Repotting a Hornbeam, Spring 2018

[@garydyarman6483]

Great to see you back and working on your trees!!!!

[@matryxmichaelcimino3913]

I really appreciate and enjoy the narrative style used in this repotting video. Thanks

[@AppalachianBonsai]

You're welcome!

[@nahjnature2375]

from Philippines here, i love watching your videos, especially bonsai hunt...

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Thanks! I have more to show later as time allows me.

[@industrialdolphin]

Finally glad to see your posting again dude! Please don’t say “because there’s more to come” anymore though unless you planning on releasing more than 3 a year 😂 keep them coming dude, I’ve told you before, you are right up there with KZbin’s bonsai videos 👌

[@gtorresb1]

Ben, again an illustrative and didactic video. Very simply said, Bonsai take years of growth and training. Best of luck with this American Hornbeam. Awaiting new creations from your yamadori collection. Thanks for sharing.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Thanks, Gustavo! I have several more repotting/updates from previous collections, but no new material yet. A few minor injuries and weather conditions didn't allow this for me to go out this spring. I have plans to go into the eastern Rockies with a friend this summer & collect junipers, pines & spruces. Those should be some epic videos! If all goes as planned, I should have some sweet videos by this autumn.

[@LSandLM]

Thanks for this. I have a Hornbeam stump on the property growing next to an outbuilding and it's 6-8" in diameter with several shoots coming off of it. The landscapers keep cutting it back every year to a stump. I plan to collect it this winter and add it to my motley collection of project plants. I plan to start it in a 24x18" tub for a year or two while it recovers. It's so large I plan to trench it, cut the horizontal roots I can access, then try to pull it up enough with a comealong so I can get to the taproot. Nothing about its collection will be easy, especially with it being only 4" or less from a concrete block wall.

[@ondrejpeters9210]

Just wanted to ask you, are you going to make an update video specifically for this hornbeam? I wonder how it’s looking now in 2021 :) thanks

[@jonserdne943]

This will be a beauty! Nice carving out of those old wounds. Never heard of the wire brush technique so will give that a try. Thanks for sharing

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Thank you for watching! The wire brush can even carve fine lines into the wood, especially when soft. A small butane torch can burn the filaments away and also help cure a fresh cut (notice the blackened areas after carving). I didn't have good footage of that, but will in the next vid.

[@billhall7906]

Really clear and concise instructions, thank you, always love your videos

[@murilobass1]

Congratulations on the video, very well explained. I missed the channel, it's been a while since you've posted it. Hugs and stay with God.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Obrigado por ficar aqui!

[@CurrenCyPhWorld]

ohh i love this video.... good to see you again.. I've been waiting for the repotting of your plants especially your doogwood..but hornbeam is gonna do it for now... I love those rootball and how they grow healthier over time..hooe to see more of it....

[@shawnmccormick7778]

I actually understood where you were going with it. Gnarley!

[@iOnceAteARock]

The man is back!

[@jeffincharlestonsc]

New to bonsai, just started a loraptelum, the leaves are wilting and starting to drop, i mist it twice daily, think i kilked it. Have had success with tropicals, a wisteria and a mimosa, maybe i should should stick to weeds! I enjoy your videos, i won't give up!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Weeds are super hardy. Amur honeysuckle, chinese privet, and forsythia can take a lickin'. Keep it up & good luck!

[@PeriodWoodworker]

Nice spring early season training for us newbies. Thanks for sharing.

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

Nice tree mate. Thanks for the vid. Greetings from Australia mate.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Greetings from Virginia, USA! Thanks!

[@AlandosAnjos83]

Great work! Cheers from Brazil!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Obrigado!!

[@MrSeyn]

This is the thing. Congratulations from Brasil!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Abraços!

[@christopherbrown1958]

Hey, like your style - anything about the eastern red cedar? - I have 3 small tress I gathered last year- they survived year one- trying to figure our how to style them?? Chris from NJ

[@AppalachianBonsai]

The ERC is doing fine. It needs a repot. There will have to be some style changes to it and another juniper. Rocky, the puppy, got into the winter bed & broke some branches.

[@PinoyBonsai]

Nice healthy root system, what’s your soil mix?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Soil Mix in description.

[@bertilbechhviid3768]

I live watching your videos keep up the good work.😄

[@santiagocastro8113]

Yamadori is not well seen in my country. I collect in areas such as shoulders, lots. I envy your Appalachians. Good job, great tree. Greetings from Spain.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Yamadori can even be illegal in some countries. Sometimes it's species specific. There are areas of Florida where it's against the law to collect Bald Cypress, because it is becoming rare in parts. Spain (?) and Italy have regulations and restrictions on the collection of many trees, most importantly olive. Wherever you go, get permission and be careful. I hope your trees are alive & well, my friend. Good luck!

[@santiagocastro8113]

Yes, you are absolutely right. Probably in Italy it is due to the great plague of Xilella Fastidiosa; caused the destruction of millions of olive trees. Recently in Spain, in the Balearic Islands, cases were detected, most likely as a consequence of the importation of plants. And now in Madrid, a few days ago, a sick tree has been detected which will cause the destruction of all individuals within 100 meters. An authentic disaster ...!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

And tree theft. Rich people love the idea that their olive trees were planted by Romans during the occupation of Spain, blah blah blah. People are poaching to sell at a premium, which means cultural heritage is being pilfered. I've received comments & done research on some of that for a future collection ethics video.

[@santiagocastro8113]

Good idea!!! If you think it's appropriate, count on my modest contribution.

[@santiagocastro8113]

Excuse my English rickets

[@wandererak9705]

Can’t wait!

[@RadkoHoratio]

Hello! The video is very informative and well shot for people to understand. But ... I've seen so many videos of cutting the crown of a tree. But I'm still not sure what to cut and why you cut those branches. Well thank you!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

There's a really good book by Herb Gustafson called "Bonsai Workshop." It really helped me understand the what & why to cut specific branches. Step by step photographs & descriptions. In brief, if you want a branch to go left, find a bud or branch growing in that direction & prune just after it. Try to distribute branches in all directions outward from the trunk. Look at the trees around you & study how they're growing. Hope that helps?

[@LWild-jx1io]

Can you show your complete Bonsai Collection, or do you already have a Video similar?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

There are several videos showing off various trees on the bench, but I don't know if I have a full vid. Let's look toward summer when everything is out of the winter bed, in full leaf, and pruned

[@joseosorio7478]

Very nice tree.

[@bonsaimoldova]

Nice project. But why you didn't carved that big hole on the trunk to obtain a more fluent movement on the trunk?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I like the big hole. I might carve more later. I want to see how the tree responds to it over the years.

[@тахирсафиуллин-з8ж]

Very interesting work. Greetings from Kazan Russia.

[@nickmoe8848]

Much love from Colorado!

[@AppalachianBonsai]

And back 'atcha from Virginia!

[@eueoscactoscactos9142]

Sou do Brasil amamos bonsai parabéns

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Obrigado. abraços!

[@RunThemAll]

Great video. I'm new to Bonsai and just collected a Hornbeam. My soil is 50% turface, 25% Perlite, 25% compost. Hope that works! Do you have a video on fertilizing?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

No fertilizing video just yet. For a quick note, I start fertilizing once the trees begin to grow with vigor, and I repeat every other weekend through the summer. I start backing off around August. I think the soil mix you made for the hornbeam is just fine!

[@CBDubz]

Can we get an update on this bonsai? I’m trying to get my father into bonsai. He’s newly retired, loves to hike and care for his plants. I would love to be able to send him the video of you finding this tree, of structuring it and an update.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I haven't done an update on this one, but I do of several others, including a hornbeam. There's another that should be coming out in the next few weeks. Keep your eyes peeled

[@CBDubz]

@@AppalachianBonsai perhaps you could structure your playlists around specific trees. Your doing a great job. Thank you for the response.

[@MrTributes]

I like how the trunk looks in this pot

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Me too. The size is right for what the tree is now. I'l have to wait a few more years of development to see if it's the final pot! If you like MC2's pottery, they've got a great website & visit lots of bonsai shows in the states. I put a link in the video description.

[@thepaperstaggering]

Carving game=100%! Good work.

[@marcellobomfim5629]

Cool vídeo. It would be nice to see a follow up on this plant. Is that possible?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I hope to after semester is over (grad school blues). It's leafing out now that spring is here!

[@BOLIVIACONCIERTOS-METALHJDanie]

Tus videos son ¡gente! Felicidades, desde Bolivia.

[@SabirChdhry]

You are a good artist . Its fun watching your videos. Y dont you post frequently. From India

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Many thanks! I got busy with other things this fall & winter. I have several to come in the next few weeks.

[@willwatkins6694]

can you show an even closer view of the buds that you identify in order to prune to help us understand what to look for? How far away from a bud do you prune?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Should have that in the net video

[@Myleanne14]

Great vlog!

[@garymccarthy4994]

NICE root mass after two years!

[@SergioGarcia-vu4tg]

Good work !

[@willwatkins6694]

Can you reuse old soil if you mix it back in with fresh soil?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Eh.... I wouldn't, simply because the inorganic material deteriorates to the point of mush, and this is definitely not good for your trees in pots. Rotting material holds too much moisture, and as it breaks down, it begins to clog the drainage. You can, however, use it for other things. I've used old soil in shallow trays to propagate moss, I've mixed it with garden soil (tomatoes like it), and I've used it with fresh soil when growing a tree in the ground (which drains laterally as well as down). If you want to take the time to remove rotted material, you might be able to dry it out then burn it off, but sounds like a super pain for little gain. Soil materials are relatively cheap.

[@peterboneg]

I think I would have left the leader unpruned to let it thicken up more.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Agreed. I was just about to start pruning the branches above when I saw it from a different angle. I said to myself, 'Yeah. This top needs to go.' I had to backpedal to the one I just pruned. 20:20 hindsight.

[@darcicorreia7596]

Parabéns muito lindo

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Obrigado!! Espero ter boas legendas para você em breve.

[@vittocuachon3306]

Hi there, Ben. I have question about repotting? I have trees and shrubs that has been repotting and train to bonsai the first one is one month after i repotted, and the other one is 3 weeks, and the other two is almost two weeks. Im just a beginner so i dont have any idea for soils/substrate to use. I just use compost and small rock/pebbles. I watch your videos that very important is the drainage. My soil is always very wet even though i dont water it in two days. Do you think it is safe to repot or transplant my trees or shrubs? Do you think it is safe in time of fall? Thank you.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I would wait until springtime to repot. During the winter, the trees aren't taking in much moisture because they're dormant. That's why they stay damp. Just check on them every now and again to make sure they don't dry out. When you decide to repot, make sure your soil is sifted between 2-6 mm, even the compost. That will make sure it drains well and doesn't stay too wet. It will require more watering, but it's hard to over water them.

[@vittocuachon3306]

Wow! That’s great explanation for my case. Thank you so much.

[@michaelcowart6100]

Good video, thank you

[@johnchawngthuohnja2748]

2023 waiting for update

[@jeffknol1556]

Can you recommend a place online where I could order quality tools like the one you use in this video?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

There are several, but Amazon, Dallas Bonsai Supply, American Bonsai Supply, etc.

[@BonsaiBinhDinh]

Quá tuyệt vời

[@ericsvideos1]

Awesome video thanks!

[@TheNatrjack965]

Great video thanks for sharing 🌳🌳

[@jayceegudoy1801]

New pot is definitely a good match. :-)

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I'm glad you like it!

[@KennetDeBondt]

Good work! grts Kennet

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Thank you!

[@WasnaST5092]

indonesia👍👍

[@Eza_yuta]

Why you placed a far-unfinished bonsai on a bonsai pot and not on the ground?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Because it fit. I didn't have to, but I like it. If I had a similar sized plastic or cheap pot, I would have put in there instead.

Listen to the banjo wind..

[@liamkenny6529]

Why don't you use moss in you're bonsai

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Bulk store-bought peat moss is often very dry and hydrophobic. If you don't get it fully wet, it will create dead zones. If you happen to get it wet, it stays very very wet. But then it dries quickly, and boom, you're back where you started. I have a video of soil components that shows how messy & dry it can be. If you have fresh sphagnum moss, that's a much better option, but I don't have any that grows around here. Colin Lewis in Maine, USA has some good images of fresh sphagnum. Now, if you're talking about moss on top of the soil bed, I only use it for my refined trees. Moss is mostly decorative, so I don't need moss while training. Hope that's helpful.