Bonsaify Juniper eCourse Suggestions?

Wires_Guy_wires said:
No, I've used solar heat in summer and no heat in winter. But I'll give it a go. Weird thing is that everything but chinese junipers strike easily.
I'm even going as far as ziplock bags in the dark to see what comes out of it.
Thus far, a huge caterpillar that ate a bunch of foliage and some white fungus.

Which brings us back to timing and application; bottom heat, summer and winter? Only in winter? Day and night?
Click to expand...
I previously only did Kishu cuttings in October/Nov but Ed Clark told me to try it in June. He said keep them as hot and wet as you can until they root.
As for the heat mat - yeah 24/7 at about 75F - maybe hotter even will really drive root growth. In your location I'd try June, but if you have the stock to try it, now is not a bad time either. But I think me not having to deal with real winter weather is in that fall cutting formula...
 
Hey, I'm a beginner absolutely FLYING through your black pine course (lol). They are about 7 months old now. I prefer starting from scratch regardless of how far they get because it makes me equally as happy, there's less stress or pressure, and cheaper.

When might be a potential launch date for the course? It's funny early on in the BP course I asked if you were going to do a juniper one.

I have some of your shimpaku starters and have some cuttings taken off those. I'm about to pull the trigger on some of your kishu starters.

I think I am probably representative of your primary audience. I have watched all your videos. I think I have enough info to get my cuttings going next year based on that, but I would definitely get the course.

Now that I wasted a half our of your time:

Please compare the most commonly used junipers. "Do this to a shimpaku, but if you do it to a rocky mountain juniper it will implode."

I am so confused about this: Grow the trunk until it is as big as you want, then grow the branches. But like...might it not grow branches? Won't it get too weak if I cut off all the runners?

When I watch instructional videos on shari, why are the teachers always like "I have to be sure I'm not cutting into the live vein?" Isn't that just the not dead part? why is it not obvious? and finally, why would you cut into NOT the live vein? wtf is a live vein?

Timing of work, amount that is safe, possible, risky, or instant death. Definitely styling and asthetics.

I would say lean toward beginners, but intermediates would still be interested to see your specific formula.

But yeah, biggest question is when the estimated potential start date? This spring? A year?

Oh and thanks for all the free info on youtube. It is also a good business move because it built up my confidence to make purchases.

Edit: Just ordered my 6pack of Kishu and one of Miller Light. So I'm ready and waiting.
 
Eric Schrader said:
Working on this still. I took a little field trip that I decided to share part of on YouTube. Enjoy.
I'll be using this as part of the instructional sessions but with added discussions.

Click to expand...
Thanks for this truly inspirational video! This is like Yamadori heaven... More ideas for next spring!
 
Joe2758 said:
Hey, I'm a beginner absolutely FLYING through your black pine course (lol). They are about 7 months old now. I prefer starting from scratch regardless of how far they get because it makes me equally as happy, there's less stress or pressure, and cheaper.

When might be a potential launch date for the course? It's funny early on in the BP course I asked if you were going to do a juniper one.

I have some of your shimpaku starters and have some cuttings taken off those. I'm about to pull the trigger on some of your kishu starters.

I think I am probably representative of your primary audience. I have watched all your videos. I think I have enough info to get my cuttings going next year based on that, but I would definitely get the course.

Now that I wasted a half our of your time:

Please compare the most commonly used junipers. "Do this to a shimpaku, but if you do it to a rocky mountain juniper it will implode."

I am so confused about this: Grow the trunk until it is as big as you want, then grow the branches. But like...might it not grow branches? Won't it get too weak if I cut off all the runners?

When I watch instructional videos on shari, why are the teachers always like "I have to be sure I'm not cutting into the live vein?" Isn't that just the not dead part? why is it not obvious? and finally, why would you cut into NOT the live vein? wtf is a live vein?

Timing of work, amount that is safe, possible, risky, or instant death. Definitely styling and asthetics.

I would say lean toward beginners, but intermediates would still be interested to see your specific formula.

But yeah, biggest question is when the estimated potential start date? This spring? A year?

Oh and thanks for all the free info on youtube. It is also a good business move because it built up my confidence to make purchases.

Edit: Just ordered my 6pack of Kishu and one of Miller Light. So I'm ready and waiting.
Click to expand...
Joe - timing wise - I'm guessing Jan-February it will be done. Of course in the last month I've worked on 500 junipers and filmed 0 segments of the course. So maybe I'm being optimistic?
I'm also thinking that the course might focus more on the trunk and deadwood creation rather than on refinement - but I haven't decided for sure. There are plenty of "how to style a juniper" resources out there....what's missing is the "how to grow a good trunk" that will also be easy to style and better looking in the end.

It's interesting on the "instant death" part - it's hard to predict for other people while I can usually get it with near 100% certainty on my own plants. The work typically can be very heavy on Kishu/Shimpaku as long as the aftercare is good and the plant is healthy beforehand.
 
Hi Eric
With planning effective curriculum content the key is developing a framework that includes imparting the concepts as well as the methodology for successful application of the concepts. I believe it is important that the instructor emphasize comprehension of both concepts and methodology. From my own experience as a teacher and educator I would keep an eye on these four areas. They seem to be particularly important with respect to learning and teaching Bonsai.

1. Only work on healthy trees, followed by thorough explanation of how to determine the health of the tree.
It is one thing to understand the concept, it is another thing to apply it correctly. Clear examples of what a healthy tree looks like prior to work. How much foliage and branching is retained for health reasons at various stages of development and refinement.

2.Attention to detail- stress the importance of applying the correct methodology for better results. This necessarily involves including all the detail in the original instruction. Prioritizing the development objectives and refinement objectives.

3.For each concept ensure that the program includes what is done, when it is done and most importantly why it is done. Understanding the stage of development and thus the appropriate methods to apply.

4.Emphasis on " things take time" progression in appropriate time frames for the developmental or refinement technique. This aspect is very important.

As others have noted, I also understand the extent of preparation, proof reading and critique involved in creating this type of instructional material. Thank you for being involved in assisting the growth and understanding of Bonsai.
 
Thanks! There's still a gap in what I could find in my searches regarding branches, though. Some things, depending on what is true, could be like:

1."Don't knock off this branch or you will never have branches low enough."

2"Work on the trunk until you like it, then cut off all the fat branches and more workable ones will grow"

3. "bulk the trunk with one sacrifice branch and keep small branches like a pine."

A simple thing like that.

I don't mean for an answer now (unless someone has a resource), but just getting the branches started would be helpful to include. I see lots of refinement instructional videos, deadwood, but how to ensure there will be workable branches after trunk development confuses me. In other words, from what I can tell it seems like it would be easy to end up in a situation where one would need to graft branches, which of course would be silly if starting from scratch. Deciduous makes so much more sense to me in this regard.

P.s. Got my Kishus today. 3 days from order to receiving across the entire country. Amazing
 
Eric Schrader said:
Working on this still. I took a little field trip that I decided to share part of on YouTube. Enjoy.
I'll be using this as part of the instructional sessions but with added discussions.
Click to expand...

Nice hike! Lovely images of junipers in their natural habitat. Presented as mentioned would be a useful addition to the course, giving much needed ground truth.

cheers
DSD sends
 
1. If you were going to make this course yourself - where do you think you would have the most trouble explaining concepts to the students? A design concept. Students without training in intensive or other classes will have a hard time grasping design concepts. I would skip the propagation and go into year two with trunk bends, year 5 with pad and shari creation, etc...
2. Which do you think is a larger challenge:
  • Growing and knowing when and what to do (e.g. horticulture) - Have an E-sheet (excel or PDF) of spring, summer, fall, and winter accompanying the course. Also, help explain by years. An example, when do you transition from coco coir with perlite to akadama, pumice, and lava. When do you start refining the pads? When is the trunk large enough to do shari?
  • Understanding the aesthetic components of the final product and how they are created. This is the biggest challenge. Without physically touching and seeing in person, it will be difficult to teach the concept. Go at 10,000 ft. level the drill into the details.
3. From a growing perspective what is your biggest challenge with junipers? Field growing - keeping the branches from being too thick to bend. Growing in pots, finding the time to twist every branch. I would also point out your successes and failures in growing.
 
Happy to report that this course is now live! Thanks to you all for the suggestions and feedback.
eCourses page on my site: https://www.bonsaify.com/collections/ecourses
Juniper eCourse preview & ToC: https://bonsaifyacademy.thinkific.com/courses/mastering-shohin-juniper

The emphasis on this course is about 2/3 on growing and trunk development.

Section 1: The first section is about being successful in growing Kishu and Itoigawa in containers (or with escape rooting).
  • How junipers grow
  • Useful increments of growth
  • Wiring and twisting
  • Growing optimization and harnessing growth
  • Thinning and periodic wiring
Section 2: Emphasis on the shape of the trunk. A lot of us think of this as making a shari and that this is only done when you are in refinement.
  • Inspiration from Natural trees and from great bonsai - the "Why" of deadwood.
  • Examples of starting deadwood on different size trunks.
  • Widening shari and adding additional shari to continue increasing trunk character.
  • Removing lifelines to simplify a composition and add more deadwood.
  • Green wood reduction and fiber pulling - as applied to shohin and to enhance the trunk.
Section 3: Design, Cutback, Refinement and Maintenance
  • This is where most juniper resources start. Our emphasis is on recognizing when and why to start refinement.
  • Examples of how to refine a small crown while continuing trunk development simultaneously. (actually that's a part of the emphasis through the entire course!)
  • Thoughts on why refinement and maintenance as we normally think of it is actually limiting the quality of our trees.

As a thanks to the BNut community, here is a discount code if you want to purchase the course! 'BeANuttyGR0Wer' for 20% off any of our courses or course-related bundles.
Fan of the YouTube channel and want FREE access to the full course? First 10 people to send me a screenshot of a sasquatch in a Bonsaify YouTube video get it! Send screenshots to eric@bonsaify.com (Muwahahaha!!)
 
River's Edge said:
when it is done
Click to expand...
I'm a bit late to this thread Eric, but Franks suggestions all sound great. Haven't played any videos yet,
but my biggest peeve with YouTube videos is the lack of stating what time of year the person is performing
a particular task in a particular location. Some mention it, but the biggest part do not.
Aftercare: once a technique is completed, I sometimes give a day of rest before going right back into full Sun
giving only wind storm protection after repotting (2 stepping the new repots).
 
Eric Schrader said:
Hey everyone,

I want to get questions and feedback from folks during the main production process of my juniper eCourse. At the moment I've made only 4 videos out of something like 25-30 needed.
The course will start with propagation, then go through roughly 10-15 years of development including how to create a good trunk, positioning branches etc. The goal will be a twisty "yamadori style" juniper similar to ones we have all seen from Japanese shows.

So here are my questions:

1. If you were going to make this course yourself - where do you think you would have the most trouble explaining concepts to the students?
2. Which do you think is a larger challenge:
  • Growing and knowing when and what to do (e.g. horticulture)
  • Understanding the aesthetic components of the final product and how they are created
3. From a growing perspective what is your biggest challenge with junipers?

For reference, in my signature there is a link to the pine eCourse that I created (there are three free videos anyone can watch plus the structure is publicly visible.)
And attaching a photo of a nice twisty shohin juniper (also used in one of my YT videos.)

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Hi Eric,
Thanks for all the YT videos, and courses. I have all 3, and plenty of trees from Bonsaify. Your YT video with the beginner mistake in design should be shown to everyone who is going to design their first tree. I wish I would have found your videos sooner I feel I have learned more from you than watching over a year of Mirai live. There was so much filler talk, and watching/waiting until something helpful or pertinent was mentioned was annoying so I lost interest. BTW I own some very nice yamadori trees and I love them. However, there a different satisfaction in nurturing and developing young trees that keeps the horticulturist in me happy. I look forward to to creating some beautiful twisty junipers with your help.

1. If you were going to make this course yourself - where do you think you would have the most trouble explaining concepts to the students? Design
2. Which do you think is a larger challenge: Understanding the aesthetic components of the final product and how they are created
3. From a growing perspective what is your biggest challenge with junipers? I am in a dry climate and juniper grow very well in the high desert. I reluctantly ordered some of the kishu junipers from Bonsaify knowing I will likely be battling spider mites, and you did mention this in your e-course.
 
Eric Schrader said:
Happy to report that this course is now live! Thanks to you all for the suggestions and feedback.
eCourses page on my site: https://www.bonsaify.com/collections/ecourses
Juniper eCourse preview & ToC: https://bonsaifyacademy.thinkific.com/courses/mastering-shohin-juniper

The emphasis on this course is about 2/3 on growing and trunk development.

Section 1: The first section is about being successful in growing Kishu and Itoigawa in containers (or with escape rooting).
  • How junipers grow
  • Useful increments of growth
  • Wiring and twisting
  • Growing optimization and harnessing growth
  • Thinning and periodic wiring
Section 2: Emphasis on the shape of the trunk. A lot of us think of this as making a shari and that this is only done when you are in refinement.
  • Inspiration from Natural trees and from great bonsai - the "Why" of deadwood.
  • Examples of starting deadwood on different size trunks.
  • Widening shari and adding additional shari to continue increasing trunk character.
  • Removing lifelines to simplify a composition and add more deadwood.
  • Green wood reduction and fiber pulling - as applied to shohin and to enhance the trunk.
Section 3: Design, Cutback, Refinement and Maintenance
  • This is where most juniper resources start. Our emphasis is on recognizing when and why to start refinement.
  • Examples of how to refine a small crown while continuing trunk development simultaneously. (actually that's a part of the emphasis through the entire course!)
  • Thoughts on why refinement and maintenance as we normally think of it is actually limiting the quality of our trees.

As a thanks to the BNut community, here is a discount code if you want to purchase the course! 'BeANuttyGR0Wer' for 20% off any of our courses or course-related bundles.
Fan of the YouTube channel and want FREE access to the full course? First 10 people to send me a screenshot of a sasquatch in a Bonsaify YouTube video get it! Send screenshots to eric@bonsaify.com (Muwahahaha!!)
Click to expand...

Thanks @Eric Schrader !

Purchased the course a couple weeks ago and am slowly working through the first section as spring work list is taking a lot out of me. Got the course for 10% off and was fine with that.

Will have more to say about the course after I finish working through the curriculum.

Love to see more content for folks puzzled by juniper bonsai styling.

Cheers
DSD sends
 
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