been thinking about trying a mugo. When they’re sold there’s a ton of branches/trunks growing rights out of the soil but if you dig your hand down I can usually feel a big base

[@Gbhmagic]

My issues were with the whorls. Most non bonsai stock has rather large ones already

[@sophiaangelini4368]

In Vienna with a coffee; watching Master Chan teaching magic on a Mugo Pine

[@gabrielookami8774]

Very nice tutorial, thanks Peter, hoping for an update of the second one to see its evolution over time :) !

[@nicklewis3802]

Thankyou for the video, I only checked my phone to see if I had a lovely Saturday video from my favourite master! Thanks mate!

[@les471]

Haha today is sunday

[@nicklewis3802]

@@les471 oh god I lost a day!

[@les471]

@@nicklewis3802 oh no 😂😂

[@robertobreglia2544]

God jobs 👍👍

[@circularpizzabox2134]

Mic drop @21:22 That was amazing. “All that is coming off..spikes it on the table..”

[@mrcool7100]

Very educational

[@newzealandgreen9299]

I just came across these shopping baskets lol Sounds like my strolls Endless wisdom

[@timothyalford5790]

The music at the end is incredible..

[@Elophee]

Lovely, thanks. I've seen one little Wintergold Mungo with a nice big trunk the other day at the nursery and I really want to try turning it in a bonsai. However, there is no direct sun in my garden, does anybody know if mungo pines can be fine without direct sun?

[@terrysharing]

Thank you.

[@briankavanagh7191]

Peter with just the top cut off and a training pot you can visualise how this tree will look in the future, will you create a new leader from the smaller branches lower down the new leader next year to create an awesome taper? Another couple of £££££'s on the price of the Peter Chan trees and rightly so. A really good video with simple guidance on creating a Pine bonsai 👍

[@MrDoggy2024]

Mr. Chan would you explain in some of your future videos , how to prune Thuja bonsai?

[@insideddsworld]

Hi, thank you for this video, it was very informative. Just wanted to ask, could you do all of this training to an outside growing pinus? Like one that is in the landscape?

[@MrCalbber]

All this channel is missing is a 1080p video, but at least it's 720p. Nonetheless i enjoy watching your videos!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I seem to be using your videos all the time now Peter. I just found two garden centre Mugo's for 50% off so I think I might take your advice and see what happens. My only questions is at what point would you consider the next repot and how would you consider going to an akadama based mix?

[@PotrabukChanel]

👍👍👍

[@PatriciaAnnGriggs]

That looks like a very hard job this time for that little tree

[@richs4878]

Love Peter’s videos! That said everything I read says repot Mugo pines in summer and to be gingerly with the roots as they don’t like root disturbance. Then again I know Peter finds “rules” as guidelines and breaks them all the time and there’s no denying his success. I just picked up a few of these in 4” pots and they’re very root bound and I’m thinking I should wait until next June to repot....hmmmm

[@peterchan3100]

You can do it any time but if you do it in the middle of winter you need to protect them in a greenhouse

[@richs4878]

peter chan thank you Peter. I’m in the San Francisco Bay Area and we have very mild and sometimes wet winters so I’ll have them outdoors in 40-60F weather for the next few months. What I did with one of them is I took it out of the rootbound 4” plastic pot, and am leaving the existing root ball and soil mix as is. I then took a 6” slightly deeper plastic pot and inverted the old 4” empty pot in the bottom. I then placed the undisturbed Mugo rootball on top of the inverted plastic pot within the new 6” pot and filled around the sides with a mixture of akadama, pumice, lava rock and bark, about 30/30/30/10 proportioned mix. This way I’m not disturbing the root ball yet am giving some space and some moisture around and below the root ball. I figure this as a temporary measure until next June. So far in only a week I swear the heads are expanding and growing better than the others I’ve left in their 4” pots (we’ve had some very mild late autumn weather here so some plants continue to grow...

[@matyourin]

How these makeovers turn into bushido lessons 😁

[@dienadel30]

So Mugo Pine clippings can't be replanted ? Specially the big decision you took off ? Another inspirational video. My fig ficus graft from "The Home Depot" is responding well to it's transition from a house plant to a bonsai ! Thank you for helping me cut it up !! :) It really stimulated it and even if I fail on the main ficus I had 5 clippings from it that rooted and are deep green late in season. My fresh water tank loves it too hehe

[@lamvuondep]

😍

[@JPWick]

been some time now, would like to see how these 2 examples are coming along.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Thank you. I have a pine that needs chopping. I think it's a Loblolly. Grows very fast. One is still in the ground. I'll chop it today but do you think I should wait til February to dig it up? Florida 9b.

[@peterchan3100]

You are not so cold in Florida - so it would be OK to dig it up now but if in doubt - wait till Feb

[@andersnrregren9087]

What is the most common the mugo wintergold is crafted/grafted on? My tree have a branch from low part of trunk that is from below the graft spot and i whonder what it is becus it dont turn gold in winter

[@steveharris2944]

Superb video as always. For conifers head to Lime Cross Nursery in Herstmonceux. Sorry to plug a nursery on your channel but I agree it's hard to find a centre that sells superb quality conifers and this place is an absolute conifer haven

[@peterchan3100]

I knew Johnathan (the father of the present owner) for many years until he sadly passed away. He was a renowned conifer grower.

[@Gbhmagic]

Is working on roots and top advised? I have always thoughts that it's best flto limit work to one insult per year.

[@peterchan3100]

You saw that I didn't take or cut much root off. So this is OK

[@lorismiotto88dilegnoamano]

Good job. Please explain after how long can wire be removed from the tree branches. Thx. Best regards. Lori

[@mchlbk]

I'm not sure I understand the apex of the second tree. Wouldn't the new apex be better if it was wired in an even more stiff lateral configuration? Or is that the next step in perhaps a year?

[@garysnell4890]

Hi Peter I bought a Mugo pine from you and have just attempted to repot it after removing from the pot and cleaning the roots I found that I had eight separate trees is that a regular occurrence and was I right to separate them .

[@urosknezevic3504]

This big one can surive winter without protection?

[@matthewelliott4067]

At what point should the transition be made to a bonsai soil for the smaller plant in training?

[@sharpshader]

Would love to hear Peters opinion on the ethics of Yamadori. If the tree is growing happily in the wild should you take it because you want it? Should you only take trees which are obviously in a precarious position, at risk of being destroyed etc.

[@peterchan3100]

I have aired my views before and will do so again. Essentially my views are as follows. If you collect from private land with permission - then it is OK. Sometimes, if the trees are going to be dug up anyway for road works or building works and there is no option for saving them - then that is OK. But if it is from public areas like mountains and fields and you dont have permission, then that is stealing. The other point I wish to make is that if a tree is really old and looks good growing naturally, and collecting it might endanger its survival - then it should be left alone for others to enjoy. On balance, I dont think collecting is ethical. I grow all my own material in my growing fields.

[@sharpshader]

@@peterchan3100 Thanks for the clear and concise reply Peter. I'm always on the lookout for trees which are in genuine need of rescuing. I found a Norway maple seedling growing in a drain on the side of the road. I'm sure it was just a matter of when it would die, not if.

[@peterchan3100]

@@sharpshader I am not talking of this sort of thing but really nice old gnarled trees growing on the mountains

[@maverickstclare3756]

"Bonsai people are stingy" - the shopkeeper speaks :) soon to be on Open All Hours I have to keep away from nurseries, "aw poor tree, come home with me, I'll give you some nice food and shelter"

[@jameswalker3416]

And a hair cut

[@mirandusings]

Interesting that in the UK Mugo Pines are rarely for sale. Mugo Pine is a very common garden center / nursery plant in the United States.

[@EileenMKeyes]

Why are the Mugo pines grafted? Are they all done that way? Asking from New Mexico, USA.

[@daver9643]

Can I use banzai soil or a cactus succulent soil?

[@angie3504]

Does this tree need feeding while in the greenhouse Peter?

[@chriskennedy8514]

Can someone explain why you would chose a new branch as the leader? Is it just to create new directional movement?

[@slamboy66]

Where do you get your shirts?

[@thomaskauffman983]

i thought Mugo did not back bud very good? At least I have not had much luck!

[@mcdoubleu]

Would you have any concerns about leaving the Mugos outside for the winter after working on them, as opposed to in the unheated greenhouse?

[@peterchan3100]

You should protect it when temps fall below freezing. Keep in an unheated shed but when temps rise - put it outside again. Where do you live?

[@mcdoubleu]

@@peterchan3100 Washington State, USA - I think pretty similar to you climate wise. This is our first winter with bonsai and we are trying to figure out how much needs protection!

[@thedevourer.]

Could you leave the wire on with a Mugo like you did with Black Pines? I have a twin trunk mugo that I wanna split

[@peterchan3100]

Yes you can. It will swell in the same way

[@nollm23]

@21:22 Thug Lyfe

[@ferranmartinez9213]

Thank you Master for sharing this video. About a month ago I transplanted a nursery pinus mugo. Everything was going well until recently I had to leave home a few days, the substrate dried and now it has begun to dry the tips and several leaves of the pine. What do you suggest I do? If you can answer, I would greatly appreciate it. Regards 👍😊

[@peterchan3100]

I need to see what the tree looks like in order to advise.

[@ferranmartinez9213]

@@peterchan3100 Peter.Thanks for answering. How could I send you a photo? if possible

[@peterchan3100]

@@ferranmartinez9213 Send to my email. [e-mail]

[@ferranmartinez9213]

@@peterchan3100 Thank you very much for your hayudar. We all learn from mistakes Master Peter👌

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

Ferran, if you ever do that again, put the tree in the container, put it in a larger plastic pot, fill with water till it's maybe 1/2" into the bottom of the root ball level, deeper if it will be a week, it saves you from having a dead tree, the water will wick up.

[@PsychoAxeMan]

What kind of wire do u use?

[@maverickstclare3756]

black anodised aluminium

[@dmitrimikrioukov5935]

Who knows which pine is easier as bonsai: sylvestris or mugo? Where I live the sylvestris is actually the most common tree in the wild, but the mugo plantings get infected with some bugs. On the other hand, the mugo is more compact, so maybe will do better in a pot or even inside for a part of the year. So just wondering.

[@berb8300]

maybe do a picea species sometime

[@stuartbaines2843]

Must try Pine bark normally use Coir as a base medium 🤔

[@cherylandrews3195]

what 2 trees are grafted to make the mugo pine?

[@LounoirRecords]

the rootstock seams to always be sylvestris (scots pine), the grafted on part is obviously the mugo pine it's named after :)

[@jonatha.ramirez351]

Can I repot my bonsai at this time of the year? I think it’s a juniper procumbes

[@richs4878]

Jonatha. Ramirez early spring is what I understand for this, or late winter in mild areas.

[@jonatha.ramirez351]

Thanks

[@slamboy66]

Don't be greedy, lop it off. I know I feel 10x better after a nice 70% haircut.

[@thephilarmy5]

21:17 could have made another bonsai from that top 🔝🎄

[@peterchan3100]

No they dont grow from cuttings