Creating a Bonsai Root Spread | The Bonsai Supply

Have you ever seen a large root spread on a bonsai and wonder how can you do it yourself? Then, this is the video for you.
Using a maple, we try this technique to set up the roots for success.
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Mari & Jerome

[@theresamayton302]

You're a great teacher with so much information a beginner needs. The "whys" are so useful for remembering what to do. I'll be watching more from this channel.

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Thank you so much Theresa for your kind words 🙏🌳😊

[@raymondplodzien7459]

Great info as always Jerome. Thanks!

[@MrAlexander336]

Thank you for sharing your expertise!

[@arunparkashparkash7980]

Beautiful

[@thenaturecreater8906]

Great video thank you jerome

[@Patbonsaitv]

wooow great root base.

[@buhaybukid-mixvlog7066]

Thanks for sharing sir about roots spread bonsai toturial thanks

[@johnwarzecha8269]

One of the most informative bonsai videos I've seen. Thanks!

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Thank you so much John 🙏🌳

[@henzobonsai]

Perfect..👍

[@OfekTheMan1]

great job! thank you! jerome please make an update on your portulacaria afra bonsai.

[@carloscruz6536]

Thanks for the tips see you in the future 😎👍👍🇵🇷

[@treeandme]

Very nice work 💚👍

[@JuliBons]

Terima kasih kawan atas ilmunya

[@LelDoda]

very helpful

[@tinjoesstation]

Thanks for this video Jerome! Awesome technique!

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Thank you Tin, glad you liked it 🙌

[@tinjoesstation]

@@WeareTheBonsaiSupply you are welcome!

[@1hayes1]

Extreme root spread is probably my least favoured bonsai feature. To me, it always looks artificial, in a bad way. In my experience, old mature trees have a downward taper from the trunk; "turtleback' nebari like that on many maples makes the tree look like it is floating on some strange organic dome.

[@CarlosDiaz-gy7je]

Looking forward for that update

[@ayehanhan8147]

One of good

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

Great video 👍

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sbragaglia]

Hey guys, Very interesting technique, looking forward to see the progress of this tree over time! 👀 Btw, the bookplate to go with my copy of your book has just arrived! Thank you! 🙏

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Awesome Stefano! 🙏🌳

[@santiagoromero3475]

This was so helpful!! I just finished repotting a Japanese maple, which has similar roots to yours, and I'm trying to improve the nebari. You gave me a lot of tips that I wasn't aware of. One thing I had to do with my maple was to remove quite thick roots that were growing directly downwards; they were as thick, or maybe even thicker, than the branches themselves! I'm a bit concerned about something like a disease or infection going up through the cut roots. Should I use the same cut paste that's used for branches on thick roots, or should I leave them alone? Thank you!

[@AMPreliures]

Bravo pour la vidéo. Ton substrat est fait de cailloux ? Ma question est de savoir a partir de quel âge on peut utiliser cette technique sur un arbre? Un arbre en culture peut être retiré de son pot ? Cela ne va pas empêcher la croissance du tronc?

[@AMPreliures]

Merci la vidéo est fantastique. Avec les sous titres automatiques j'ai quelques questions sur des points que j'ai pas tout à fait compris. Le but est forcer 'es racines a pousser horizontal en utilisant un support plat? Tu utilises ici un carrelage si je ne me trompe pas, et des plaques métalliques. Peut on utiliser n'importe quel support plat? Par exemple un CD ou DVD? Ils sont déjà percés au centre, pour de jeunes arbres en formation les supports plastiques sont ils assez solides?

[@michaelmccarthy4077]

I completely forgot about that tree you attached to the tile until you mentioned it/showed it. That seems like forever and a day that you did it.

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

To be honest Michael I was surprised myself when I saw that tile I also completely forgot I did that 😂

[@boym8123]

Old video but gotta ask as I have a few. What do you do to tidy the giant top cut or get it to look less like a adult tree with a baby head

[@utubeyahoo4444]

Great tutorial. Thank you. You noted that it will be easy to get branches on the trunk later on. How will that work? How can you be confident it will bud out in the right places a couple years from now? Is there a technique to make that happen? Thanks!

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Thats a great question Josh! Every Spring, new buds will appear all over the trunk so I can just cherry pick when I am ready. If I happen to not get the branches exactly where I want them, I can also thread graft.

[@FuckThisSiteNow]

Worst case scenario cut it back or air layer about half way both will send new growth lower on the trunk

[@jaybolinger2865]

Very useful information, great video. I am curious are pots like the one you're using here available for purchase in your online store?

[@jaybolinger2865]

I should have read the comments before posting this question. Have you considered selling pot's like this one?

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Thats okay. Perhaps in the near future.

[@abinezer81]

Where can i buy that large shallow pot? Is this a saucer tray converted to a training pot?

[@madkev415]

Where can I buy that large shallow plastic pot from?

[@terrysavage5816]

Does this work on jade?

[@IMHobby121]

Overall, what is the best soil I can use for a Ficus bonsai? Thanks and God bless!

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

This is the very best soil you can use for all your bonsai trees.🌳 thebonsaisupply.com/products/professional-bonsai-soil-mix

[@popscratchie3985]

When will you remove the tile? If the tree is planted in a shallow pot (like this one) what is the purpose of leaving the tile in place, hasn’t it already full filled it’s purpose?

[@alejandrofigueroa1931]

Where are you getting these bonsai trays for pots?

[@CoryandStuff]

What do you use in your soil for insects? Mealy bugs always try to destroy my plants, I’m good at getting rid of them but would be nice to know what you use to prevent them.

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Hey Cory! I do preventative spraying. Which means I spray all of my trees every first of the month. That way I never have any infestations. I use bayer 3in1, tall star, and lucid and rotate the chemicals every month.

[@bayareaspearoshorediver7535]

Do you already have one material that shows the result with this method?

[@kylepurvis6231]

Hey Jerome+, do you have those trays available on your sites for sale? I acquired some from a shop that went out of business, but hav not found a new source for them anywhere else. Thanks!

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Hey Kyle! Unfortunately not. They are kinda hard to come by.

[@kylepurvis6231]

Thanks- I found a source- Stone Lantern has them available!

[@manueljugador7903]

is there an update?

[@ernsttencate6699]

Nice video. Method a bit like ebihara method. I think that kind of nebari a bit unnatural. But I can imagine that a lot of people love it. Good video. 👍👍

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Hey Ernst, it is definitely ebihara territory. It is a very natural thin for trees to grow that kind of a pancake like rootspread especially trees grown in shallow grounds

[@maxmotors9497]

@@WeareTheBonsaiSupply I have numerous pictures of this in nature.

[@cbrusharmy]

I think people take that root spread too far. Just because someone can do something, doesn't mean it should be done to the extreme. The proportions still need harmony, in my mind. Love the instruction, though; I need it.

[@iPheek]

So what happens if you don’t screw in the tile and just place it on the tile? Thanks!

[@lessvegetables2532]

the screw is so that the tree can be wired into the pot. If your tree already has enough roots you can just place it on the tile and wire down the tree using existing roots. Keep an eye on the wire though because it'll grow in to the roots.

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

@@lessvegetables2532 thank you for that great response!

[@iPheek]

@@lessvegetables2532 thanks!!

[@Dmoongurren]

Hey Jerome we’re did you get that pot??

[@kylepurvis6231]

I’m pretty sure that those round black plastic tubs are oil change tubs used to catch oil from your car. I think you can get them at big box stores or auto parts stores!

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Hey Michael, there is a company that makes them specifically for bonsai in all types of shapes and sizes. However they don’t do retail, only wholesale and you have to get a bunch.

[@Dmoongurren]

@@kylepurvis6231 Thank but I was taking about the shallow bonsai pot.

[@jackreynolds1785]

Will this work with dwarf jade?

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Hey Jack, It definitely works!

[@jacobjohnson1382]

When would be a good time of year to collect a deciduous tree such as a beech tree for bonsai?

[@maxmotors9497]

Almost all varieties deciduous or not it seems to be better to collect in early spring before bud break if the variety has such behaviors.

[@miko362]

Julagustember

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Hey Jacob, if you scroll back a few videos there is one on collecting a big Japanese maple

[@scottbaker427]

Very informative! Try to work on not touching your face with your protective gloves haha! Takes some training to realise and stop the unconscious touches!

[@Warriori2i]

Turtle back

[@tgward313]

pancake rootspread looks absolutely terrible -- if ever I create that, it will be sold

[@franciscocarlosoliveirasan4]

Tradução Pará o português do Brasil 😂

[@Tybold63]

Informative and interesting video. However I am not a big fan, from an estethic point of view, with that excessive fusing of roots like the "pancake" style you showed picture of in beginning. I know it can be found in nature but that doesn't help and not into my liking. Each to our own, and keep up the good work and we can use the parts of your tips that benefit our own path🙂.

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

Nicely put my friend! 🙌🙌

[@Tore1972Wisdom]

I call it ´melted elephant foot´and to be honest. I think it looks so ugly and destroys the hole bonsai tree, even if it´s the best trees in the world. In the bonsai world it´s actually called Turtleback

[@54114142]

This waxy root spread looks horrible to be honest.

[@WeareTheBonsaiSupply]

I think it is a personal preference. I for one quite like it. :)