Repotting A Big Yamadori Scots Pine Bonsai

This film features the late summer repotting of a big yamadori Pinus sylvestris or Scots Pine bonsai collected in the French Alps.
An important tree in my collection, I move the tree into its first bonsai pot in such a way that I can ensure there is minimal risk to the health of the tree at what is the best time to repot pines.
The video features a few tips with regards soil and amendments used to encourage a healthy soil and tree.
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My bonsai books Foundations Of Bonsai, Bonsai Inspirations I and Bonsai Inspirations 2 are available from bonsai4me.com/s...
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[@michaelkmiec5842]

Scots pine is on my list of trees to add to the collection your specimen is spectacular

[@nillysbonsai9636]

Really great video factually useful! Thank you for sharing

[@jonathanaristone2468]

Well Done Harry !

[@dermo1981]

Excellent as always Harry. Thank you

[@leus]

That thing looks beautiful. Can't wait to see it restyled. Great video!

[@jfarrell50]

That is a really beautiful tree! It has been a real privilege to see it in this video and once more the amount of knowledge imparted is second to none. I love the information about the activated charcoal and how you list all of its benefits. I had never heard of this before, but I will never forget it now. What I like most about this video is that it reminded me of how you wrote your chapters in Bonsai Inspirations 2. For anyone that hasn't seen the book, it is absolutely outstanding and is an essential purchase for anyone wanting to move their bonsai skills to higher levels. Thank you very much, Harry!

[@bonsai4me2]

🙌🙌

[@alfredgrechbonsailicious4827]

Beautiful tree and great work. Simply bonsailicious.

[@Matsuba81]

Beautiful tree and lots of great info !

[@my_bonsai_and_koi]

Fascinating as always! Thank you!

[@christymartin6281]

I'm very happy to see you adding charcoal to your soil mix. I recently decided to add some charcoal left over from my orchid potting mix, and was thinking "biochar" is good, right? This was added for two small pines that were potted into pond baskets.

[@bonsai4me2]

It’s superb stuff ;)

[@murphyorama]

I wish I'd had this good advice years ago when I lost a really nice Beauvronensis Scots Pine through spring repotting and also also bare rooting. I still regret the loss of that tree.

[@bonsai4me2]

I think we’ve all been there! I have :/

[@SuperPeleke]

Interesting note about the charcoal. Bringing back a classic that seems to have not been popular of late... But I might try it if you're seeing good results. We seem to have similar climates.

[@leus]

I've seen videos of japanese masters using bamboo charcoal in a lower layer when repotting old, big pines.

[@bonsaidenhaag]

Great video and what an amazing tree!

[@ignaciogarcia7833]

Muy bonito ese pino.

[@antonioraviolioto3886]

Great video! Suppose that you'd pulled the tree out of its container and discovered that there was a large root extending down to the bottom of the container. Do you cut off a large root like that all at once? Do you di it in stages? How does one know how much can be cut?

[@ChelsTrueblue]

Hi Harry great video again, I collected a Scot’s pine back in July, it was either me taking it or it was going on the council compost heap so took a chance with it and seemed fine up until a couple of weeks ago as it’s now gone a pale green grey the needles that is so I’m guessing transplant shock? Root system collected with it wasn’t great, was gonna try adding some mycorrhiza, maybe some root hormone powder? Any thoughts before I do the wrong thing would be great lol….. it’s in kaizen bonsai no 2 mix good drainage

[@paveljanku9794]

Great video, as well as your works. Your remark about autumn repoting made me think about whether it is good time to repot all trees (coniferous and deciduous) or repotting deciduous trees is better made in early spring before the buds swells? Is it also good time for collecting coniferous trees such as pines, spruces or larch trees from nature (or maybe decidual as well, i.e. oak, hornbeam, hawthorn, etc.)?

[@bigbigsky8878]

Really interesting about the charcoal, would you recommend for all varieties?

[@bonsai4me2]

Yes, it’s beneficial to all tree species

[@MrDoggy2024]

Harry when do you prune roots?

[@greenhawk1592]

🙏👊🏽🌟

[@maanjezus8622]

Is the charcoal also benificial for decidious trees?

[@bonsai4me2]

Absolutely. Although not as essential for deciduous trees, they still benefit from a healthy fungal relationship. Plus the charcoal keeps the soil sweet (balances the pH) and free of chemicals

[@maanjezus8622]

@@bonsai4me2, sounds legit. Do you use the same charcoal that is being used in fish pond filters? I can't find coal for horticulture.

[@YaroslavPronin]

Is activated charcoal for aquariums suitable? Does particle size matter?

[@bonsai4me2]

Hi Yaroslav, I honestly don’t know. I’ve always bought horticultural charcoal, I don’t know whether there’s any difference.

[@MarkoDr]

Thanks for great video. please tell me do you use CANNAZYM on all yamadory trees to speedup natural soil degradation? I never heard about that product, can you help me with dosage and timing. Regards from Serbia.

[@bonsai4me2]

Yes you can. Even better, follow 24 hours later with a dose of Rhizotonic (from the same company). However, I use a fertiliser these days called Oceana that contains the same qualities as both of these products, as well as being a fertiliser.

[@MarkoDr]

@@bonsai4me2 thanks for response, how many time in the month to use cannazym? I found product in my hidroponici shop.

[@bonsai4me2]

@@MarkoDr follow the instructions on the label. Maximum twice a month but to be honest, a couple of doses altogether should be sufficient

[@thenaturecreater8906]

So i did a full repot of a juniper yesterday and i to cut some roots off. I live in norway. So almost the same climat as England. So the juniper is going to be safe you think?

[@bonsai4me2]

The timing is ok but your cool temperatures will be arriving soon so make sure you protect the roots from any frost for 6 weeks to be safe

[@thenaturecreater8906]

@@bonsai4me2 thank you. I will do

[@VinnyChirayil]

Nice looking tree with lots of fine roots. How do you plan to get thick radial surface roots for this tree ? Drainage holes at 1:58 - how many large & small holes were there originally ?

[@bonsai4me2]

I don’t, radial roots and a good nebari are something you desire for deciduous trees, not coniferous. There were just the 5 large holes before and mica is easy to drill

[@VinnyChirayil]

@@bonsai4me2 ... Your Heathrow Bonsai 2022 video at 1:37 - a conifer with good nebari & root flare. I saw many others too. So, are these undesirable ?

[@bonsai4me2]

@@VinnyChirayil I didn’t say it was undesirable. When you understand the direct relationship between roots and branches on coniferous species, you then understand you cannot be expected to produce a good nebari on coniferous species. Particularly if they carry a lot of deadwood and shari. There are coniferous bonsai with good nebari of course. But unlike with deciduous species, it is not expected.

[@VinnyChirayil]

@@bonsai4me2 ... thank you for clarifying. i misunderstood you earlier

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Another excellent video and you have helped me better understand why we can repot at this time of year and thereason spring could be more problematic. A few questions...sorry: 1 - Would you consider using this slow release fertilser on all repots and the same question for the charcoal? 2 - If you need to reduce roots I presume that activity would be in a spring repot? 3 - My Japanese White Pine struggled badly with a root issue 2 years ago. So I did an emergency repot an dhave left it for 18 months. It appears to have recovered but can i use now as an opportunity to inspect the roots for health and perhaps repot into its original pot. Also, your website species guide has always been my first point of call and I happily recommended it on my most recent Azalea update. Thank you for making bonsai so much easier to understand. Cheers, Xav

[@bonsai4me2]

Thank you Xavier! 1- yes, all repots of a species 2- no, I would reduce the roots at this time of year if it’s necessary. Root growth AND repair is considerably faster and dependable from August to the first frosts. It is strongest just as the buds set on the current seasons growth according to the data I’ve seen.

[@bonsai4me2]

3- it is a possibility that you could, but I would inspect this years top growth first to see how strong it is. Short new extensions, needles with a slight spiral to them or weak new buds are signs that the tree hasn’t fully recovered yet or is not as vigorous as you’d want it to be before upsetting the balance in the rootball.

[@trhni-si]

Nice, if only you would keep quiet.

[@bonsai4me2]

🤣🤣how to show the world you’re a fool without saying “I’m a fool”.

[@briankavanagh7191]

@@bonsai4me2 correct.

[@trhni-si]

@@bonsai4me2 No offense. No need to talk. You can see what you are doing. Talking is distracting.