Itoigawa Juniper Bonsai - Pruning and Shaping Ideas

Рет қаралды 16,936

Күн бұрын

In this Bonsai video I share with you some Pruning and Shaping Ideas on an Itoigawa Juniper Bonsai that I have been working on over the past two years!
When working with Juniper Bonsai, it's essential to have a clear goal for each specific tree. In this video, I explore various pruning techniques tailored to enhance the beauty and health of your Bonsai. I discuss methods such as removing problem branches, creating pads, and thinning foliage to promote inner growth and light penetration.
Throughout the video, I also delve into the tools required, the appropriate wire thickness for different branches, the extent of pruning, and the best times of the year to prune. I address challenges such as competing trunk lines and handlebar branches, providing effective pruning solutions for each scenario.
I also demonstrate how to wire and shape the tree while being mindful not to stress it too much. These techniques, though careful, can significantly improve the aesthetics and health of your Juniper Bonsai, taking it one step closer to becoming an exceptional tree!
My hope with this video is to provide you with valuable Bonsai information that you can use when pruning your own Juniper Bonsai! If you have any suggestions for how I can improve my technique or if there are alternative methods you would recommend, please share them with me in the comments below. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and it will help me continue to refine and enhance my Bonsai practices!
Notion Bonsai Socials:
📸 Instagram: / notionbonsai
📘 Facebook: / notionbonsai
🎵 TikTok: / notionbonsai
The music in my videos comes from Epidemic Sound. For a free trial or subscription please consider using this affiliate link:
share.epidemicsound.com/6empy3
For business inquiries, please refer to the email address available on my channel About page.
00:00 - Intro.
00:31 - About The Itoigawa Juniper Bonsai.
01:33 - The Bonsai Tools Used.
02:26 - Removing a Problem Branch.
04:14 - How To Prune Juniper Foliage (Foliage Thinning).
06:10 - When Not To Prune Junipers.
06:51 - Creating Pads & Design Options.
08:35 - How Much Should You Prune?
09:52 - When To Prune Juniper Bonsai.
10:21 - Branch Selection in Juniper Bonsai.
11:58 - Dealing With A Competing Trunkline.
14:23 - Dealing With Handlebar Branches.
16:51 - Removing A Major Branch.
17:58 - Wiring & Shaping.
22:08 - NPK Fertiliser Value (12:6:6).
22:58 - Watering / Beauty Shots.
24:10 - Outro.
#bonsai #bonsaitree #bonsaitrees #yamadori #gardening

Пікірлер: 83

@the3milestitcher 2 ай бұрын

Hi Adam, my name is Kate and I am a native of the Shetland Isles. I have decided this is the year for me to study the art of bonsai. I have subscribed to your channel because I find it very easy to follow your directions and instructions. It will probably be next year before any of my little trees will be ready to bonsai but until then I will be buying trees that I have learned are good for bonsai. So thank you SO much for your great videos and all love from Shetland to Ireland!!

@TheSunnyTrails 2 ай бұрын

My advice is not to look at them all day. Do the work and let it settle. Bonsai can quickly become over loved and die. Leave it and let it grow is the best advice I can give.

@xavery7842 2 ай бұрын

My advice is not to try and build your stock of material too quickly. When beginning, it's good to start with a modest amount and learn. We are all going to make mistakes and it's better to not make mistakes on the many. Starting out, it's good to be picky and even source from nature. I have loads of potential specimens on my own property. Good luck and I'm certain many would love to see your progress.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Hi Kate, I am glad you find my videos easy to follow 🙂Thank you very much for the kind words! What species have you got so far? 🙂Research is a really important part of Bonsai and it is great that you are putting the time in to learn about things first! From teaching workshops I find beginners struggle with wiring and sometimes ring the branch. My advice would be to practice wiring on some dead branches or even a chopstick to get your hands used to wiring consistently so that when you move onto a tree there is one less thing to worry about and it comes naturally 🙂

@jamestookmccoy Ай бұрын

I watch lots of videos on bonsai. This dude explains and shares his knowledge well.

@donnadornbusch6738 2 ай бұрын

Great presentation, Adam

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thank you very much Donna!

@oferbenmeir1386 23 күн бұрын

Thank you 🙏 i got good tips ❤ love how you explain the process ❤

@mindflushphoto6113 16 күн бұрын

your explanation is superb!

@raymondplodzien7459 2 ай бұрын

It looks awesome Adam!

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Raymond! Its still got a long way to go!

@dahlmasen3084 2 ай бұрын

Loving the weekly uploads👌🏻

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Dahlmasen! There will be lots more videos to come 🤗

@angieb6899 2 ай бұрын

Great beginning to a beautiful tree 👩🏻‍🌾🪴

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the kind words Angie! 🌳🤗

@neynahnehnah1485 2 ай бұрын

So nice and informative.❤

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it 🤗

@carolewald5075 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, Adam! We just purchased a pre-bonsai Shimpaku Juniper and you video couldn't have been more timely and informative.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for your support Carol! 🌲😀❤️ I hope you have great success with your tree!

@Akatsuki-En 2 ай бұрын

Lovely tree Adam was hoping for a spring or summer update on this tree glad to see it in good health

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

This is one of my favourite trees 🙂 Can be a bit uneasy making big decisions on a tree you love so much but had to be done to improve the future design 🤗Thanks!

@lisawagner6076 Ай бұрын

Beautiful!! I have never heard of this variety, but I hope it is available here in the states. It's just beautiful. I love the bright green delicate nature of the greens.

@adalidsdna 2 ай бұрын

Hey, that's looking good.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thank you! Cheers!

@alfredomarotta6604 2 ай бұрын

Hi Adam, thanks for another great video, very informative and interesting. Great looking bonsai. 👍👍

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Alfred!

@stefan00123 2 ай бұрын

Hi Adam, Just wanted to make you a compliment! I am following you now for the last 2 months and have so much learned to improve my ficus & junipers bonsai! I hope you will have a great weekend 💚 With love from the Netherlands

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Stefan 🙂

@oferbenmeir1386 23 күн бұрын

תודה!

@notionbonsai 23 күн бұрын

Hey! Thank you so much for your support!!

@maryweber4176 2 ай бұрын

I love that tree. It's NOT a problem tree.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Mary!

@xavery7842 2 ай бұрын

I enjoy that you don't move too fast in explaining things and give a good view of what you are doing. Also, many aren't very good at giving information, because they know what they are doing talk to people as if they know what are doing as well. I had to subscribe.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this! I like to explain so that people new to Bonsai can understand my thought processes when I am doing things. 🤗

@smallblog66 Ай бұрын

Du bist einfach der sympatischste und beste der jungen Bonsaigeneration, welchen ich hier gesehen habe. Bitte weiter so und liebe Grüße aus dem Schwarzwald.

@nymetsman321 2 ай бұрын

Brother Adam, I have watched so many of your videos. You have helped with my hobby oh so very much. Thank you for everything. But just curious, Is there any chance you could do a video with you & your fertilizing regime for a good amount of your trees? I’d greatly appreciate it because every time we see updates on your trees they are so much more lush & healthier than before. It’d be so awesome if you could do such a thing. Thanks again for all the help bruddah. Logan

@bambangsugiyinogembil2942 Ай бұрын

Saya suka cenel ini...salam dari bali indonesia

@sporklenz 2 ай бұрын

awesome video as always! i have been following the progress on this little tree and wondering how the itoigawa was progression and this was very timely... could you provide more details as to how to replant the cuttings? i have an itoigawa as well, but was unsuccessful at raising the cuttings and getting them to root despite a clean cut and rooting hormone - they ended up withering a few months after showing some slight promise. any tips to save cuttings for propagation would be great, thank you!

@SirJamez0 2 ай бұрын

Great video Adam, im shadowing you on your itoigawa juniper journey. I finally got one and have it potted and wired in a pond basket like yourself. Mine is a lot smaller though, I may have neglected fertalising during the spring period. Mine has a twin trunk, its difficult to find inspiration for twin trunks i think since they dont have the standard S shape.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Ah nice one! Twin trunks are interesting ones to work on! I may have to create a twin trunk Bonsai to work on for the channel then 🤗

@SirJamez0 Ай бұрын

@@notionbonsai Any advice on weed control? I bought my juniper from a Spanish seller and it seems to have come with a fine grasslike weed/moss that has even spread to a pot beside it. I posted it in r/Bonsai and someone recognised it, said its a bit of a plague and said they just pluck it out when it spreads too much. Im thinking that bare rooting and repotting may be the only answer to completley get rid of it out of the soil. I'm not sure if junipers tolerate that.

@dennisrobinson4588 2 ай бұрын

I find that the imperfections are what make this tree most attractive. I am new to this art and am learning as I go. I am working on an olive tree that I have had for 6 years now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

This is very true Dennis 🙂How thick is the trunk on your olive?

@dennisrobinson4588 2 ай бұрын

@@notionbonsai It’s about 3 inches

@dg-dm1rr 2 ай бұрын

Eggcellent

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks! 🥚

@amingms9396 2 ай бұрын

Nice, keren👍, salam🙏🇮🇩

@jamesharman7266 2 ай бұрын

Hi Adam. I don't have any plants at present. I am just learning and watching a lot of videos. I enjoy yours and have learned a great deal. As you were displaying the "pads" you used a green piece of plastic to show the potential pads better. I have noticed in some other videos they used a piece of white cardboard or white clothe instead. I don't know if you have tried that or not. Personally, I like the white better, but that's just me. Thanks so much for your videos. They are very encouraging and instructional. Blessings, Steve

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the feedback James and I wish you the best on your Bonsai journey! I will have to switch to white!

@jakesnelling8331 2 ай бұрын

Hi adam. Great video as always. I have a small juniper that has not put much growth on. I think the higher nitrogen is the way to go. As a side note, i didn't find the green perspex helped to outline the branches. I find that cream or light beige shows up better on camera. Bright white can also create a glare under certain lighting conditions. Keep up the great work 👍

@jakesnelling8331 2 ай бұрын

And where are you finding a 10 6 6 fertiliser? Lol.

@scheers100 2 ай бұрын

@@jakesnelling8331you can use a 3/1/2 npk and then use extra n in the form of blood/bone meal

@jakesnelling8331 2 ай бұрын

@@scheers100 the bone meal I have is low in nitrogen. I currently use naruko 5-5-5 for most of my trees with good results. Just need a slight boost for my juniper. May have to shop around and see what I can find.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for the advice! The fertiliser is actually 12:6:6! It is called Nurseryace. It is used a lot by professional growers in Japan, however if you can not get this Biogold is another good one! This combined with seaweed fertiliser 1x a week and fish emulsion 1x the next week alternating and they will be well on their way!

@jakesnelling8331 2 ай бұрын

@notionbonsai Thanks for the reply, I will have a search later for that fertiliser. I had seen 10-6-6 mentioned on bonsai empire but never found it, that is why I asked 🤣. I will try your advice on my juniper and see what happens 👍 thank you.

@TheBonsaiGarden 2 ай бұрын

Any significant cuttings can be rooted in soil. In my experience Chinese juniper roots easily from cuttings but grows very slowly.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for this advice Jason! 🌱🤗

@farahfahim9233 2 ай бұрын

Hi, thank you for all these information. I do have a 5 years old Juniper bonsai, but I’m not sure where should I keep it? Inside or outside?

@TIEpilot918 Ай бұрын

Outside! :)

@JasonLorette 2 ай бұрын

I'm curious, how old would this tree be roughly? I'm glad you mentioned the "shoot" I was wondering why you left that.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

My guess would be maybe 7 or 8 years? It depends on where it was grown before I got it 🙂

@Bonsaicrazy 2 ай бұрын

Sorry I missed it Adam Got busy 👊👊 watch in a bit 👊🤮

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Andy! No worries man!

@Akatsuki-En 2 ай бұрын

Do you mind me asking what part of Ireland you are from? I can’t recall if you ever mentioned it before

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Hey! I am from Derry 🤗🤗

@ericcastandet716 2 ай бұрын

👍👍🤩🤩🙏🙏

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

🌳🙂♥

@brucedeacon28 2 ай бұрын

👍👌🙂

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

🤗🌱🌳

@Rojin_Bonsai 2 ай бұрын

Fantastic video. Full of great tips 👌 you really covered alot of ground!

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Thanks very much Callan! 🤗🤗🌳🌳

@itisjustmedude 2 ай бұрын

Embrace the wabi sabi of the tree.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Very good advice!

@TheKippBot 2 ай бұрын

Hey Adam. When you repot a plant (juniper, spruce, etc) into your bonsai mix, how often do you find you have to water it? I just repotted a dwarf Alberta spruce in your soil mix with your video’s help. Two days later it already feels like it could potentially use some water. I have sphagnum moss on the top of the soil.

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Hey! This is a great question! With my soil mix I have to water every day. If it is a hot day I sometimes water two or three times. This is one of the drawbacks of this aerated freely draining soil but on the plus side you will have much faster growth on the tree. Because it rains a lot where I am this mix is perfect for me. If you do not have time to water every day then consider adding some pine bark compost or just regular compost for water retention. I hope this helps!

@TheKippBot 2 ай бұрын

@@notionbonsai that was extremely helpful Adam - thank you for the thorough explanation!

@Mad-i134 2 ай бұрын

Mine dried up ☹️

@notionbonsai 2 ай бұрын

Aw noo sorry to hear this! How often did you water it?

@iamshredder3587 Ай бұрын

Good one bro. Solid fundamentals. Though personally I'd have to say its way too young and thin still to be going into the refinement stage work like that and I'd have to put it in the ground or slip-pot it and let it grow out and elongate heavily for least another 5-10 years or so. As itll never get any thicker or better scaled like that. But i guess if youre a beginner and just want to get something into a pot to show people and get abit of practice or whatever, and you can't afford or access more advanced material then why not? I mean its your tree so.. :)

@notionbonsai Ай бұрын

Thanks! I totally know what you mean. In the future I may up pot this tree, though I do have lots of other itoigawa growing on in bigger pots now. I think I will be happy to just keep this one as a little shohin. I may work on thickening the base a little more to get a slight bit of taper. Thanks for the advice! 😄