5 useful tips for bonsai

In this video I explain my five top tips for anyone beginning their bonsai journey including some of the common mistakes made and what not to do.

[mlangfordoutdoor]

Just saw you at Bonsai by the sea he is one of my favorites and your channel is on my list as well

[chrisswales]

Great tips Tony. Another tip for bonsai pots is to scour the charity shops for suitable looking pots that can be made into bonsai pots by drilling a whole or two in the bottom and sticking some self adhesive legs on them. I’ve picked up lots for only a couple of quid or less each.

[thenaturecreater]

They must seen me comming 🤣🤣 lol! We got the same type of humour 🤣🤣 get a couple of trees 🤣🤣 sitting in his selfmade forest 🤣 thanks again Tony! You are a lovely man👍

[aronwalsh]

Love the video Tony even if it’s stuff you already know, you have a gift 👍

[wpgamingtv]

love your down to earth approach, I'm near Oldham so nice to see someone who's in my area. keep up the good work mat.

[XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Great stuff and all good. The two biggest tips you gave I wish had learnt early are: Bend lower down and rotate as you bend the wire & chop those main trunks lower!!! Cheers Tony :)

[tinjoesstation]

Great video Tony! Very awesome points for all beginners to learn.

[abarbadobonsai]

tks Tony, you're my favorite bonsai youtuber right now. It seems like a friends talk.

[johnrb]

Thats a collection. You have to take us through it Tony.

[rcsart]

Great tips Tony! Re local nurseries, I visit a small independent and have bought a few cheapies, I have now built up a bit of a relationship with him and he gave me three mishapen old Ilex crenata that no one wanted, just to get rid of them. So it pays to go frequently, even if you don't always buy.

[Tybold]

Excellent video and hands on tips for beginners and a lovely lack of elitism. Add to that your natural positive energy and voila!
Cutting too high is something I think all of us have done and is a valuable reminder, cheers!😄

[kreszenziajusupoglu]

I also use all kinds of pots from all sorts of other stuff. Fruitbox, washing powder box ect .... for training pot its perfect

[bobcatbonsai]

These are great tips, I can't wait for your video on making your own soil.

[tasanastasi]

Thank you Tony, some good sound advice, i have recently got into this infectious hobby.... and your tipps are gold dust .. thank you

[CC-eqrd]

Thanks for your videos, Tony. Always helpful and well edited. You’re a top bloke!

[martinsmith]

Another great informative video from a true northern lad that looks after the pennies while looking for a bargain that other people would reject. With regard to pots I have had some good results using what are known as (it says on the label) root nurse fabric pots. They promote great root growth and they, obviously, don't get brittle and crack. They also come in a good range of sizes. I just bought a 72L one for my, yet to be wired and trained, Juniper monster. Oh and they have proper handles and are cheap. Another pot that I found works well is a "Bonsai Development pot" which is a 3.3Ltr injection moulded pot that guides and air prunes the roots (Don't mean to advertise) but the only place I've found them is on Beechfield Bonsai for 1 pound 35.
Thanks for involving us in your Bonsai Journey Tony. Your videos always, without fail, make me smile and chuckle and you show how you can begin to get into the art without spending a fortune which pleases my frugal Northern heart no end.
Look forward to updates, new plants and unedited disasters.
Cheers.

[carynludwig]

I use a lot of pond baskets that I buy in bulk pretty cheap from a pet supply company. Also get assorted colanders at the dollar store (here in the States). I have saved a lot of sickly plants that I get in the clearance section of the nurseries. (75% off). They keep the roots from circling the pot, and the trees really thrive. I have done emergency repots into them in the dead of summer when I had deer in my yard uprooting some of my trees, and they all survived, even though they had been laying out in the air frying in the heat. Really recommend having some on hand for the lost causes……they usually pull through.

[TheBonsaiGarden]

I find my more interesting trees are the ones where I was more drastic and dramatic with the work I did to them. Chopping a 7ft tree down to 8 inches, or putting crazy bends into a picea.

Re the bonsai pots - starting and training trees in a bowl or regular plant pot or washing up bowl is great while developing. You will, however, want to move them into display pots in the future to show them off to their best. All those trees - it’s gonna cost you a fortune Tony 😊

[uppergorple]

Nice one Tony. Cat litter trays are a bit shallower.

[ninamason]

Great video again Tony. Great tips thanks