Making Horse Chesnut or Conker Trees into Bonsai

[@davinatest8467]

After becoming a fan of this Chanel I can’t go anywhere without considering all trees for a bonsai project...but Peter Chan is the true Bonsai Whisperer👏

[@paular6759]

"It's larger than my head!" With all love and respect to the books, they just don't do justice to his personality like these self-published videos. And I learn something new every time!

[@Dragon-Slay3r]

Put it in the kids mouth and ask for onions for the fish chips 😭

[@kevinparker461]

Got two in pots i planted with my 2 year old daughter 26 years ago. Beautiful trunks & the leaves are smaller. Would love to see the 'Candles' growing on them but nothing yet.

[@cielomcmeekin7296]

That conker tree is beautiful! I've heard about it but never actually seen one

[@noelmccomb7577]

I have a new conker bonsai. My question is when do you remove the tap root?

[@SysterYster]

When you plant the chestnuts, can you do so in the autumn indoors? Like with oaks? Or do they need to have the cold period first? I've got a bunch of conkers that I picked, but I'm unsure if I can do like with the oaks, or not.

[@cor3944]

I would give them (conker and oaks) a frost period in the freezer, otherwise the mice will pick them up in the winter.

[@SysterYster]

@@cor3944 I put them in humid sphagnum in the fridge over winter. Three of them "woke up" in March. I have planted two of them and they're growing fine. :)

[@mikenco]

In olde English, if something is "horse", then it is less pure, often bigger and uglier. Horse Chestnut is a bigger, uglier (inedible) version of the Chestnut. A Horse Mackerel is a bigger, uglier version of the common Mackerel fish. Even a common phrase like "horse play", means that it's misbehaving, or an improper form of 'play'. All that said, the Horse Chestnut is a beautiful tree with an amazing leaf cycle and fruit! :D

[@mejpark]

I recently visited Herons for some help turning my 13 year-old horse chestnut tree into a bonsai. Peter kindly root pruned and repotted the tree for me, free of charge. What a delightful human being he is. Keep doing what you are doing Peter, you are awesome!

[@HovoisHome]

Thank you, for your videos. They offer tranquility.

[@Benderwii]

You should make t-shirts saying "let's move on" =).

[@holyek7892]

Peter Chan is the only reason I have things to do during the quarantine.

[@billiamc1969]

Hope you have plenty to do...9 more months easy

[@maxinla2501]

Still in quarantine ?? Where do you live ?

[@holyek7892]

@@maxinla2501 México

[@AllanDrJones]

Peter, I much rather get my information from YOU than Google! Please keep the videos coming! I cannot watch any other bonsai videos; everyone else is just subpar. :)

[@MidniteSan]

I fancy that last conker tree, don't have any yet😍😍. Beautiful trees, bravo Peter. Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see the next one.stay safe to all and Cheers 😄.

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

My ode to Conker bonsai: Horse chestnut bonsai Conquer growing habit, leaves Like dinner plates

[@Taargkrizzt]

A beautifull haiku :)

[@suer666]

So glad you posted this. I started a sycamore as bonsai over 20 years ago but have never thought anyone would appreciate it as a bonsai. I love its trunk but struggle with the branchwork as sometimes they just die. But I persevere. Now its looking good and now because of this video I have ideas how to improve it. Thanks again

[@d.sherlock5359]

Late, I know. But I was taught as a child that horse chestnut is so called because if you break a leaf off, the cross section of the base of the stem is a horse shoe shape.

[@edwardkopczyk4699]

I am so glad that you have done this video as I started my first ever bonsai as a horse chestnut and was told oops you picked the wrong species however 30 years later they look really nice

[@tomrijnberg7358]

They're called horse chestnuts because the ends of the leafs are horseshoe shaped. In Dutch it's called a 'paardenkastanje' which means exactly the same as the English name.

[@IrishAnonymous01]

My first bonsai I made, before I knew what it was, was when I tied a small chestnut seedling in a full knot and kept it small! Five years on and it's still growing strong. I've planted it in the ground to help it on but I will pot it again soon.

[@pundy993]

The poem about the village smithy and the spreading chestnut tree was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Since he was an American, he was probably referring to the American chestnut and not a European variety of horse chestnut.

[@C1tyground5155]

I don’t think I could have removed that branch mr chan ,but you proved your point once again.

[@jimbersmcimbers]

I have fond memories of collecting conkers from a huge tree by my nan's on the way home from school. We'd varnish them, soak them in vinegar and all sorts attempting to create the unbreakable smashing device! I'm sure its banned in schools now! Nuts!

[@simonesmit6708]

We did the same here in western Canada. And it wasn't just boys. Lol.

[@jimbersmcimbers]

@@simonesmit6708 yes, I used to collect them with my twin sis!

[@Shivangnis]

Even your cameraman is a plant lover, the way he gives us long shots of bonsais before catching up with you. Love your Hawaiian shirt & hat but I’m sure you’ve been told all this before. 🙏🏻 Gurudev ji 🙏🏻

[@rickcill]

Peter, i am not sure if you still read commands on these old videos, but the double flowering conker tree is an '' Aesculus hippocastanum 'Baumannii' '' They will have the double flowers but no fruit (just in case you would like to have more of those)

[@siobhangladwell5221]

I have a bonsai conker ,my dad started 52 years ago unfortunately its never flowered

[@ziriyab]

Such a wonderful and generous video, thank you Peter. And the most beautiful shirt so far!

[@itisjustmedude]

The American chestnut is Castanea dentata, the horse chestnut we have here is Aesculus hippocastanum, the Ohio buckeye is Aesculus glabra, the yellow buckeye is Aesculus flava, and the California buckeye is Aesculus californica. We also have a chestnut oak Quircus prinus that has simple leaves that look just like chestnut leaves. The sweet buckeye, sweet chestnut and red buckeye aren't as well known or have never been very common here.

[@peterchan3100]

Thank you for the useful info

[@sirimewanranjithganepola1367]

When I bought my first house in Uk in 1996, I inherited a horse chestnut that looked exactly like the final result after you managed to saw and quite dramatically kick off the second stem on your tree. Twenty or so years later, I had to remove it because of its proximity to the house and the problems it created. Five years later, I am still finding seedlings all over my garden that happens to be over an acre. I have always been a keen gardener and a collector of exotic plants, but the lockdown and enforced solitude have made me think about Bonsai (I used to call foot binding for trees)as a hobby. Herons Bonsai and Peter Chan, in particular, has been my inspiration and I have been watching his youtube videos over and over again for the last four months. I have already collected stray seedlings (Yamadori) of Oaks, horse chestnuts, hawthorn, and many other plants I would otherwise have thrown in the compost heap. I am looking forwards to growing them on. I will continue to watch your very informative videos and thank you for the knowledge you are very keen to transfer.

[@greglongenecker1772]

Peter it’s just amazing how much I have learned from you ...thank you so much :)

[@audryscraftingchannel3597]

I carry a plastic ziplock bag with me. Often I find little trees everywhere I go. Seedlings, up to a few years old. Usually in the sidewalk cracks; under the sides of shrubs; all kinds of cast aside places. Nobody cares that you pluck them up. Many times they've been cut back several times already and have interesting shapes to them.

[@maverickstclare3756]

It's so easy to collect seedlings, you can get dozens around an adult. I even have some as indoor trees

[@SysterYster]

Will they survive indoors? Without a winter?

[@jadebolt4416]

@@SysterYster Depending on how big you let the plant get, you can simulate winter by putting them in the fridge for a few months. the little ones he had would probably fit in the fridge easily. deciduous trees that lose their leaves shut down photosynthesis entirely so being in the dark wont be an issue

[@SysterYster]

@@jadebolt4416 I currently have them on the balcony. On really cold days I take them indoors to the cellar. It worked on my other deciduous trees last winter. :)

[@garystewart6093]

Growing up, I only ever had one grandfather. If I could choose another, I would choose Peter.

[@robcottam2]

First to watch! Lol. Waiting on my shirts! Thanks for all you do sir

[@chrisrose323]

Got mine the other day. It was a good day!

[@hornebee1]

Waiting on mine also. It will probably take a while as I live in Louisiana in the USA.

[@lizlapre1512]

@@hornebee1 Me too. Where do you live in La.?

[@hornebee1]

liz lapre I live in Bossier City. How about you?

[@lizlapre1512]

@@hornebee1 I live in Covington. Waiting for my shirt as well. Nice to know I'm not the only Louisianian here!

[@mohamadsabsabi5202]

Please Mr show us more of fruit bonsai ....

[@billiamc1969]

An excellent pollinator habitat tree too sir...there are 2 massive horse chestnut trees, 100+ ft tall, in my neighborhood and when they bloom the entire tree is buzzing with activity...

[@jgurtz]

Wow, I never was aware that the American variety was so dramatically different, and that there were the other varieties! Such an unexpected tree to learn about here and glad to see it, a very good representation in a pot of the fully sized tree in nature. I must say I don't particularly like the twiggy habit of it but I could get used to it. Its form is not unlike that of the eucalyptus trees here in California with that boxy upright appearance. They share the "suckering" tendency and that rangy twiggy growth. This makes me wonder if a eucalyptus could actually be a good bonsai; they have such a nice smell and nice looking fruits/nuts too. For that matter, maybe also the California Bay Laurel..

[@SuperVlerik]

"Horse Chestnut": the word "horse" is applied to a number of plants where it is used to indicate their coarseness, or crudeness. In the case of Aesculus, clearly there is some similarity between conkers and true chestnuts (if you look quickly or don't pay too much attention to detail). "Horse Radish" is another example. Sharp tasting like a radish, but in comparison, a brute.

[@peterchan3100]

I didn't know that - Thank you

[@cor3944]

The same meaning of coarseness you‘ll find back in the word „horse remedy“.

[@creightonfreeman8059]

Oh, you have a Buckeye....our state tree here, and the mascot of my alma mater. I will have to try and bonsai some of them and see if they make as good a specimens as your English Horse Chestnut. They do look somewhat similar.

[@natfa4253]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience 🙏. Horse chestnuts are not for eating but useful for medical purposes.

[@edvickers667]

THANKS ONCE AGAIN PETER, GREAT SHOW. I TOOK YOUR ADVICE, I HAVE A RED MAPLE IN THE YARD WITCH HAS DROPPED SEEDLING ALL AROUND IT SELF. NOW I HAVE AROUND 50 4'' SEEDLINGS GROWING ALL POTTED UP ALONG WITH 12 3'' WHITE BIRCH ALL POTTED. TRYING TO GROW FROM SEED SMOKE TREE'S HAVE 30 OF THOSE POTTED 1'' TALL. ALL OF THESE LOVE THE SUN IN SMALL DOSESS & ALOT OF WATER. I GET ALOT OF ENJOYMENT CARING FOR THEM & SEEING THE RESULTS. SO THANKS PETER FOR GIVING ME THE CAPABILITY TO DO THIS FOR A GREAT HOBBY.

[@paullill5604]

Part 30 of Sunday breakfast with Peter Here we go Stay well Stay safe

[@attilalevai7630]

I do have one of these in my yard and have kept it for years in a pot and after having seen your videos I realized that I had had a bonsai all along :)

[@scottslack4339]

Thanks, I'm currently growing 3 from seedlings.

[@dotjelieveke]

Thanks for this video Peter. I love the last tree you chopped the second trunk off. I believe it will make a lovely bonsai. I collected two horse chestnut seedlings last summer, presumably 3 years old each. I let them be for now, watching them closely and allowing to establish and develop. Who knows, I might have a couple of cute trees in 30 years time :)

[@annebeginn2034]

Brilliant I have two conked trees on the go which I’ve had for a fair few years now. I have been cutting back and removing leaves and yes it does grow back. I was really worried to start with but I thought what the hell, have nothing to loose as it’s not your first choice as bonsai but they are a beautiful tree none the less. Thank you Peter for this long awaited video on this magnificent tree 😊

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

Dear Master Peter,I Love Conker Trees but I have also the yellow American Pavia👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@AmraphelofShinar]

The smaller versions of the leaves look like Virginia Creeper.

[@Sherman_616]

I dug out a giant stump of one last spring but it didn’t make it RIP lol probably not the best tree for Michigan winter

[@ahoffman83]

please do a video on mulberry as bonsai

[@icoria8979]

Love the shirt!!

[@Ukeitupmike]

hi Peter, thanks for this video. I should try this species. Is the same behaviour to be expected with the eatable chestnut? I have one, it had a leaf issue and I had to defoliate. Now I am not sure if it really will make it

[@G-boi]

I myself have two white horse chestnut trees, a large one and a small shohin size one.

[@FatYggdrasil]

funny... i just got a seedling 2 weeks ago from my grandmother and now there is a video about these trees

[@homemade_vancity]

I knew I could count on you to have trees that people would not normally grow ... just yesterday I found several conkers fallen from a tree at our local summer fair. While my wife and daughter went on a ride, I went to collect the conker pods to bring home. Adding my new finds to the list of seeds to stratify this winter season. Let's see if I can grow a shohin or even mame sized horse chestnut.

[@raggedbreath]

I'm going to give this a go?!

[@BryanQA]

This video popped up at just the right time, I have 10 conker trees in pots, I planted them last year, and was wondering about bonsai, thanks so much for this excellent video

[@fortnitegameplaysnb8365]

Very Nice Maple in the Background at 24:45minutes. How much will this one Cost? Best regards Harry

[@HootMaRoot]

Playing conkers these days in school will get you suspended as its supposedly a dangerous weapon and a health and safety hazard

[@peterchan3100]

Ha Ha - what is the world coming to !

[@Kooovi]

@@peterchan3100 I find myself asking this question way too often recently.

[@MARYANNE269]

Hi, I'm back.. 😊 wanting to find out about wiring now.. I did have 2 out of three conker sapling going goid.. But just recently 1 got too much sun and yhe leaves have all gone brown.. It had re grown after somthing ate the buds after winter.. but still alive.. I have a plain straight one and I want to give it a bit of a curve soo 🤞

[@SuperPeleke]

Those little bonsai are adorable compared to the full sized.

[@MARYANNE269]

Omg!I I have learnt so much.. thank you. I have 3 conker seedlings 1 is darker.. I am going to exsperiment with them.. All the best xx

[@earthknight60]

"Very rare"... super common through much of California and a different variety extremely common in the eastern portion of the Midwest US.

[@mikepex123]

Does anybody know when and how (much) to cut the taproot after sprouting? I live in The Netherlands and have just a single germinated chestnut. Thanks in advance

[@sivanagarajah913]

Hi I found two sprouted conkers in my garden. I have put them in a small bonsai pot and they are growing indoors. I like how they look presently - young green samplings. Will they survive indoors? Do I need to keep them outside?

[@ilovethemonkeyhead8523]

...and if you don't like the lower branches ,just kick them off 😄 By the way Horsechestnut can be used for making Soap !

[@lorigraham2496]

Hmm, my neighbor has a conker tree. It's October and I think I'll go scour the alley way for some nuts to plant. Who knows, I may find a seedling. Thanks for the tutorial.

[@Aurorafirefly]

I was absolutely enthralled by this video!..timeless advice, much appreciated xxx

[@maryshoemaker7593]

Peter... do the blooms have a scent? The flowers are beautiful!! I remember my childhood in N. Ohio... we had huge Buckeyes trees.. we always climbed in them!!

[@peterchan3100]

No they have no fragrance

[@derczak6241]

What is the right time in year to cut chestnuts? I have a 8 years old one. I have cut it already once. Last year I put it into my garden. It’s growing now really fast. Shall I cut it in summer or winter time?

[@atksenc]

your wisdom and energy are truly inspirational. Thank you for your content. We appreciate you!

[@piccio89]

Great interesting video here. Speaking about unusual plant to bonsai, have you some example of european walnut? Greetings and happy new year

[@Peter_Perez]

When you upload videos to youtube please don't mark it for kids, you'll have a smaller reach of audience and it doesn't allow us to get notifications for you next upload!

[@dirtpoorchris]

13:02 woah that hollow is very cool you could maybe transform that into a water fountain tree. Like maybe epoxy resin the hollow so it doesn't rot and have a Japanese bamboo fountain spill water into the hollow and the hollow spills water back into another bamboo basin. It would have to be done very carefully to not spill and ruin the soil tho. Have you ever thought about hiding little gnome huts and pretending little people live in the trees? : )

[@stephenwilliamson6118]

What a fantastic instructional video. I have a conker bonsai and will follow your guidance, thank you

[@josemariavazquez9063]

Very good video and nice bonsai, I have one of these horse chesnut in a pot here in Madrid, they are very easy to grow, I usually find seed with the little tree growing around the park in spring. I will try to show it to you later on.

[@tylerstansbridge4263]

Hello there I have a a lovey horse sheet nut that I have recently repoted this yeah and yeah it wasn't looked after for years and was in the same pot for about 15 or so years and recently got bigger the past few months and it's basically bonzi tree that has some wonderful leaves and flowers to only it has never produced the the horse chest nut the reason I put it in a bigger pot I'd like to see some on my miniature bonzi I planted fron a conker meany years ago as a kid 😀

[@brendanhynes1252]

We have sweet chestnuts in UK to in Greenwich park. Be careful tho that you don't pick conkers tho

[@scottslack4339]

Hi, would it be possible to purchase Buckeye chestnuts from you?

[@readingroomcafeproject]

my dad and I planted a conker about 30 years ago and the little tree is about 3ft tall, because it's been pot bound, and the leaves are titchy - especially since my mum did a big root trim last year.

[@rtweedtwee]

Thank you for this video 🙂

[@craiglincoln6210]

Peter really needs to live to around 150 years of age to nurture those trees fully😂

[@christopher71300]

I really enjoy watching your videos. Than you.

[@rickyward1189]

if you have a look at the base of the stem from any leaf you remove... you will see what looks like a horse shoe.

[@PatriciaAnnGriggs]

I really enjoyed this video. I grow up with a Beautiful Knocker tree in front of my house. I was a white Knocker tree. I live far away from it now. It problem produced Beautiful Knockers.. kind of sad to think about it 😥

[@PatriciaAnnGriggs]

Thank you for your comment (👍)

[@courtneyroy270]

Great video, we have a horse chestnut tree growing from our acia tree how do we remove it without damaging tha acid tree

[@eroiltondemoraes2018]

Hello Master Chan, I loved this tree, it is possible to buy a seedling or seeds of this wonderful plant. I am from sao paulo Brazil. Congratulations Peter.

[@WhoCares69]

I’m sure Peter has a wand like Harry Potter 🧐. “ here’s a log I planted in a pot “..... camera pans to 3 foot bonsai 🤣🤣

[@wolverinebear5357]

So interesting, I've been eyeing up some catalpa tree seedlings that have naturally grown, I may have to get a few in some pots

[@peterchan3100]

That would be difficult to use for bonsai because the leaves are very large and stems and internodes long. But give it a go.

[@wolverinebear5357]

@@peterchan3100 that's what I figured thank for reply back

[@mikecooper1116]

Thats great ..👍i pass a conker tree on my walk home from work and i did wonder if it could be done and now i know thanks pete keep up the good work 👍👍👍👍

[@sistersrus2]

I am always motivated by these videos , I hope one day I will visit the UK and meet Peter Chan

[@mousedog440]

0:53 Is that a sneaky frog on that leaf?

[@peterchan3100]

No

[@valdecirvenanciocoutinho1569]

Peter Chan I Love you.....thanks ,thanks, thanks

[@donfenton7473]

Very dramatic. Looked so much better after you cut it.

[@GodofHellFire1982]

2 kicks actully!

[@sallybeck7822]

I really appreciate all the knowledge you are teaching on your videos. I have had a conker bonsai for years along with 149 other bonsais and I do get a little timid about trimming them back, but you have given me inspiration - very many thanks.

[@ashtonwyss9757]

what kind of soil mix do you recommend for them?

[@bikesquad2476]

Hi do bonsai horse chestnut produce conkers 😊

[@hrudanandabehera2108]

Peter is too good at bonsaies....he can't fail at all

[@vswhaze1627]

I wonder why they tend to get the spots? I appreciate him showing this. I live in America and we always thought you could eat the chestnuts, the squirrels always seem to enjoy them. I thought that is where the famous verse came from: “chestnuts roasting on an open fire .[to eat]...” lines from the Christmas song.

[@matthewpaul4486]

vsw haze Chestnuts are edible, Buckeyes are not. Make sure you know which is which. Most of the American chestnuts were wiped out years ago.

[@zachariasbjorngren1552]

That was great, another similar tree I see everywhere is the walnut. How does that compare?

[@peterchan3100]

Walnut is more difficult to use for bonsai