Starting Bonsai Trees from Seedlings and Cuttings

[@bonsaiexpression]

Great video. I think everyone should have a mixture of trees at all ages. Cuttings are fun as there are free trees. Who doesn't love a freebie.

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Yep, cuttings are free and low pressue, although I am admittedly over anxious about my two Yuri Hime JM cuttings that rooted for me - really want them to live. Thanks for the comment. Best.

[@bonsaiexpression]

@@BonsaiNorthwest got my fingers crossed for them.

[@raymondbirds2392]

Lovely job

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@backbudbonsai]

I double dip! Cuttings and seeds sown every yr but I also keep an eye out for a nice trunk

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

@@backbudbonsai Good plan. I like having a few things going too, and enjoy both my bigger trees that I purchased as older plants as well as seedlings. And most everything gets a little better with each year, something I really enjoy about bonsai.

[@PercyWarX]

Have 2 young oak seedling that germinated this year, also going to give them wire them gently and just basic movements and keeping it small.

[@jameswalker3416]

Watch cutting there tap root. In my experience they hate there roots messed with.

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

I read the same thing about oaks not liking to have their tap root cut. That's one reason that I moved my little oak into a bonsai pot so quickly - I wanted to increase my chances of successfully transitioning it into a bonsai pot by doing it early. My 2-year-old oak seedling took the transition well, although it did seem to take awhile waking up this spring - for awhile I thought I might have killed it. I don't have much experience with oaks. I guess I can also share that transplanting Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) is tough. I've killed several, but was finally successful with a very young seedling this spring - it looks like it's going to make the transition from ground to pot.

[@jameswalker3416]

@BonsaiNorthwest that what happened to a couple dozen I started. I cut the tap root, and the first year they grew a little, then the next year they didn't wake up.

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

@@jameswalker3416 Yikes, here's hoping my oaks wake up next spring 🤞. That's bonsai and trees though - they can die slowly and sometimes unexpectedly.

[@n8tyler]

Agreed both sides are credible...A Bonsai enthusiast needs to be a bit of a horticulturist and understand the journey of womb to tomb of at least some trees...It is also very nice to be able to invest more money into buying time and purchasing trees that are 5-10 and older...I very much believe, like you, that there is value in both paths...Thanks for another great video...

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Amen, there's lots of ways to bonsai. Now that I have a healthy collection of ~30 trees in pots, I think it's easier to be patient, and start these very young trees. Especially if you have a place to grow things in the ground. It's easy to plant and largely forget for a few years.

[@jameswalker3416]

I like designing the tree more than refining them. So i prefer starting with seeds or cuttings.

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

I think I am the same way (as I have yet to experience refining a tree!).

[@jameswalker3416]

@BonsaiNorthwest I've got about 6, and it takes hours to prune or rewire. I don't get the same joy as taking a cutting and putting a shape to it.

[@SulamAkarBonsai]

Like 5..wonderful,,good sharing my friend ❤❤

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Thank you! And thanks for visiting. Best.

[@lisawagner6076]

I was one of those that bought a tree and wanted to make it a bonsai. I found a weeping willow on amazon. It is doing very well. I probably should have pruned it back a bit but I just let it grow. It is in a 1 gal container with bonsai soil with organics in it as well, to hold onto a little bit of water so it won't dry out over night on me. I then got over excited and bought some cuttings and some seeds and most of those died. I have a chinese elm that really needs a pruning but is it too late? I am in zone 7b, NC. My kishu from Eric died. The sun was too hot where I had it on my deck. I just got today a shimpaku from Bonsai Outlet in a 1 gal pot and it's gorgeous!! Pre-bonsai, I think I will just let it be in my yard till next spring. What do you think? Should I repot it now into bonsai soil? Trim and wire branches? I started bringing my Brazilian Rain Tree in at night. We are getting down to 55 degrees at night now, and I might bring in my son's Weeping Cherry I bought as a Christmas gift for him. How old is your son? Mine is 35, LOL. I love that you do this with your son. Such great bonding time. These will be cherished moments when he grows up. I keep rambling writing essays on your video, so sorry! LOL

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Ha, no worries, as long as it's bonsai related, write away! Sounds like you've got a lot going. And nothing wrong with killing trees - we all do it. I learn something from most trees that I kill. As for your questions: In general, fall is a good time to wire, prune both large and small, less good of a time to work roots (although you can work on roots if you can provide winter protection to roots. And minor root work (not removing too much) is probably fine). I'd wait for spring to work roots heavily and transition to a different soil. My son is a seedling himself, less than a decade old.

[@lisawagner6076]

@@BonsaiNorthwest Thanks! I am going to get a cold frame to winter these trees in. If we have a severe weather warning, I'll move them to the garage. I don't have that many, yet. The indoor trees will go under grow lights in my bedroom. So good, I will do a little pruning. Thanks so much!

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

@@lisawagner6076 Sounds like a solid plan. That's basically what I do - I keep my trees in an unheated garage that's not attached to my house over winter. When it gets extremely cold, I move them into my attached garage, that usually stays above 25 deg F even when it's less than 15 deg F. I also have a nice grow light that keeps my tropical trees fairly happy over winter.

[@clifflrice]

Hi, I appreciate your channel. Please let me know the name of the first cutting you mentioned. In the small blue pot. I could not figure out the variety from listening to you. Thank you,

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Glad you enjoy the channel! Thanks for the question. It's a Thuja occidentalis 'Primo'. The common name is Northern White-cedar or Arborvitae. 'Primo' is a dwarf variety developed in Oregon, USA. Thujas are great for bonsai, tough trees, but aren't perhaps as commonly used as the more popular Hinoki Cypress, which have a similar look and of which there are also dwarf varieties. I believe Hinoki Cypresses also propagate well from cuttings.

[@percyacutt3110]

I’m 62 and still take cuttings, it’s the process of creating the tree I enjoy, seeing the “finished tree” is not really the goal , I have enough of those.

[@itisjustmedude]

I’m 60 and I’m collecting seeds and seedlings to make what I’m calling starters because I’m just getting into this hobby. I’m also playing with dwarf jade so I have a chance to see a something that looks like a bonsai. I might never have a real bonsai that I started, but I’m having a lot of fun.

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

It's also about the process for me. I enjoy growing plants in general so I'm not too concerned about how quickly I achieve a nice bonsai. I'm also into improvement - I enjoy seeing trees progress, however small those improvements are.

[@BonsaiNorthwest]

Amen, the process can be just as gratifying as the end result.