Thread Grafting a Bonsai: Trident Maple :)

[@GrowingBonsai]

good timing, just before main budswell. 🎉

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It is funny - I filmed this the day after your short popped onto the screen. Hence the question I asked about scratching the bark. Hopefully this works out :)

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Cambium Connection sounds like a 70s pop group 😂 i need to try this again on my beech tree - I made a complete mess of drilling the hole and glanced off creating a big tear in the side of the tree that has calloused over in an ugly way - seems beech is REALLY TOUGH wood for drilling through. Good luck with this.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Those freaky phrases just keep rolling off my tongue :)

[@KennetDeBondt]

Good job Xav. Also nice to hear you will remove ugly roots!😂 Grts Kennet

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That thug of a root is definitely leaving the building!

[@AlexBraunton]

Great video Xavier. Fingers crossed for your graft, I'm sure it'll do well given then you didn't remove the buds this time 😅

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I am such an idiot some days...most days :)

[@dalespringerwilson4233]

Drill slower, don't put so much elbow behind the drill. Works much better.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I have heard a lot about using different speeds and pressure. I have seen so many variations on this it can feel like a lottery sometimes. Thanks for the practical advice and I'd love to see some of your thread grafts if that's possible. Cheers :)

[@BonsaiCornwall]

You know what Pa, I just watched a demo on thread grafting at Plymouth bonsai club and I have to say you’re spot on. What a well produced, informative video 😎 Keep it up 💚

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Didn't you see me hiding in the corner taking notes for this video :)

[@BonsaiCornwall]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat now that you mention it there was a creepy guy in the corner! Say hi next time Xav 😉

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video xav hope they work for you mate 👍👍👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Andy - are you out of plaster now?

[@BlueJayBonsai]

Excellent work Xav!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Jay - hope all is well in your bonsai woods :)

[@sueb1317]

Really great to see the live demo - looking forward to see the summer progress. Never know when this trick will come in handy!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

The next time you will see this is probably going to be the Bonfire of Shame :)

[@sueb1317]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat No way - whatever happens, the parent tree will remain healthy - it has some nice character as is!

[@DeciduousSnurb]

Makes me want to do some thread grafting. How long have you been practicing bonsai Xavier?

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Started yesterday :) Seriously, I killed my first sapling in 2002. But that is only my second attempt at a thread graft. Still learning :)

[@ArkefthosBonsai]

Nice work Xavier!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I appreciate you dropping by - hopefully this will work out. I know some people suggest using slower drill speeds and stuff but I'm definitely still learning :)

[@markjagger7139]

Excellent demonstration, fingers crossed it taking 👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Mark - I did two in the end so hopefully one will work out. Thogh both should be fine...

[@TOMSAI]

That Looks Good ! I wish you luck for that grafting! 👌👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Tom

[@andrewclack4881]

that's not an exit wound according to the magic bullet theory! 🤣🤣🤣

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That is such a fantastic film and when you start digging down that rabbit hole things get very unsettling. Is it the Magruder Footage?

[@Steves_Backyard_Bonsai]

I blew my first attempt at a thread graft last year. I appreciate your step by step tutorial. Cheers.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers - just need tow ait and see if either of them are succesful.

[@DavesBonsai]

excellent my friend!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Cheers Dave - let's hope this thrives and actually works. Just a shame we have to wait so long to find out :)

[@DavesBonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat patience Daniel-son! Patience!

[@nickrobson2753]

I thought it was just me amazed at the price of young, undeveloped material. I'm hoping to pick up something reasonable at Doncaster next weekend. Also not bonsai but I'm thread grafting a flamingo Willow on to a twisted trunk standard this week. So ideal timing for me to follow your tutorial.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I look forward to hearing how you get on with that Nick. it will be good to see you :)

[@oachkatzlsmum]

Hi Xavier! Looks awesome - fingers crossed this one will grow into it’s new position. 😘 Can’t wait to see the update. Enjoy your day ❤ Cheers

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Martina - sun is beaming in the window and I am stuck having to do a load of edits for Saturdays release :)

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Well that's a neat trick.... Hopefully this one takes for you!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

We shall see. The buds have all leafed out now so it is just about waiting I think.

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Xav just had another thought I wonder if someway you could tie the 2 pots together so the plastic pot won’t move around with the wind etc. Joe.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Definitely a good idea Joe. I'll be honest..when I selected the whip I gave no thought to security until after it was done. Typical me :)

[@lilnoir4213]

The more tricks i learn the more i think Bonsai is closer to stone sculpting than to gardening.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I think you might be right on that one :)

[@sharicochems6299]

Can’t wait! Maybe a post-it note to yourself “do not remove buds”

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Definitely a good idea :)

[@D.RBonsai4601]

Cool video Xav Fingers crossed your successfu🤞🏻 Thanks for sharing my friend 👊🏻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Dan. This time I will not pull off all the buds :)

[@D.RBonsai4601]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat 🤣👍🏻

[@mauromaffessoli490]

Quanto tempo per fare attecchire linnesto?

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Si spera che il ramo diventi spesso e inizi a fondersi con il tronco entro la fine dell'anno. Ho intenzione di separarlo la prossima primavera. Saluti

[@joegarland4885]

Hi Xav first you are being spied upon from next door window. Really interesting thread branch video, never tried to do a thread branch, Your comment about not rushing in to do it is so right, my Amur maple has thrown out a couple of buds this year as it did last year which one from then I have let grow to thicken it up over this year as I will do with another branch when it pops out, proving the point that sometimes the tree knows best so let it do it’s own thing before doing any other work it might just surprise you. All the best with them all. I gather we are in for a very cold snowy period in the next day or so, winter is far from over

[@maryweber4176]

I think it's from his own house??

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That was my son James in his office - I think he was chatting with his fiance. I keep preparing for these reports of copld weather and have yet to actually have anything worrisome :)

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Spot on Mary - No 1 son...

[@Rojin_Bonsai]

Great video and easy to follow instructions well done xav 😊

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks my friend - hopefully we shall get aa decent branch from this :)

[@Rojin_Bonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I'm sure it will be accomplished as it looks like you did a great job 😁

[@Darkfire1300]

What can I say? Great video as usual. Packed with good information, history and demo. I have a maple that I have waffled on for several years about whether or not to thread graft. I had hoped for those magic buds to develop. Instead, the top of the tree has died out. So now it's a major, major chop or thread grafting. Perhaps I will waffle for another season? Thanks for your encouragement. Tell your daughter "hello!" I usually stare out a window with coffee when I am on the phone.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I shall let James know you find him feminine looking :)

[@Darkfire1300]

@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Tee Hee! Well, "he" was headless, so I made a guess! At any rate, you were well supervised.🤣

[@Chris-oq6kn]

Great video and good pointers! Since u did one i think u should try out some i think its called side veneer grafting and see if they take. I may try some. Havnt done one of them yet but instead of growing another tree it may be easier to cut a branch off and graft it to the trunk. Prob has to be a certain thickness though maybe a 2 yr old branch. Nice demo!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I am yet to try any sort of approach graft techniques. Is that what you mean by veneer grafting?

[@Chris-oq6kn]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat i think its similar but instead of having a scion tree to go to the mother tree u would cut a branch off the mother tree and graft it right back onto the trunk of the mother tree. At least i think thats a procedure🤣. I would fig it would work cause they do it to almost all maples over here. Almost every maple that ive been buying i guess exotic maples is grafted onto a reg acer palmatum. I fig it would be easier for people that dont have smaller trees of the same plant growing which i have none of.

[@acer_p_bonsai]

Really nice demo Xavier! Your videos are approachable and packed with good information. I think we learn the most from our previous mistakes, thanks for sharing them so others can learn! 🙏🪴🍁

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I wish I stopped making such howlers though! My wife always said I would be dangerous if left unsupervised :)

[@acer_p_bonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat 😆 I feel the same way. Definitely need my wife to manage me at times!

[@paulgeddert6125]

Handy timing, I have a beech I intend to thread graft shortly (1st attempt).

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I would be interested to see and hear how you get on with that. I have suggested (on my website blog), that beech 'may' be more difficult due to the arrangement and size of the buds. I would love to be able to provide follow evidence of that statement with a positive result :)

[@paulgeddert6125]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I thought the same after watching your video. I have an ideal branch to bend round and use. I'm wondering, as only the top bud or two would go through anyway whether I just feed the top bud through, knock off the next one or two and let the end extend unchecked. (I won't knock the all other buds further back off so hopefully it would be fine.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That is definitely worth trying :)@@paulgeddert6125

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Bruce