Repotting a Problematic Japanese Black Pine Bonsai I Don't Like!

[@ChrisMarrero75]

Again, you shared you have had trees have died under your care. Making me more and more comfortable with just relaxing about my mistakes. (Which is a minor miracle lol). That's why I love watching you work. :) plus I am going get a chinese elm per your advice.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Great! Let me know how it goes! Best of luck to you and your bonsai :)

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Don't get down on yourself. This was a very good video. You know why? It is because you are not giving up on this tree and you have the hidden passion to transform it into something great.

[@MiltonChang]

Thank you!

[@coryportmann9144]

I think you’re great! I enjoy watching you very much, and I’m learning a lot. Keep them coming! 🙏🤗

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you! Will do!

[@briantroll5165]

This tree would be stunning as a root over rock (if that was doable with the roots at this point in the tree's development), let the rock be part of the tree's base, like a sever bend over a pseudo shari; or standing tall over a rock-base that has eroded away... I would fall in love with that kind of tree.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thank you for the suggestion!

[@metamii]

Thank you for uploading videos like this one

[@OlysZoo]

The black pine deserves to live. I would find 3 nice rocks to pile up on that left side that will disguise the lump and add visual interest like a diorama. The lump tells a story.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Interesting! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@williamscott791]

I'm just this year working on three Japanese Black pine seedlings these will be my first pines........ What a great tree you have there love all these large old trees they're amazing❤

[@diane2114]

I love your refreshing attitude. Makes me chuckle 😂. Opposite of Peter Chan. Gives a good balance of philosophies!! Don't change!

[@BillyHarjo-us8yz]

I think you did a fantastic job on hiding the lump and the design is very eye appealing. In time, after you do your thing on it I think it will be a nice bonsai.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks, I will keep working on this tree.

[@ianmorrison9480]

I like the honesty. Don’t throw good money after bad, is a good maxim. Things don’t always go to plan. However, from my perspective, the tree is an old gentleman, it has character, it deserves to live on. I have heard you say before, that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, if you no longer want it, at least leave it at your gate for someone else to enjoy.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Agreed! I'll give this tree another chance. If you have any suggestions for me, I'd love to hear them!

[@radrickdavis]

Can this be air-layered above the bulge? The top 2/3 of the tree is the most interesting. Everyone may have a different opinion on what a good tree shape should or should not be.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Yes, this is a good idea! I will address this in my video next week so please stay tuned!

[@massimiliano.giacometti]

What about adding a rock to partially hide the lump?

[@MiltonChang]

Thank you for being constructive!

[@HollandAbsher]

At first I really thought you was going to trash this tree ..end the end you surprised me ..can't wait to see how it turns out .. thanks for sharing..

[@denhardy7238]

You can’t throw any tree out 😂😎Dennis

[@sagebonsai]

I personally love how swollen base is. Maybe encourage some whirls and knots to pair with the base. I wish for you not give up on this beautiful tree as it has so much potential to be so much more.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the suggestion! I appreciate it!

[@Theelklands]

Sometimes an imperfection can be an asset. What is ugly or not worth something to one may be very desirable to another. I say let the tree live don’t throw it away look at it as a hidden gem to someone.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for your feedback! I will give it another chance!

[@Theelklands]

@@bonsaiheirloomyour doing great love your channel. I love all trees even the ugly ones

[@jfikri1]

air layer above the lump to grow new roots as a new base.

[@jolu77]

Pine do not air-layer unfortunately.

[@tobyg5073]

This was great , every video is educational, I thank you 😊

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@jolievintage4632]

you are a great problem solver

[@johnvandegrift5164]

I think once you carve out one side of that lump you will really make it look nice. Definitely worth sticking with it. It’ll be a nice topic for videos watching ways to improve a bad tree at least

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Agreed! Thanks for the feedback! I'll think more about this tree.

[@jerrybullins]

Great instructions i really want a black pine. We have a lot of pines here five species.I think the tree you worked on will be fine.The trunk looks very nice.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Black pine is a lovely species!

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Nice job Milton keep up the good work mate thanks

[@hectorquintero2870]

Good strategy to hide the lump in the pot.

[@Fidgit7]

Please save it and carve that root mass!

[@Melissa-qe8qd]

Great video! I think carving out the ball slowly is the answer.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the suggestion!

[@brianjanku4549]

That black pine may be one of the fancy grafted varieties of black pine. It seems alot more dense than a typical black pine.

[@lorigraham2496]

I've had trees I've looked at for several years until a solution came to me.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Patience is key!

[@housemr8266]

I would like to see how you fix Lumpy in the long run. Thank you for the Video :)

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I'll keep working on this tree!

[@sandybonfiglio7545]

Good job!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks, I tried!

[@ChannelSobari]

Thank you forsharing vidio bonsai

[@misovalachovic4988]

Nice one, I think you can definitely keep the tree and turn the bottom into dead wood with some interesting carving maybe, some hollow spaces if possible, who knows, it might end up quite unique:)

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Interesting idea! Thanks for the suggestion!

[@theguru-s2l]

Im growing out a seedling of a native tree i found at work. It would be my first bonzai. Im also collecting more seeds of other trees including fruit trees. A video on how to start a bonzai from a seedling would help me alot.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the feedback! I can make a more in depth video about this. In the meantime, you can check out this video I did on collecting seeds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYK8c6Clf8qqsJo

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Sometimes a tree that is tough to work with will turn into a swan slowly. Just be patient with the pine and it will reward you in the long run. To me this is a cool ugly duckling.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[@Trend007SongsCollection]

Why dont tilt it like reverse cascade if the lump look bad, the lump could be good base for the reverse cascade though

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Interesting!

[@Trend007SongsCollection]

@@bonsaiheirloom Thankyou, the grand idea here is to create new root system using huge cambium storage from the trunk, while make it to mimic a tree that has been fell from a landslide trying to survive following the direction of the sun behind its original rootsystem, its the oppsite of the cascade because cascade trying to mimic tree that are grasping sun from a cliff

[@karencross8077]

Not every thing in nature is perfect. I think it has character and that you should continue to try and develop the imperfections that you see. Perhaps you would eventually grow to embrace its uniqueness and enjoy the beauty of nature, regardless of the rules of bonsai.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

That's true, thanks for the reminder! If you have any suggestions, please let me know!

[@josephlevantino1972]

Have you announced the winners of the giveaway yet?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

My team and I are working on that! We will contact the 10 winners via email this month. Thanks for being patient.

[@johnmatejcik2379]

What the heck am I doing wrong.... I've had a black pine potted for about 4 years and have almost no root growth. I've tried three different kinds of soils, the tree is just struggling, not growing vigorous at all. I try more water, less water, more sun, less sun,... I don't get it.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Use my soil mix, 1 part sandy loam, 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite, and maybe add add little extra perlite. And gradually move into full sun. Check out my soil mix video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4DIlot3fMdpipI

[@johnmatejcik2379]

@@bonsaiheirloom Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

[@adamlaughrey6368]

What about an air layer?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Yes, this is one possibility! I will address this in my video next week. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@andrewclack4881]

I'll have it! 😂

[@t3dwards13]

That was a lot of talk about a lump. I'm glad you didn't waste it because it didn't fit your vision.

[@acooke7574]

Id be willing to be almost all of your subscribers would be ecstatic to own a tree like that. Constantly saying you hate it and should throw away isn’t a good look at all.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I apologize if that was the look I gave off. I was simply thinking out loud and working through how I want to fix up this tree. I will keep thinking about this tree, and I welcome suggestions from you too!

[@starbell5407]

Did u not want to airlayer a new nebari ?

[@bonsaiheirloom]

This is one idea I will address in my video next week! Thanks!

[@timmywood9677]

I will take it off your hands if you don’t like it 😅

[@dracokaiser]

Don’t throw the tree away!!! The lump is Not a problem at all. Partially carve the lump and turn it into a root over rock

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the idea!

[@dracokaiser]

@@bonsaiheirloom I remember seeing a tree in the Japanese version of Bonsai Today magazine (kindai bonsai) that showed a tree with similar problems. The artist carved it from the base and turned it into a twisted trunk pine

[@christopherlucero2971]

I’ll take that tree don’t throw it away

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I won't :) I will try to find another way to work with it!

[@OjaiBonsai]

Give the tree to me. That will solve all the problems

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Haha!

[@thejuanderful]

Since the bulge is unnatural I think you could embrace it and make it a fantasy bonsai. I would try and create deadwood in the shape of a door and it would look like a little elf home!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the idea!

[@elitefitrea]

I think the lump is cool. If it's really trash to you, is there any way I could pay shipping to gain possession of the tree myself?

[@chaiwatpotichanid]

🥰🥰👍

[@blairmarriott3737]

Sell the tree . Someone else may not mind the lump

[@susanbossert6833]

I don't see the lump in the same way you do. I think it's a challenge -- something to be overcome.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I like the way you're looking at it!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@joegarland4885]

Shame the black pine will never be right in your eyes, the lump is ugly as you say, it may just as well be a project piece that you can reduce or disguise over time, but I think you will lose interest in the tree, it’s not a lot of good having a tree hanging around that you will never see the beauty that the tree possesses, I suggest you give to one of the members of your club who may appreciate it more.

[@matshagstrom9839]

I don’t think he is a member of a club. This man is self taught and creates his own standards while not really following the standard created by the bonsai community. Many people march to their own drummer. Some do it really well some would do better learning from others.

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Matt Thanks for communicating with me. .If you look back at some of his videos you see he trained with the biggest names in bonsai, he is well connected to various bonsai artists plus he mentions his club he belongs to a number of times in various videos. He does do things his own way which is what we should all do and not be bound by convention, sticking rigidly to the rules laid down for bonsai stymies free expression which in the end does the world of bonsai no favours. Joe. @@matshagstrom9839

[@stephendaly9986]

I can send you my address ill even pay the postage, ill give the tree a good home 😁😅

[@howardmckeown7187]

i think it's a problem tree, 😂😂😂😂😂

[@maryweber4176]

I am not even done watching this video, but why on earth would you think of throwing the tree away? It's still living. Plant it in a garden, give it away.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I didn't mean to actually throw the tree away, I was just frustrated and was thinking out loud. I will address your concerns and what I plan to do with the tree in next week's video, so please stay tuned! Thanks!

[@yopage]

I like the lump.

[@bryanmorrion9503]

Well a supper amateur i would be proud to put on my table. It in your eyes ugly but in ugliness there can be beauty. 👍🦘🇦🇺

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Thanks for the reminder! Let me try to look at this tree in a different light.