Making Bonsai from Spruce - Clip and Grow Technique

In this video we style some Spruce Bonsai. We work a variety of sizes of Bonsai and to style the foliage we use the clip and grow technique.
Hi everyone! Today I re-style four Spruce Bonsai. One features an 'S Curve,' which we initially styled at Herons Bonsai with Peter Chan. There's a large formal upright Bonsai, a small Shohin-sized Bonsai, and finally, a Mame-sized Bonsai.
I explore several crucial Bonsai techniques that you can incorporate into your own practice, such as trunk splitting and the process of adding raffia to shield the tree from wire scars. This precaution allows us to apply heavy wire and execute a significant bend in the tree.
Bonsai Vlog at Herons Bonsai: • A Trip To Herons Bonsa...
I also discuss the springy and elastic nature of Spruce as a species for Bonsai, explaining why I believe that, for the majority of foliage styling, employing the clip and grow technique will result in a more natural and interesting look.
What is Clip and Grow in Bonsai?
The Clip and Grow technique in Bonsai involves a strategic approach to pruning and shaping a tree for desired aesthetics. Initially, branches are pruned to establish the basic structure, after which new shoots are allowed to grow. These shoots, in turn, develop into secondary branches and twigs. The key to this technique lies in regularly trimming the new growth to maintain the desired shape and size, encouraging the development of fine branching and a denser foliage. By directional pruning we can create and refine the overall form of the Bonsai.
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00:00 - Intro.
00:33 - The Spruce Trees.
01:27 - Herons Bonsai Workshop Spruce.
01:47 - The Bonsai Tools Used.
03:12 - How to Use Trunk Splitters in Bonsai.
06:09 - How to Apply Raffia on Bonsai.
11:36 - Wiring the Trunk.
12:56 - Bending the Trunk.
13:55 - Adding Soil for Stability (Compost and Perlite Soil Mix).
14:28 - How to Decide on a Front of a Bonsai - (Best Viewing Angle).
15:39 - Pruning - Clip and Grow Technique.
18:40 - Formal Upright Spruce Bonsai.
20:18 - How to Create a Leader on a Bonsai.
21:30 - Applying Cut Putty.
22:10 - Directional Pruning.
22:51 - Working on Shohin Sized Spruce Bonsai.
24:23 - Wiring and Shaping Mame Sized Spruce Bonsai.
26:11 - Beauty Shots.
26:43 - Outro.
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[@tanarehbein7768]

You communicate very well and have some great tips. I'm so glad to see your generation interested in this art form and communicating it in your own art form(u tube)😊 Good job!

[@Anthony_Mo_Ro]

I'm excited to see how these trees will evolve through clipping and growing. I hope for you the 'S' curve will stick after removing the wire this time 🤞 I actually really liked the night shots, for some reason, although it probably wasn't very practical 😅

[@jolu77]

I am happy to see videos from Notion Bonsai again, Adam! Cheerful and informative.

[@notionbonsai]

😀Thanks man!

[@casandraolund9006]

I live on the west coat of Canada those trees are literally everywhere. I just leave the wire on mine until I’m tired of the way it looks or it needs restyled then I take it off in August and start all over in Feb/march. Sometimes if you leave the wire on the trucks it embeds and makes the tree look old and gnarled just like other pines. I truly believe the only way you can kill them is by overwatering or planting them in a desert without water 😂they really are nice little 🌲 trees

[@milenaruzickova8026]

Souhlasim s tebou. Prvni zasada u pestovani bonsaji je naucit se zalevat podle potreby stromu a ne, ze jsem zvykly zalevat vse napr.kazde utery a sobotu....

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

A nice selection of newly styled trees :)

[@thejuanderful]

Sweet! I have a dwarf alberta spruce with which I plan to do a first styling soon. This videos gives me ideas while saving me from some of the pitfalls. I am planting a bunch of sitka spruce and blue spruce seedlings to grow out and train.

[@Val0rG]

I think another option you could do is to use guy wire to bring the branches down as this you can leave on a lot longer than wire and never really have to worry about any scarring. That + clip and grow.

[@donnadornbusch6738]

Love your instructions

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Great detailed demonstration Adam. I always look forward to your videos!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thanks Raymond!

[@mandrews93]

Welcome back :D

[@roderickburton6899]

Love your work mate! Great video.

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks very much Roderick! There will be lots more videos to come!!

[@mikec3820]

great video adam. lots of newbies start with these. me included . killed a few lol. saved a few sale rake finds.. made a few nice ones too. ive been rooting my own cuttings for material the past few seasons. letting them grow in ground for a few years. i like the trunk spilt one you made with peter . look forward to seeing your results. thanks and happy bonsai'ing

[@thebrightsidepotteryandbonsai]

Good to see you back, Adam! Great tutorial on Alberta Spruce!

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thanks so much!

[@_gabe_9556]

These are my favorite trees you’ve made :D

[@notionbonsai]

😁 Glad you like them!

[@shankill178]

Another great video Adam. Keep up the good work

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you Sam!!

[@Warriori2i]

very well done an keep filming !!!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks!! There will be lots more videos to come!

[@chrisleliveld]

i like it and i hope too see a lot more of your video,s

[@Grade_Fifth]

Semangat terus upload informasi yang berhargs. Bonsai yang sangat indah. 🍃

[@Darkfire1300]

So very glad your channel is back up! And double thanks for this picea video. I was just looking at my several trees huddled in a landscape bed from the crazy Idaho weather and trying to figure out what to do. Thanks to this video, I feel pretty confident now about my approach to these trees. They are hoping to be forgotten but no chance now. Thanks!!!

[@notionbonsai]

Me too Darkfire! Good luck with your Picea!

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video Adam 👊👊👊

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks 👍

[@GrowingBonsai]

Good stuff, and as always, brilliant videography quality.

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks so much Jelle!

[@Steves_Backyard_Bonsai]

Hi Adam. I have 3 Dwarf Alberta Spruce to perform a 2nd styling on this coming growing season. They are all wintering outdoors. 2 are still in nursery pots, so a root pruning is scheduled for those. I’ve have also learned my lesson on spring back, so it will be clipped and grow for me as well. Excellent video.

[@notionbonsai]

Nice one Steve!

[@miroslawkaczor7082]

Great content as always👍

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you!

[@user-cz8ym9zu9e]

Your site is very instructional. Thank you! It's English and everyday words. You explain why you are making the moves you are. Thanks!!

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Janet!

[@The_Bonsai_Hut]

Great video, it is nice to see a range of spruce under development. Though I have limited bonsai experience, spruce are one of the species of trees I have been working with. I have had good results with limiting spring back of branches following the removal of wire. I reference, Dan Barton's book "The Bonsai Book" where he describes using a knife to cut the length of the underside of branches being wired. The resulting callus that forms seems to set the branch in place and does not form a visible scar. Thank you for the great videos, they have helped me tremendously.

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your experience with spruce bonsai! I may try this valuable tip in the future!! Definitely sounds interesting!

[@user-bx8dp2cc4i]

❤❤❤thank you so much✨🌠✨ well done bonsai 💖🌳💖 3:10 🍀08:07_05/03-24🌷🤩

[@KennetDeBondt]

Nice vid, Adam. I gave up on Alberta: no backbud. Clip and grow would indeed be a good solution. Grts Kennet

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks Kennet! I hope these backbud for me!

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

I love working on my DAS but they are springy, I did get some basic shape early but I switched a year ago to cut and grow also, was talking to Peter about doing the Bristlecone Pines, then covid happened, hope we can visit them someday and have Peter do a class.

[@notionbonsai]

Ahh nice one! You should totally visit Herons Bonsai if you get the chance!

[@joegarland4885]

Nice to see you haven’t seen you for a While, the second tree you dealt with I think you could have taken down a bit more as they are so flexible but it’s your trees so you decide the styling of them, just feel you missed a trick I did a young straight Scots pine the other day and made it super small mame frm 18inches to just over 2 inches.Getting closer and close now to repotting and styling can’t wait to get on with it. All the best. Joe

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you for your advice Joe!

[@Happy_Buddah_Bonsai_UK]

💚💚💚

[@notionbonsai]

😁😁

[@Bonsaicare86]

Oh the tree was very wobbly 😢 I think it needs a lot of rest now to survive! If you want to prevent it from springing back to its original position, use tension wire! Greetings from Germany.

[@notionbonsai]

For sure!! Thank you for the advice!

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Picea are a frustrating tree to work on, due to their flexibility and elasticity. 👍 I used a wire pulley/tourniquet thrown over the top of the tree to add a major bend. As the tree grew its own growth added to the tension pulling the apex downwards. I left this on for about 2 years.

[@notionbonsai]

I have seen yours and you did a great job on shaping them!!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@andrewclack4881]

have you been watching Hanh Tran Baloc videos?

[@PatrickvanDijk]

Thanks, I really like ur vids. You prob get this question a lot, but which cut putty do you use? 🙌🏼

[@notionbonsai]

Hey thanks so much Patrick! The brand I use is called KIKUWA I believe

[@moonwatcher922]

Hello Adam, great videos picea video; what is the cutting paste you used?

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! The cut putty i use is from a brand called KIKUWA

[@atomartin]

If a spruce comes back to ist initial shape after removing the wire, that means that the tree does not get enough new wooden tissues, which could hold the new shape

[@notionbonsai]

Thank you for your advice!! ☺ I think for these ones I will go more clip and grow 🌳

[@patricksands9337]

I'm curious to know how this tree is doing after the trunk split

[@notionbonsai]

It is still alive and well 😄 the trunk probably hasn't set in place yet though!

[@smallpiper5876]

In another episode you said you've had amazing results with apple cuttings. What's the best season? I'm in late winter in southern Canada.

[@notionbonsai]

Hey! I found spring is the best time to take cuttings of apple.

[@lougriffiths]

Not a easy tree to style, as back budding is difficult to achieve. I have just tried some trunk grafting. We will see if they take

[@notionbonsai]

Aw this is so great to hear!! Thank you for watching my channel 😀

[@atomartin]

I thought rthe tree must bei wired in the same direction as raffia (or raffia must be wound in the same direction as the wire later on)

[@notionbonsai]

It is good practice to do this yeah!!

[@sandeepchaturvedi1]

can we have deodar bonsai ?

[@christymartin6281]

Can you provide the brand of the cut putty?

[@notionbonsai]

The Brand I am using is KIKUWA

[@lawless-f]

Don't late agin😢

[@bryanmorrion9503]

So if you are going to wire the tree clockwise over the raffia do you have to wrap the tree clockwise with the raffia. ?👍🦘🇦🇺

[@bryanmorrion9503]

I think the small one as even for a older novice you can see a result quite quickly. Something that can take 10 plus years would probably be to long and one wouldn’t see the end result 👍🇦🇺🦘

[@shankill178]

Another great video Adam. Keep up the good work

[@notionbonsai]

Thanks very much Sam!