Thread Grafting: Hornbeam

If at first you don't succeed, wait a year & try again.
Boy, oh boy. This video has a story. I hope you enjoy it. Thread grafting is a long-game process, just like bonsai. This captures 1.5 years of work, and it's not finished yet. Subscribe to this channel to see future updates.
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[@Kjbrunzo]

Probably the funniest moment I've seen on this channel 5:44, totally caught me off guard.

[@alexkairis3927]

HE RETURNS!

[@AndrewFroude]

Thanks for sharing the real life of bonsai, mishaps and all. Great job. I can't wait to see the end result when fully grafted.

[@ernsttencate6699]

So glad you are back with a nice video. Hope to see more. Of course a 👍👍

[@walterwjr947]

Thank you.... 🙏 😔 🙏 It is nice to see this technique being used on a Hornbeam and also seeing a failure and a success. I hope to see this tree in the future. It has a great start. 🙏 🖖 🙏 😔 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@Dave_0993_I]

It's good to see you again after all this while .

[@lefthandluke8923]

You're back! Awesome!!

[@andrewhillerich4878]

So glad to see another hornbeam video! There aren't very many videos on this species, so any new ones are greatly appreciated. The monster I dug up this spring is growing and has the potential to be one of my best trees one day.

[@MikeHunt-lz2hq]

I've got my eye on two nice ones for next year .our 40 acres is so full of them it was hard to pick out two . I've spaded them in a circle in preparation for next season so that the cut roots will produce lots of nice fiberous feeder roots . The two trees are about 10 feet tall and the trunks are about 4 inches around. I'm going to air layer them in half instead of just discarding the remainder of the length .So hopefully I'll end up with 4 nice trees .

[@BlacksmithGaming420]

The bonsai master

[@jasonstanczyk2050]

Really glad to see a video that has the full process documented. The original idea, explained, attempted, mistakes made and then how that was overcame the following year. Its a little frustrating as a newbie to watch videos, and never see the outcome of the tree. As a viewer, I never know if a tree made a recovery because it takes so long for these things to happen and few people actually post updates on the same trees throughout the years. Really great content, keep it up! Love seeing your videos.

[@alaindavid2419]

We're always waiting for your updates of your bonsai. Nice episode today.

[@knowfear100]

Hooray! Glad it took. So pleased you’re back making Bobsai films for us- thank you

[@pixicshomestead]

Man that is some high level gardening

[@jimbersmcimbers]

Love the singing birds.

[@l1ttl3h3l3n]

So happy you posted new video. It was the kind of calm I needed after/during this crazy time. Nice work on the tree.

[@MauricioVarelaE]

Thank you for your contribution! I liked very much that aspect which you showed of failure and success of the never-ending bonsai work. ¡Greetings from Mexico and congratulations!

[@claudiosalerno573]

I really like this channel, so honest and authentic

[@_Misso_]

Love your work, stunning tree. Glad to see your back 😁👍

[@walterknittweis5976]

Great job. This is good information that I will put to good use. Thanks again

[@bingtafrancke9399]

Big fan of your bonsai collection...Great video, so informative and encouraging 👍. Thank you for your wonderful inspiration. We will definitely give this skill set a try.

[@nexrift7140]

I have learned a lot and your sense of humor has me rolling! Thanks for making these videos!

[@MrTributes]

loved the memes XD tree is looking fantastic too. hope schools going well!

[@GreatLakesBonsai]

Great work as usual. attempted my first thread grafts last spring, too! Beauty of a hornbeam, love where you are taking it.

[@browpetj]

Nice small buds on hornbeam. Good grafting opportunity. Beech is a buggar! :)

[@takarabonsai3545]

The video is very good, thank you for sharing the evolution of this beautiful bonsai with so much potential. thanks for the video.

[@johnpienta4200]

Fantastic work. Thanks for posting. Keep it up.

[@norielendaya3475]

Nice to see you again sir, love your videos i can learn so much

[@gaboortega8744]

Amazing work !!! thanks for sharing

[@BlueJayBonsai]

Wow, great perseverance and great result. 👍

[@nikolak5281]

Love the video, so fun to watch like always

[@carlosmch2012]

Very nice, good lesson, I need to do this type of grafting, thanks for the video!!!!

[@AFMR0420]

This is an awesome technique!

[@angryzombie8088]

Absolutely love it, this video takes a lot of time & effort to complete. Yes, we learn from our mistake. Cutting off the shoot is a no go, damaging the branch is a no go, noted.

[@stefaanwalleghem2746]

never seen this system before, then again, I'm only a beginner. nice job, hopefully it'll keep this time. congrats

[@isidroalbertgarcia2396]

😂😂💪🏻 loved specialty how you handled all!! Didactic and pre cátedra skill, thanks 🙏

[@stanohrablo1374]

I also have a hornbeam, which could be a candidate for defoliation, so I'm glad seeing the defoliation of your hornbeam has worked (what I've heard so far was do NOT defoliate a hornbeam). Do you defoliate all your deciduous trees with good results? I and perhaps also others would appreciate if you share more on the topic. Thanks.

[@rfadfsasfd]

Hi sir. This is a helpful video, not only to learn how to thread graft, but also to don't give up on grafting trees. My 2021 graft season was awful, so I will keep trying in 2022. Ps. I know that everyone has a life, but we miss your videos sir. Best regards

[@HollerHunter]

Fantastic. I’m hoping to try the same next spring.

[@renereitsma5160]

Nice work and thank you for showing the progress from mistake to a better result on the second try. I made a similar mistake with my first thread grafts: hole too small, so buds and branch bark rubbed off; graft did not take. To prevent a graft from moving in a larger hole, a small wooden wedge; e.g., from a match stick has worked for me. Also, as you did, wiring the graft helps keep the tree/graft joint remain 'locked' in place.

[@smokyhillbonsai-gerrettmor6373]

That's a nice-looking tree, always inspired after watching your videos.

[@smokyhillbonsai-gerrettmor6373]

.....Also- great advice @ 12:00.

[@DarthMasiah]

6:16 🤣 that was too good

[@amadeurafael3736]

Um excelente trabalho e a prova de que os erros devem ser corregidos na procura do êxito, pois a resiliência é imprescindível na arte de bonsai. Parabéns

[@HerbandRoots]

Great video. Nice explanation.

[@gavins.6109]

That tree is going to be a stunner!

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Superb!

[@dwarfbougainvillea725]

Looking good bro!!

[@markwoodard659]

Glad you wired it down. It was bothering me a little bit.🤣

[@prerana52]

Thanks for sharing this very informative useful information,

[@andrecosterus]

Thanks for this!

[@dickmcshan9778]

Welcome back! Seems like years since I came across one of your posts. Glad all is going well for you. This is, another, great presentation. Cheers, Dick from Vancouver.

[@leanderbarrie]

Awesome🤟

[@hubismaximus]

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but if you hold a sacrificial piece of wood against the backside of the tree where you drill through you can avoid the tear-out problems and end up with a much cleaner hole. Really enjoyed the video and appreciate the updates!

[@MrDcsnj]

great video, informative

[@PapaOsmubal.OscarBalajadia]

I love the funny memes! @11:10 success finally! Thanks.

[@ralphcataldo2870]

Thankyou most interesting and entertaining

[@BrandonTran]

Wow amazing graft! It's cool to see the mistakes too. That way I have a chance at not doing that. Love the way this tree is looking. Are you able to post the 2022 spring video now? Would love to see it :) I guess we have to wait a year now.

[@bouggiesandmixbonsai4603]

Amazing tree

[@JesusChrist4ever]

Man I loved this video

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Hopefully have another update on it this year. I have new ideas for it and one of my other hornbeams.

[@JesusChrist4ever]

@@AppalachianBonsai thanks to these videos I’ve been making better yamadori selection n man I been getting some think ones like yours I found one I haven’t took man is perfect but it grew in between a piece of abandoned road it’s just a chunk of it n a side walk I was thinking of airlayering it but I don’t want to lose tha base trunk line so not sure if to brake up the side of road n side walk what do you suggest!?

[@BostonBonsaiIdiot]

DUDE, so weird…that same marmot pops up every time I break a branch by bending it too far!!

[@joedirt2862]

I hope you will be making videos this spring . Your content is some of the best.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

New one out this past Monday. Another comes out today.

[@sergeybelyanskiy2237]

Nice try. Interesting and lil bit funny video. Thanks for new knowledge )

[@franciscogonzalezrodriguez3710]

Levantarse al caer. Ese es el esfuerzo. Gracias.

[@scharfaced]

I'd be hesitant to use the same rotten hole but, maybe the end of the video will surprise me. HEY! well done.

[@aria.rahbar9991]

Very good video

[@666Necropsy]

i saw this technique of drilling a hole in the trunk and grafting. it just seemed like a bad idea to me even though the graft would take. over the long term this doesnt seem like it would heel with proper branch strength. also the potential for rots and a host of other issues. if you want a branch you can try 2 things. make a cut above where you want a branch to form. this will slow the flow of sap and hopefully a bud lower under the cut will wake up. the other thing you can try is to graft a bud in. you can also use both techniques once the bud heels.

[@666Necropsy]

oh no, your trying it again. not another drill hole please lol

[@666Necropsy]

to cut the bark you would slice off almost around the whole trunk. do not go all the way around. you are just cutting out the cambium layer on a section. there is videos out there about this technique. i forget what its called.

[@user-bq2kb8gk6k]

แจ๋วว😊😋😃.

[@user-bi9ug9fr1d]

👍

[@bathiikumblegeduchannel]

inspiring mister...

[@peterboneg]

Careful not to cut it off too soon. I did this and went by the advice that you can cut it off when the exit thickness is more than the entrance thickness, but it died. The thickness can increase at the exit just as a result of the constriction of the cambium layer by the hole. So wait until it's a lot thicker.

[@johnrb9397]

When you cut the other side is the plan just to cut the top loop, unwrap and see if it will bud out again allowing you to thread graft the underside to created another lower branch?

[@gandrungbonsai]

👍👍👍

[@bobdale2842]

Off topic but related: how do you sharpen your tools (bonsai specific, concave, splitters. etc) when they need it?

[@stevesculptor1]

The only time to put a bonsai in a bonsai pot is when it's ready for showing (John Naka) your tree will come on much faster in an over sized pot that will give root run. Good video Thx

[@kaloyampo2518]

I wonder when are you gonna do a yamadori collecting video again? I hope I could see that kind of video soon...

[@alexverdigris9939]

I was convinced that the SUMMER 2022 update was included in this video...

[@danedwards3015]

Great Video. How do you maintain moisture on a daily basis so the Tree's don't experience Draught or Over Watering? This is a struggle for me.

[@IMHobby121]

Nice job. Thanks for the info. Question: Do you ever have to cut on the piece that both comes out of the tree and then goes back in? I'm just curious. God Bless!

[@jeremiahshine]

Do a vid grafting for roots!

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

Well, Ive done this many Times... Sometimes it worked sometimes not🤷‍♂️ My first Drill Was an Aesculus which I Gave a New Firstbranch and I choose to take a little tree with an own Rootsystem Well it worked out but later Ive found the Placement was a little to deep for the first branch,but this was 1994... Now its 28 years ago...wow😳😳😳

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Coooooool!!!!

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

@@AppalachianBonsai thank you...

[@kevinlou1449]

Did you have to drill a new hole or redrill the same one bigger at all before you attempted the re-graft? Because in theory, when the original graft failed i assume the cambium right around the hole also died, and healthy cambium is required for a successful graft. Just thinking out loud.

[@kikissssima]

🙂👌👏👏👏

[@tonimagery]

Alternatively, would it be possible to do a veneer graft in the same area from cutting a branch from the tree?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

Veneer grafts are possible, but not well at the angle I desire for this branch. I considered an approach graft, but the scarring on hornbeams takes a long time to callous over, and even then, not beautifully. Once this thread graft takes, the opposing hole that will remain should look like a branch that died off a long time ago (uro in Japanese)

[@josephbarrerareyes]

long time no see you, master.

[@klexxramsecreto339]

Though it still looks nice you could left the branch alone since you could’ve turned it into a semi cascade bonsai

[@mehranashkanian2747]

Don't you remove the Cambiom from the young shoot so it'll fuse nicely?

[@AppalachianBonsai]

On other grafts, yes. But not on this one. They will naturally grow into each other and fuse.

[@andremarais2706]

May I suggest that you keep the original branch as well.

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I could, but I'm not a fan of the placement. It's low and inside the curve. However, it's a real possibility

[@andremarais2706]

@@AppalachianBonsai Thank you for responding. In my opinion balance trumps curve placement. Also, this would be the lowest branch and already has the thickness for that position. Otherwise, a negative space. Just my thoughts. Blessings.

[@54114142]

Why do you want to cut it off completely afterwards? You can still use it as a lower branch. Just disconnect it and hope it backbuds

[@AppalachianBonsai]

I don't like the placement of the branch on the inside of the curve

[@thomaskauffman983]

Don't you need cambium to cambium?

[@ESCANORED]

Do you have any Air Layering video?

[@mr.fancypants698]

Greetings from Florida!🏝🏖🌞 Love your videos! That hornbeam is a very beautiful tree! Great work on the thread grafting! It's got a beautiful shape, and style!👍😁 I don't think that hornbeams, would survive in our hot tropical climate, but I work with alot of ficus, and their sap, naturally heals the tree, because it literally is latex rubber. I have not tried to thread graft personally, I don't think I'm that brave yet, but there is a video from Wigert's bonsai, and he is doing it on a ficus retusa/microcarpa, one of the two subspecies. Some species of ficus can handle that better than others, in the ficus family. For instance, the Benjamina, does not take to pruning, at the trunk, but, retusa/microcarpa, you can literally cut the tree, at the ground, and new shoots, will sprout, literally from the roots. They are very hearty, and take to all kinds of pruning! But you inspire me to do more with my trees! I might try a thread graft, on one of my retusas. I also have a bunch of ficus benghalensis, "Indian Banyan Tree", from the "Edison tree", at his estate, in Ft. Myers, I collected a bunch of seeds, and grew them from seed. I'm going for "big bonsai", with them, because of the size of their leaves. You get some leaf reduction with them, but, only about 3/4, of what the leaf size is, so, it's still a big leaf. But, the "clip-and-grow" technique, that the Chinese use, works great, with these trees! 🌳 Cheers!🍻 Thanks for the inspiration, and awesome videos, that you share of your beautiful trees! ✌

[@adrianll8289]

That was a very low quality inner tube, already dried and cracked all over ;)

[@pinus_nigra]

I don't think this technique can be called "grafting", because there's no live contact points between the trunk and the twig. So I don't think it's gonna work. Why didn't you use the shield budding technique?

[@jamesthacker1605]

It does and will work. The vascular tissue will end up fusing at the exit point -this is a reliable grafting technique.

[@parvizoskoui5638]

such a mess

[@brucedeacon28]

👍