We posted a new update about this spruce on May 24th. The tree is doing very well with a lot of new growth. This new video debunks some of the critiques we have received and gives a further explanation on our techniques and vision.
2 years ago, I did an experiment with Dwarf Alberta. I used a trunk splitter and split it in several directions around the trunk. I wrapped it in garden tape and put some curves in it with anker points. Left the tape on for a year and a half (removed in summer), and it completely healed. All the splits filled in with sap and held the curves. It thickened the base quite a bit because I put more slpits lower down. The tree wasn't very interesting at first, so I thought I'd try something new. It's definitely interesting now!
Thank you for the great demonstration, nice close up views are very helpful, you don’t get to see that very often with other bonsai videos, thanks from Melbourne, Australia. 🇦🇺😁 have subscribed.
Lovely info! I have an Italian stone pine 'xmas tree' that needs a design upgrade to bonsai. I cleaned it up, but was unsure how to proceed. Now I will take another look and get it done! Thank you.
I love the smell of Dwarf Alberta Spruce, have created and sold several, biggest issue is they don't like to hold wire but you have to let the tree be the tree and enjoy what it creates.
Yup. True. I've had very good luck with the pots that root prune with the tie down buttons on the side and guy lines though. You have a little more control, but still the tree is going to be the tree either way.
Excellent thank you! Subscribed! I have two dwarf Alberta Spruce trees waiting for me to work on, but wasn’t sure what approach to take. This is very motivating, thank you! I’ve been learning bonsai for about a year, and I’d love to come down and see you guys.
Thank you for the support and glad we can help out! We'd love to have you come down. Let us know your vision for your spruce trees and we can study it together and upgrade your trees. We have lots of bonsai pots to choose from, too!
Hi there! It depends on where you are located. In general, you want to do this during it's dormant season. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the dormant season is usually around late November to early March. The reason you want to do this during the dormant season is so the plant isn't really aware of what's going on. Hope this helps!
Hi There. great video. I have 4 or5 of these from christmas decorations to hopefully turn into bonsai. This is a great place to start. I tried doing that last spring and it died! I probably removed too much foliage. Is that a common problem? Or maybe bad time of year? I am in southwest Pennsylvania. Thanks!
Hi there. Great question. There could be several factors that contributed to your spruce experience last spring. 1. Did you keep this indoors or outdoors? Alberta Spruce is an outdoor plant and should not be kept indoors. I'm not familiar with the winter temperature in Pennsylvania, but if you get freezing temperatures, there are ways to protect the plant, but bringing it indoors isn't one of them. Check out episode two of our Bonsai For Beginners for this info. 2. How often did you water the plant? Unlike most house plants where you water once or twice a week, trees need more moisture. You don't want to let the soil dry out and this was a topic on episode 1. 3. What is the lighting condition? Alberta Spruce trees need lots of sunlight. 4. There shouldn't be a need to remove the foliage. Removing branches shouldn't damage it. May I ask how you removed the foliage? Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for your reply and advice! The temps were around 50-70 F. I kept it outside under a pavilion with plenty of light but not direct sun. Soil was kept plenty moist. Foliage was removed by pinching off needles close to the trunk and a few lower branches were removed with pruning shears. Winter temps here fluctuate but it does freeze and thaw a lot. I'll give it another go soon! Thanks again for your time!@@AsiaPacificGarden
Excellent question. It really depends on your climate that time of year. You should do this work when the tree is near the end of its dormant phase. We did this video the 2nd week of January here in the Seattle, Washington area. If you're in the southern hemisphere, January would be summer and that would not be recommended. Hope this helps.
Yes, we are aware of how noisy it can get when filming in the greenhouse. We will continue to explore different mic options. We currently use a short parabolic boom mic with a noise cancelling filter, but we have 9 large fans going to provide air circulation and it's just too noisy. If you have mic suggestions, we're happy to take them and try those out!
This tree is doing tremendously well. We just posted an update as a short and will continue to do so every month. Drastic root pruning can damage the tree IF you do it wrong AND during the wrong time of the year.
@@samhoskins8706 I'm so sorry to hear that, but don't feel defeated. We all start somewhere. What time of the year were you doing this? What was your after care like? Where were you keeping the tree?
When making a Pine into a bonsai please don't trim the roots if you are going to trim the branches at the same time. Conifers don't like major disturbances to the branches and roots at the same time. I would be surprised if this little tree lives.
Trimming so much of the roots and tops can damage the tree *IF* you do it wrong *AND* in the wrong time of the year. We posted an update as a short and will continue to do so. The tree is doing tremendously well.
I was about to say the same thing I’ve never seen anyone of the masters do this. I’ve seen demos of quite a few masters , Ben okie, George yamaguchi,John naka it just appears this guy is just winging it that tree looks terrible sad to say but it does
We posted a new update about this spruce on May 24th. The tree is doing very well with a lot of new growth. This new video debunks some of the critiques we have received and gives a further explanation on our techniques and vision.
2 years ago, I did an experiment with Dwarf Alberta. I used a trunk splitter and split it in several directions around the trunk. I wrapped it in garden tape and put some curves in it with anker points. Left the tape on for a year and a half (removed in summer), and it completely healed. All the splits filled in with sap and held the curves. It thickened the base quite a bit because I put more slpits lower down. The tree wasn't very interesting at first, so I thought I'd try something new. It's definitely interesting now!
These guys are awesome! Anyone in the Seattle area should head in and check out Robert and son's work.
Thanks for your support!
I certainly will.
Very good video, I learned so much! Thanks
@@LindaGlisson-ns9cz thank you!
Clear explanation and nice work! 👍👍
Thank you!
Thank you for the great demonstration, nice close up views are very helpful, you don’t get to see that very often with other bonsai videos, thanks from Melbourne, Australia. 🇦🇺😁 have subscribed.
Thank you for the support! I'm glad we were able to share some knowledge with this demo!
Lovely info! I have an Italian stone pine 'xmas tree' that needs a design upgrade to bonsai. I cleaned it up, but was unsure how to proceed.
Now I will take another look and get it done! Thank you.
Wonderful Collection
Thank you!
I love the smell of Dwarf Alberta Spruce, have created and sold several, biggest issue is they don't like to hold wire but you have to let the tree be the tree and enjoy what it creates.
Yup. True. I've had very good luck with the pots that root prune with the tie down buttons on the side and guy lines though. You have a little more control, but still the tree is going to be the tree either way.
Loved your video and I subscribed to your channel.
Thanks for your support! Hope our information can help you with your bonsai journey, too!
Very good video and information.
Thank you! Glad we can share this with you!
Excellent thank you! Subscribed! I have two dwarf Alberta Spruce trees waiting for me to work on, but wasn’t sure what approach to take. This is very motivating, thank you! I’ve been learning bonsai for about a year, and I’d love to come down and see you guys.
Thank you for the support and glad we can help out! We'd love to have you come down. Let us know your vision for your spruce trees and we can study it together and upgrade your trees. We have lots of bonsai pots to choose from, too!
@@AsiaPacificGarden that would be absolutely fantastic! I'm in the Everett area so no problem coming down for a visit.
@@jeremystandifird5884 we look forward to having you here!
nice demo and explanation
Thank you so much!
We've posted a few updates about this tree as a short. It is very much alive and doing quite well. Our last update showed plenty of new growths.
beautiful
Thank you!
Great video. What time of year are you doing this? Does it matter? Thank you.
Hi there! It depends on where you are located. In general, you want to do this during it's dormant season. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the dormant season is usually around late November to early March.
The reason you want to do this during the dormant season is so the plant isn't really aware of what's going on.
Hope this helps!
Thank you , a big help. I'm in Southern Ontaio Canada and will follow your channel.
@@AsiaPacificGarden
@@jackbennettsr.3792 Thanks for the support! Glad we can share our information with you!
Hi There. great video. I have 4 or5 of these from christmas decorations to hopefully turn into bonsai. This is a great place to start. I tried doing that last spring and it died! I probably removed too much foliage. Is that a common problem? Or maybe bad time of year? I am in southwest Pennsylvania.
Thanks!
Hi there. Great question. There could be several factors that contributed to your spruce experience last spring.
1. Did you keep this indoors or outdoors? Alberta Spruce is an outdoor plant and should not be kept indoors. I'm not familiar with the winter temperature in Pennsylvania, but if you get freezing temperatures, there are ways to protect the plant, but bringing it indoors isn't one of them. Check out episode two of our Bonsai For Beginners for this info.
2. How often did you water the plant? Unlike most house plants where you water once or twice a week, trees need more moisture. You don't want to let the soil dry out and this was a topic on episode 1.
3. What is the lighting condition? Alberta Spruce trees need lots of sunlight.
4. There shouldn't be a need to remove the foliage. Removing branches shouldn't damage it. May I ask how you removed the foliage?
Hope this helps!
Thank you so much for your reply and advice! The temps were around 50-70 F. I kept it outside under a pavilion with plenty of light but not direct sun. Soil was kept plenty moist. Foliage was removed by pinching off needles close to the trunk and a few lower branches were removed with pruning shears.
Winter temps here fluctuate but it does freeze and thaw a lot. I'll give it another go soon! Thanks again for your time!@@AsiaPacificGarden
i just got an alberta spruce, is it safe to prune and repot at the same time this time of year??
Excellent question.
It really depends on your climate that time of year. You should do this work when the tree is near the end of its dormant phase.
We did this video the 2nd week of January here in the Seattle, Washington area. If you're in the southern hemisphere, January would be summer and that would not be recommended.
Hope this helps.
Spruce up your bonsai knowledge by hitting that subscribe button!
Please use a microphone! It will make your already good videos SO much better! 👍
He is working in his green house which has a noisy fan. But there may be a noise canceling mic that can help.
Yes, we are aware of how noisy it can get when filming in the greenhouse.
We will continue to explore different mic options. We currently use a short parabolic boom mic with a noise cancelling filter, but we have 9 large fans going to provide air circulation and it's just too noisy.
If you have mic suggestions, we're happy to take them and try those out!
I'm east coast if I traveled to you could you sell me a bonsai? I love your work!!!
@@CameronMuncie of course! You can easily hand carry them onto a plane.
@AsiaPacificGarden that's amazing! It's on my bucket list! I'll give you an advance in time on when I'll be traveling. Thank you, you're a legend!!
Do you sell large chinese bonsai pots?
@brianjanku4549 yes, we have some available.
老師 懂看中文嗎？ 我最近 迷上Bonsai ,老師 解釋我較容易 掌握，謝謝
谢谢您的支持， 我会尽量将我的心得分享给大家参考。
So drastic root pruning!!!!!!
It was necessary! The root was like a brick.
this tree dont survive!@@AsiaPacificGarden
This tree is doing tremendously well. We just posted an update as a short and will continue to do so every month.
Drastic root pruning can damage the tree IF you do it wrong AND during the wrong time of the year.
I am in the Midwest and have tried three Alberta spruce. They've all died.
@@samhoskins8706 I'm so sorry to hear that, but don't feel defeated. We all start somewhere.
What time of the year were you doing this?
What was your after care like?
Where were you keeping the tree?
👍👌
"gold" 😂😂😂 quality.
🤔😳
When making a Pine into a bonsai please don't trim the roots if you are going to trim the branches at the same time. Conifers don't like major disturbances to the branches and roots at the same time. I would be surprised if this little tree lives.
This isn't a pine, and this tree will be fine.
@@brianjanku4549 spruce* sorry. Still a conifer.
It would be great if he shows us this tree in a few months to show us what it looks like with new growth.
Trimming so much of the roots and tops can damage the tree *IF* you do it wrong *AND* in the wrong time of the year.
We posted an update as a short and will continue to do so. The tree is doing tremendously well.
I was about to say the same thing I’ve never seen anyone of the masters do this. I’ve seen demos of quite a few masters , Ben okie, George yamaguchi,John naka it just appears this guy is just winging it that tree looks terrible sad to say but it does