Root-Over-Rock Chinese Elm Pruning - How much is too Much?
Finally, I get to work on my Legacy Monster Chinese Elm. In tomorrow's video I show you just how much foliage you can remove and WHY. If you want your tree to continue to thrive and develop for many years to come then this is the sort of pruning work you need to do. I also do a bit of pot and tool maintainance and give you lots of close-up video footage. I try to avoid talking too much...but alas :)
(Available from 30 Sept at 3pm)
Enjoy the show
Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
123 - 2
AUTO DUBBING IS **** for Bonsai videos. I just realised what is happening to mine and have finally turned the feature off. Thank you to a German viewer who bluntly pointed ths out to me :)
I will wait until the service gets better and apologise to any subscribers who have been relying on this to view my videos.
This saturday should be another interesting video when i finall do a big restyle on Joe Garland's gifted Pyracantha beast...
42 - 13
Creating a Cascade Bonsai is Easy - you just need a little time. On Tuesday's video I show you exactly how I have progressed my Chinese Elm & Cotoneaster cuttings into 4/5 year old cascade bonsai. Lot's of great pruning and wiring tips as well as trees at different stages of the Cascade process. If you have never tried then NOW is a great time to start :)
Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
47 - 6
Is it TOO late to prune your Dawn Redwood Bonsai?
So Frustrating...
Finally, I have had to commit to carrying out the essential summer pruning on my Dawn Redwood Bonsai. Unfortunately, this year, the trees did not show those 4 Essential Signs I needed to ensure new ramification for 2026. To learn more, make sure to watch my 'most detailed' tutorial on Dawn Redwood pruning, this Saturday at 3pm.
If you would like to ask 'ANY' questions about your bonsai then let me know NOW so I can make this a premiere and join you in the live chat :)
HappyBonsaiing
Xavier
56 - 19
ADAM@notionbonsai invades the Bonsai Retreat to learn from an Expert!!!
I have just dropped Adam of Notion Bonsai at East Midlands Airport for his return to Ireland. We shared two bonsai packed days (Sun and Rain) and covered a range of stuff including: Ginkgo Airlayers, Cuttings and Care AND a full Juniper make-over. Lots of Q&A for Adam and the usual chaos and light hearted fun you would expect from one of my visits.
I can promise you a range of stuff from myself and even more from Adam on his channel. Hopefully you will get as much fun from it as we both did. Enjoy a few preview pictures before Saturday's Visit video.
Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
112 - 28
New Trees purchased from Greenwood's Bonsai Bash (10/11 May)
Just a quick shout out for Greenwood's Bonsai Bash taking place this weekend. I visited yesterday for a couple of hours and was lucky enough to chat to a number of fantastic people. Thanks especially to John who helped with my understanding of a bonsai's 'shin' - more of that in a future episode. And also Kevin who convinced me to invest in a starter Crabapple project. I know I spoke to many others and can only apologise that I have already forgotten names. (I shall be visiting you Jennifer to see youtr cloud box...be warned!)
The 1st picture is a very challenging crab apple trunk, the 2nd is a lovely flowering crabapple bonsai and the 3rd is the remaining flower hanging on to convince me to spend my money :)
Enjoy the sun everyone,
God Bless
Xavier
74 - 13
Pretty in Pink - Fuji Cherry Bonsai in FULL Bloom!
Whilst preparing my latest video on 'THREE fun things to do with Fuji Cherry Bonsai' I realised I couldn't let you miss out on some of these great flowering blooms. Even my bumblebee was in 7th heaven!
Don't forget to subscribe and hit bell notifications to be alerted when this viddeo is ready to watch :)
Enjoy Spring...or Fall
Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
92 - 25
BIG APOLOGIES!
I had to take down and re-upload the latest video (Bonsai-Fest 2025) due to an unexpected but reasonable request. I will do my upmost to avoid upsetting or offending anybody in my videos and will try to remove specific content (where possible) if you explain the issue to me.
Thank you again for your patience
All the best
Xav
37 - 7
1 MILLION VIEWS!!! & Bonsai Projects Teasers...
Thank you all so much for taking the time and effort to listen to me ramble about my bonsai hobby. You have made it possible for me to start a new life after the death of my wife. NO amount of thanks can express my true gratitude.
Over the next couple of weeks you will get to see Jelle@GrowingBonsai visiting in a few of my projects so be sure not to skim or you may miss him :)
This year I am intending to slow down my video production to concentrate more on my bonsai...and self! I will upload every Saturday and 'sometimes' on a Tuesday. This does mean I have a lot more time to devote to longer term video projects (Timelapse) which I know we all like watching. These include: Yamadori Wisteria, Old Man Larch on Rock, More battles with the Silver Birch and much much more...
And finally a big thank you to all of those people who have been taking advantage of the FREE Bonsai Database/App developed by my daughter. I know it has some oddities about it BUT I am still using it without problem. If you have not tried this all you require is my email address and Microsoft Access 2016 onwards.
Happy Bonsaiing
God Bless
Xavier
79 - 42
Japanese Larch Bonsai Progression (2015 - 2025):
I recently did a BIG restyle on a 25-year-old Larch thanks to advice from Peter Chan. Tom@TOMSAI sent me a picture of how he imagines it in the future. Do you agree with him?
If you missed this FUN transformation watch: https://youtu.be/xxu8CkOD43w
I have included progression pictures that start from 2015 - which is 13 years after I first began this 'sapling to bonsai' project.
Winter is taking far too long :(
All the best
Xavier
43 - 14
Welcome to my bonsai filled backyard. My name is Xavier and I have been learning and collecting trees since 2002. My kids encouraged me to start this channel after the death of my wife, Zita. I am definitely not an expert but what I do know I hope to share with you. Most of my technical knowledge is based on information provided through watching Ryan Neil of Bonsai Mirai or Peter Chan of Heron's.
I love 'acting the clown' in front of the camera so beware of some of my quirky humour that pops up in my videos. This style may not appeal to everyone but life is far to difficult not to have a laugh once in a while!
If you are new to this hobby then I encourage you to have a look at my Bonsai Basics series in which I 'start again'...
God bless & happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
11 April 2017