Pruning & Repotting a Japanese Maple Forest

A customer brought in their very large bonsai for us to trim and repot. In this video I repot the Japanese Maple Forest.
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[@saturnynetitan]

I'm so glad you're allowing the staff to shine a bit. It was great watching the final touches.

[@peterchan3100]

I believe in letting our staff develop to their full potential - they are very good and I learn a lot from them too.

[@doghouseclassics6835]

Very nice ,Mr Chan thankyou and your staff.

[@maryshoemaker7593]

Sharing moss with the birds.. IS a good thing!!! Very pleasing maple forest!!

[@jgurtz]

I really love these forest-style bonsai: they are just such a delightful reminder of nature and how it commonly looks right around us. Thank you for sharing these little journeys in care.

[@lord-REDACTED-]

Hey everyone, I'm new. Had a couple bonsai's when I was kid. Didn't know how to really take care of them. Been thinking of getting back to it, and this channel has already taught me a lot. Love the videos, lots of good information!

[@kateb5233]

Would love to see an update on this forest group, when it leaves out in spring, and summer. Beautiful job on the repot.

[@almyers8074]

The woman told Peter she hadn't repotted the group for twenty years yet Peter believes it was repotted recently. The soil is fresh and the group is healthy. Leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Thanks Peter.

[@poples5799]

Completely agree with you; mosses are beautiful and should not be as unwanted as it is. Especially on stone/trees it makes it seem old and dignified to me!

[@luisak68]

Omg I was getting stomach pains just watching him pruning those maples. I thought the artist in him is getting carried away with the pruning, there wont be much left. So I closed my eyes & waited for him to finish. I had to sigh when I saw some trees left....lol. To make it look more natural you needed more small leaf litter and sma.ll twiggs or something of the sort. The young man did a great job with the adding of rocks & part moss, looked great. Now if all soils changed colour when they went from wet to dry it would be fantastic.. maybe I wouldnt have killed so many plants in my younger days... you live & learn.

[@mikezwart5027]

I have been watching your video's for a while and I allways wanted to make a bonsai myself.. I have been reading this bonsai book for a while aswell and now the day finally came and I made my first attempt on a bonsai tree. And I have to say that your video's got me pretty far! thankyou for your great video's!

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

Nice video Peter, can't wait till my trees get this old, so many little stick maples in my garage so they don't freeze. I collect a lot of moss off my roof, it tends to be the little round mounds which look nice when applied, the moss is all very happy this time of the year, took a walk in a forest I had not been to before, was really beautiful and a lot of old growth, well old compared to humans. Thanks again and looking forward to spring.

[@amateurambience]

Peters work ring the bell as my mom working as a hairdresser for more than 50 years...👍 She is always the one who thinner my hair in no time.😀

[@johnlethbridge6421]

Feeling inspired to start a forest of my own after the last batch of videos with such wonderful forests in them. Brilliant work as always Peter & co!

[@yourebeautiful8506]

The other guy at 12:19, sick(le) skills

[@MidniteSan]

Turned out to be even more beautiful, thx for sharing Peter can't wait for the next one.😇

[@nailbendert4569]

I couldn't believe you were cutting off all the ramification but was delighted when you finished. And the finishing touches by your colleague made it a natural looking forest. I am really beginning to love the forest bonsai. I have been taking pics of groups in my forest while leaves are off for ideas while creating my tiny forest in the future. I also have been finding beautiful specimens to bring home.

[@paulbeattie5263]

Beautiful forest thanks for sharing.

[@TomTomTomTom538]

Agree about the drainage layer, it's not needed with larger particle size soils. But i use a bit of grit at the bottom to stop my Tesco's cat litter soil clogging up my mesh

[@briankavanagh7191]

Peter what a lovely forest. Would you recommend that the owner puts the pot on a turn table so she can turn the forest to enable the trees to get equal amounts of sunshine i.e the back when the canopy fills out?

[@peterchan3100]

That is always a good idea.

[@jonatha.ramirez351]

When you take hours deciding how you’re going to cut your bonsai but heron just starts cutting away lol

[@CaligulaMain]

last time i did that my trees died... but it was fun as hell lol

[@TheO416]

@@CaligulaMain you have to really know how to look for signs about your trees health, then theres different seasons when you should cut etc.etc. its fucking hard..>.< ive just recently started with 2 maples salvaged from someones garden, 1 massive greenish-yellow one that thing is like 1,80cm and a trunk of atleast 25cm. 2nd little acer palmatum atro im not sure is gonna make it

[@kungfulovenyc4273]

I need help please, I have an autumn moon up from hibernation for about 2 months since I received it from nursery. It's infested with worms 🪱 earth worms and lil white spiders🕷. My neem oil worked on the elm but I'm stumped.

[@zweifelhaft3877]

I like your videos very much. You are the Bob Ross of Bonsai. Greetings from Germany

[@petermarton3743]

"Let the poor birds enjoy it!" From no on I'm living by these words! :D

[@angie3504]

Love this group. Well done on the artistic arrangement. Great job guys !

[@elderlopez4940]

Beautiful forest. Lovely. Just lovely done boys.

[@nancyfahey7518]

Yep I'd be terrified to do it. I'd probably stare at it every day. Turned out beautiful. Thank you for the encouragement.

[@hsliep1338]

Thanks Peter for this video. Loved to see how to create a nice surface.

[@apriliaric]

Thank you for your Excellent Videos....

[@johnfloydman7735]

Thanks Peter and men 👍 for sharing such a inspired video 🙏✌️

[@bolg6755]

Great job Mr Chan! Beautiful forest.

[@mesingpertin5619]

Just love the new look.. so much livelier!

[@EnchantedwithPoodles]

Another beautiful transformation.

[@margaretsims4344]

Another great demo of a beautiful forest planting. My eyes keep getting drawn to all the other trees you have on the benches in the background!

[@peterchan3100]

There are thousands of bonsai on our nursery.

[@galvanicmass]

Love it love it. Learn so much from him that my bonsai are looking epic

[@davidirish2941]

Woo hoo another great video. Thanks Peter. 👍🇨🇦

[@acheronexile]

The pruning at the beginning is amazing, its like taking the seasons from early winter to late winter after a heavy frost has torn away most of the fine branches of the previous spring. Edit: Eight is a wonderful number to gamers and programmers alike!

[@riverrowanphoenix1876]

I think the pot this forest was put in looks like a big casserole dish. As usual, though, a beautiful end result, given the limitations the customer put in place.

[@ingeborg-anne]

The creative part of this was so nice to watch. I'd like to see more of the artistry :)

[@mangeshthawre416]

I m just amazed to see how fast u trim / prune d bonsai, just sppperb work 👍👍👍👏👏

[@paullill5604]

Great loved the final look 👍

[@M31glow]

You, never out of a job! I only wish I had half of your talent.

[@stuartbaines2843]

Very Nicely done 👍 In the last two years i have started placing stones with my trees, it works well. I think i will keep my forest small! 😅

[@simonlam4543]

Nicely done

[@emme8255]

All your shows are great, keep it going Peter.

[@PsychoAxeMan]

It's a master of what he dose .

[@satsukiazalealovers4854]

Amazing work Peter! Thanks to share with us

[@mikeduffer6858]

Very nice job! I love it and thank you for the video.

[@fraukeller0776]

Beautiful and instructive! Thank you for sharing, and i can't wait to see what you'll be working with and repotting next!

[@annarenevictor9981]

Such a fantastic combination of artistic skill and the beauty of nature.

[@SkylinersYeti]

I am designing an unheated greenhouse to be a potting shed and work area. I can see the need or good use of a bench that has multiple levels for working on short pieces and tall ones. I find the long stretching to be tiring. As your helper began landscaping the forest my thoughts were very similar. Here in Central Oregon we have lots of lava field and I might have used some 1/4 to 3/4 " crushed rock to represent our area.

[@joyavenzant5086]

Beautiful piece 😍😍😍

[@eveturner1260]

Beautiful, throughly enjoyed this. Many thanks.

[@Ukeitupmike]

great job! Very inspiring.

[@PatriciaAnnGriggs]

Very very nice .Great video 👧👧👧💖💖💖

[@MrMarty12357]

Wow, that's a beautiful forest! #aspirations

[@Collection_of_unseen_nature]

Wonderful, master Peter. Sending you 40 hugs from southern Sweden 🤩

[@peterchan3100]

Do come again.

[@ApachE_1337]

great video as always!

[@jakeaivilo3821]

Looks beautiful

[@NMranchhand]

Another fascinating video with so many great details. What can one do to emphasize the growth of many fine feeder roots instead of thick ones, while the tree is being brought up through the various repotting in ordinary flower pots in preparation for the final jump to a bonsai por?

[@karanseraph]

I appreciate very many of your videos, but I enjoyed the scenery portions of this video especially.

[@YaroslavPronin]

The only thing I don't like: Peter almost doesn't thin out the rootball in the middle. The Japanese and many others pierce the rootball with the help of a stick, thereby makes many holes inside the rootball. If you don't do this, over time a dense rootball will be created that will not allow air and water to pass through.

[@user-pt1cz4ot1e]

He does explain in other videos why he chooses to, or not. Depending on how long it has been since it was repotted and how dense it feels. I have a 60+ year old forest, and we have only done that twice in my life.

[@vincentalaimo7527]

Beautiful

[@deedahl2866]

Very nice! You have inspired me to start some bonsai. Friend had several small pots and gave them to me. I have Dwarf Redwood, several types of Jap Maples, and Wisteria (all seeds) waiting to germinate. But might look at the local nurseries for something already growing to start on. No cedars or spruce though; mine will have to be inside mostly in a very sunny window or grow light.

[@pansepot1490]

I don’t think the plants you have as seeds are suitable for indoor cultivation. If you are thinking of buying one you should choose bonsai that grow well indoor like ficus, Chinese elm, portulacaria. They are easy to care for, easy to find in local nurseries and not expensive.

[@deedahl2866]

@@pansepot1490 thank you for the comments. I live in an apartment and have limited space, but also have two large garden spots. Unfortunately, I have a destructive neighbor who vandalizes my plants. I have security monitoring cams up now. :)

[@gayefanner731]

How about standing pots in window boxes outside d window?!

[@fjct75]

Really nice work, congratulations.

[@AnotherSquirrel]

I'd like to see a video on feeding and pest control for pines. I'm having trouble keeping ants out of my mugo pine bonsai. Thank you! Love your videos.

[@gonepostal8627]

I have enjoyed watching most of your videos they’re very informative. Keep these beautiful videos coming. Hope to visit you sometime this year or next for some instruction.

[@fredgrech1498]

Just wonderful very enjoyable

[@fernandosanfranciscoca9278]

nicely done!!

[@sandy-rr1by]

very beautiful finish! thank you

[@KeepHimAtBay]

remember guys. trees that you acquire/plant today, will be a masterpiece in 20 years.

[@johnseevans6219]

I watch waaaay to many of your videos! Lol i love it! I have 4 trees i have done myself and one im about to start working on. They're not as beautiful as yours but i will get there soon i hope. Thanks for sharing your knowledge peter.

[@ccme1111]

Beautiful!

[@kaelgray3667]

Excellent video comrades ;)

[@BigBingus]

Fantastic! Thank you for sharing

[@Gbhmagic]

How cold is too cold to replant? This year we have a real mild winter so it's around 0 to 5 degrees Celsius. On a side note due to the constant freezing and thaw here acadame turns too mush in less then 3 months during winter in my experience so I just use lava,pumice,and a tiny bit of charcoal; unless I need water retention. JUST 49 DAYS TILL SRING!!!!

[@peterchan3100]

Most of our winter so far is above 5C and last week we had 14 C

[@jimmyfleebot]

He so casual, knowing exactly where to cut. A hairdresser is a good comparison, I would be nervous to cut someone else's hair!

[@MinhNguyen-mo5fp]

Very nice... After 👏👏

[@mikesmithsays]

brilliant! thank you.

[@Robert_McGarry_Poems]

Thank you for your insights.

[@sistersrus2]

beautiful and artistic

[@spencerhotello7468]

i love moss and am trying to learn how to keep it nice and happy

[@lilicesar8386]

TYSVM ♡

[@benbishop1131]

I'd love to see a forest group of American Maples one day if you have one. I know they are less popular maples but I have a ton of them in the yard I'll probably try to bonsai.

[@clearwaterbeachhomesearchm5957]

Amazing

[@soberhippie]

I want to start repotting my plants, too, but it is too early here. There's not enough sunlight for them to recover well. But it will be fine in the second half of February, which is just weeks away.

[@lukejones3069]

Thank you Peter and the guys, another fantastic video. Couple of questions, I have a much smaller Deshojo forest that I would like to grow to bigger. Any advice on pot size to encourage growth without being too big? Also, that leads me onto my second question. What are the downsides to have a pot that is too large-aesthetics?

[@robertknell6635]

Great job Paul. I have 9 Lacy Elms I would like to make a forest with. They are rather tall (about a meter) but will cut the down to about 600mm. The calipers are about 1cm. What size a depth pot would you recommend? Enjoy every one of your videos!

[@judytait6555]

We have to wait many more weeks before we can start working on our trees. He's so sure handed. NB Canada.

[@Gbhmagic]

Michigan is similar

[@anjasan6055]

What a nice forest Peter. Great work thank you for sharing. I prefer moss in my garden too rather than weed ;O)

[@soberhippie]

So "The Fifth Dimension" song "Let the sunshine in" was actually about trimming bonsai? (7:10)

[@traveler7x]

Hello Peter, Can you tell us what time of the year is a good time to repot Japanese maples? Cheers

[@selfmade6142]

Good Job. Now it looks very nice.

[@freedomdividend1077]

i saw some of that dark green moss at my local park

[@cakayalnz7746]

get well soon cameraman

[@paullill5604]

Part 4 Breakfast (Check) Peter (check)

[@mikec3820]

is it larch or locust trees that end up becoming one big living organism(like in the avatar movie) when in groups/groves? maybe both i think. might be more then just those type too imho.. its funny that fictional movies end up being totally right like that.. us humans are the "na'vi" irl. any how thanQ peter.. hey could you do a portulacaria afra video for us? i saw a few pictures of your portulacaria.. they are my fav for indoor in the cold months here in the northeast US. cassula too.

[@leandrogoncalves6115]

sensacional, lindo trabalho parabéns...

[@TheRiffingFatboy]

Should you maintain the same watering habits through a trees wintering process in a pot on the window? How long without watering would you expect a small 8 year old elm bonsai to be able to endure without dying?

[@DurandCompton]

Just like summer watering, it depends on the weather. Water as needed. If it gets above freezing and has gone dry, water (or apply snow) sporadically.

[@amandam3145]

Wonderful video! When you water is it always from a hose or in a big nursery flat?

[@slamboy66]

I know I am learning, because the first thing I noticed is the middle trees crossing. How to fix? With roots or pull them away from each other?

[@stefanpope9763]

Hi, I now have my very first bonsai tree. It’s a Chinese elm and I love it. My other half bought it and said it was between 3 - 5 years old. At what age can I start pruning? And are there any extra tips you can give me. Much appreciated