Starting a Lemon Tree Bonsai - January 2020

[@eve66able]

I’ve been watching Nigel Saunders for years and I have to say, that due to that, I’m spoiled regarding the rootwork. So many don’t care about that important step. Glad, you’re following Nigel’s example. Keep up the good work.

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Thank you - Nigel does some lovely root work

[@ScotianSouthy]

@@LetsDoBonsaican we see an update of this plant?

[@bonsaimonsai]

very nice! one tip: don't give up when it doesn't show signs of live/growth after the first sprouting after repotting. it can take very long to bounce back to it's full vigour. i had 2 lemon trees that sprouted new shoots right after repotting and then frozen for approx. 2-4 months. then suddenly... yeah there it goes again :D ..if you didn't have that experience already :)

[@paulschaefer5241]

One thing to note. the black "sap" is actually a fungus that grows on the discharge of a type of sucking insect often called scale insect due to the fact that they resemble small scales on the stems and leaves. Plus if you are planning to do any pruning, it would save work to do the pruning before washing the mold off the branches then you only need to worry about the stems you leave on the tree.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Really awesome Scott, great work!

[@Shanti_devi19]

So relaxing to watch a tree get a haircut. Hope your lemon tree is doing good!

[@harvmelone721]

Fruit fly trap. Get a jar fill 25% with Apple cider vinegar (can be diluted with water), poke holes in lid with a screw driver. Set in a corner near the area. Flies will go in but can't get out.

[@LetsDoBonsai]

I have some jars for that purpose - just didnt do it - but i have rebuilt the tents and will use this method

[@maryshoemaker7593]

Pesky little buggers!! But I agree .. won’t hurt it a bit!!! I noticed when you first started cleaning the branches.. how dirty the water was getting!! I can imagine how nasty it was at the end!! Great video!!!

[@jeffmurphy402]

Hope all is well scott really enjoy your videos. Thank you.

[@WhidbeyIsguy]

Great job Scott. And like the Jades I can't wait for an update when stuff starts to pop out.

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Thanks Lyle im looking forward to being able to fo the update.

[@plyallstar]

Is there an update to this video?

[@khaledel-ashram]

Pete scared the crap out of me, the video is so quiet and peaceful, and suddenly @47:00 shriek!!!

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Pete’s bark is very cutting - when he wants a walk he gets a walk lol - enough to make your ears bleed!!

[@javierramos7409]

I would like to see the progress of your bonsai. You do not have a video of the progress of your work and it leaves me with doubt if your method really worked

[@Pwutoe]

I got a twin seedling (3 days old) from the lemon seed, one of them is going to be a beautiful bonsai tree 😁😁😅 loved the detailed video. It was sooo relaxing to watch..

[@LBCAndrew]

After seeing this video I went and checked my three lemon which sprouted last spring and my lime tree which was purchased a year ago and what did I find? White flies and little black speckles on the underside of about 1/5 of the leaves. The ones on bunches I simply cut off, and others I scrubbed with soapy water. After a good rinse and hour of drying, I sprayed the underside of the leaves with Neem Oil which apparently nukes the flies. I’m not sure if this is the same issue as they have in the UK But here in SoUthern California we’ve got this fly that spreads a fungus that causes the leaves to curl up and will eventually kill the tree. It would be easy to remedy were it not for every neighbor on the block having at least one citrus tree, many of them neglected.

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Yes the citrus trees really need a good amountof looking after!

[@dkstott29]

We need an update on these tree's....🤔

[@chinookwind8535]

Ah you look like Nigel handling them there roots

[@ludmilasakharova7672]

I adore your video!!! Thank you very much!!!

[@mattbrennan647]

Great work Scott. Looks like it’s off to a great start. I’m just watching for the first time. I hope it survived. I just planted one of my own down here in Florida. So far so good. Thanks, keep growing

[@nancyfahey7518]

Hi Matt, any secrets you can share? I'm going to try afternoon shade this next try.

[@mattbrennan647]

@@nancyfahey7518 ,, no real secrets just don’t over prune roots or branches if going from nursery stock. I always let my trees rest in the shade for a couple weeks after. Then slowly reintroduce into full sun. Good luck. Thanks, keep growing

[@karinmoonhawk3720]

Amazing video Scott!! and what a good looking tree you made it,....looking forward to it's progress 😊 Off to part 2 👍💖😊

[@nancyfahey7518]

I'm in Florida and I've killed any orange trees and lemon trees I had. I have a huge meyer lemon and a huge navel orange, but don't bonsai them well. I'll give it another try.

[@ScottWinnardLetsdoBonsai]

Best of luck - i will do an update so you can see how they are doing.

[@shrutigupta3363]

Nice demonstration 👍

[@GlasshouseandGarden]

Anyone else notice the ghostly broom moving on its own at 8'05''?

[@steviechapa6]

yes that's pretty wierd

[@FlowConsciously]

It's been 13 months - wondering how this lemon tree did? I've not had luck starting a tree yet, when I trimmed roots that far! Seems like a HARD repotting for that guy. Any updates?? btw -love your videos!

[@diavalus]

Hi Scott, the reason why Nigel’s video is so popular is because many people are trying to grow lemon trees in pots in USA and his video has been shared quite a few times on different forums on “how difficult is to grow one in a pot and look how others massacre their little lemon tree to create a bonsai”.

[@diavalus]

​@@LetsDoBonsai That's true! But pretty sure yours will be fine, for instance when you repotted them you also removed the foliage which in my opinion is extreme. Personally I don't do that, I leave all of it and I also leave the flowers and fruits which are still developing. But on the other side I keep it in partial shade and room temperature for next weeks till the roots grow back. So far I had success with my bonsais. Can't wait for the update, I hope you got rid of the sooty mold!

[@diavalus]

@@LetsDoBonsai I think it looks like a drastic measure but it's still on the safe side. I believe not defoliating (like I do) puts more stress on the tree if there is a big imbalance between foliage and roots.

[@diavalus]

@@LetsDoBonsai One more thing why I do this especially on citrus trees: if there is an imbalance between foliage transpiration and roots, they will quickly adapt to it and will drop some leaves until they reach the balance again. Chinese elm I found to behave the same.

[@jarheadbonsai]

Peter!!! Lol. A little more lively than my old muts. 😂😂😎 Great video my friend. I love working with citrus for the aromas...and try to ignore the stabbing thorns.

[@jarheadbonsai]

Oh...and trimming roots!!! Its hard to not get carried away. I think you did really well with that knotted mess.

[@jarheadbonsai]

@@LetsDoBonsai 🐶🐶🐶

[@ZedGames]

When growing from seed how long would you recommend waiting before pruning and repotting? Right now I have four seedlings growing nicely, only about 3 months old now though...

[@LetsDoBonsai]

repotting on can be at about 6 months your normally looking for the growth to be over a few inches and looking strong to think about repotting. Pruning is just plucking unwanted leaves at the early stages.

[@ZedGames]

@@LetsDoBonsai Thank you, I appreciate your help :)

[@jonathanaristone2468]

Good Job Scott. I'm looking for a Meyer Lemon tree for my collection as well. If the leaves were in good health one can use them in some special cooking applications. I encountered this in Italy last fall. Nice video Scott.

[@maximilian4227]

Is there a special time to defoliate or do the repoting? Or can I do it whenever I want and it will grow back? And can you defoliate or cut back as much branches as I want or does there need to be a ratio between how much root and brnaches I cut? And after I repot and defoliate does it need to get full light (of course while making sure to water enough)? And will it produce fruit in the bonsai soil or what would I need to do? Thanks in advance!

[@ScottWinnardLetsdoBonsai]

Make sure the tree is healthy for a start and you want to do it in a growing season to allow for new leave to grow back in, im not sure about ratios, i just go with what i think, mine has produced fruit, but i remove it as it grows to keep the energy in the tree.

[@maximilian4227]

@@ScottWinnardLetsdoBonsai thanks!

[@alexbiggs8131]

Thank you very instructive.

[@javierramos7409]

I would like to make the bonsai of the lemon or another fruit tree

[@paulschaefer5241]

I like your watering system. anything that keeps plastic out of the waste stream is a good thing. would that fit an empty soda bottle as well?

[@s.9985]

Did you find out what those tiny bulbs were that were growing in the soil?

[@LetsDoBonsai]

I didnt unfortunately

[@miltonwelch8619]

I really don't think rinsing the soapy water off is necessary; it may be even more helpful to leave it on. I spray my plants with soapy water and hydrogen peroxide with a bit of baking soda. By rinsing it off, I'm partly defeating the purpose I had in mind by spraying it on. Don't get me wrong, this is a great video!

[@BonsaiJCan]

That was nice work Scott, I really enjoyed this video from beginning to end ! Looks like Peter's keeping you busy ! lol, cute little guy.

[@초록플라워]

멋진 영상 너무 잘보고 갑니다😀😀👍👍

[@harvmelone721]

4 yrs later and I still did not get flowers and fruit. What does it take to make it happen?

[@LetsDoBonsai]

They do well in a warm humid environment with plenty of sun - feeding them helps in spring

[@theaubergineroom]

Hi Scott, thanks for this video! What is in your opinion, the best soil to use for this kind of tree? I'm planning to start a bonsai from my mini lemon tree but as a beginner I would't kill my little tree by choosing the wrong soil. Thanks

[@katedodd79]

Nice job! Love root pruning videos, that's my favourite part too. Did it smell nice when cutting the leaves? Tempted to find a citrus myself now! 🍊

[@sydneyjohnson6254]

Have you tried neem oil for your white flies? I just had an issue with the same flies and it seems to be working pretty well :) love this video!! Thank you!

[@nesm9302]

Hi, any update on this lemon tree?

[@MF-xp9tq]

What type of bonsai soil is white? I've never seen that before.

[@ScottWinnardLetsdoBonsai]

HI M F its a light coloured clay with white perlite so its a bit of an illusion showing white on camera, i no longer use the clay im back to akadama with perlite

[@MF-xp9tq]

@@ScottWinnardLetsdoBonsai Thank you !

[@damionlightner6645]

Awesome work! How is it doing now?

[@LetsDoBonsai]

All the citrus trees are going well they will all get an update in the next few months as spring begins to hit!

[@miserupister]

dont want to sound too harsh but it probably died!defoliation should be done on a healty established tree and you choped way to many roots for the first training the tree got.did it survive?

[@LetsDoBonsai]

HI There, yes the tree lives and is doing well, you are quite right you should never do this unless the tree is healthy, this tree was nice and healthy and full of vigour dispite the deposits on the leaves all 4 of the citrus trees i worked on are all still going well.

[@miserupister]

@@LetsDoBonsai that is awesome!the tree did look healthy but i still think that kind of severe root pruning should not be done same time with complete defoliation but i am glad it survived!maibe update us on how it looks and the nebari development!thank you!!

[@LetsDoBonsai]

@@miserupister for sure it will be an upcoming video soon

[@jermieelcullada7318]

When is the best time of the year to bonsai a lemon tree?

[@SnowDragonka]

Those tiny things look like crocuses. Did you find out what they were? They do remind me of my tiny saffrons.

[@SnowDragonka]

@@LetsDoBonsai Too bad, they looked cute. And crocuses have very nice almost needle-like foliage with huge flowers. It's amazing plant. Maybe next time they'll survive :) I keep mine in a bonsai soil with self-watering, they do love moisture.

[@joybaisden6277]

what time of the year do you suggest doing this?

[@LetsDoBonsai]

If you live in a warm climate, you have a bit more leeway on exactly when to prune; just don't do it when it's roasting hot. For everyone else, February through April are the best pruning months.

[@ev0ke676]

Can i also do this right now or should i wait till spring

[@overthenever4262]

✌️🌴🏴‍☠️

[@hollydavies8800]

Hi Scott, i have a nursery lemon tree which is a little smaller than yours, looks pretty healthy and is in flower. When would be the best time/season to start the bonsai process? I am a bit of a newbie btw.

[@hollydavies8800]

@@LetsDoBonsai Ah thankyou so much for your reply, big help, its been driving me mad.

[@LemonsGraphics]

What mix of soil is that?

[@danielaleao5697]

How is this tree looking right now?

[@alizafar1194]

Which lemon type is this?

[@chinookwind8535]

What is your soil mixture?

[@-AnyWho]

what exactly is that is that bonsai soil? looks like gravel ... i just started a lemon seed like a month or so ago. right now and probably all this summer i think just leave in dirt cuz its only a seedling with three leaves on it ... but I'm guessing next year ill start thinking of moving it in another container. this is the first time for me so I'm kinda playing it by ear

[@lesliebonsaigardens]

:)

[@Dendrobenarium]

Follow)

[@LetsDoBonsai]

Thanks - im your 99th

[@BackPack19961]

Nice Intro keep going ;)

[@BackPack19961]

@@LetsDoBonsai Slow and steady :)

[@ТатьянаФилатова-г6т]

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