Asia Pacific Gardening, Kent, WA Videos

25 years worth of training to develop this root over rock bonsai piece. Still have many more years of training to go until it is "finished". #bonsai #penjing #zelkova #tree #trees #plant #plants #seattleplants #nature #garden #gardening #indoorplants #indoorplant #indoorbonsai #rootoverrock

A clip from our Summer Juniper Maintenance video on our YouTube channel. In this video, Robert shows how to prune your juniper during the summer growing season and why you should prune it. We have new videos every Friday on our YouTube channel. Go subscribe to our channel for more bonsai knowledge! Link is in the comments. #bonsai #penjing #bonsaiforbeginners #juniper #Procumbens #procumbensnanajuniper #tree #trees #plant #plants #seattleplants #nanajuniper #nana

Robert shows a common mistake when it comes to watering your bonsai tree. We have customers coming to our nursery on a weekly basis with this problem. When watering the bonsai, the soil should drain all the way out from the bottom. If you have the proper soil and the proper container, you WILL NOT over-water your bonsai tree.

Robert shows how you can transform an ordinary looking ginkgo nursery stock into a beautiful bonsai. You don't always have to start from a seedling. There are so many hidden gems in nurseries. You just have to change your perspective.

Here we show why it's important to repot your bonsai trees. Root bound trees can be dangerous for your bonsai because it limits the amount of water it can properly absorb. #bonsai #penjing #tree #trees #plant #plants #seattleplants #rootbound #nature #bonsaiforbeginners

Bonsai farm blast from the past! Let's take a trip back to 1993! Before the age of digital cameras, we made our own panorama photos by taping several photos together. Robert shows the farm we've been working with since the 1980s. Prior to establishing Asia Pacific Gardening in the US, Robert developed commercial bonsai in the European market (Holland, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and France) while in Hong Kong.

If you're new to bonsai, we don't recommend you grow from a seed. You will lose your interest and you will waste your time. After 5 years of watering, you will probably end up with a stick that has no character IF the seed roots. It's a better practice to get a tree from a nursery that already has movement in the trunks. Think of a painter. The painter's job is to create the piece. They buy the canvas, the brush, and the paint. Sure the painter can create all of that themselves, but it's not something you do as a beginner. #bonsai #penjing #tree #trees #plant #plants #seattleplants #bonsaitree #bonsaiforbeginners

Bonsai techniques depend on your climate. Bonsai books are a great foundation to start from, but don't get boxed in by rules. Bonsai is an open art form. Open your mind. Open your ideas. Try new things and see if it works. If your art is restricted by a set of rules, it will never evolve. You can see the video that received all these criticism on our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjJ7rdk3oSU #bonsai #penjing #tree #trees #bonsaiforbeginners #plant #plants #seattleplants #spruce #albertaspruce

Did you know this about the bougainvillea flower? #bonsai #penjing #bougainvillea #flower #plant #plants #tree #trees

We are THRILLED to announce a brand new Bonsai For Beginners 2.0 class! The class is on Sunday July 28th, 3pm – 5pm at Asia Pacific Gardening. The class will be two hours. The first hour we go over a brief history of bonsai/penjing, and all the principals required to ensure your tropical tree THRIVES indoors. We go over lighting, temperature, styling, trimming, watering, soil mix, and potting. Robert will be teaching the Lingnan style’s prune and grow method. Lingnan style’s purpose is to train the tree as naturally as possible to mimic nature. This style of art originated in the 15th century and is the style that was the foundation of Robert’s training. The second hour is the hands on workshop. We will be using indoor trees from tropical and sub-tropical areas of southeast Asia. These trees are about 5-6 years old. You will get to choose from four different types; Zelkova Schneideriana (Chinese Elm); Carmona Microphylla (Fukien Tea Tree), Ficus Retusa, and Serissa. Size and shape will vary. Once you select your tree, you will style, trim, and pot the tree in a ceramic bonsai pot. At the end of the class, the tree you made will go home with you. The class is $150 + tax per person. All materials will be provided by Asia Pacific Gardening. If interested, please call or text (253) 335-1297 to register. Thank you!

We often get asked what's in our bonsai soil mix. Keep in mind, every climate is different and each climate will benefit off its own soil mix. Here in the PNW, we have been using this formula for 40 years with 100% success rate for both our indoor tropical trees and our outdoor conifers. ONE. HUNDRED. PERCENT. This formula provides the right amount of nutrients to the tree while keeping the Ph at a neutral level. The coconut coir maintains the moisture and helps guide the roots as it grows. The pumice and lava rocks act as porous drainage so the tree drains out any excess water. This is why you CANNOT over-water a bonsai tree with this mixture. #bonsai #penjing #bonsaiforbeginners #tree #trees #plant #plants #seattleplants #soil #garden #gardening

Robert visited a bonsai pot manufacturing factory recently. This is how each of the bonsai pots get their glaze color. Check out our YouTube channel for weekly bonsai related videos. Link is in our bio. #bonsai #penjing #ceramic #bonsaipot #bonsaicontainer #pottery #bonsaiforbeginners #tree #tree #plant #plants #seattleplants #handmade

A customer brought in their neighbor's bonsai that was severely neglected. Look at what Robert found during the previous owner's repotting attempt. #bonsai #penjing #bonsaiforbeginners #tree #trees #plant #plants #seattleplants #nature #repot #repotting #spruce #blackspruce

Robert shows how to properly grow a tropical bonsai over the course of 6 weeks. Watch the full video on our YouTube page for a more in depth lesson! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bb8Fo1fZdj0

Who's coming to Bonsai Fest at the Pacific Bonsai Museum this weekend? Here's a quick look at the setup and a short visit to the first exhibit, the greenhouse. It's still not too late to get a gift for mother's day! Come stop by and pick out a bonsai to take home!

Hardly any of you have seen a video like this. Ever wondered where bonsai pots come from? Here is a sneak peak at this week's video. Robert traveled to China recently to a bonsai pot factory. We have been the direct importer from this factory for 30+ years now. Bonsai containers are literally stacked to the ceiling here and every single one is HAND MADE. This friday, we will post a video tour of the factory. Robert will show the process of how we select the containers with a ton of never before seen footage. Stay tuned!

Sometimes you have to get creative when training a thick trunk. #bonsai #penjing #tree #trees #plant #plants

First day of April bonsai!
It's the first day of April and we wanted to create a special bonsai!

Our last Bonsai For Beginners was such a success! We completely filled every seat and have now opened registration for our next class. The course is two hours. The first hour we go over a quick history of bonsai. Then we share the basic principals required to care for your tree; light, temperature, water, soil, trimming, styling, potting. The second hour is the hands on workshop where we will provide the tree and all necessary tools and containers. You will trim and style your own Procumbens Nana Juniper tree and plant it in a ceramic bonsai container. At the end of the class, you take home the tree you created! Call us to register! (253) 872-8556 Date: Sunday April 28th Time: 3pm - 5pm Location: Asia Pacific Gardening Watch this quick time lapse and see what it's like!

A quick tip on pruning complicated trees!