Good morning Xavier 😘 Lord of the pines. 🤩 Love to listen and watch your instructions. Meanwhile I didn’t wire my pine, because I‘ll just wait if it survives… 🙂 Enjoy your day. God bless. Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
I just love your experiments Xavier - really helps with the learning experience. The two Mugos look awesome - off to a wonderful start. I must admit I've been very hands-off on my Shore Pines, so this is wonderful inspiration for potential styling choices.
I know nothing about pines, other than they look beautiful. That 1st tree you worked on has turned out really well after the styling. Looking forward to seeing this in the future.
These 2 trees are now well on their way. I wonder if you could switch back/front on the first one: the 3rd branche from below could become a back branche. Grts Kennet
I am sure you are right Kennet. All I am really looking for now is them to both push out loads of growth during the next 12 - 18 mths. Then I will go in heavy again :)
Hi All, I teach a pottery course at a local community college here in SouthWestern Ontario, Canada. I often have international students take my class, and last year, I had a Japanese international student, just as I was beginning my Bonsai journey. I asked her what the word "Shin" meant. She got that distant look when someone who wasn't born with English is searching for the best way to convey a concept, that sort of focus halfway between us, and then responded "It means the Heart." So... I took the meaning to be somehow shinto inspired spirit of the tree kinda stuff... which is fine, and frankly... I kind of like better than getting the bottom of the stalk to root. Hmmm....
Care and Xavier...never work well in a sentence!! Hopefully these will both push on next year and the options will get easier to see. I love your new logo.
Cool video Xav Would probably keep that primary branch on the 1st tree personally could get a lovely bit of movement in the tree using that new leader Thanks for sharing mate👊🏻
In doing, we learn... Nice video! I'm quite leary with pine, just because of things I've heard. Forcing myself to do things though. After all, it's for the future of the tree as a Bonsai!
Very nice Styling xav ! I Work on Mugo Pine too in the Moment and i dont habe an idea 🙈 i Must do a new Look and i Go Crazy 😅 with it . The Video came in a few Werks .
Hi Xav I was surprised you cut the branch off on the 1st tree but it’s your tree, for a long time I stayed clear of pines after I lost a white pine so many years ago, but I have now got a large mugo, Black pine and a small white pine a bit like you experimenting with them to get some knowledge of how to deal with them, they are all in a good soil mix fortunately. Good look with yours mate.
Cheers Joe - that is what makes Bonsai so much fun. We don't all do the same thing to the material and yet final results can often be equally as good. Mind, that branch was removed a little quickly when i look back :)
Hi Xav, how do I send pictures of my trees to you, I have no idea how I can do that,I would be happy to send you a pic of my yew tree.@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat
Absolutely love the first one! It will be awsome after a couple of years. The second one has potential, could also be great. I am sure you make something nice out of it. Thanks!
Four candles or fork handles? Sorry I couldn't help it 😂 a very interesting video Xavier. It looks like the autumn repotting last year was a good call. I was hoping you'd cut off that thick top branch. I felt it was competing for the apex and the balance didn't feel right.
1st tree came out great! U kno what i would do with the second tree a would use it to practice grafts on. Maybe try and put some grafts in some empty spaces there. I havnt grafted any pine branches but it would be fun experimenting
Second tree just needs more time and staring to figure out a design to pursue. Mugo likes to be ignored. Really appreciate the explanation of leaving needles where you want back bud. Is that only mugos or other pines?
From my shallow knowledge it is particular to Mugo. Scotts Pine and White Pine definitely seem to back bud on bare wood. I agree totally about the 2nd one - juts let it show me the way :)
I'm interested in how they've back budded after being pruned. It seems like the different varieties all react differently to the same technique. Thanks for passing on your information.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I've got a Black Pine that I've trained to grow flat; by pulling the needles in Autumn it makes heaps of buds, and looks healthy, but I've got no idea what I'm going to do with it! I need some inspiration from somewhere!
Nice directional changes. It looks much better without that straight branch. It might be moving toward literati once you remove the lower right branch? I have managed to kill all but one mugo of the 4 or so I have obtained, so I am very impressed with your work and look forward to seeing the progress over the years. I'm not familiar with "Kaiser No. 2", please explain what it is and how it helps your soil mix. Thanks!!!! And, what brand ratcheting secateurs are those?
Hi Susan, it is Kaizen Mix that is sold by Graham Potter. I am at the wrong end of the season and couldnt source any materials for a mix...so i cheated. It is a mix of pumice, lave, molar clay, pine and some 'secret' ingredients? It is used a lot over here and the size grading is between 1 and 3. No 2 is for the medium size trees. My kids got the secateurs online for Christmas but will try and hunt down the make later. :)
Xavier, results were poor due to bad timing. You should have cut new growth (leaving a few pairs of new needles) in early June. That will get you new 1-4 buds (depending on the health of the tree and amount of sunlight) on the cut site by mid-August. Plus most of the pines (and mugo definately) do not need old needles to back bud. That is a myth, a "technique" out of desparation. Healthy trees, that grow nicely, being fertilized properly, through great amounts of buds, all over the bare stem (where sunlight hits mostly), even in 3 -4 year old wood. Usually people don't know pines...
Brilliant bit of knowledge - thank you. That's why this community is so great. I said in the video I missed the cutting by a few weeks but was going to see what would happen if I cut late. I definitely suffer from having to manage a few too many trees sometimes. i hope all is well in your part of the world :)
i hate to be rude vut where did you get your wire wheel? i wouuld love to have one myself, i think it would make things alot more convenient and save me some tie when i have to be in a rush and not enjoy the process.
It has been brilliant once I worked out you dont have to wind the new wire onto the reels! It was a gift several years ago but I know that greenwood Bonsai did sell them recently.
Thankfully I appear to know what I am thinking better than you. There is always a tendancy to force yourself to do stuff but thankfully I have so many trees that it is never a problem for me. I fear what you are really trying to point out is my lack of experience - that's OK. Boredom has never played a part in my 'hobby'. If I ever do take classes I may actually understand your point. tahnk you for the support and taking the time to watch and comment. Such a great friendly community we have amongst us 'hobbyists'. All the best :)
Good morning Xavier 😘 Lord of the pines. 🤩 Love to listen and watch your instructions. Meanwhile I didn’t wire my pine, because I‘ll just wait if it survives… 🙂 Enjoy your day. God bless. Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
No hurry to do anything Martina - just enjoy life :)
I just love your experiments Xavier - really helps with the learning experience. The two Mugos look awesome - off to a wonderful start. I must admit I've been very hands-off on my Shore Pines, so this is wonderful inspiration for potential styling choices.
Thanks Sue - it is all still a big journey of discovery for some of the species for me :)
I know nothing about pines, other than they look beautiful. That 1st tree you worked on has turned out really well after the styling. Looking forward to seeing this in the future.
Pines and Junipers have been the latest in my long and slow journey of education :)
Thanks Xavier. 👍
Hopefully some of it makes sense. Thats econd mugo really has me stumpred right now. Give it a few more years and then revisit I think :)
I love the line of the first tree. The second will find its' shape in time 😊
Thanks Paul - sometimes you just have to let time do its thing :)
Love what you did to that 1st mugo pine. Your way of giving knowledge is spot on. Keep on posting
Thanks Sue - I just didnt know where to go with that second one. But, time is a great way of resolving even the most difficult of trees :)
Many collection Bonsai tree Sir.
Beautiful mugo pine Bonsai.
I hope grows well the Bonsai.
Good luck Sir.
Thank you for the kind words and i am very lucky to have so many trees to play with. Cheers
Great video xav 👍
Thanks Andy
These 2 trees are now well on their way.
I wonder if you could switch back/front on the first one: the 3rd branche from below could become a back branche.
Grts
Kennet
I am sure you are right Kennet. All I am really looking for now is them to both push out loads of growth during the next 12 - 18 mths. Then I will go in heavy again :)
Hi All, I teach a pottery course at a local community college here in SouthWestern Ontario, Canada. I often have international students take my class, and last year, I had a Japanese international student, just as I was beginning my Bonsai journey. I asked her what the word "Shin" meant. She got that distant look when someone who wasn't born with English is searching for the best way to convey a concept, that sort of focus halfway between us, and then responded "It means the Heart." So... I took the meaning to be somehow shinto inspired spirit of the tree kinda stuff... which is fine, and frankly... I kind of like better than getting the bottom of the stalk to root. Hmmm....
Thanks Chris - I think you probably have the best definition from that. So whenever I get that 'faraway glazed' look - it is my shin :)
Great work with your Mugo Xavier! I look forward to seeing this tree progress in you care!
Care and Xavier...never work well in a sentence!! Hopefully these will both push on next year and the options will get easier to see. I love your new logo.
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat good thing I put them in two different sentences. 🤣
Cool video Xav
Would probably keep that primary branch on the 1st tree personally could get a lovely bit of movement in the tree using that new leader
Thanks for sharing mate👊🏻
Are you talking about the branch I removed? I will definitely look forward to future options once new growth establishes itself next year.
In doing, we learn... Nice video! I'm quite leary with pine, just because of things I've heard. Forcing myself to do things though. After all, it's for the future of the tree as a Bonsai!
I'm like that with Juniper - lots of effort to just get one on the bench let alone do something with it :)
Doing great work Xavier... thanks and cheers
Thanks Nerina - 7 days till I escape to the isolation of Stronsay :)
Very nice Styling xav ! I Work on Mugo Pine too in the Moment and i dont habe an idea 🙈 i Must do a new Look and i Go Crazy 😅 with it . The Video came in a few Werks .
I look forward to watching it. i still have no idea about the second mugo. See how it responds next year :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat i will have a Look at your Videos and i bet you will find the Right way for the Mugo 👍💪🏼
Hi Xav I was surprised you cut the branch off on the 1st tree but it’s your tree, for a long time I stayed clear of pines after I lost a white pine so many years ago, but I have now got a large mugo, Black pine and a small white pine a bit like you experimenting with them to get some knowledge of how to deal with them, they are all in a good soil mix fortunately. Good look with yours mate.
Cheers Joe - that is what makes Bonsai so much fun. We don't all do the same thing to the material and yet final results can often be equally as good. Mind, that branch was removed a little quickly when i look back :)
Hi Xav, how do I send pictures of my trees to you, I have no idea how I can do that,I would be happy to send you a pic of my yew tree.@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat
Absolutely love the first one! It will be awsome after a couple of years. The second one has potential, could also be great. I am sure you make something nice out of it.
Thanks!
Thanks for the encouragement. If both continue to show good vigour next year then I will start to believe that they could become bonsai :)
Four candles or fork handles? Sorry I couldn't help it 😂 a very interesting video Xavier. It looks like the autumn repotting last year was a good call.
I was hoping you'd cut off that thick top branch. I felt it was competing for the apex and the balance didn't feel right.
Ho ho ho. Seems to have worked. In fact I could have been a lot harder on soil removal last year.
1st tree came out great! U kno what i would do with the second tree a would use it to practice grafts on. Maybe try and put some grafts in some empty spaces there. I havnt grafted any pine branches but it would be fun experimenting
Good suggestion Chris - I have been meaning to try pine grafts so I may just do that. Thanks
Second tree just needs more time and staring to figure out a design to pursue. Mugo likes to be ignored. Really appreciate the explanation of leaving needles where you want back bud. Is that only mugos or other pines?
From my shallow knowledge it is particular to Mugo. Scotts Pine and White Pine definitely seem to back bud on bare wood. I agree totally about the 2nd one - juts let it show me the way :)
I'm interested in how they've back budded after being pruned. It seems like the different varieties all react differently to the same technique.
Thanks for passing on your information.
It is strange for sure. That is why i am looking forward to seeing my Black Pine get a bit older. Even more different timings for those :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat I've got a Black Pine that I've trained to grow flat; by pulling the needles in Autumn it makes heaps of buds, and looks healthy, but I've got no idea what I'm going to do with it! I need some inspiration from somewhere!
I would asume mugos reacts different in different climates? My mugo have quite a few backbuds where there haven't been any needles for several years.
I should have mentioned that they do also back bud randomly tregardless of needles. Great to hear from you again Magnus - I hope all is well?
Nice directional changes. It looks much better without that straight branch. It might be moving toward literati once you remove the lower right branch? I have managed to kill all but one mugo of the 4 or so I have obtained, so I am very impressed with your work and look forward to seeing the progress over the years. I'm not familiar with "Kaiser No. 2", please explain what it is and how it helps your soil mix. Thanks!!!! And, what brand ratcheting secateurs are those?
Hi Susan, it is Kaizen Mix that is sold by Graham Potter. I am at the wrong end of the season and couldnt source any materials for a mix...so i cheated. It is a mix of pumice, lave, molar clay, pine and some 'secret' ingredients? It is used a lot over here and the size grading is between 1 and 3. No 2 is for the medium size trees. My kids got the secateurs online for Christmas but will try and hunt down the make later. :)
👍👌🙂
Another weekend - another bonsai to destroy :)
Xavier, results were poor due to bad timing. You should have cut new growth (leaving a few pairs of new needles) in early June. That will get you new 1-4 buds (depending on the health of the tree and amount of sunlight) on the cut site by mid-August. Plus most of the pines (and mugo definately) do not need old needles to back bud. That is a myth, a "technique" out of desparation. Healthy trees, that grow nicely, being fertilized properly, through great amounts of buds, all over the bare stem (where sunlight hits mostly), even in 3 -4 year old wood. Usually people don't know pines...
Brilliant bit of knowledge - thank you. That's why this community is so great. I said in the video I missed the cutting by a few weeks but was going to see what would happen if I cut late. I definitely suffer from having to manage a few too many trees sometimes. i hope all is well in your part of the world :)
i hate to be rude vut where did you get your wire wheel? i wouuld love to have one myself, i think it would make things alot more convenient and save me some tie when i have to be in a rush and not enjoy the process.
It has been brilliant once I worked out you dont have to wind the new wire onto the reels! It was a gift several years ago but I know that greenwood Bonsai did sell them recently.
Just let things grow a few years christ, your cutting and wiring because you are bored not because you are trying to achieve anything.
Thankfully I appear to know what I am thinking better than you. There is always a tendancy to force yourself to do stuff but thankfully I have so many trees that it is never a problem for me. I fear what you are really trying to point out is my lack of experience - that's OK. Boredom has never played a part in my 'hobby'. If I ever do take classes I may actually understand your point. tahnk you for the support and taking the time to watch and comment. Such a great friendly community we have amongst us 'hobbyists'. All the best :)