Turn Japanese Maple Seedlings into a Clump Style Bonsai, Part 1 | Bonsai-U

In part one of our Clump Style Bonsai Series, Bjorn explains the initial steps in creating a Kabudachi Style Bonsai utilizing Japanese and Trident Maple Seedlings.
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[@EiseienBonsai]

Thank you all for your support! Help keep Bonsai-U moving forward by donating at bjornbjorholm.com/donate/

[@Benw3790]

Dude I've got so many JM seedlings I've been wanting to make a clump with and have been looking for a video or an article for weeks.. and bam! Lands right in my lap! Thanks for all your hard work and for putting your content out on youtube. Literally going to put them together right now! I'll have to slide over from NC sometime and check out eisei-en or see you, the next time you're at the Bonsai Learning Center, here in mooresville. Keep up the good work, Bjorn.

[@w1ldgeese]

Thank you bJorn . Is little hard to get seedlings sometimes z

[@w1ldgeese]

Eisei-en Bonsai o yes here near the Washington DC arborateum the pond baskets are $2.98 each same size on the video adding the soil $60.00 a large bag aoki with superfly just found the seedlings and is a good project at good cost

[@samarthd9948]

What's the name of the intro you used to play earlier?

[@bobking390]

Good info...thanks. Since we're on "lockdown" here in Chicago, please keep your videos coming! Looks of time to watch!

[@Jeffrey-gu7jp]

Wish I started this when I was like 6

[@deepvalley6698]

Do it now.

[@Jeffrey-gu7jp]

@@deepvalley6698 i don’t live in a climate that could have good “growing seasons”

[@TahtahmesDiary]

@@Jeffrey-gu7jp Don't most people keep their bonsai inside?

[@mandowarrior123]

@@TahtahmesDiary not at all, proper bonsai is strictly outdoors. Indoors is too dry and too warm.

[@f4seve]

@@mandowarrior123 depends on the species, if it's a tropical plant hot indoor is ok

[@BilderbergCEO]

I'll be back in 15 years for a time-lapse of your progress.

[@asheredwards9090]

Who's selling life expectancy guarantees??

[@roberttomsiii3728]

@@asheredwards9090 and the short sales on that guaranteed

[@brambl]

😆

[@Zer0Spinn]

@@asheredwards9090 I don't know but after taking a look at how the world is doing I want one.

[@annabanana1160]

Rather 25 years 😅

[@ViyabiSirathanongsil]

Me: kills a cactus Also me: imma plant my own bonsai

[@scottbruner9987]

That's all it takes! (Not the black thumb. LOL). Confidence. And the desire to succeed.

[@TreiaSaint]

my mom is a green thumb. has so many beautiful plants in her home and outside in her gardens... but her goal is to successfully grow and not kill a cactus lol. apparently its harder than people think xD

[@mangooverlord2014]

Actually, because cacti don’t like to be babied and certain bonsai do, it might be great.

[@jameswalker3416]

@@TreiaSaint cactus are painfully easy tell your mom don't water the cactus in winter at all and only water them once every 2 weeks in the summer and she will have a big cactus in 5 years. Without asking im shore shes over watering it and they turn to mush.

[@TreiaSaint]

@@jameswalker3416 no shes not over watering them shes really good at keeping her succulents alive and has many huge aloe vera plants that she waters once in a blue moon. but for some reason she has trouble with those tiny cacti.

[@TheHolydruid]

I should be studying but somehow here i am learning how to grow a damned Bonsai

[@vivvcat]

S A M E

[@frumpyglint]

You're still studying tho, just a dif subject.

[@esthersantillan4048]

I need to be doing my homework but here I am smh

[@Giorno-ova]

that's a bit too accurate... ;-;

[@edwardswebster8751]

My dad accidentally threw most of my seeds that I was soaking, my juniper and larch seeds are in the fridge atm, but I’m the same, I’ve got the time

[@jasonmarshall4161]

There was a period when people used this technique when planting trees in the ground. Some of those fat-trunked trees you see on older properties are fused trunks.

[@mightyconker3903]

Bark inclusion makes them weak. Better to remove bark and graft the trunks

[@carpy1252]

That beautiful creation started life from when you were 16! What a natural.

[@mohergenrader2113]

Me: ok, cut to the chase. I don't have all day. Me: I want to learn how to grow a tiny tree that takes a lifetime.

[@admiralbeluga6438]

I SEE YOUR A MAN OF CULTURE

[@1cleandude]

Definitely an American!🙏😂

[@graphguy]

man and trees live on a different time continuum. I learned at 5 that grandpas don't plant trees for themselves, but for grandchildren and great grandchildren.

[@martinsdontjump]

The year I was born my grandfather planted a tree in my backyard and I got to watch it grow up with me. And when he passed we spread his ashes along the base of that tree. It was one of the most simple and beautiful gifts I've ever gotten

[@graphguy]

Martins DontJump beautiful. Mine was a Canadian maple in my grandparents yard he planted when I was born... I loved them both dearly.

[@MarkLada]

I helped my grandpa plant 12 apple trees when I was 5 years old.. It's one of my earliest memories.. I'm 39 now and the 12 apple trees have turned into a small orchard.. My grandpa has been gone for a long time now, but every fall when the apples get ripe, my whole family gets together to pick them and tell stories about my grandpa..

[@operationeight-ld5kd]

@@MarkLada Wow, what a beautiful story! I didn’t expect to get all teary-eyed reading a comment on a random video I stumbled upon. Thank you for sharing such a touching and inspiring story!

[@dreamofstone]

@@condorX2 that's literally all the countries. my own language has lots of older words from french and after ww2 we got a lot of english words. get over the animosity.

[@ferry6700]

What? That seedlings 2-3 years old? I thought that's only 1-2 months, damn I should have lots of patience to do something like this

[@indomieismybae]

Thor is now into bonsai making. Nice content and well explanations. Immediately subscribing even if I dont have any time to do these.

[@orf5223]

Thor?

[@Kreasy]

I have done this by taking a ceramic tile and drilling holes in it that are big enough for the seedling trunks to fit and arranged in a pleasing way then put the tile in the ground with the trees in the holes. as they grow to the size of the holes in the tile they put out roots on top of the tile and eventually fuse together. When i pot them i remove the roots under the tile and the tile. the results is a very pleasing wide base with lots of nebari. then it is just a matter of training the multiple trunks and branches

[@davewagers4467]

Top tier tip

[@davewagers4467]

Grateful

[@craighunter3273]

Real smart concept. Well done. I might try the same technique - Cheers for sharing ..

[@1cleandude]

So do you eventually break the tile and remove it?

[@Kreasy]

@@1cleandude Eventually yes it is removed after the roots above the tile have developed and the trunks are fused together.and the roots that are below the tile are removed

[@kellikyeboah9507]

My brother thinks I'm crazy for tuning every native tree there is into bonsi. This video is so awesome!

[@mndlessdrwer]

Not a bonsai, but I've been taking care of a green lace-leaf Japanese maple that my parents planted when I was barely a year old. Now, nearly 30 years later, that scrappy little tree has transformed thanks to selective pruning into one of the most beautiful umbrella shaped trees I've personally seen. I love Japanese maple trees, particularly the lace-leaf variety, because of how delicate and soft their leaves are and how much character their branches end up developing even without external wrapping or binding. It's a tree really well suited to miniatures. Mine isn't a miniature because it's planted in the ground and I wanted it to reach a scale to suit where it was planted, so now it's about 15ft high with a nearly 30ft span. It's a beautiful tree that will probably outlive me if its next caretakers keep up with maintaining it.

[@corannthomas]

I’m a horticulturist and you give GREAT practical info in a easy to follow way. GOOD WORK BRO

[@andreaandrea6716]

You are a fabulous teacher. I love that you move quickly but tell us everything we need to know in detail. Bravo.

[@MalaysianTropikfusion]

I read a Dorling Kindersley book about bonsai when I was 10, back in 98. I still remember most of the things in it. This is such a trip down memory lane 😊 It's like having a part of the book in video format.

[@samanthabarron8481]

I applaud you and all the bonsai artists for your patience and dedication to these beautiful projects. I hope someday I can maintain such a long-term project while keeping my passion for it!

[@quietmind5888]

Great work and please keep raising the benchmark of online instruction. Clean, clear, concise.

[@peterforrestel2558]

I took a couple of classes from Bill when I lived in Rochester a while back. Great guy. I'm glad to see a fellow student.

[@anthonycarvalho9394]

Rochester Ny? I currently live there, is that where he is from?

[@peterforrestel2558]

That is where Bill is from. West Henrietta if i am right? Look up international bonsai.

[@justincase9753]

You are well on your way to being a master yourself. I cant wait to go scouting when the snow melts.

[@jhsumatt]

Watched a lot of tutorials on starting bonsai. This is hands down the best so far. Awesome to see your channel keep getting better. Good job.

[@banjopete]

Matthew Hsu , Matthew, I agree completely.

[@ssjordan34]

Fellow Tennessean here. Love the videos. Spending quarantine building a Japanese style garden and working on some of my niwaki and bonsai. I've got a tray of seedlings that I am hoping to do this with in 2021; that and a forest. Hope you are well!

[@brentbishop444]

During a long winter up here Canada. Your work keeps me inspired and looking forward to the next growing season. Thank you for putting these videos on KZbin !

[@jeffwatts4264]

It's great to hear someone teaching people how to keep their trees alive foremost ,because some of us are wandering blindly in the dark,, thanks

[@zjflorence]

I have a couple kabudachi style willow leaf ficus. This was a great video, and has inspired me to try it with a bunch of Dawn Redwood cuttings I'm starting this year. Your classes are a little too expensive for me but I appreciate your Bonsai-U videos and will definitely contribute when I can, thanks Bjorn!

[@kittylitteral5417]

I have young children and I think them starting a bonsai is a wonderful thing they can keep for a lifetime.

[@Classsseaissues]

Holy moly Christmas has come early for me 😍 I love stumbling on great channels like this

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

This and your starting a shohin juniper are two of the very best bonsai starter videos on KZbin.

[@leighharron]

Thanks for this, Bjorn. I'm definitely going to give this a try following your explanation

[@CarbonFiberSwan]

I ordered a red maple growing kit that comes with a bunch of seeds. I’m going to give this a go. If I am successful, and if I remember this, I will update everyone in 20 years 😂

[@JurijsJutjajevs]

awesome, love that you show material that has been prepared ahead of time, now I' eagerly waiting for the second episode!

[@ErmannoCattaneo]

I’m not going to watch all of this because bonsai’s not my thing (not sure how I got here) but I must take a second to comment and give you kudos man! Your passion is inspiring. Keep up the great work!

[@thewokeagenda]

ill be honest i wasn't gonna read the rest of ur comment(donno how i got here, like fr where am I?) but then i read the rest n realized it was actually a super positive comment 😤😤😊 i appreciate the appreciation for such a beautiful craft

[@JonSteitzer]

These are by far the best bonsai tutorials on youtube!

[@andreyprezotto]

This is one of the best bonsai classes I've ever seen ! Thank you

[@margaretsims4344]

This is one of my all time favourite bonsai videos. Watched this numerous times.

[@eifionllewelyn2135]

Brilliant stuff...wish there were more maple videos out there..would love to see more like this!

[@djftex]

Just came across you. What a great teacher! Thanks. I had so many seedlings a few years ago :(. Looking forward to doing this next year!

[@nubiansoaps]

Lovely. Thank you so much for introducuing me to this type of bonsai.

[@Gunzprobish]

Ooooooh yea! Cant wait to try this, thanks for all the information!

[@richardpezall384]

Great video, I really like the fact that you take the time to really explain what to do and what you are doing to accomplish what is going on with the tree. :)

[@ianstubbs9312]

One of the best instructional bonsai videos I’ve seen. Thank you! I shall hunt down some more to watch.

[@annas7892]

What a great video, so informational and doesn’t skip important details. I’m sure others would charge full fees for it. I just started getting into bonsai properly after having killed my previous 3 trees, and I definitely love the look of a forest so started planning for that.

[@whit3haze]

very excited to not only try this but learning more and following this plant over the years, you definatly got a long time subscription from me!

[@MaggYela]

you are giving me hopes, I started mine about 2 years ago, and I thought it was dead, but seeing ours, I noted that they barely have leaves and they look dead, but that's the way they are.

[@vacciniumaugustifolium1420]

Mmm no... Deciduous tree are trees who loose their leaves during the cold season, the tree is basically sleeping waiting more light and a temperature pattern to wake up again. For somes species its an absolute necessity but for others its just a normal, unecessary reaction to a stress ( lack of water, a cold night, ect) If your tree lost his leaves for more than a few months for no reason, its possible he it just died.

[@tramany7]

Yes! Thank you I was waiting for a video like this just fabulous!

[@zehzahl5988]

1:11... that is utterly amazing.

[@lakeelsinorebonsai1203]

Thank you for sharing your technique Bjorn! Very inspiring! 👍👍

[@bennyvanhoof2948]

Gonna do this with carpinus betulus. Love it. Thanks Bjorn. Greatings from Belgium.

[@jb-ks9kh]

Excellent video, great explanation of everything, very easy to listen to, and not condescending at all.

[@user-iv8pb5fo5c]

Thank you so much for such a detailed and valuable information. Really appreciate it.

[@JamarHotep]

This was an amazing video to find especially during a time I had the thought to take some cuttings from my grandmother's maple to bonsai them! Now I have another project after the root!

[@brianschwartz1395]

yo those half knots on your hoodie ties are dope! First time I've seen anyone do that. Aside from this great bonsai tutorial I can tell you are an artist!

[@geoffreydowen5793]

well planned and executed bonsai master.regards from the UK I have deciduous English yew, oak, sycamores and birch

[@johngilbert939]

Another very informative, easy to follow and professional video; many thanks Bjorn.

[@b-d3vil16]

I know nothing about bonsai trees (other than“The Karate Kid”)but I live :40 min from Rochester and you sparked my interest I plan on stopping in and getting started.

[@michaelperrault536]

This video was awesome I’ve started about 20 Red Japanese maples and I will definitely be doing a clump grow as well as a single tree

[@fredericdebont8088]

Thank you for making those video's Bjorn. Good job

[@strange-universe]

Sweet! Another good Bonsai channel. Great demo, easy to follow, understand, and no mystery.

[@robinhoodwasasocialist.1401]

I’ve had great results with planting acer palmatum in plain ol sphagnum moss. The roots seem to love it.

[@bomblacrosse8213]

This is a great video!! Keep doing more like this! Like how you show progress a year later! Bill Valavanis is an hour away from me. Love seeing his garden!

[@bradb.4570]

Yes yes yes! More deciduous! Great video Bjorn!

[@hamzaokutan7434]

You did it again Bjorn 😍❤️

[@Platypi007]

5am, KZbin suggests, for some reason, that I watch this video about making a bonsai. Not something I've ever made. But here I am, watching the entire video!

[@ShamsulA]

This was very educational, for some reason, I thought bonsai was a specific type of tree. Didn't know you could bonsai any type of tree. I'm tempted to do a bonsai. Thank you very much.

[@vacciniumaugustifolium1420]

@Trev hearthbreaking when your baby you cared for 4 years from a seed sudendly die during winter 😭

[@corywadedavis]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you very much for this content.

[@caesaranthonyrnrnt7330]

Just found your channel. Love bonsai and super happy to have got here. Keep up the good work! Love how you explain things and show how they’re done

[@entity1566]

Damn, never thought I would get into Bonsai stuff.

[@kylefenrick7842]

I must say, I am proud of you. Having watched you since you were an apprentice, to what could be considered reaching master, you have come a very long way, while still being yourself. One aspect I wish to draw attention to, which you mentioned, is not worrying so much about final in the beginning. Desired happens with proper guidance and patience. Namaste 🙏 ,

[@Kumurajiva]

Wow I admire your patience. A man of virtue of patience.!

[@chrislebbos2637]

Great video! Really enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@madsahm5526]

I subscribed after watching your intro... Great work, Looking forward to learning alot!

[@markt4416]

Extremely knowledgeable and competent. Enjoyed watching and learning. You could have told me bonsais are from Jupiter and I would believe you. Well done.

[@ki.no.seirei1751]

Thank you. This was helpful and inspiring.

[@anniekeller6351]

I'm learning a lot from Bonsai-U. This is really helpful.

[@denniswise6045]

Great stuff, I'll be back in a year or two

[@ege8141]

Decade*

[@Eza_yuta]

Wow you did bonsai fusion when 16 years old. Amazing.

[@lesliethejourneyismyhome3224]

thank you for a wonderful introduction, very inspiring

[@nasir06mahmood]

At last very informative video regarding the maples species and in depth information.

[@therealruru]

Is there an update on the clump styles you made during this tutorial? I've started my own clump style projects following these instructions and it would be nice to see what progrees to expect after some years.

[@lorenzobongioanni9358]

Did you find something? Even other videos or websites where youcan see the progression? I started too last year but I'm worried to do anything without a guide

[@therealruru]

@@lorenzobongioanni9358 Unfortunately not. I suspect if there is an update on this project, it will only be on the creator's paid online learning service.

[@ProudVermin]

I always seem to forget that we have such great artists and shows here in WNY.

[@legocircus]

I've watched your vids for a while but just subbed. Love your work, super informative.

[@coltranem]

Great content Bjorn....just what I was looking for

[@Jcwphoto]

Great video. My favorite part was explanation of styling. You should do a series with basic principles. That would be the most helpful

[@josiehardy6988]

Hey Bjorn I just want to say thank you for the new Bonsai-U videos, they are great for people like me that want to expand our knowledge of bonsai and bonsai development. You were talking about developing native deciduous species that would be good bonsai material. I was just wondering some of the species that you will be working with that you think has good potential for bonsai. Specially species that are native to the eastern United States.

[@TheYurisam]

Marvelous video! Very informative.

[@purnimabhatt5355]

I really admire your passion,Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@dabblingwithbonsai]

This is great, I tried this with chilis, but unfortunately i got some bug in them so they died. I do try again with more than chilis this year, many maple seeds collected and apples too. Very informative and easy to follow, good video all in all :) Cheers from Finland!

[@fabrice7678]

I am trying with chilis, apples and lemons now!

[@BenBSeattle]

Hooray Bjorn does Maples. These are weird times. =)

[@wallyjumblatt]

An excellent, informative and, more importantly, a well-prepared video. Thanks.

[@slimshadus]

I'm really impressed your tree is so beautiful it almost makes me shad a tear

[@agtawanderer6532]

Im actually living in a remote area here in the philippines and i will be just starting to experiment with some of our forest tree and try to bonsai them 🙂

[@intricatexploration]

Get a nice Sony cam so you can produce in 4k. Will be able to see all the beautiful details and do more justice to both your craft and to the trees you work on. Just a thought. Great vid mate

[@robbrent]

intricateXploration - I’d also suggest that the camera be changed when the hands are working, to be facing him so we can see what the fingers are doing.

[@oussamachaachoui3727]

Thank you master, I love your beautiful work

[@PhuTran-oq3nm]

This is just awesome!

[@farzaneh2605]

Thank you for these videos. Very inspiring! how often do you water your Bonsais? and when can you bring them indoors?

[@Max-se3ii]

Is there a limit to how many i can fuze together? imagine how thicc it could be😳 i might just let it grow to normal size and just have a freak of nature in my yard

[@s_tree_frog]

i planted a conker 6 years ago thats lived in a small pot in my garden and moved with me twice in hopes to one day keep it and make my own bonsai tree - this gives me hope i havent left it too long without working on it!

[@s_tree_frog]

my cat did nibble the top off tho but that adds 🌟character🌟 right?

[@romytuazon4325]

Very educational, love this.

[@DionisisValmas]

Thank you so much for your videos. I am starting to get interested in bonsai as well as aquascaping, doe to the lockdown here in Greece. I wanted to ask if the solution of aeroponics or aquaponics could speed up the process a bit, as it does to microgreens and other plants.