Thickening the Trunk of your Bonsai

Тәжірибелік нұсқаулар және стиль

Walter Pall explains how you can grow a thicker Bonsai trunk - by letting the tree grow strongly, or by growing a sacrifice branch.
Bonsai Empire celebrated its 20th anniversary in December 2020, and to celebrate we asked our followers to submit questions - these were answered by a team of international Bonsai Experts. We like to thank al experts for answering the questions and of course we also thank our followers! All topics are also discussed in further detail on our website:
www.bonsaiempire.com
The website of the expert: walter-pall.de/
Ever since we started Bonsai Empire 20 years ago, it has been our goal to serve as an educational platform and to share the fascinating world of Bonsai with you. All information on our website is freely accessible. And we also sell online courses, taught by world renowned Bonsai teachers. For free lectures and more information, please go to:
www.bonsaiempire.com/courses

Пікірлер: 154

  • @donnanelson9181
    @donnanelson91817 ай бұрын

    Finally! Someone who explained this in totality in a way that makes sense to me. I’ve been searching videos for weeks and weeks trying to find out exactly what needs to be done and how to do it and when to do it. Thank you so much. You have helped me tremendously in my bonsai journey.

  • @bonsaiempire

    @bonsaiempire

    7 ай бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @lukzfresh4708
    @lukzfresh4708 Жыл бұрын

    This was really helpful. It’s just hard to believe getting something so beautiful takes 20% of my life span 😢😢😢.

  • @cjc2611

    @cjc2611

    Ай бұрын

    That's why it's important to start with many many many trees early on.

  • @thepaperstaggering
    @thepaperstaggering3 жыл бұрын

    “It has about ten years to go, and it will be ... pretty good.” I love this stuff. Bonsai is like, “I can’t wait to be a grown up”. Seems like it was just yesterday.

  • @5877user

    @5877user

    Ай бұрын

    But do I have 10 more years?😊

  • @BostonBonsaiIdiot
    @BostonBonsaiIdiot3 жыл бұрын

    Always fun to hear from Pall. Also fun to hear him imply that top notch trees “still have a ways to go.” If that tree has a ways to go, my trees have light years to go.

  • @EMATREMA
    @EMATREMA3 жыл бұрын

    I watched many many bonsai videos, Walter Pall is the best because he can make it so so simple! Bonsai is an hobby to enjoy not a problem, his simple approach makes this hobby much more enjoyable and trouble free. I feel most people tend to complicate things way too much, he makes it simple and he has amazing results. Learned so much from him from horticultural points to bonsai critiques. Thank you Walter.

  • @vossome1
    @vossome13 жыл бұрын

    This is wonderful and his greenhouse looks like Lothlorien in miniature.

  • @youareanincompetentmoron

    @youareanincompetentmoron

    3 жыл бұрын

    Oh I see....You are a man of culture as well : )

  • @240Sil
    @240Sil3 жыл бұрын

    Out of all the bad internet data on bonsai , this guy actually simplifies this concept. Thankyou , more from him please!

  • @Rene_Voortwist
    @Rene_Voortwist3 жыл бұрын

    This is good, sound advice from someone who knows what he is talking about. Great video!

  • @smack09

    @smack09

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah boii, Walter Pall!!!

  • @renanmoreira8974

    @renanmoreira8974

    2 жыл бұрын

    Friend, the beggining of july in Europe is summer or spring?

  • @Rene_Voortwist

    @Rene_Voortwist

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@renanmoreira8974 That would be summer.

  • @renanmoreira8974

    @renanmoreira8974

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Rene_Voortwist Thanks!

  • @OddBonsai
    @OddBonsai3 жыл бұрын

    Another great post from a nice set of anniversary videos. Walter Pall is another one of my first Bonsai heroes.

  • @joelshack85
    @joelshack853 жыл бұрын

    3:41…….”you have to sacrifice momentary beauty for future quality”…….one of many notes I kept but this one sticks out the most. Thanks for the advice and hello from North Carolina USA

  • @OutsidethePot
    @OutsidethePot8 ай бұрын

    Interesting. You see for those of us that are in our 60s and would like to see a beautiful tree nurtured by our hands may not have 20 years. Personally I’ve been using Yamadori to do this.

  • @Tomrainsallnight
    @Tomrainsallnight10 ай бұрын

    Well I'm 72 and I love bonsai. When I was a child my father said you never finish what you start. Boy was right!

  • @miketabback2635
    @miketabback26353 жыл бұрын

    Your explanation was clear and understandable. I will catch up with your old videos and look forward to the new ones. Thanks so much, Mike from NJ USA

  • @hogdog567
    @hogdog5673 жыл бұрын

    I’m not a fan of Walter’s pruning techniques but I have the utmost respect for his pragmatic approach and search for progression in the art. Thank you Walter.

  • @BostonBonsaiIdiot

    @BostonBonsaiIdiot

    3 жыл бұрын

    Are you referring to his hedge pruning?

  • @hogdog567

    @hogdog567

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BostonBonsaiIdiot Yes, I feel that it’s understandable if if you have hundreds of trees like Walter but totally unnecessary for the vast majority of people.

  • @BostonBonsaiIdiot

    @BostonBonsaiIdiot

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@hogdog567 right, I tend to agree. Those of us with fewer trees can afford to micromanage and make more specificity branching decisions throughout the year. That said, I think the principle and timing remains true: let grow for a part of the year, and then cut back...crudely or not!

  • @jiggermast
    @jiggermast2 жыл бұрын

    A lovely calm & easy to listen to voice sir,, most relaxing & fitting for such a video & hobby. I suppose like everything else, there are a dozen right ways to do anything & all slightly different in some ways. I find listening to ANY advice from experts is always more than worth it, especially such a knowledgeable gentleman like this, one look at his work in the back ground speaks volumes.

  • @yusefsvacina9389
    @yusefsvacina93892 жыл бұрын

    So much exceptional and useful knowledge delivered in just seven minutes. Thanks Walter.

  • @MrChausner
    @MrChausner3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome lesson, I did not think out letting a single back branch grow several feet to thicken the trunk. USA Michigan

  • @NyaanVegan
    @NyaanVegan3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for reminding us to be patient and letting our bonsais go through an ugly growing up phase (and not prune them for temporary beauty) before we can get a nice trunk! To also echo what others have said in the comments, that tree is beautiful ^^

  • @renanmoreira8974

    @renanmoreira8974

    2 жыл бұрын

    Hi, friend. I'm from Brazil and didnt understand when he said to cut back the trunks. Does he meant cutting or pinching? Thank you!

  • @denvernow7294

    @denvernow7294

    2 жыл бұрын

    Cut means cut. Pinch means pinch. 👍

  • @geoffreydowen5793
    @geoffreydowen5793 Жыл бұрын

    Dear Walter my first viewing of o e of your posts and I found it easy to follow clear to understand which perfectly promotes your knowledge. Thank you from England in 2022 I'll use this concept on my yes and maples. God bless and stay safe.

  • @BackSeatHump
    @BackSeatHump3 жыл бұрын

    An extremely useful video, Walter.

  • @greeneboi123
    @greeneboi1233 жыл бұрын

    Great explanation to thickening the trunks and great video thank you for sharing 😀

  • @billyckjelson
    @billyckjelson3 жыл бұрын

    Great video! Straightforward and to the point. I like bonsai videos that offer practical knowledge about how to develop trees over time. Because they do take time. So many videos show trees that are basically at finished stages, and that’s just not as helpful. So great job there. I’d also like to add another well known tip about thickening trunks. You can also keep a very low placed branch on the trunk that you let grow out and cut back once or twice a year as well. This branch is sacrificial so it has nothing to do with the trees composition other than thickening the truck. This method works amazingly fast. He does dismiss field growing to thicken trunks. But if you have the space there’s no faster way, and there are so many methods that you can use to make it easier to dig them up. What takes 15 yrs on a pot takes maybe 5-7 years in the ground dependent on the species an conditions of course.

  • @meare5592

    @meare5592

    Жыл бұрын

    Yes, field grown trees are the fastest to grow trunks.

  • @wartbiter
    @wartbiter3 жыл бұрын

    Walter is the Dude.

  • @Koveras117
    @Koveras1173 жыл бұрын

    Good advices with an exquisite tone.

  • @Lilliancooks
    @Lilliancooks Жыл бұрын

    I wish I would have started my bonsai journey 30 years ago instead of at age 62😞

  • @ramontorres4850

    @ramontorres4850

    9 ай бұрын

    😢

  • @marcus7836
    @marcus78363 жыл бұрын

    Love this kind of content. Thank you!

  • @mariapaulacarvalho4180
    @mariapaulacarvalho418010 ай бұрын

    Thank you SO much 🙏 Very clarifying video, my compliments.

  • @bonsaiempire

    @bonsaiempire

    10 ай бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @chrisrolfe4107
    @chrisrolfe41073 жыл бұрын

    Sacrifice momentary beauty for future quality.....never a truer word spoken.

  • @chamindakumanayake1719
    @chamindakumanayake17193 жыл бұрын

    Wow ! scientific explanation. Thank you

  • @davidjohnson7508
    @davidjohnson75083 жыл бұрын

    Valuable video for new people and veterans.

  • @frankshewmake9753
    @frankshewmake97533 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful advice. . . thank you.

  • @alphamusic8797
    @alphamusic87972 жыл бұрын

    Oh my word this man has quite the collection fantastic

  • @simonep6709
    @simonep6709 Жыл бұрын

    This video was more helpful than ANY of the others I’ve seen. Thank you

  • @bonsaiempire

    @bonsaiempire

    Жыл бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @javierricaud9182
    @javierricaud91823 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, your advice is very specific

  • @The_Dood
    @The_Dood Жыл бұрын

    Great explanantion of thickening!

  • @MultiZNB
    @MultiZNB3 жыл бұрын

    another great movie you helped me a lot, best regards.Merry christmas and chappy new year

  • @edgartavoraneto3848
    @edgartavoraneto38483 жыл бұрын

    Concise e very instructive, thank you!

  • @Swamiraj12
    @Swamiraj123 жыл бұрын

    Very well explained, great specimen 🙏

  • @karamelkezit9125
    @karamelkezit91253 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for the great content, i loved your video

  • @lynnoble8229
    @lynnoble82298 ай бұрын

    So helpful…thank you 😅

  • @bonsaiempire

    @bonsaiempire

    8 ай бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • 2 жыл бұрын

    Very nice explanation, thanks.

  • @BONSAIenCORTO
    @BONSAIenCORTO3 жыл бұрын

    Great tips. Thank you.

  • @Dan-in-the-Wild
    @Dan-in-the-Wild3 жыл бұрын

    Fantastic advice you don't find in the books. Took me nearly 10 years practicing bonsai to hear anybody talking about these things. An "Ah ha" moment for sure

  • @quangvietphi9483
    @quangvietphi94832 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for sharing!

  • @MasterWingman
    @MasterWingman2 жыл бұрын

    OMG look at all those bonsai trees.

  • @baffingirl4648
    @baffingirl46482 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful! He reminds me of Christopher Plummer as he speaks!

  • @drosenstroem
    @drosenstroem2 жыл бұрын

    Looks world class to me

  • @aripereira6716
    @aripereira6716 Жыл бұрын

    Show Mister Pall

  • @pusarameshkumar9798
    @pusarameshkumar97982 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video, sir

  • @gf2390
    @gf23903 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video thanks

  • @MrYetiman82
    @MrYetiman822 ай бұрын

    Very helpful, thank you!

  • @bonsaiempire

    @bonsaiempire

    2 ай бұрын

    Glad it was helpful!

  • @Henryk-lx7mx
    @Henryk-lx7mx3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video

  • @lennyvazques206
    @lennyvazques2063 жыл бұрын

    Lovely person. Thanks for your video.

  • @wadmadhushan4434
    @wadmadhushan44343 жыл бұрын

    Very beautiful bonsai

  • @i6oVices
    @i6oVices Жыл бұрын

    Thanks

  • @bobbymalta73
    @bobbymalta732 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for sharing..

  • @JonSteitzer
    @JonSteitzer3 жыл бұрын

    Wonderful simple direct video with great practical advice.

  • @aditeka1173
    @aditeka11733 жыл бұрын

    Very informatif, thanks so much

  • @hasansas9428
    @hasansas94283 жыл бұрын

    Amazing from Indonesia

  • @joeychan1717
    @joeychan1717 Жыл бұрын

    Very helpful, thankyou : )

  • @michaellohn4262
    @michaellohn42623 жыл бұрын

    The wonder of photosynthesis 👍👌

  • @kalandrakasartbonsai5400
    @kalandrakasartbonsai54003 жыл бұрын

    Great idea sir... Watching from philippines.. doing same content..

  • @yaneryperez5995
    @yaneryperez59953 жыл бұрын

    Great video, thank you! Wondering if we can thicken the trunk in a shallow or small pot? I’ve read mixed things online says to get a bigger pot. I currently have a dessert rose in a tight pot with her ball root above the soil but want it to grow thicker/bigger? And I’m also growing Moringa trees (tree of life) from seeds, they are starting to sprout and just want to make sure I’m using the right pot to encourage the thickening of the trunk. Do appreciate your advice and video! Hope someone can help with my question! ❤️🏠🙏

  • @TreeVibes
    @TreeVibes3 жыл бұрын

    Love your greenhouse 🙂😁 want to live in it

  • @paulmorris6177
    @paulmorris61773 жыл бұрын

    Great video... Bigger canopy = thicker truck

  • @lXlElevatorlXl

    @lXlElevatorlXl

    3 жыл бұрын

    +longer canopy

  • @paulmorris6177

    @paulmorris6177

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@lXlElevatorlXl...my canopies are not LONG, they’re LARGE.

  • @lXlElevatorlXl

    @lXlElevatorlXl

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@paulmorris6177 LONG Duration of NOT Cutting

  • @paulmorris6177

    @paulmorris6177

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@lXlElevatorlXl...agreed. Do not cut the canopy for a LONG time and it will give you a LARGER, THICKER trunk.

  • @lamvuondep
    @lamvuondep3 жыл бұрын

    Love bosai

  • @dalifer3000
    @dalifer30002 жыл бұрын

    wow! great explanation. Im already trimming my 1 year old tree thinking that it already a bonsai, haha

  • @terryc8674
    @terryc8674 Жыл бұрын

    How wet / damp do you keep trees that are stored over winter ?

  • @dwibonsai8318
    @dwibonsai83183 жыл бұрын

    Wow its cool....

  • @XxPetitNuagexX
    @XxPetitNuagexX2 жыл бұрын

    Vielen Dank, dass du dein Wissen mit uns teilst. Ich fand gerade dein video hier. Ich würde gerne aus einem Magnolienast einen Bonsai ziehen. Hast du mit dieser Sorte schon Erfahrungen gesammelt? Die Äste scheinen mir sehr porös und eher schwierig mit draht zu formen. Hast du vielleicht ein paar tipps für mich? Liebe Grüße, Lisa

  • @uprightape100
    @uprightape1003 жыл бұрын

    Letting the wind blow trees around thickens them up nicely......then again I live in Arizona and only native desert species survive the heat and shockingly sudden wind storms. Got some pretty nice specimens though.

  • @BackSeatHump

    @BackSeatHump

    3 жыл бұрын

    That does not thicken the trunk.

  • @jimjam6598

    @jimjam6598

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BackSeatHump it creates more roots to stabilise the tree, which will result in a larger nebari and thicker tachiagari

  • @BackSeatHump

    @BackSeatHump

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jimjam6598 The title and subject of this video is "Thickening the TRUNK of your Bonsai".

  • @jimjam6598

    @jimjam6598

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BackSeatHump the tachiagari is a part of the trunk

  • @jimjam6598

    @jimjam6598

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@BackSeatHump plus more roots produced due to wind will help towards the thickening of the trunk 😊

  • @abrahamlincoln8913
    @abrahamlincoln89133 жыл бұрын

    How many times in one season would a person cut back? He makes it sounds like a couple times. Or cut back once every season ?

  • @michaelraffa8682
    @michaelraffa86823 жыл бұрын

    What should the PH be on a bonsai tree are the PPM

  • @Nick1814
    @Nick18142 жыл бұрын

    When he says to let it grow and then cut back, how far back are you supposed to go?

  • @barndad2220
    @barndad22203 жыл бұрын

    I’ve just started in bonsai this past spring having acquired some nursery stock. I currently have everything sitting in a cold frame which I built this fall. My question is do I water during the winter dormancy? Everything went into dormancy having received a good drink of water. Do I resume watering in the early spring when things are beginning to wake up? Any tips you can provide would be greatly appreciated. I reside in Indianapolis, Indiana.

  • @danieldalton8125

    @danieldalton8125

    3 жыл бұрын

    Your trees need very little water during dormancy since they have no leaves for transpiration, saying that never let them dry out if they are covered and won't receive rain.

  • @thepaperstaggering

    @thepaperstaggering

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@danieldalton8125 perfect instruction. For conifers, however, transpiration still occurs throughout winter so just don’t let the soil dry out.

  • @Dave_en

    @Dave_en

    2 жыл бұрын

    During dormancy period give very less water such that the soil doesn't dry out completely killing the roots of the plant. If you are watering twice a week in growing season, do it once a week or 10 days just to maintain moisture in the soil. No or very little fertilizer to be used during that phase. During growing season you can mix the fertilizer in small amounts in water and feed the plants whenever needed.

  • @amapolarestrepo809
    @amapolarestrepo8092 жыл бұрын

    What kinda tree is that?

  • @54114142
    @54114142 Жыл бұрын

    So many people don't understand that trees grow literally out of air, by taking the carbon from CO2 and releasing oxygen. The soil and fertilizer are just addition to that. That's BTW also the reason why burning wood is CO2 neutral because you are just releasing the CO2 again that was used to create the tree in the first place.

  • @nurultakengon7051
    @nurultakengon7051 Жыл бұрын

    👍👍👍

  • @shostime3164
    @shostime31643 жыл бұрын

    Can you also combine sacrifice branches with this technique?

  • @WalterPall

    @WalterPall

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sure, this is a good idea. Go ahead.

  • @shostime3164

    @shostime3164

    3 жыл бұрын

    Omg i didn’t think you would personally answer my question I love you so much haha P.S. ich finde es richtig cool dass auch Deutschland einen großartigen Bonsai-Vertreter hat. Danke

  • @cloudchaser5535
    @cloudchaser55353 жыл бұрын

    His video camera is very good qaulity

  • @luckybarrel7829
    @luckybarrel78293 жыл бұрын

    You can also rub the bark with sandpaper. Compensatory growth will then make it thicc.

  • @Dave_en

    @Dave_en

    2 жыл бұрын

    Does it work that way?

  • @luckybarrel7829

    @luckybarrel7829

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dave_en It's worked with my Ficus Audrey

  • @Dave_en

    @Dave_en

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@luckybarrel7829 I have ficus banyan. I don't know whether it will work on this. The plant is just a year old. I'm thinking to let it grow, then try all methods.

  • @luckybarrel7829

    @luckybarrel7829

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@Dave_en It works even better on younger plants since they can bruise more easily. If you have a test plant or take a cutting off the current plant and prop it you'll get a test plant to try the technique out and see if it works for you.

  • @Dave_en

    @Dave_en

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@luckybarrel7829 I have used dishwasher liquid and an old toothbrush on my other plant (ficus religosa, Peepal) to clean the surface. The thin bark comes off revealing the clean surface. After few days new bark grows again. Another advantage is that new shoots start coming from the exposed area if regularly sprayed with cold water. Unfortunately I lost that bonsai last winter.

  • @mahmoudbamarni3803
    @mahmoudbamarni38033 жыл бұрын

    can I use compost and gravel as bonsai soil

  • @WalterPall

    @WalterPall

    3 жыл бұрын

    no

  • @mahmoudbamarni3803

    @mahmoudbamarni3803

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@WalterPall why?please. can l make bonsai soil at home

  • @danieldalton8125

    @danieldalton8125

    3 жыл бұрын

    Use a mix of substrates like akadama, pumice, lava and pine bark for good drainage. But at the end of the day you can grow a tree in mud if you have nothing else.

  • @thepaperstaggering

    @thepaperstaggering

    3 жыл бұрын

    A soil that does not drain well is not good for bonsai. Compost holds LOTS of water. Not much room for air in waterlogged soil. Also, roots will not be as fine in such heavy soil as compost. Gravel alone would be better.

  • @mahmoudbamarni3803

    @mahmoudbamarni3803

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@danieldalton8125 thanks for this information ⚘⚘⚘

  • @h3ttam570
    @h3ttam5703 жыл бұрын

    It takes 10 years before he talk on how it has to be done

  • @german3937
    @german39373 жыл бұрын

    Hello! i think that the technique that Paul has mentioned, should be done in large containers, not in bonsai pots, because the tree will never thickening the trunk in other way. Any body agree with me?

  • @daltonlucas5529

    @daltonlucas5529

    3 жыл бұрын

    It will still thicken, but much, much slower.

  • @andreasweber1533

    @andreasweber1533

    3 жыл бұрын

    Well, the root system obviously needs to meet the demands the foliage makes on water supply.

  • @andersnrregren9087
    @andersnrregren90873 жыл бұрын

    I keep my trees pruned all The time and just give it time cus you Will never in your lifetime get The big cut sites to fully heal

  • @raikj1078
    @raikj10783 жыл бұрын

    If I eat more i get more Thiccer hehe

  • @simpleking100
    @simpleking1003 жыл бұрын

    lol needels or leaves, needels are leaves.

  • @iamaduckquack

    @iamaduckquack

    3 жыл бұрын

    There is a reason they're called pine NEEDLES ;)

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