There's nobody doing it quite like you Dave. I'm always excited to watch your content. Love the music choice, love your clarity. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Hermetic!! It is very gratifying to hear your experience of watching my videos. Regarding the music, I recommend you take a look at The Ambientalist and at MARION music, you won't be disappointed!!
Hard to believe a material that seems ugly to many people turned into a really graceful bonsai. This is magic. Thank you much for another informative and detail-explaining video 👍
Thanks Andy I really appreciate that. Not many people have mentioned the pace but I am happy you have, because I spend literally hours editing out all the unnecessary parts 👍👍
Aussie Dave here David, again awesome video. You have the best explanation with your whiteboard technique 👏 👌. I truly appreciate your videos. Keep them coming 😀 👍
@@davidmorgan3508 thanks-well I'm sorry my posting frequency is only once every two months!! The rest of life gets in the way as you can probably imagine!
Thanks Nigel! Yep I'll be sure to update on this project. Btw I have a vague memory that you're not keen on doing layers for a new root plane - do I remember correctly?
@@BlueSkyBonsai Some trees are better than others for air layers. It can take a long time for the new air layer root ring to blend in with the original tree, sometimes many years. Usually with time, you get a nice transition, but with some trees, you can still see a sharp line from the air layer origin, a decade after the operation. I think the Elm will heal and blend in quickly though!!
Thanks Stefan! Yes it really did surprise me how well it rooted. I put it down to masses of leaf area (it was growing wild) plus 9 months of root growth after I cut the ground layer. And maybe three trunks brought down three times the glucose and auxin!!
@@BlueSkyBonsai The large leaf mass definitely helped and it looks like it had a long period of continuous + vigorous growth, even during those hot summer weeks/months. I'm guessing it was also placed under the shade cloth, right?
@@OddBonsai correct, yes the shade cloth helped all the trees really thrive, they get warmth and plenty of sunlight but without burning them up! We had two weeks of very intense heat july-august and I had the automatic watering going three times a day, they all carried on growing fine. I don't put a shade over the nursery area of prebonsai, and some of the Japanese maples got leaf burn. But I'm not bothered since these are no way near refinement yet...
@@OddBonsai good plan. Yes I have read that trees stop growing if the temperature exceeds 38°c or so, which of course happens frequently in direct sun. I'll put mine up sometime in June. I need to try to make a bit less scruffy this year 😂
Bought a commercially grown Chinese Elm 7 years ago when I got into Bonsai. It is my favorite tree but the nebari is nonexistent. Now that I have some experience and know what tremendously strong growers Chinese elms are I decided to try improving the trunk using the method in this video. Your instructions and thorough demonstration of this technique inspired me to give it a try. Best demonstration of this technique I have found on any channel. Thank you for taking the time and effort to record and share your bonsai expertise!
Happy to hear you found this video helpful! Elms are incredibly resilient and easy to work with. There is also another technique which is more fiddly, root grafting. I might do a video on that sometime, but don't hold your breath because it takes a couple of years to do it well, including growing, cutting and rooting enough branch cuttings to start your root grafts, grafting and waiting, removing the shoots then waiting again for the grafts to start healing over. For elms it's simpler and quicker to do a ground layer... make sure to use rooting hormone paste or gel, I have heard from bonsai friends that tried it without the hormone and got shaky results. Good luck and enjoy it! Take photos while you're doing the work!
All hail the rooting king, Dave!!! Wow, that went well. Love how you had the foresight to change the planting angle at the on-set. I have not put my good bonsai substrate in with the sphagnum, I’ve only cut it with sand/grit to help keep some crumble to it. Guess I should start upgrading. Your videos are always a pleasure to watch, brother. The visual, the education, I always seem to leave in a better spot than when I came in. I appreciate you, Dave!
Thanks bro! Really appreciate your comments. The thing about sphaggy is it keeps more water than its own weight so whatever you add to it should be as high water retention as possible. Alternatively chop the sphaggy small enough the it just falls off the roots??
@@BlueSkyBonsai well, there’s my issue! My grit just keeps water with surface tension. I went dryer substrate because I am worried about those fresh young roots rotting that close to the trunk once it’s separated and potted. I’ll mix in some of my good stuff this summer and enjoy your results!
@@baldyeti yep it's a great community and I'm honestly humbled by the amazing comments and feedback that everyone sends! Back in the day I was a photography aficionado, participated in all kinds of photography forums, and here's the thing, all of that was the exact opposite: everyone was too keen to argue and insult, discussions frequently strayed to other topics like religion and politics. With bonsai, it seems everyone is more respectful and appreciative of each other's contribution. Or maybe it's specifically the YT bonsai community...
@@baldyeti Btw it must be mentioned, ground layers seem to root nicer than air layers in my experience. Maybe being connected to the rest of the soil has an influence on root development. Or maybe its that you can't get root rot in the ground layer because the water is continually replaced, whereas an air layer is probably depleted in oxygen?
Great work Dave. I’m sure it was super satisfying to chop and saw off those old roots after that long wait. Getting rid of that inverse taper has really improved how it looks too!
Thanks Ian! Yes I was so happy to get rid of that monstrosity underneath! Yes I think it looks a lot better now, but not completely happy with that pot. It was an old one that I had spare but next year I'll maybe get a new one. Cheers!
That was probably the best and 'easiest' video I have seen covering this topic. I think your style is brillant. I already have two trees lined up for this technique. I presume the rock is to stop roots growing back under the base?
Thanks so much Xavier! Glad you asked about the rock trick. I did a video on it here: ruclips.net/video/ICsBu6nkWCk/видео.html The rock enables me to tie the tree down hard, without it crushing down into the soil. When the trunk is too far down into the soil, roots start to grow upwards from the nebari, I want to have all the roots growing diagonally down from the trunk. Hopefully the linked video explains it a bit better 😊
Always get excited when you post a new video! Your easy way of explaining and clarity using the white board makes you a fabulous teacher! We really appreciate the time and effort you put into making your videos. My bonsai thank you (because sometimes they don’t trust me). Watching the progress of your triple trunk has been so enjoyable and inspirational! May your love of bonsai never end 🙏
Thank you Peter for your kind words and great feedback! In the end I'm only doing what I wish someone had shown me 17 years ago when I got my first bonsai! But really glad you're finding the tutorials helpful 😊👍
This was so cool and relaxing I almost forgot about that popped collar of yours. =P Only having a bit of fun. This was amazing! I didnt even know this kind of thing was possible
Thanks BigolJoe! Popped collars are so underrated!! It keeps your neck warm in winter and keeps the sun off in summer ☀️ and besides, you prolly guessed I'm not really worried about my appearance 🥴 that crap t-shirt in this video is 15 years old by now! Ground layering is a popular technique, well trodden path, but I guess we don't do it more often because it feels scary to cut off the lifeline of a tree... I would be far more worried about doing this to my favourite azalea for example. But to date I haven't had had a layer fail yet. 🤞
It makes me wonder if my habit of using one inch charcoal crush is no different from your simple rock. Love the production value that went into it all!
Never tried using charcoal, though I suppose it might be a workable alternative. However, charcoal is alkaline so you probably shouldn't use it with acid-loving plants like azalea and camelia. Also, if it's "activated" charcoal it might have the effect of filtering the fertilizer salts out of the water, much like a normal water filter does. Though my guess is that one inch charcoal crush is not activated charcoal??
Hardwood charcoal without chemicals, I picked up a big old bag of the same stuff my dad likes and used the whole thing in my garden after crushing it down with a hammer. I've been filling up the bottom half of my pots with the stuff and usually get surprised when some of my more robust specimens will send a root straight through the middle of a lump. I didnt realize it was alkaline, however maybe that will help these hibiscus sinensus. I started doing it this way after realizing that a thick drainage layer would mitigate the few times im forced to keep them in a couple inches of water for the hottest of the Oklahoma heat here. I figure that most of my luck these past couple years have either been in that or the rolly pollies it seems to attract through the drain holes.
@@acheronexile yep-- I also like to keep a layer of larger granules at the base of the pot to maintain the perched water table for a couple of hours before it evaporates off all too fast in summer here. I use pumice for the base layer. I guess the Oklahona climate is quite similar to here in central Spain.
I know this is a very efficient method. Did this on a maple jamadori with succes. Good method with quick result. Thanks for the video. You are a talented teacher. For the video 👍👍and ofcourse a like
That’s one of the best air/ground layers I’ve ever seen! The ready made nebari seems like such an unlikely thing, but you somehow nailed it. Usually I get a few roots off to one side, but never the full circumference. Awesome video Dave, cheers!
Thanks Colin! I considered putting that spread of roots on the thumbnail... but eventually decided on the finished job cos I reckon people don't want to see "under the hood" pictures in a thumb. Anyhoo, I'm sure the disposition to root depends on many factors, and mainly the species. Traditional advice tells us to keep the sapwood but in practice it's difficult to judge where the cambium stops and the xylem starts so I just remove all the sapwood and use the damp sphaggy to provide the water up the trunk. Always works. I haven't yet had the balls to try one without rooting hormone to see if it works just as well. I should try that with a maple branch or something that doesn't matter too much... cheers bro! Btw, looking forward to your next video 👍
@@BlueSkyBonsai I have to say that I haven’t yet used any rooting hormone, so maybe that’s the key to full root spread around the whole trunk. Or, it’s just one of many keys.
Always perfectly put together. Nice, clear narration and beautifully shot and edited. Thank you for the effort you put into these. Always massively appreciated. 🙏
Thanks Jason, really appreciate your comments! Everyone else reading this, take a look at Jason's RUclips channel, lovely garden and wonderfully relaxing videos. ruclips.net/channel/UC63EX-9W3w5XUzuKLlAxjdw
Hola, ¡Qué bien! Es una técnica impresionante. Has hecho un trabajo de relojería, ehnorabuena. Pero no dejo de pensar que una acrobacia al final le hubiera venido bien al vídeo. 😄😄 Great job! Well done! Saludos Desde Francia
Hola Christophe, muchas gracias!! las acrobacias, a lo mejor tenía que haber pedido a Tom Cruise alguna maniobra con las tijeras de bonsai ... por cierto, has visto este video? ruclips.net/video/hfMq-ZIOGrc/видео.html - incluye a mi hijo haciendo acrobacias con un balon de futbol. Gracias por tus comentarios!
@@BlueSkyBonsai Tom Cruise no está libre, con todo el trabajo que tiene para promover su nueva peli un día en Londres con la reina otro en Cannes para el festival ... Lo reemplaza muy bien tu hijo es un campeón del balón. Hasta pronto para otro vídeo.
Great tutorial as usual Dave. I like the way you chose a new planting angle. I’ve had success with this technique on a Eugenia I have that had tripod roots. Thanks, keep growing
Thank Matt! Glad to hear you've had success with this. I'm amazed at how trees can take this procedure without batting an eyelid... although clearly there are some species that are more apt than others. Cheers - I appreciate your comments!
Thank you for your efforts videotaping this process through the seasons! This is the only video on RUclips that has shown a visual of the girdling process that I have seen, it was exceedingly helpful!!! I just ground layered a large maple so I hope it turns out as good as yours 😄
Qué gran descubrimiento!! Me encantan tus videos, qué bien lo explicas, aprendo muchísimo!! Vivo en Madrid y creo que es muy importante aprender de alguien que vive en tu misma zona. Muchísimas gracias!
Gracias Felipe me alegra que te gustan mis vídeos! Ya ves, lo más difícil de aquí en Madrid es el calor, el sol y el aire muy seco. Es lo que toca aquí, hay que regar mucho y no dejar ni un día sin regar. Y aún así se queman las hojas de varios especies con el sol directo en esta epoca. Y tú, ¿qué bonsáis tienes? Están dentro de casa o fuera?
@@BlueSkyBonsai Los tengo todos fuera. Pero tengo problemas en invierno con los ficus y en verano con varios de ellos por el sol, prunus, azalea y otros. Necesito una malla de sombreo. Otros están felices todo el año como el malus, eleagnus, olea silvestris.
@@felipeg.3957 sí, el verano aquí es muy fuerte para unos especies como tú decías. Tengo mis buenos bonsáis debajo de malla de 50% incluyendo la azalea, y parece ser que están bien. Los riego 3 veces al día en este calor.
Thanks! It's a Hawes 2L bonsai watering can. But..... last year I'm sorry to say Hawes stopped selling this model. I really don't know why. If you can't find the Hawes model, alternatively you can buy the Hawes watering can rose fine spray, and then get another brand long reach 2L can?
I've always thought about doing this on two of my Maples that I've grown from seedlings as I think the trunks are a bit long (or the 1st branch is a bit high). I've never been brave enough!
Maybe try it on one first.. it should work, but of course there is always a risk. I have never lost a tree to an air layer or a ground layer, but I still would be nervous about doing it to my very favourite trees. Maybe I just need to be less sentimental about my trees! 😊
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo! Bonsai me ha enseñado la paciencia a largo plazo, y el conocimiento de las técnicas y la horticultura llegan poco a poco cada año.
Great video ,I have a blue cedar with the same problem ,when is it best to ground layer ,I'm in australia and it's late autumn, it's good to see each stage of the process, thank you.
thank you! mid spring is the best time to ground layer, after the first flush of new foliage has extended and hardened and is busy generating sugars for the tree. here in the northern hemisphere it's now in May so for you it's probably going to be mid November the best time. I don't have any Cedars so I recommend you also seek advice from someone who has already tried this technique on a cedar to see if they have any special tips or recommendations..
Nice result! Im trying to do something similar on a japanese maple of mine, but the airlayer made one tiny little root and the rest was just callous. Its almost winter here now so im hoping it works next season
Di kerat miring pada bagian bawah pagkal cabang yang lebar, kemudian di kasih mos, di tutup gelas plastik, setelah keluar akar tanam kembali dengan posisi tegak, luarbiasa terimakasih sharingnya mantap sekali, dan hasilnya sangat natural ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍
i kind of liked the first triple trunk here honestly.i see the us eastern maples grow like that a lot. but amazing results too. wish we had more english elm around beautiful trees. ill settle for a zelcova for now i guess lol
You're welcome! One thing I should add, it's a great technique for bonsai in development and less valuable trees. But I wouldn't risk this technique on a valuable bonsai.
Beautiful work, Dave! :D I repotted my lemon trees yesterday. They were a bit of a tangle since I had 8 trees in one pot. ^^; But they actually had really nice, and mostly small, thin roots. :) I also finally found a baby maple with red leaves, growing where it will be cut down soon so I saved it. :D And I found a new baby aspen too a few days ago. :3 Also, I have way too many trees now. XD
Hi! Very happy to hear you've found my videos helpful. I have three videos planned, already done some filming, but due to limited spare time (between family and full-time job) I can't yet complete them. Hopefully they'll come soon. One of the videos will have special effects animation and that's taking a long time to master on the computer!
Hi Dave, small question, or suggestion for a future video, can you regularly cut some small branches? My small broomstyle zelkova grows rapidly and it has some aestheticly unpleasing new branches, but I'm worried that a small pruning would affect the growth/health...
Hi Maarten, yes the zelkovas are so vigorous that you can prune them back frequently. Maybe once a month is a reasonable amount during the spring and summer. But in autumn you should leave it to go yellow and drop its leaves without pruning, so all the last of the photosynthates get stored down to the trunk and roots. Some other species you should let them grow out more each year and photosynthesize more energy in the foliage before pruning them back. But elms and zelkovas... it's no problem.
I've got a white pine from a garden centre and when I started working on the tree I found it's roots are terrible, they have wrapped around the trunk and fused in place. Would this technique work on pines?
I have not done this on any of my pines so cannot tell you from my own experience. But I have seen other people ground layer pines - they can take 2 years to create enough roots to support the tree. So if you're patient and the tree is not of enormous value, it could be worth a try.
Great video once again. But I have a fully established Plinia cauliflora with one side putting out very feable roots. So How do I for the tree to put out large roots in that area?
Thank you! I have no experience with Plinia cauliflora so anything specific to the species I don't know. But in general, when a tree has roots around only half the trunk base, you can't do this ground layer on the other half - it won't give you new roots because the tree is still being fed by the existing roots. So your options are: either 1. do a few root grafts, where you take branch cuttings from the same tree then once they have rooted you graft the cuttings to your trunk base in exactly the places you want you new roots to be. Or 2. Do a full 360° ground layer further up the trunk. 3rd option... be content with you 180° root spread!!
Es buena opción para las raices largas. O si fuesen mas finas podría haber hecho un root-over-rock, pero a lo mejor no sería apropiado para un triple tronco. En Madrid, hay que visitar el Real Jardín Botánico, tienen una colección de bonsáis muy especial. Un saludo
Hello there, I REALLY enjoy your videos. You are so chilled and your voice is very soothing! I was wondering if you have a Jacaranda Blue in your collection of bonsais and what do you think about them? Easy, difficult? I am from South America and I've grown up seeing Jacaranda, Mangoes, and Avocado trees. I've known Jacaranda as a massive, enormous tree! I never thought (or conceived the idea!) that it could be grown as a bonsai. The reason I am asking about the Jacaranda Bonsai is that I am quite new to growing plants and having a garden (I mean with commitment and not only for the looks of it :), but I've also read that Bonsai is like the Everest of horticulture would you have any tips to encourage or discourage this wannabe bonsai grower?! I am thinking about getting the J Blue because it's familiar to me but I have no idea...Should I grow a different bonsai to get a taste of it first? Would you suggest a flowering bonsai to start? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I really appreciate it.
Thanks for your kind words! I don't have a jacaranda so can't advise you about that. However, for a first bonsai I would recommend a Chinese Elm. They are very forgiving in nearly all climates, they can survive happily indoors or outdoors, as long as they get enough light. They have tiny leaves and nice bark, and can really look like a miniature version of a real tree. I recommend you watch my video on bonsai health here: ruclips.net/video/a_vYCvQL5iE/видео.html And my series on pruning bonsai here: ruclips.net/p/PLYoSjHfqA6g95Zwp72Euom4r6KMz9ipZF Hope these help you start into bonsai!
Thanks! Rooting hormone, it's a mix. I bought some "Flower hormon-L" brand liquid and some Duffs rooting powder which includes appropriate minerals but not hormone. So I mix the powder with a few drops of water to make a thick paste, then I mix in a few droplets of the hormone liquid. Somehow the mix has phenomenal results!
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
It's like you are time traveling. The amount of background work & time needed for bonsai videos is insane.
Thanks! I think we need to do this sometimes because bonsai techniques can take a year or more, so it's the only way to show the whole process.
There's nobody doing it quite like you Dave. I'm always excited to watch your content. Love the music choice, love your clarity. Keep up the good work!
Thanks so much Hermetic!! It is very gratifying to hear your experience of watching my videos.
Regarding the music, I recommend you take a look at The Ambientalist and at MARION music, you won't be disappointed!!
Hard to believe a material that seems ugly to many people turned into a really graceful bonsai. This is magic. Thank you much for another informative and detail-explaining video 👍
Thanks, I appreciate it!
Still have to work on ramification and thickening the central trunk... but I'm happy with progress so far 😊
Really useful. Love the pace of your videos; never any waffle. Thanks so much.
Thanks Andy I really appreciate that. Not many people have mentioned the pace but I am happy you have, because I spend literally hours editing out all the unnecessary parts 👍👍
Aussie Dave here David, again awesome video. You have the best explanation with your whiteboard technique 👏 👌. I truly appreciate your videos. Keep them coming 😀 👍
Cheers Dave, I really appreciate your comments- you're always there on the first day with positive feedback 👍👍
@@BlueSkyBonsai well l like to wake up early to hope you posted a informative video. You have never let me down..😄😁😃😀😁
@@davidmorgan3508 thanks-well I'm sorry my posting frequency is only once every two months!! The rest of life gets in the way as you can probably imagine!
@@BlueSkyBonsai yes I understand 👍
This is defiantly a video I will reference often. I have a large trunk elm that will benefit from this technique. Thank you!
Thanks Gerrett!! Elm is amazingly forgiving, as long as you don't let the layer dry out it will give you great roots.
I should have guessed a ground layer when you said it took one year in the making!
Hehehe well I didn't give many clues so I think you can be forgiven for not guessing!!
A very inspiring transformation, excited to see future updates!!
Thanks Nigel! Yep I'll be sure to update on this project.
Btw I have a vague memory that you're not keen on doing layers for a new root plane - do I remember correctly?
@@BlueSkyBonsai Some trees are better than others for air layers. It can take a long time for the new air layer root ring to blend in with the original tree, sometimes many years. Usually with time, you get a nice transition, but with some trees, you can still see a sharp line from the air layer origin, a decade after the operation. I think the Elm will heal and blend in quickly though!!
@@TheBonsaiZone aha, got it. Makes sense. Thanks!
I suppose 10 years is worth waiting, in bonsai terms (but not great for RUclips 😂😂)
Nicely done Dave! That's a nice set of new roots. Didn't expect them to grow that much. Must be really linking it on your bonsai bench.
Thanks Stefan! Yes it really did surprise me how well it rooted. I put it down to masses of leaf area (it was growing wild) plus 9 months of root growth after I cut the ground layer. And maybe three trunks brought down three times the glucose and auxin!!
@@BlueSkyBonsai The large leaf mass definitely helped and it looks like it had a long period of continuous + vigorous growth, even during those hot summer weeks/months. I'm guessing it was also placed under the shade cloth, right?
@@OddBonsai correct, yes the shade cloth helped all the trees really thrive, they get warmth and plenty of sunlight but without burning them up! We had two weeks of very intense heat july-august and I had the automatic watering going three times a day, they all carried on growing fine. I don't put a shade over the nursery area of prebonsai, and some of the Japanese maples got leaf burn. But I'm not bothered since these are no way near refinement yet...
@@BlueSkyBonsai I have to put some shade cloth over my tree growing area this year. Last year they just went dormant during the extreme heat wave.
@@OddBonsai good plan. Yes I have read that trees stop growing if the temperature exceeds 38°c or so, which of course happens frequently in direct sun.
I'll put mine up sometime in June. I need to try to make a bit less scruffy this year 😂
Bought a commercially grown Chinese Elm 7 years ago when I got into Bonsai. It is my favorite tree but the nebari is nonexistent. Now that I have some experience and know what tremendously strong growers Chinese elms are I decided to try improving the trunk using the method in this video. Your instructions and thorough demonstration of this technique inspired me to give it a try. Best demonstration of this technique I have found on any channel. Thank you for taking the time and effort to record and share your bonsai expertise!
Happy to hear you found this video helpful! Elms are incredibly resilient and easy to work with. There is also another technique which is more fiddly, root grafting. I might do a video on that sometime, but don't hold your breath because it takes a couple of years to do it well, including growing, cutting and rooting enough branch cuttings to start your root grafts, grafting and waiting, removing the shoots then waiting again for the grafts to start healing over. For elms it's simpler and quicker to do a ground layer...
make sure to use rooting hormone paste or gel, I have heard from bonsai friends that tried it without the hormone and got shaky results.
Good luck and enjoy it! Take photos while you're doing the work!
Beautiful bonsai thank you for the tips.
Watching from Philippines
Hi and Thank you!! 🌳👍
Again very informative. Easy, straight forward, and remembering to be patient to allow it to happen.
Thanks Jeff! Yes it's amazing how much good comes from patience!
Another superb video mate! Thank you so much!
Thanks mate, I'm glad you liked it! 😊😊
Wow, I just started really learning about this today. My mind is blown ♥
It's a great technique, ground layering. But I would recommend first time try it on a tree that you don't care about too much "just in case"! 👍
All hail the rooting king, Dave!!!
Wow, that went well. Love how you had the foresight to change the planting angle at the on-set.
I have not put my good bonsai substrate in with the sphagnum, I’ve only cut it with sand/grit to help keep some crumble to it. Guess I should start upgrading.
Your videos are always a pleasure to watch, brother. The visual, the education, I always seem to leave in a better spot than when I came in. I appreciate you, Dave!
Thanks bro! Really appreciate your comments. The thing about sphaggy is it keeps more water than its own weight so whatever you add to it should be as high water retention as possible. Alternatively chop the sphaggy small enough the it just falls off the roots??
@@BlueSkyBonsai well, there’s my issue!
My grit just keeps water with surface tension. I went dryer substrate because I am worried about those fresh young roots rotting that close to the trunk once it’s separated and potted. I’ll mix in some of my good stuff this summer and enjoy your results!
@@BlueSkyBonsai oh, and thanks for the reply! I fricken dig how this community loves to share, most being quite humble about it too.
@@baldyeti yep it's a great community and I'm honestly humbled by the amazing comments and feedback that everyone sends! Back in the day I was a photography aficionado, participated in all kinds of photography forums, and here's the thing, all of that was the exact opposite: everyone was too keen to argue and insult, discussions frequently strayed to other topics like religion and politics. With bonsai, it seems everyone is more respectful and appreciative of each other's contribution. Or maybe it's specifically the YT bonsai community...
@@baldyeti Btw it must be mentioned, ground layers seem to root nicer than air layers in my experience. Maybe being connected to the rest of the soil has an influence on root development. Or maybe its that you can't get root rot in the ground layer because the water is continually replaced, whereas an air layer is probably depleted in oxygen?
heyo bonsai king! been a while, happy you're back :)
Hey Viktle, cheers! Yes this video took rather longer to edit..
Great work Dave. I’m sure it was super satisfying to chop and saw off those old roots after that long wait. Getting rid of that inverse taper has really improved how it looks too!
Thanks Ian! Yes I was so happy to get rid of that monstrosity underneath! Yes I think it looks a lot better now, but not completely happy with that pot. It was an old one that I had spare but next year I'll maybe get a new one. Cheers!
Just beginning my Bonsai journey so watching a ton of RUclips and I have to say your content is the best! I am learning tons from you. Thanks Dave!
Thanks John, I really appreciate that!
First time watching your videos and I loved it. Awesome video
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Always top quality videos. Love your precise instructions on air layering and the visualization of it on the white board.
Thanks so much Shirayasha! Happy to hear you are enjoying my information in these videos!
Very detailed video. Your praphic is truly awesome. Thank you!
Thanks for your great feedback! 🙏
Amazing just seeing how much effort was put into making this video. It's awesome to see the whole air layering process in this detail
Thanks Dustin glad to hear you find the details useful!
You are a under rated bonsai artest you inspired me to get a bonsai tree
Great stuff! Enjoy it!!
Your technique makes for a good video!
Thanks! 👍
That was probably the best and 'easiest' video I have seen covering this topic. I think your style is brillant. I already have two trees lined up for this technique. I presume the rock is to stop roots growing back under the base?
Thanks so much Xavier! Glad you asked about the rock trick. I did a video on it here: ruclips.net/video/ICsBu6nkWCk/видео.html The rock enables me to tie the tree down hard, without it crushing down into the soil. When the trunk is too far down into the soil, roots start to grow upwards from the nebari, I want to have all the roots growing diagonally down from the trunk. Hopefully the linked video explains it a bit better 😊
What a fantastic video. Really well filmed and edited. Top job!
Thanks so much! I appreciate your great feedback 😊👍
Always get excited when you post a new video! Your easy way of explaining and clarity using the white board makes you a fabulous teacher! We really appreciate the time and effort you put into making your videos. My bonsai thank you (because sometimes they don’t trust me).
Watching the progress of your triple trunk has been so enjoyable and inspirational!
May your love of bonsai never end 🙏
Thank you Peter for your kind words and great feedback! In the end I'm only doing what I wish someone had shown me 17 years ago when I got my first bonsai!
But really glad you're finding the tutorials helpful 😊👍
This was so cool and relaxing I almost forgot about that popped collar of yours. =P Only having a bit of fun. This was amazing! I didnt even know this kind of thing was possible
Thanks BigolJoe! Popped collars are so underrated!! It keeps your neck warm in winter and keeps the sun off in summer ☀️ and besides, you prolly guessed I'm not really worried about my appearance 🥴 that crap t-shirt in this video is 15 years old by now!
Ground layering is a popular technique, well trodden path, but I guess we don't do it more often because it feels scary to cut off the lifeline of a tree... I would be far more worried about doing this to my favourite azalea for example. But to date I haven't had had a layer fail yet. 🤞
It makes me wonder if my habit of using one inch charcoal crush is no different from your simple rock. Love the production value that went into it all!
Never tried using charcoal, though I suppose it might be a workable alternative.
However, charcoal is alkaline so you probably shouldn't use it with acid-loving plants like azalea and camelia.
Also, if it's "activated" charcoal it might have the effect of filtering the fertilizer salts out of the water, much like a normal water filter does. Though my guess is that one inch charcoal crush is not activated charcoal??
Hardwood charcoal without chemicals, I picked up a big old bag of the same stuff my dad likes and used the whole thing in my garden after crushing it down with a hammer. I've been filling up the bottom half of my pots with the stuff and usually get surprised when some of my more robust specimens will send a root straight through the middle of a lump. I didnt realize it was alkaline, however maybe that will help these hibiscus sinensus. I started doing it this way after realizing that a thick drainage layer would mitigate the few times im forced to keep them in a couple inches of water for the hottest of the Oklahoma heat here. I figure that most of my luck these past couple years have either been in that or the rolly pollies it seems to attract through the drain holes.
@@acheronexile yep-- I also like to keep a layer of larger granules at the base of the pot to maintain the perched water table for a couple of hours before it evaporates off all too fast in summer here. I use pumice for the base layer. I guess the Oklahona climate is quite similar to here in central Spain.
I know this is a very efficient method. Did this on a maple jamadori with succes. Good method with quick result. Thanks for the video. You are a talented teacher. For the video 👍👍and ofcourse a like
Thanks Ernst I appreciate your kind words! Glad to hear you had success with your maple 👍👍
Really impressive video, thanks for sharing! You made the whole process very clear, simple and enjoyable!
Thank you Stefano! really glad to hear you found it enjoyable! 👍
I love your animation! Informative and funny (in a good way)👍👍👍
Thanks! It seems the animations are quite popular with bonsai hobbyists 😊
Many thanks, very informative as always.
Thank you! Glad you found the information useful!
Wonderful video Dave, you always manage to teach me something and have enjoyed all your videos, Thank you so much for your effort and expertise!
Thanks Richard! I really appreciate your comments!
Nice. I like the way you make the effort to take the project from start to finish so we don't have to wait for a year to see the result.
Thanks! Yep this is one that I thought would make a better how-to video if I include the end result...
That’s one of the best air/ground layers I’ve ever seen! The ready made nebari seems like such an unlikely thing, but you somehow nailed it. Usually I get a few roots off to one side, but never the full circumference. Awesome video Dave, cheers!
Right? I rarely get a full 360 flair until a couple years after the separation, and have to play “catch-up”
Dave is the friggen MAN
Thanks Colin! I considered putting that spread of roots on the thumbnail... but eventually decided on the finished job cos I reckon people don't want to see "under the hood" pictures in a thumb. Anyhoo, I'm sure the disposition to root depends on many factors, and mainly the species. Traditional advice tells us to keep the sapwood but in practice it's difficult to judge where the cambium stops and the xylem starts so I just remove all the sapwood and use the damp sphaggy to provide the water up the trunk. Always works. I haven't yet had the balls to try one without rooting hormone to see if it works just as well. I should try that with a maple branch or something that doesn't matter too much...
cheers bro! Btw, looking forward to your next video 👍
@@baldyeti thanks Yeti!! Wish I could tell you the secret... haha I just did! 😉
@@BlueSkyBonsai I have to say that I haven’t yet used any rooting hormone, so maybe that’s the key to full root spread around the whole trunk. Or, it’s just one of many keys.
@@baldyeti I’m usually just so happy that it actually worked that I don’t care about it!
Always perfectly put together. Nice, clear narration and beautifully shot and edited. Thank you for the effort you put into these. Always massively appreciated. 🙏
Thanks Jason, really appreciate your comments!
Everyone else reading this, take a look at Jason's RUclips channel, lovely garden and wonderfully relaxing videos.
ruclips.net/channel/UC63EX-9W3w5XUzuKLlAxjdw
@@BlueSkyBonsai thank you.
what a beautiful job bro! can't wait to try it once I have a candidate 😅 that's going to be a badass lil multitrunk!
Thanks bro! Yep it's a great technique for whenever you have tree with zero trunk flare. Cheers 👍🙏
Worth the wait, thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it!
Lovely work, very well explained and you have the experience and patience to back it all up.
Thank you! Patience is indeed the key 👍
Love this idea Dave. What a transformation.
Thanks Raymond! Glad you liked it.
Great stuff, love the progress and detail!
Thanks! Glad you liked it! Still a lot of work to do though, on trunk proportions and ramification... next update on this tree in 5 years?!!
Great tutorial!!!
Thanks so much!! 😊
i love it .... great information here....improve the trunk base..showing it , showing the eyes of the trunk
Thanks Ronin Bonsai!! 🌳👍
@@BlueSkyBonsai 🙂🙏🙏🙏
Another great video, love this channel! The animations are extremely helpful to simplify and understand the concepts. Great stuff!
Thanks so much! Glad you're enjoying my videos and whiteboard animations. Cheers!
Hola,
¡Qué bien! Es una técnica impresionante. Has hecho un trabajo de relojería, ehnorabuena.
Pero no dejo de pensar que una acrobacia al final le hubiera venido bien al vídeo. 😄😄
Great job! Well done!
Saludos Desde Francia
Hola Christophe, muchas gracias!! las acrobacias, a lo mejor tenía que haber pedido a Tom Cruise alguna maniobra con las tijeras de bonsai ...
por cierto, has visto este video? ruclips.net/video/hfMq-ZIOGrc/видео.html - incluye a mi hijo haciendo acrobacias con un balon de futbol.
Gracias por tus comentarios!
@@BlueSkyBonsai Tom Cruise no está libre, con todo el trabajo que tiene para promover su nueva peli un día en Londres con la reina otro en Cannes para el festival ... Lo reemplaza muy bien tu hijo es un campeón del balón.
Hasta pronto para otro vídeo.
@@christophenoisette3301 un saludo y buen fin de semana!
Great tutorial as usual Dave. I like the way you chose a new planting angle. I’ve had success with this technique on a Eugenia I have that had tripod roots. Thanks, keep growing
Thank Matt! Glad to hear you've had success with this. I'm amazed at how trees can take this procedure without batting an eyelid... although clearly there are some species that are more apt than others. Cheers - I appreciate your comments!
Great video sir, thank you for the lesson!
Thanks - glad you enjoyed it!
Love your videos, simple enough to follow for us beginners... thank you.
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed.
Un trabajo ejecutado a la perfección, enhorabuena ha mejorado muchísimo, precioso bonsai.
Un saludo 👋🏻
Muchas gracias! Ahora hay que cultivar la ramificación.. durante los próximos 5 años o más.. saludos
Excellent demonstration !!
Thank you!! 😊
Great information and detail. Thx
Thank you!! Glad you found the information useful!
Love from 🇲🇾🇲🇾💙💗#bonsai#family#
Thanks for watching!
Well explained! Thanks for the video! As a beginner I love watching most of your videos. Very helpful.. Love from India ❤️
Thank you, glad you find them helpful.
Thank you for your efforts videotaping this process through the seasons! This is the only video on RUclips that has shown a visual of the girdling process that I have seen, it was exceedingly helpful!!! I just ground layered a large maple so I hope it turns out as good as yours 😄
Thanks Joel! Glad you found it helpful.
I'm sure your maple will turn out fine, most deciduous trees root copiously when layered 👍
Excellent!
Thank you! 😊
Nice work Sir..two tumbs...
Thanks very much! 😊👍👍
Great instructional video again Dave 👍
Thanks John! Glad you enjoyed it 😊👍
Great job, beautiful tree!
Thanks so much! 😊
Sana noon ko pa nakita channel nyo. Npakalinaw ng paliwanag
Salamat 😊
Qué gran descubrimiento!! Me encantan tus videos, qué bien lo explicas, aprendo muchísimo!! Vivo en Madrid y creo que es muy importante aprender de alguien que vive en tu misma zona. Muchísimas gracias!
Gracias Felipe me alegra que te gustan mis vídeos! Ya ves, lo más difícil de aquí en Madrid es el calor, el sol y el aire muy seco. Es lo que toca aquí, hay que regar mucho y no dejar ni un día sin regar. Y aún así se queman las hojas de varios especies con el sol directo en esta epoca. Y tú, ¿qué bonsáis tienes? Están dentro de casa o fuera?
@@BlueSkyBonsai Los tengo todos fuera. Pero tengo problemas en invierno con los ficus y en verano con varios de ellos por el sol, prunus, azalea y otros. Necesito una malla de sombreo. Otros están felices todo el año como el malus, eleagnus, olea silvestris.
@@felipeg.3957 sí, el verano aquí es muy fuerte para unos especies como tú decías. Tengo mis buenos bonsáis debajo de malla de 50% incluyendo la azalea, y parece ser que están bien. Los riego 3 veces al día en este calor.
Love your videos!
Can you share what type your watering can is, please? Would love to grab one for myself.
Thanks! It's a Hawes 2L bonsai watering can. But..... last year I'm sorry to say Hawes stopped selling this model. I really don't know why. If you can't find the Hawes model, alternatively you can buy the Hawes watering can rose fine spray, and then get another brand long reach 2L can?
Absolutley !! .. give you /10/10 for presentation of your videos
Thanks so much Tas!! 😊
Thank you! I was wondering how to save the tree that grew up IN THE CRACK of a balcony of an apartment I'm moving out from. Please wish me luck!
Try to conserve as much of its roots as you can! Good luck!
As always full of knowledge, a great video. Thank you very much!
Thanks as always Slobodan! I appreciate your great feedback 👍
Un trabajo redondo! Me suscribo :)
Gracias!! 😊👍
Thanks!
Thank you Mike, very much appreciated!
good work!!!
Thank you! 😊👍
Beautiful 💚 😍
Thanks so much! 😊
I've always thought about doing this on two of my Maples that I've grown from seedlings as I think the trunks are a bit long (or the 1st branch is a bit high). I've never been brave enough!
Maybe try it on one first.. it should work, but of course there is always a risk. I have never lost a tree to an air layer or a ground layer, but I still would be nervous about doing it to my very favourite trees. Maybe I just need to be less sentimental about my trees! 😊
Wow Dave, thanks! This gives me an idea for what to do with a Ficus Benjamina that is too tall.
Awesome Peg, give it a go! Ficus generally root very easily, although I don't have a Benjamina myself. Will be interested to hear the progress!
you should be rally proud of that , bravo !
Thanks, now it just needs a few years for those new roots to mature up and to develop their own bark...
Wow nice video ❣️
Thank you so much!! 😊😊
La sabiduría sobre que hacer es importante, pero la paciencia es la clave.
Estoy totalmente de acuerdo! Bonsai me ha enseñado la paciencia a largo plazo, y el conocimiento de las técnicas y la horticultura llegan poco a poco cada año.
Great video ,I have a blue cedar with the same problem ,when is it best to ground layer ,I'm in australia and it's late autumn, it's good to see each stage of the process, thank you.
thank you! mid spring is the best time to ground layer, after the first flush of new foliage has extended and hardened and is busy generating sugars for the tree. here in the northern hemisphere it's now in May so for you it's probably going to be mid November the best time. I don't have any Cedars so I recommend you also seek advice from someone who has already tried this technique on a cedar to see if they have any special tips or recommendations..
Nice result! Im trying to do something similar on a japanese maple of mine, but the airlayer made one tiny little root and the rest was just callous. Its almost winter here now so im hoping it works next season
Thanks!
Your maple in spring you might need to cut away that callusing and any new cambium. Then use a tourniquet and more rooting hormone. Good luck!
@@BlueSkyBonsai thanks yeah I'll give it a go 😀
Di kerat miring pada bagian bawah pagkal cabang yang lebar, kemudian di kasih mos, di tutup gelas plastik, setelah keluar akar tanam kembali dengan posisi tegak, luarbiasa terimakasih sharingnya mantap sekali, dan hasilnya sangat natural ❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍
Yes, when you write it like that, it sounds amazing. Thanks!
i kind of liked the first triple trunk here honestly.i see the us eastern maples grow like that a lot. but amazing results too. wish we had more english elm around beautiful trees. ill settle for a zelcova for now i guess lol
Zelkovas are one of the best species for bonsai...
Very very clear explanation. Great. Thanks
You're welcome! One thing I should add, it's a great technique for bonsai in development and less valuable trees. But I wouldn't risk this technique on a valuable bonsai.
Brilliant videos always learn a lot.
Thanks! Glad you find them useful.
Hi Dave, if you are willing to share, what do you use for the whiteboard sections?
Beautiful work, Dave! :D I repotted my lemon trees yesterday. They were a bit of a tangle since I had 8 trees in one pot. ^^; But they actually had really nice, and mostly small, thin roots. :) I also finally found a baby maple with red leaves, growing where it will be cut down soon so I saved it. :D And I found a new baby aspen too a few days ago. :3 Also, I have way too many trees now. XD
Thanks Syster! Good job on the lemon trees! &maple and aspen !
The too many trees problem hits us all at some stage.. enjoy it!
as usual a great video!
Thanks Jelle!
Ps. Everyone reading these comments, take a look at Jelle's great videos on the GrowingBonsai channel ruclips.net/user/GrowingBonsai
@@BlueSkyBonsai You are very welcome. I feel a need coming up to come and learn movie skills from you!
@@GrowingBonsai haha I'm very flattered but I think you're overestimating my film making credentials!
@@BlueSkyBonsai just going by what I can see!
Hello Dave! Bonsai beginner here and I learned a lot from your videos. Already finished watching all of them actually. Any new content coming soon?
Hi! Very happy to hear you've found my videos helpful. I have three videos planned, already done some filming, but due to limited spare time (between family and full-time job) I can't yet complete them. Hopefully they'll come soon. One of the videos will have special effects animation and that's taking a long time to master on the computer!
PERFECT!
Thank you!! 🙏
Hi Dave, small question, or suggestion for a future video, can you regularly cut some small branches?
My small broomstyle zelkova grows rapidly and it has some aestheticly unpleasing new branches, but I'm worried that a small pruning would affect the growth/health...
Hi Maarten, yes the zelkovas are so vigorous that you can prune them back frequently. Maybe once a month is a reasonable amount during the spring and summer. But in autumn you should leave it to go yellow and drop its leaves without pruning, so all the last of the photosynthates get stored down to the trunk and roots.
Some other species you should let them grow out more each year and photosynthesize more energy in the foliage before pruning them back. But elms and zelkovas... it's no problem.
Excellent tutorial ! Thank you !
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Really enjoy your videos, thankyou
Thanks! 🌳👍
I've got a white pine from a garden centre and when I started working on the tree I found it's roots are terrible, they have wrapped around the trunk and fused in place. Would this technique work on pines?
I have not done this on any of my pines so cannot tell you from my own experience. But I have seen other people ground layer pines - they can take 2 years to create enough roots to support the tree. So if you're patient and the tree is not of enormous value, it could be worth a try.
Awesome, thank you Dave!
Thanks Xehan! 😊
Trima kasih telah berbagi informasi salam satu hobi
thanks for watching and commenting!
excellent , cant wait to get into my garden , im going to run out of trees in my garden soon
Thank you Tas! I really appreciate all your comments 👍
Great videos, i love seeing the progression. Thank you.
Thanks Andy, glad you enjoyed it!
Great video once again. But I have a fully established Plinia cauliflora with one side putting out very feable roots. So How do I for the tree to put out large roots in that area?
Thank you!
I have no experience with Plinia cauliflora so anything specific to the species I don't know.
But in general, when a tree has roots around only half the trunk base, you can't do this ground layer on the other half - it won't give you new roots because the tree is still being fed by the existing roots.
So your options are: either 1. do a few root grafts, where you take branch cuttings from the same tree then once they have rooted you graft the cuttings to your trunk base in exactly the places you want you new roots to be. Or 2. Do a
full 360° ground layer further up the trunk. 3rd option... be content with you 180° root spread!!
Fantastic video!
Thanks so much!
Vey well explained technic!
Thanks! Glad you liked it.
Thanks a lot. Very good well explained.
Thanks Oscar! I appreciate your feedback 👍
Yo uso las raises largas para hacer exposed root style. Que me recomiendas para ver de Bonsái en Madrid?
Es buena opción para las raices largas. O si fuesen mas finas podría haber hecho un root-over-rock, pero a lo mejor no sería apropiado para un triple tronco.
En Madrid, hay que visitar el Real Jardín Botánico, tienen una colección de bonsáis muy especial. Un saludo
Hello there, I REALLY enjoy your videos. You are so chilled and your voice is very soothing! I was wondering if you have a Jacaranda Blue in your collection of bonsais and what do you think about them? Easy, difficult? I am from South America and I've grown up seeing Jacaranda, Mangoes, and Avocado trees. I've known Jacaranda as a massive, enormous tree! I never thought (or conceived the idea!) that it could be grown as a bonsai. The reason I am asking about the Jacaranda Bonsai is that I am quite new to growing plants and having a garden (I mean with commitment and not only for the looks of it :), but I've also read that Bonsai is like the Everest of horticulture would you have any tips to encourage or discourage this wannabe bonsai grower?! I am thinking about getting the J Blue because it's familiar to me but I have no idea...Should I grow a different bonsai to get a taste of it first? Would you suggest a flowering bonsai to start? Sorry for so many questions. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, I really appreciate it.
Thanks for your kind words!
I don't have a jacaranda so can't advise you about that. However, for a first bonsai I would recommend a Chinese Elm. They are very forgiving in nearly all climates, they can survive happily indoors or outdoors, as long as they get enough light. They have tiny leaves and nice bark, and can really look like a miniature version of a real tree.
I recommend you watch my video on bonsai health here: ruclips.net/video/a_vYCvQL5iE/видео.html
And my series on pruning bonsai here: ruclips.net/p/PLYoSjHfqA6g95Zwp72Euom4r6KMz9ipZF
Hope these help you start into bonsai!
Nice video! I was woundering, do you make your own rootinghormone or do you buy it? Thanks, keep the sweet videos comming:)
Thanks!
Rooting hormone, it's a mix. I bought some "Flower hormon-L" brand liquid and some Duffs rooting powder which includes appropriate minerals but not hormone. So I mix the powder with a few drops of water to make a thick paste, then I mix in a few droplets of the hormone liquid. Somehow the mix has phenomenal results!