Repotting a field grown Hackberry bonsai tree

[@bonsaibro]

Lovley Hackberry. I really appreciate the weekly videos.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you! Me too, I have some award winning ones which I imported from Taiwan. The Taiwanese are the best creators by far of this species.

[@stephencreswell229]

​@TerryErasmusbonsai what is the Taiwanese name for this species?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@stephencreswell229 Celtis sinensis to the best of my knowledge but that is the botanical name. Don’t know what it’s called in Taiwanese.

[@stephencreswell229]

@TerryErasmusbonsai thank you for the reply. I know it's called Enoki in japan. When I search Celtis sinensis/ Chinese Hackberry in Google it never shows the ones created in Taiwan.

[@neil_395]

If it was me and I had the collection of trees and knowledge you have... I would airlayer it! The top half would make a world class tree in no time. Thanks for another great video Terry!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for your view Neil! Definitely an option to air layer.

[@johanels2249]

Thank you Terry, realized I made some real errors in the past. Will follow your advice and bring by trees to a higher level

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

I am glad the video was useful to you Johan! Enjoy your trees.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

I am glad the video was useful to you Johan! Enjoy your trees.

[@maxjenkem3993]

Easily the most informative bonsai channel on KZbin.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Wow Max, very kind of you!

[@duanevan4235]

Hi Terry. It would be interesting to see a follow up video on this Celtis and which direction you decided to take. Keep up the great content!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Duane. I decided to keep it as is and try to develop the canopy, making it fuller. The growth is weak though and I cannot explain it; whether some kind of mite or other problem. So development this seasons has been minimal.

[@AlexBraunton]

As always, a very enjoyable and knowledgeable watch. Thank you Terry for sharing.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

My pleasure Alex. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@everydaybonsai]

What an amazing tree. To me air layering it is definitely the right decision. You end up with a smaller but amazingly powerful tree.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you for sharing! It is tempting right, would be an awesome shohin...... but what to do with the rest of the tree then I wonder?

[@kliether33]

Thank you for the wonderful instruction!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you for watching, I’m glad you enjoyed it.

[@johnrb9397]

Lovely lovely tree Terry. I think with the nebari it has I would persist but take my advice with a grain of salt!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks John. Every opinion counts. Going to be tough to make a decision. Maybe I will just keep putting it off for another season or two or ten! 😃

[@stonelantern1584]

Love the tree Terry. Beautiful nebari on the tree. My vote will be to keep the tree as is. I can just imagine more refined ramification around the canopy. Regarding the roots you mentioned. Will you hollow it out and leave it or will you fill it with cement to help with the healing process? With the graft that you did. Will a thread graft also work? Great video. Keep them coming.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Stephen for watching and for your views! I am undecided for sure on what to do but there is a strong argument for just keeping it as is and improving it as much as possible without fundamentally changing it ie layering it. Yes, later in the season I will hollow the rotting wood on that root. I will most likely fill with Rock Set, not cement, then score the live edge and seal. Thread grafts don’t work to the best of my knowledge. I’ve done a few, never been successful.

[@tasanastasi7799]

Personally love it as it is , gorgeous Nebari , however air layering it will produce a fine specimen , i would air layer as low as possible ..good luck in your decision making..

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for sharing your opinion Tas. Tough choice for sure!

[@FernandoRamos-ov6gx]

He wanted to know if the graft he did to the tree worked well. Could you make a video of the process and the result? thank you.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Fernando. I am not going to make a follow up of that as such. The graft did take but after a lot of consideration I have decided I am going to air layer the top off and also the branches in late spring (Southern Hemisphere) as this presents a better future than the grafting approach. So the tree will be featured again at that time but the topic will be how I perform the air layers.

[@justingroenewald768]

Awesome vid as always Terry.. my vote would be to do an air layer, but I do prefer smaller trees.. with that great ramification the smaller tree would just look so beautiful.. great content, thanks!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Cool, thanks Justin. I will add your vote to that column then :)

[@nwilliams1540]

Yeah, if you can not get more branches in the gap air layer will give an awesome small tree. Do you think there is any way to then do something with the lower trunk?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Yes, it’s that gap which bothers me too! Gee I’m not sure what could be done with the lower part if I were to air layer. Some massive scarring so another subject for a hollow trunk or something similar I guess. But that does not appeal to me so I’d probably get rid of it.

[@wesleyphillips3211]

Hi Terry, silly question - why can the original trunk not be "redeveloped" once the air layering is removed? Like the idea of the lower layering a bit more, great video , thanks.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Good question, not silly! I did comment on something similar to this in the comments of this video. A broom could be made. I would stick the trunk into the ground for a bit though to build up reserves so it would produce a lot of buds (you need a lot of branches to make a broom)

[@wesleyphillips3211]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai thanks sorry I missed that 🙈 but then that’s also my choice (lower air layer and broom)

[@alejandroemilianoguzmantej8231]

Hi! New fan here. I think the air lair you talk about will result in a "higher" quality smaller tree but you will have a big stomp. And although that smaller tree will be so good and more beautiful. I usually go for the "natural" look on my own trees the look they have as they are (ofcourse with alot of work and respecting ish the guidelines from japan so they look better). Thats the same take i have with grafting one species on other similar to make them "better" i like the look of my american junipers although some others might graft japanese junipers to make them "better". But im.not a professional of bonsai its my hobbie so you might do what you can to improve the quality of your trees. Love your videos. Really one of my favourite bonsai channels of english speaking yt.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you Alejandro! Appreciate you sharing your views. I will indeed sit with a big “stomp” 😊 Then what to do with that? I’m not a fan of big deadwood features on deciduous, although they do exist of course. I am considering trying to improve this tree further by grafting (same species) and filling some of the gaps. The overall style will reflect a period in my development as artist. You think it’s a good idea?

[@razor2ts]

Thank you Terry, love your vids. There's a nice tree up top for air layering, but it would be a shame to lose that powerful nabari at the base, let's hope those grafts take, I think either way is a win win situation, thanks again :-)

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thank you so much! Yeah, you make a good point. I will nurse the grafts and see how they develop. I hope to feature the tree later in the season so I can update on the progress.

[@dalejames486]

Perhaps this is a dumb question, but can wiring the tree into the pot cause wire scars on the nebari?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Not a dumb question at all. Yes it can, assuming your wire crosses over a root and you leave the wire on for a long time. There are various methods for using wire to secure trees. One includes hammering sticks into the root ball from the sides and then securing the wire over that. If you don’t have a developed root ball then that’s not an option. Then securing wire over deeper roots is another solution.

[@dk2614]

Hi, You have a great deal of skill and your efforts with this tree aren't for nothing. I understand the shift in asthedic and I personally believe it's a shift for the better. Have you considered letting the tree grow wild in its canopy for a year or two. I understand the foliage pads won't work very well with a Naturalistic canopy but you might find the tree is able to help you in a naturalistic style which could help keep much of the outstanding trunk shape and stature. I personally also see air layering to be the easy path. Either way I hope to see how the future unfolds for this tree. Thanks Terry!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks DK, yes I agree the change in aesthetic I have undergone is much for the better. I hadn't considered leaving the tree to its own devices for a period. I think a key problem is the very formal upright trunk. There is nothing I can do at this point to get away from it and no matter how I let the branches run, that would not change anything either. Layering off the top section in an effort to change the style of the tree, is a serious consideration as that portion of the trunk has at least some movement in it, and the branches are spaced much closer together so will produce a more ramified/dense tree. The approach grafts I am currently trying will simply fill the canopy, resulting in a more appealing tree but it will do nothing to remedy the formal trunk. When I was in Taiwan a few years ago, I observed many much older specimens of Celtis sinensis in what I understand to be their "learning curve" or early approach to styling before they too started to go towards a more natural approach for deciduous. The point is they did not discard them or make them over somehow. If I don't decide to layer the tree, perhaps I should keep it as is - in other words do nothing, as evidence of my development as a bonsai artist. What do you think?

[@dk2614]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai It does definetly speak towards a period in time where that was the style and I believe it can still stand on it's own merits. Keeping as it is would be like keeping a 1957 Chevy Belair from the crusher! If it bothers you that much maybe consider selling it to someone who would enjoy it deeply.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@@dk2614 thanks for that. Yes selling would be an option. It’s not that it bothers me that much, just that I’m always looking at how to improve. In this case options are limited.

[@joelshack85]

How long do you have to do the root work and complete the soil before it could be considered harmful to the tree?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

You mean how long can you have the tree exposed? To be honest I’ve never experimented to find out. However theoretically as long as you don’t allow the roots to dry out you are ok. Always work in shade and out of wind. Mist the roots if they start drying.

[@joelshack85]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai awesome thanks for your response

[@HuitronCuahuitl]

Qué lindo árbol!

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

¡Muchas gracias, agradezco el cumplido!

[@janeplatt8254]

Terry I would layer the tree lower rather than higher x🇬🇧😊❤️

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Jane, will keep that in mind!

[@bulebonsaibatam1758]

Hi Terry, Air layer would be great idea. However you have invested time and grafting may pay off in the long run. It’s a 50/50 for me and falls to personal preference.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Bule. The air layer of this species is quite reliable with lots of roots which readily form. So that’s a plus. Yes a lot of time has been invested, but to be mean to myself perhaps it was wasted time? Anyways it’s very likely I will keep trying with the grafts to fill the gaps and then keep it as a symbol of a time period in my development as artist.

[@strangenewt]

I like the idea of the slightly larger air layer, but I also think leaving it as is for another year or so to see how well the grafts are taking would be another good option. As others have mentioned, if you air layer, the problem remains of what to do with the stump. The stump will be left with with a dominant branch coming off almost at a right angle and not much else. It seems like it would be hard to come up with a design using the horizontal branch, maybe it could be a windswept or a semi-cascade by cutting back to a leader facing the right direction. Otherwise, you would have to develop a new leader entirely, basically starting from scratch with a nice base. In the end, it's your call.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks Julian, appreciate the thought you've put into it. Its nice for me to get other's perspective on it, but sure, as you mention it will be my decision to live with after. I agree, I almost feel that if I air layer the top the bottom will be discarded. As this species heals so poorly, a lot of carving will be needed. I might stick it back into the ground to gain some energy and then work with some new growth, which I hope you appear as a result of the increased vigor. But it is a risk. Another consideration of course is that the air layer does not take and then essentially the entire tree is ruined. This is a pretty low chance as they do layer quite easily in my experience but there are so many factors to consider and perhaps this one time it doesnt work! ha ha ha. Anyways I like your suggestion of waiting, there is no rush. Appreciate your comments.

[@arnopienaar8111]

baie dankie vir video T Wil net paar vrae vra,ek so paar celtisse uitgegrawe middel Aug, meeste het al begin uitloop ,n paar nie ,sal dit help om te spuit met Bioroot en toemaak in swart sakke ,in koelte hou en wind vermy of maar net harder bid?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hi Arno. Pleasure. Are the ones which have not budded alive? (Scratch the bark and see if it’s green below). If yes then I suppose the idea you suggest might help, certainly worth a shot. So much of collecting success depends on the health of the tree prior to collection. Sometimes trees can sulk for a long time. Praying is definitely an option though! I’ve done so many times.

[@arnopienaar8111]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai ja,bas nog groen,is swart sak ok ,of moet dit deurskeinend wees?

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@@arnopienaar8111 black will be hotter than clear. However if you are putting it into the shade it won’t make any difference. I’m not sure what, if any different between clear or opaque though.

[@JesusChrist4ever]

From the viewers 👁 my 👁:) would look as a amazing bonsai if cut from the same spot we’re the Band-Aids are at the lower branch coming from the right side well ur right sid3 of the tree 🤷‍♂️ what you think T ^.^ but hopefully u don’t have to Air layer it looks fantastic 🤩

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks so much. The grafts are growing now again so they’re not helping making the decision easier. At the moment I’m leaning towards keeping the tree. The process of remaking at least portions of it adds to the story of the tree I think. Thanks for sharing your views!

[@pod054321]

100% Air layer

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Wow. That’s certainty for you! Not even 99% huh 🤔. You approach your own trees with such determination I’m sure too?

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

I feel the tree has come to far to air Layer. the root base is magnificent. Tough decision ahead 🙂 maybe if you did air layer the top the bottom would bud out and you could make some kind of a broom but huge risk Id hate to be you

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Hey Sam, nice to hear from you too on this. I am not precious about work if I believe that going forward it would be the best decision for the tree. I am not convinced yet, which way is best. Yeah, a broom is possible. Very limited options for what remains of the tree other than that really. I am tempted to keep it as a sort of "historical tree" which demonstrates my development as an artist. In Taiwan I saw a number of trees like this on display in fact, until they too had begun to change to a more natural styling for Celtis. I don't think its a terrible tree as is, and this is what is making it difficult to act. What to do, what to do....

[@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke]

@@TerryErasmusbonsai mate whatever you decide will be great. I'm sure you have plenty of normal trees. Good to have something a little strange 😁😁

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

@@SamDoeckeAussiebonsaibloke 😂😂😂.

[@andremarais2706]

Short trees with huge trunks is not attractive. I hope you air layered a bit lower.

[@TerryErasmusbonsai]

Thanks for commenting Andre, personally I like short trees with huge trunks as I find them very dynamic and dramatic. Its of course exaggerated but after all its art. This sort of topic is very subjective and views will differ from one person to another. Thanks for sharing your view.