Rocks and stones in bottom of pot = Perched Water Table. About a year ago I re-potted one of my houseplants and stupidly put leca in the bottom of the pot. I have just been working on a video on Root Rot and knew that pot I planted up would be riddled with it and sure enough, not only was it completely dead and stinky, the reduced substrate was incredibly more waterlogged than the leca below it, so I was able to prove to myself at least that the Perched Water Table exists despite it seeming counter intuitive. The wonderful thing you bring to Bonsai, and horticulture in general, Tony, is you show we can all move forward provided we are open minded to keep our brains active with new things to learn. Admitting our mistakes and finding solutions is always the scientific way forward, not of course that you make many mistakes, but when you do there is always a Fixed-It solution from you. You signpost and then demonstrate better ways to look after the plants in your charge in every video and you do so with quiet confidence and Northern English humour whilst often showing that fancy, expensive equipment, pots, substrate and even trees are not always needed to be a great exponent of urban bonsai on a budget. You are an inspiration to many people and this is reflected in your growing viewer base. Thank you again for your hard work and consistently excellent video episodes - one vid a day must be exhausting but you achieve it seemingly without any effort, so clearly you are in your element.
Cheers Scott. I think it's got a decent chance, but if there's one thing I know about oaks, it is that you can never tell what they are going to do! A bit of philosophy is always good. It beats me wittering on 🤣
That is a monster Tony. In some fresh soil i am sure it will grow very well now. Enjoyed your story as well. Very interested in Eastern philosophy. Life is about using what we have to our best advantage. Happy growing.
Brilliant back story for this tree and love the working of it. This next week is all about oaks for me. I love that they give us so much time to get to them! It seems in a similar conditon to my old 3ft oak. I left it in the original claggy soil for far too long. Nice bit of philosophy too. Well done on 5k :)
Thanks Xav. Great minds must think alike mate. I've got all my oaks ready to work on as you say over the coming few weeks. Mine don't seem to be anywhere near budding out yet though. As you say, it's nice that they give us the extra time. I'll look forward to your videos. I hop you're having a peaceful Easter.
Thanks Matt. Not bad in just over a year mate! I checked on your acorns yesterday, and the pots are full of roots but nothing is showing yet. I reckon they'll be appearing soon!
When you were pulling out the tree of its old container you said 'and now pull it out', I was saying 'no Tony, you're going to pull a muscle if you're not careful' 😄 This oak has great potential but in my opinion, it should be shortened a bit so its height is proportional to the width of the trunk but first I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it makes it in the much better soil 🤞 So you played golf , should we start calling you 'Sir Tony' from now on ? 😉 I know that story, since my early twenties (a looooong time ago!) I'm into buddhism and try to live accordingly. What I have learned in life is that you can learn from anything and anyone, that wisdom can be found in many places and one of these 'places' is you, Tony, you're a wise man.
Thank you. Like yourself, I do love Buddhist principles. The more I practice acceptance and non-attachment, it's amazing how life seems to change for the better. I definitely agree with you about reducing the height of this tree. It needs to be a fair bit more compact to really look like and old tree. Now's not the time though. Possibly a job for next year I think.
Hey Tony, I remember that story from my days of listening to eckhart. There was also the is that so story about the girl that tricked everyone that her child belonged to the zen master so he would take care of it for a year. Great Oak that, what a trunk and nice fine branching to work with. Really hope it makes it, oaks are tricksy hobitsies 😅 look forward to your update vids on all your great material.
Yeah, that is another great story. It's eckharte that really got me interested in reading the zen stories. I think this tree has produced all the nice fine branching in response to the stress it;s been under. Hopefully now it can thrive and get back to good health.
Brilliant Tony! I’ve got another 9/11 oak stupidly neglected in a whisky barrel, in garden soil, hacked such that it looks like a standard rose, without flowers! I don’t know what I was doing! I shall follow your excellent guidance since like your oak, this one has a good backstory 😍 Thank you 🙏
Hi Tony! I just starting out and trying to find a to start from the very beginning of finding some saplings.. your channel is the only one so far I understand!! Especially for our British trees!
Thank you for the lovely comment Victorine. It's nice when people like my trees etc, but what I love is when I can inspire people to get stuck in and have a go, and if I help them to understand bonsai bit better than that is a bonus.
Great video as usual Tony. You’ve inspired me to tackle an oak I have in a pot that’s not had anything done to it for years. It’s probably 30 years + old and came from Prince Charles estate as a prize to an old boss of mine. I tried to air layer it last year but it didn’t work. Might have another go this year after giving it a repot into some decent soil mix.
Hi Chris. Sounds like a nice tree, but I should warn you that I have researched air-layering oaks, and they are more or less impossible to propagate from air layers or cuttings. I suspect this is why we don't really have any cultivars with small leaves as they are also very hard to graft. I have a freak oak with unusually small leaves. It is very slow growing but I think it will make a superb bonsai in the future, but it will be a one-off.
Looks like a heavy one Tony (remember always lift with the knees) and a nice story behind it. Always think it adds an extra dimension to a tree when there's a good story to it. If it makes it (knock on wood) it will be a fun one to see develop in the future. Thanks, Gav
Cheers Gav. Yeah, this one was really hard to hold because the handles were torn and its a slippery shape. I'm not planning on putting any trees back into one of these tubs, but then again you never know! 🤣
Cheers mate. Yeah I definitely think it's got a decent chance. It just needs to get some new roots down into that soil and it should make it with a bit of luck.
Happy Easter Tony! You made some great branch decisions earlier on. You said it seems to be struggling putting on new branches, but those now are in a better proportion to the trunk in my opinion, in order to make it look mightier in miniature. I think it could be taken down more in height a little too. It’s going to love the new soil, and what a great classic pot. 😂 Seriously, though, you can no longer call it ridiculous. Cheers!
Hi Steve. Yes, I'm glad I went in for those big cuts, and I agree about the overall height. I think it needs reducing possibly halfway up the third section of four. Then it would have decent taper but be more compact. All I'm hoping for now is a good year with some nice healthy growth.
Brilliant outcome Tony and lovely story of digging it up and popping it in your golf bag 😂 will we see those Kojos in the background in a future video?
Thank you, and I will definitely be working on those kojo's this spring. I was initially planning on creating a group, but I used the pot for my birch forest. I'm currently trying to find another large pot.
Thank you. I'm quite attached to it myself, so it would be nice if it pulls through. Plenty of rain and sunshine this week, so it should be off to a good start!
That was an option, but a possible draw back is that the moss can stop me getting the soil right in there into the existing roots, so on a tree like this I am happy to just go with a nice free draining mix and hope that it like the new soil
Happy Easter Tony. It's been great watching everyone repotting their outdoor trees. I took a slight risk with a couple of my indoor trees, some Schflerra. One has been dropping leaves as it grows, the other was growing and suddenly stalled. For the first I just tweaked the soil mix to help it retain more moisture, and took a propagation cutting to reduce the foliage. This will be my 4th attempt. The second I up potted and added my first successful propagation, others so far have failed, so I hope this next one succeeds. The soil mix was basically the same, maybe a bit more potting soil in it. I plan on putting it outside for the summer and I'm a wee bit worried it will bake on a south facing balcony. Do you have any potentilla fruticosa? It will be my first outdoor tree, think it has the best chance to survive life on the balcony, in mid western Canada.
Hi Amanda. Sounds like you've got some plans which is great. I have never had a potentilla fruticosa no, but I just googled it and they look lovely. I'm sure with the right care it will be very happy on your balcony!
Unfortunately, I can't really swing anymore as my left shoulder was quite badly compromised during my big surgery a couple of years ago. I've still got my clubs, and I keep saying to myself that I should go for 9 holes and just take it easy, but in reality, I think I've probably played my last round. Ah well, that's just the way things have worked out, and at least I played a few good holes in my time, although I was never that good. Anything in the low nineties was a good round for me. Do you play?
Rocks and stones in bottom of pot = Perched Water Table. About a year ago I re-potted one of my houseplants and stupidly put leca in the bottom of the pot. I have just been working on a video on Root Rot and knew that pot I planted up would be riddled with it and sure enough, not only was it completely dead and stinky, the reduced substrate was incredibly more waterlogged than the leca below it, so I was able to prove to myself at least that the Perched Water Table exists despite it seeming counter intuitive.
The wonderful thing you bring to Bonsai, and horticulture in general, Tony, is you show we can all move forward provided we are open minded to keep our brains active with new things to learn. Admitting our mistakes and finding solutions is always the scientific way forward, not of course that you make many mistakes, but when you do there is always a Fixed-It solution from you.
You signpost and then demonstrate better ways to look after the plants in your charge in every video and you do so with quiet confidence and Northern English humour whilst often showing that fancy, expensive equipment, pots, substrate and even trees are not always needed to be a great exponent of urban bonsai on a budget.
You are an inspiration to many people and this is reflected in your growing viewer base. Thank you again for your hard work and consistently excellent video episodes - one vid a day must be exhausting but you achieve it seemingly without any effort, so clearly you are in your element.
Imparting philosophy to over 5k subscribers...congratulations Tony. That's a special Oak tree and i hope it bounces back mate.
Cheers Scott. I think it's got a decent chance, but if there's one thing I know about oaks, it is that you can never tell what they are going to do!
A bit of philosophy is always good. It beats me wittering on 🤣
Miss you bro
Love the story Tony 😂😂
Good luck in saving it dude 👍👍
Cheers Andy. Glad you enjoyed it mate. I think it's got a decent chance now.
I think it got a good chance being something great too. Also loved the story telling Tony 😊
Thank you. I have a pretty good feeling about this tree and with a bit of luck it will have a strong year in its new soil.
Love the funny surprise change of colour. 😅😊😊
🤣who knows. next time I might go crazy and buy a grey one!
That was a nice story.
Thank you. It's one of my favourites. 🙂
a nice story about luck and a great tree, I am glad you were able to save it.
Cheers buddy. I think it had already been hacked at, so it's a survivor!
That is a monster Tony. In some fresh soil i am sure it will grow very well now. Enjoyed your story as well. Very interested in Eastern philosophy. Life is about using what we have to our best advantage. Happy growing.
Yes, I agree! I find stories like these very inspiring and instructional. They tell us a better way to view/live life.
Brilliant back story for this tree and love the working of it. This next week is all about oaks for me. I love that they give us so much time to get to them! It seems in a similar conditon to my old 3ft oak. I left it in the original claggy soil for far too long. Nice bit of philosophy too. Well done on 5k :)
Thanks Xav. Great minds must think alike mate. I've got all my oaks ready to work on as you say over the coming few weeks. Mine don't seem to be anywhere near budding out yet though. As you say, it's nice that they give us the extra time. I'll look forward to your videos. I hop you're having a peaceful Easter.
Congrats on 5,000 subscribers Tony. Absolutely love your content. Keep the videos coming. 🎉
Thanks Matt. Not bad in just over a year mate! I checked on your acorns yesterday, and the pots are full of roots but nothing is showing yet. I reckon they'll be appearing soon!
@@TonysBonsai That’s great to hear. I’m anxiously awaiting the sprouting of yours as well.
Happy Easter Tony, I enjoying watching you repot the tree.
Thanks Rory. Glad you enjoyed it mate.
One of my favourite of your videos ❤ Happy Easter.
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Happy Easter to you too.
When you were pulling out the tree of its old container you said 'and now pull it out', I was saying 'no Tony, you're going to pull a muscle if you're not careful' 😄
This oak has great potential but in my opinion, it should be shortened a bit so its height is proportional to the width of the trunk but first I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it makes it in the much better soil 🤞
So you played golf , should we start calling you 'Sir Tony' from now on ? 😉
I know that story, since my early twenties (a looooong time ago!) I'm into buddhism and try to live accordingly. What I have learned in life is that you can learn from anything and anyone, that wisdom can be found in many places and one of these 'places' is you, Tony, you're a wise man.
Thank you. Like yourself, I do love Buddhist principles. The more I practice acceptance and non-attachment, it's amazing how life seems to change for the better.
I definitely agree with you about reducing the height of this tree. It needs to be a fair bit more compact to really look like and old tree. Now's not the time though. Possibly a job for next year I think.
Congrats on 5K Tony! Looking forward to seeing the channel grow
Hey Tony, I remember that story from my days of listening to eckhart. There was also the is that so story about the girl that tricked everyone that her child belonged to the zen master so he would take care of it for a year. Great Oak that, what a trunk and nice fine branching to work with. Really hope it makes it, oaks are tricksy hobitsies 😅 look forward to your update vids on all your great material.
Yeah, that is another great story. It's eckharte that really got me interested in reading the zen stories. I think this tree has produced all the nice fine branching in response to the stress it;s been under. Hopefully now it can thrive and get back to good health.
I like your philosophy Tony. You never know….. That oak is a nice specimen, it should makes it. Fingers crossed. Thanks, keep growing.
Yeah I love zen philosophy. If we can practice it it even better!
Just love the bowl😂
Thanks Dave. Gotta keep mixing things up mate! 🤣
Brilliant Tony! I’ve got another 9/11 oak stupidly neglected in a whisky barrel, in garden soil, hacked such that it looks like a standard rose, without flowers! I don’t know what I was doing! I shall follow your excellent guidance since like your oak, this one has a good backstory 😍 Thank you 🙏
Go for it Elmer. You never know you might just transform it into a beauty mate!
@@TonysBonsaiI will do, whatever happens, it will always be special ❤️
thank you Tony, it's always nice to see what you came up with this time! i'm a bit out of space for any new plants now, have to limit myself :)
I know the feeling. I'm getting very short of space myself. It will soon be one in one out I reckon.
Hi Tony! I just starting out and trying to find a to start from the very beginning of finding some saplings.. your channel is the only one so far I understand!! Especially for our British trees!
Thank you for the lovely comment Victorine. It's nice when people like my trees etc, but what I love is when I can inspire people to get stuck in and have a go, and if I help them to understand bonsai bit better than that is a bonus.
@@TonysBonsai you have definitely inspired me!! 😃
Great video as usual Tony. You’ve inspired me to tackle an oak I have in a pot that’s not had anything done to it for years. It’s probably 30 years + old and came from Prince Charles estate as a prize to an old boss of mine. I tried to air layer it last year but it didn’t work. Might have another go this year after giving it a repot into some decent soil mix.
Hi Chris. Sounds like a nice tree, but I should warn you that I have researched air-layering oaks, and they are more or less impossible to propagate from air layers or cuttings. I suspect this is why we don't really have any cultivars with small leaves as they are also very hard to graft. I have a freak oak with unusually small leaves. It is very slow growing but I think it will make a superb bonsai in the future, but it will be a one-off.
@@TonysBonsai thanks Tony. Might need a rethink then 😂
Looking good tony
Cheers mate. I think it's got a chance!
New friend here 🇮🇩, salam satu hobi
Hello. Nice to meet you!
Then there's the well-known Zen question. 'Does a bonsai make a noise when it blows off the bench and there's no-one to hear it fall?'
I will begin contemplating that one when I eventually get a bonsai bench David! 🤣
I just paid for a pick nick table and benches... it's the best bonsia investment I made this year.
Looks like a heavy one Tony (remember always lift with the knees) and a nice story behind it. Always think it adds an extra dimension to a tree when there's a good story to it.
If it makes it (knock on wood) it will be a fun one to see develop in the future. Thanks, Gav
Cheers Gav. Yeah, this one was really hard to hold because the handles were torn and its a slippery shape. I'm not planning on putting any trees back into one of these tubs, but then again you never know! 🤣
Absolutely awesome content as usual Tony! Thanks for posting 😊
I filmed this one this morning with a nice cup of coffee. Beautiful way to spend some time. Glad you enjoyed it mate!
@@TonysBonsai sounds like the perfect start to day mate!
Nice video Tony! Looks like a awkward root ball to tackle. Oaks can be tricky and sulk for a few seasons!
Yeah, this one has definitely been sulking, but on the plus side, at least the new growth has been quite fine
I have high hopes for your oak there, Tony. It deserves to do well. Crossing everything 🤞
Cheers mate. Yeah I definitely think it's got a decent chance. It just needs to get some new roots down into that soil and it should make it with a bit of luck.
Happy Easter Tony! You made some great branch decisions earlier on. You said it seems to be struggling putting on new branches, but those now are in a better proportion to the trunk in my opinion, in order to make it look mightier in miniature. I think it could be taken down more in height a little too. It’s going to love the new soil, and what a great classic pot. 😂 Seriously, though, you can no longer call it ridiculous. Cheers!
Hi Steve. Yes, I'm glad I went in for those big cuts, and I agree about the overall height. I think it needs reducing possibly halfway up the third section of four. Then it would have decent taper but be more compact. All I'm hoping for now is a good year with some nice healthy growth.
How's the tree doing now . Great video thanks for sharing and teaching me new skills
Brilliant outcome Tony and lovely story of digging it up and popping it in your golf bag 😂 will we see those Kojos in the background in a future video?
Thank you, and I will definitely be working on those kojo's this spring. I was initially planning on creating a group, but I used the pot for my birch forest. I'm currently trying to find another large pot.
@@TonysBonsai 🤞 you find another one, I'll look forward to seeing that 😁
Looks like classic yamadori roots! 😅 I think it will make it!
Yes, I hope so John. I think it will have a slow year, but if can just get through the summer it should be fine.
I have my fingers crossed 🤞 that this survives as I really like that tree 🌳 🤞🤞
Thank you. I'm quite attached to it myself, so it would be nice if it pulls through. Plenty of rain and sunshine this week, so it should be off to a good start!
Hope the tree does well. Great to have had it so long. Did you think about adding some sphagnum miss to the roots to aid growth ?
That was an option, but a possible draw back is that the moss can stop me getting the soil right in there into the existing roots, so on a tree like this I am happy to just go with a nice free draining mix and hope that it like the new soil
Happy Easter Tony. It's been great watching everyone repotting their outdoor trees. I took a slight risk with a couple of my indoor trees, some Schflerra. One has been dropping leaves as it grows, the other was growing and suddenly stalled. For the first I just tweaked the soil mix to help it retain more moisture, and took a propagation cutting to reduce the foliage. This will be my 4th attempt. The second I up potted and added my first successful propagation, others so far have failed, so I hope this next one succeeds. The soil mix was basically the same, maybe a bit more potting soil in it. I plan on putting it outside for the summer and I'm a wee bit worried it will bake on a south facing balcony.
Do you have any potentilla fruticosa? It will be my first outdoor tree, think it has the best chance to survive life on the balcony, in mid western Canada.
Hi Amanda. Sounds like you've got some plans which is great. I have never had a potentilla fruticosa no, but I just googled it and they look lovely. I'm sure with the right care it will be very happy on your balcony!
@@TonysBonsai from Canada to Maine, Tony is getting famous.
What soil do you use?
I have a video on my channel, but it's basically, equal parts perlite, coco coir, fine pine bark and grit
Hi Tony, howsthings. When doi g a twin trunk is there a ratio. Doesthe taller trunk have to be so many inchestaller than the horter trunk
Hi Raymond, there probably is in some Japanese textbook, but I don't know of one I'm afraid. I would just go off what looks right to me.
@@TonysBonsai thanks Tony
Hi tony did you notice that sapling on your downward stroke.😊
🤣🤣Yes, I like your thinking Brian. otherwise, I would have been up and down in two I'm sure!
Second *sobs quietly* I only thought I was first
Slow poke 😂
Both 21 minutes. theres only one way to decide. FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m a pacifist ( and old) Tacos for everyone 😃
@@mattbrennan647 my screen said 11 seconds ago when i refreshed, you won. We were both in the first minute.
@@tacobonsai that’s a relief. I was dreading the arm wrestling 😂
Don't you play golf now days Tony
Unfortunately, I can't really swing anymore as my left shoulder was quite badly compromised during my big surgery a couple of years ago. I've still got my clubs, and I keep saying to myself that I should go for 9 holes and just take it easy, but in reality, I think I've probably played my last round. Ah well, that's just the way things have worked out, and at least I played a few good holes in my time, although I was never that good. Anything in the low nineties was a good round for me.
Do you play?
@@TonysBonsai sorry to hear that yes i do play but I don't think I can qualify for pga tour 😂 good luck for rest of your life 🌱🏌️ keep growing regards
Foisting
Is that so…. Well said and good luck with the oak.
Cheesr Saalik. I just love that story!