I'm just getting into bonsai, and these videos are really helpful. Thanks :)

Thanks for posting all these videos. Very useful for a novice like me. Also, I love the dog photo bombing this video. 😊

you are incredible,thank you for sharing this video.

@KaylinJH no it is usually alive, but when you strip the bark the limb dies. So keep that in mind because if you are thinking of creating a jin you can wire it into position while it is alive and then later take teh bark off and have a perfectly placed jin

@Kevalan I agree! I have learned so much from Paul. He is one of the best teachers I know!

Thanks! And also for the clips

Thank you very much for your understanding, and your offer is very kind. I do actually have a question or two and as soon I can put them into words I'll take you up on your advice! Cheers! "BackSeatHump" Sweden

Thats great advise! I can't tell you how many times I've cut myself. Even one time I had to get 6 stitches from a saw I was using

@MrHamtits Thank you for your comment! I think th eproblem with your tree is that you are keeping it indoors. Those types of trees really require a lot of sunlight. You may be able to use a grow light of some sort to give it extra light if you plan to keep it inside, but it would do much better outside.

I love all the info you poor into these vids keep it up. I'm getting hooked on the art form and even though i only had a ficus i gathered what info i could on what to look for and went out into the wild and found a really nice maple growing on a rock face. I did get a lil poison ivy on my arm walking through the woods. Well worth it though and now I know what that looks like too. 8)

Thank you so much for these awesome videos, really helpful! I recently acquired a really old Chinese Elm Ulmus Parvifolia, and it has a really huge trunk and its loosing its bark, i read in a forum that it is normal. Do you know if I am correct or if it is some kind of disease? Thanks!

A little tip for preventing cuts with tools.. my grandfather used to use those Stainless Steel Mesh Gloves that culinary artists use to protect their hands.. he had his custom made though so they fit his hands perfectly. Usually if you buy them "any size" they're pretty loose.. though they do come in a "small" size, but for someone like me, even those are too big.

Hey Paul. Love your work mate. Everything is looking great. I'm a bonsai novice and have recently got my first. It's a LIGUSTRUM VULGARE about 1 year old I'm told and I'm having a little trouble keeping the leaves on! I keep it inside out of the sun and water it once every two days quite thoroughly. I'm using a small humidity pot which I am fairly unfamiliar with at this point. Was wondering if you could give me some tips on this particular specimen. Oh and it is just hit Fall here in Sweden.

That's awesome, and my dog Cosmo says hi!

@kinoshita8133 Yes the wood will naturally lighten and gray over time. You don't need the lime sulfur to do a shari or jin

I understand. No hard feelings. I'll try to stay on target as best I can. If you ever have any specific questions you can always ask me and I'll be glad to help you out

This is a great video! Now I think I know what to do with my juniper whose apex died back. I think it could be interesting. Question though. Since you live in Florida I know you get your fair share of bad weather. I live only a few states up and am facing Hurricane Irene. Do you have any pointers of how to protect your bonsai through severe weather? Should I move my trees indoors until it's over?

@kissiebooashes Great idea for the apex! As for the hurricane you're trees will be fine outsode through the storm. I usually take mine off their stands and put them on the ground in an area that won't collect water so the tree doesn't sit in water. As long as it can drain it will do great. The weight of the water in the pot makes it heavy enough that the hurricane doesn't move it. If you feel better keeping it inside and its small enough you could certainly do that for the day. Take care

@OrlandoBonsaiTV You see, I bought it from a nursery that kept it indoors and in the same conditions that I am keeping it in now. I am currently residing in southern Sweden which in the coming months isn't going to see a lot of sun anyway. So I'm thinking that the fact that it was sold here in the first place means that it should be able to adapt to Swedish conditions. Is there anything is else you could think of? I water it once every two days... too much? too little?

@Iggynawcio Elms bark does exfoliate and kind of sheds it's bark in patches. Perfectly normal and gives the tree great texture

also, you mentioned something about white vinegar..? would i be able to use that instead?

@Kevalan Thanks so much for your comments. I really try to get as much info in these in an understandable way. SO it makes me feel good when I read a comment like yours! You may or may not know but I have an on line store called orlandobonsai com/store You'll be able to find everything you need there and everything is discounted.

I've had my eyes set on that wood carving wheel from Arbortech that you have for sale at your store. At the moment, Im using a ceramic coated, sand paper wheel on my angle grinder; for stripping paint for my deadwood work. Its slow going and takes quite a bit of effort. Would a mason wheel work, or would it be too choppy on wood? The tools at Lowes and The Home Depot just haven't worked for me. I don't have a Dremmel. I just use my drill and put attachments on it like wire brushes and fine grinder bits. A power drill too has its limits with maneuverability for fine detail work.

@MrHamtits In that case, keep th eroots moist but not wet. Water maybe once or twice a week. If you put your finger down in to the soil and it is damp, then don't water. Keep it away from air conditioning or heating vents. They will dry the plant out too quickly and the heat will dry the leaves out badly. Try to keep in a window, and try to have good air circulation so that the tree does not develop fungus. Good luck

how oold is your blue alps juniper?

@NaturesJewels Thanks for the comments. I get poison ivy all summer long and it drives me crazy. You're right thought , it is well worth it

@Marceeya He's gonna be a KZfaq sensation!

Whats the difference with knob cutter vs root cutter, do you recommend root cutter for splitting the branch before applying jin plier?

Oh ok, but that carving wheel you have will fit on any angle grinder? I have a Bostitch angle grinder. Thanks.

is there anyway I can jin a dwarf boxwood if lime sulfur isnt available?

Thanks!

I was wondering if the rest of the branch will die if I took off part of its bark to create some Jin because some parts of it are dead. I kept some of the bark on the part of the branch that was still alive. Will the whole branch die?

Where are you now?? No recent videos?

I live in Wisconsin (brrr) and have mostly tropical specimens and am looking for advice regarding winter fertilization. I have many young developing cuttings that I am hoping to style root-over-rock but need greater root development before any attempt in spring. My other concern is that I have my first Chinese elm (parvifolla) and need to bring it inside. I have read varying opinions on how to make this transition successful so I need temperature and fertilization advice. Treat it as tropical or deciduous? I just don't want to kill it.

@Mayleos Thanks!!!

What would happen if you don't hit it with lime sulfur? Would it just rot away over time?

@LacobrigusRomanicus I approximate that this tree is around 35 years old

Hello You juse this carving tool where can I get it? Thanks

Yes vinegar would clean the wood somewhat but really isn't a whitener.

I forgot to mention, make sure you wear a tough glove under the steel mesh gloves.. or the steel mesh will push into your skin.. and unless you have skin like a crocodile.. it won't feel too nice.. lol.

@OrlandoBonsaiTV Thanks a ´bunch

What can I say, I like what I do and like to tell everything about the art form, There is more to it than just the trees. I suggest you watch the 15% you like and find someone that is more your style. Sorry to dissapoint but I am just being myself and making my best efforts to teach bonsai. Thanks for the comment

Why not dremel man?

I think this juniper is about 25 years old. Still rather young

OOPS I sent the previous question while viewing the wrong video. My question was regarding winter fertilization. Sorry.

Mozzo!

Instead of first aid kit, why don't you reconsider putting a nice thick leather glove, that welders use, on your left hand, since in your right hand you hold your tool. Or a bit thinner but a lot stronger woodsman glove. I use latter. They have that anti piercing strength since, you know, lumber jacks wave around with axes and other very sharp things. It gives great protection even against power tools, as well. Checked that one by myself :)

I saw Jesus in the tree

Why do you get bogged down with off topic details so often? This video is suppoes to be about jins and sharis. If I want to know the name of tool manufacturers or who your friends are (and what they've done previously) I'll search for it. I haven't checked but I guess that about 85% of this video is "off topic".

Absolutely not.

It's just that if I'm burning to get started on a project (especially now that spring is here - I think?) it is irritating when you start a sentence, and I'm hanging on each word, but you break it off and start talking about something completely off topic. I can "watch the 15% I like" - but, honestly, serioulsy, if you want to be considered professional (and I'm sure that you are) then you're not doing yourself any favours by inserting "unprofessional" side-tracking. Only good intentions