one_bonsai
Shohin
- Messages
- 332
- Reaction score
- 215
That guy talks too much and complicates everything
Thoughts on Peter Chan? (Herons Bonsai)
- Thread starter Blimpsandmtn
- Start date
That guy talks too much and complicates everything
rich815
Yamadori
Peter is just alright with me, Peter is just alright, oh yeah
Peter is just alright with me, Peter is just alright
Peter is just alright with me, Peter is just alright
MrWunderful
Omono
Ive seen trees comeback without sphagnum, and watched trees that have moss as a soil component rot and die.
I am not saying it doesnt work, just that I have personally seen the opposite.
MrWunderful
Omono
Then dont watch
one_bonsai
Shohin
- Messages
- 332
- Reaction score
- 215
May you find peace, happiness and be free from suffering
MrWunderful
Omono
Thanks Im fine and happy, I am not insulting respected successful people on the internet By saying they “talk too much” (when their job is to lecture?).
rollwithak
Chumono
For sure, I also like that when talking about what he does, that he understands it’s not the only way to do something. Peter has a very gentle and honest way about what he does and how he shares. His passion and love for it comes through for sure.
Cheers!
bluecat
Seedling
- Messages
- 23
- Reaction score
- 35
This is likely due to a difference in climate/aftercare. The UK is quite cool and wet so the moss trick works well, his team is also probably hot on watering appropriately. Translating it to another climate will always mean a slightly different approach.
I think this is a hugely important point that Peter seems to overlook alot, despite the fact that he knows he has a global audience from his comments and clients.
Paulpash
Masterpiece
I've seen the pots at his nursery first hand - the washed out pots go under the bench for a top up later. There's also casualties from washouts next to them occasionally. False economy indeed - not just because of the substrate being washed out as when I saw it my confidence that the trees were well cared for & healthy was compromised. I left without buying anything. Greenwood bonsai is far better - cheaper, trees in better health & substrate and an owner who isn't rude to customers.
When I started bonsai I searched the term "bonsai" on youtube which led me to videos from Peter Chan and Nigel. These videos helped me go down the rabbit hole and I fell in love with the art of bonsai. So Peter Chan and Nigel were instrumental in my bonsai journey. But as I learned more by doing workshops with bonsai professionals and watched videos by Ryan Neil, Bjorn, Peter Warren, I realized I must unlearn a lot from those youtube videos. So I had to start from scratch and re-learn basic principles like watering, design concepts, pruning, etc.
Peter Chan's videos are perfect for the audience who want to have a few trees and not go very deep into the bonsai rabbit hole. However, as you take this art more seriously your taste in bonsai will evolve and your curiosity will lead you to videos by other professionals. I remember someone told me once, to find the teacher whose trees inspire you the most.
*above opinions are of an amateur bonsai practitioner and I mean no harm to anyone.
Peter Chan's videos are perfect for the audience who want to have a few trees and not go very deep into the bonsai rabbit hole. However, as you take this art more seriously your taste in bonsai will evolve and your curiosity will lead you to videos by other professionals. I remember someone told me once, to find the teacher whose trees inspire you the most.
*above opinions are of an amateur bonsai practitioner and I mean no harm to anyone.
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
i love to see work on raw stock, Chan does a lot of that. some of the big raw maples and hornbeams he's working on i'd be happy to work on myself. he's a doer and documents his work. there are so many who just talk a lot and never ever show a single tree, thats very boring to me. i love seeing hands on stuff.
you can go to herons and buy raw material, raw field grown stock, not many nurseries give you that option, most real bonsai nurseries ive been to in the UK only sell imported Japanese material. not really my cup of tea unless im selling on. with that said, i wouldnt buy any of the raw material in Chan's field because i know where to source it myself for cheaper!
But, there is a market for it.
i think you will also find that, most who go to herons and comment on the poor state of the trees, have never been out into the fields. so youre really only seeing half of the nursery.
youre only seeing the stuff in bonsai pots.
ps,
most who have visited the nursery have only visited once or twice, made up their mind and came to the conclusion that it could never be better. well ive been a few times, i can honestly say that the tree care has improved over the years. myself, ive bought around 4 trees from there, bought in my first 4 years of doing bonsai, ive killed them all or just chucked them in the burn pile, a learning experience none the less.
you can go to herons and buy raw material, raw field grown stock, not many nurseries give you that option, most real bonsai nurseries ive been to in the UK only sell imported Japanese material. not really my cup of tea unless im selling on. with that said, i wouldnt buy any of the raw material in Chan's field because i know where to source it myself for cheaper!
But, there is a market for it.
i think you will also find that, most who go to herons and comment on the poor state of the trees, have never been out into the fields. so youre really only seeing half of the nursery.
youre only seeing the stuff in bonsai pots.
ps,
most who have visited the nursery have only visited once or twice, made up their mind and came to the conclusion that it could never be better. well ive been a few times, i can honestly say that the tree care has improved over the years. myself, ive bought around 4 trees from there, bought in my first 4 years of doing bonsai, ive killed them all or just chucked them in the burn pile, a learning experience none the less.
Here’s a thread opened by someone with a purchase from Heron’s:
www.bonsainut.com
Should I take the wire off newly bought brush cherry?
Hi I got this today, After all I’ve read im very concerned for the health of the trunk as the wire looks like it’s been cutting in for a while. Should I get it off right away as careful as possible? After that anything else? Any help very much appreciated, I have emailed the nursery to ask...
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
i bought a hawthorn from there a few years ago, field grown material that had some old wire scars embedded in the trunk, but the bark had began to grow over it, so it was at a stage where the wire was barely noticeable. they grow stuff out in the fields there and the trunks are wired with movement in from an early age and sometimes the wire gets stuck in or forgotten about.
this happens in Japan too where mass production is carried out.
Herons havnt imported anything from overseas for many years, they grow everything out in the fields, from raw stock and air layered material, it seems to be working because theyre still in business.
this happens in Japan too where mass production is carried out.
Herons havnt imported anything from overseas for many years, they grow everything out in the fields, from raw stock and air layered material, it seems to be working because theyre still in business.
rollwithak
Chumono
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
Peter Chan is the Man! He also has very “tick” trunks!!!
rollwithak
Chumono
Say what Vance???
Vance Wood
Lord Mugo
I was going to make a remark but I thought better of it once I had it written out. Peter Chan has done a lot for bonsai and occupied a lot of space on You Tube that could have been taken up by some real schmuckize with one third the value, so who am I to criticize him. I have already said all I need to say.
hinmo24t
Masterpiece
Big fan of peter chan and nigel saunders. Equally for their wisdom on life as well as trees I like peters business mentality too. To each their own
BobbyLane
Imperial Masterpiece
i literally went through a phase where i just watched anything going, bonsai related on youtube. at one point when i had the chinese elm bug i would search and watch everything related to chinese elms. ive watched quite a few of Nigel's videos too and so many others, even that bloke who was it dallas bonsai i think it was and there was another chap based in florida, Gary i think his name was. Chasx was another. i think ive taken something from all the research and enthusiasm in my earlier years. i still watch Chan, but not any of the others i mentioned. absolutely nothing wrong with immercing yourself in the hobby, there is so much content out there. sure, a lot of it you can just take with a pinch of salt and move on to your true destiny.
I tend to try and spot videos where the results are shown as well! Like did x species cuttings in x media root...or not? A lot of the higher viewed ones I only watch these days for the same kinds of reasons I’d watch a Saw movie! Or to make myself feel better about how healthy my own trees are.
