The Bonsai Zone, Larch Forest Update, July 2017
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- I took my Larch forest completely apart in spring to root prune each tree and then assembled them back together.
I haven't done any work to the forest since then, but after a long wait, it's time!
Here is a link to the playlist of this forest, to see the work done over the years......
• Larch Forest Progression
wooooow!!! what a wonderful forest.And hats off to your creativity.The trees look lovely in your studio.Thanks dada for sharing.
Thank you BTA a LM!
Nigel dada thanks.
I loved the little pathway with the rocks. This forest is amazing. Good job, you really have talent :)
Thank you Marie, still lots of work to go on the path and I'm sure I'll be doing more work on the landscape in future!
Favourite bonsai channel... this channe
Has helped me ever since , my grandad sadly pased away ive recieved his bonsai trees and this channel has helped me out alot!
I just wamted to say a great big thanks to my favourite bonsai channel, thankyou and keep doing what you are!
Thank you Tom, lots more to come!
l can really relax in the beautiful, shaded and green forest. l can almost imagine the silence and fresh smell, surrounded by tiny animals. it looks so serene.
Thank you Rajesh, it brings me peace also!
Amazings shots very good video. We apriciate your work from Spain. Thanks for all
Thank you Luis!
Hi Nigel, I work in a garden centre here in the UK and am enjoying some annual leave the last few weeks. I've seen a lot of rain the last 4 days so I have been enjoying your videos. They really are quite fascinating to watch. I started looking at bonsai trees on the internet last week and since finding your channel I have been absolutely gripped. Gripped to the point of taking some cuttings from a cherry tree in my garden and an apple tree from the neighbour (I asked permission first of course, but seeing as I feed her dog treats on a daily basis a branch from her tree was an easy bargain.) House plants are a love of mine and so bonsai seems to be the next step on my horticultural path.
Yesterday I took that first step, went out and purchased a few things, and now I have several cuttings planted in the hope of growing my first bonsai trees.
I Also took a cutting from a dracena marginata I have had for almost ten years (not with the intention of making a bonsai from it, but as I was getting my fingers green I thought I would see if I can propagate it. Maybe I'll see if I can follow your advice and keep it small enough in future to create a smaller bonsai-styled dragon plant.) I have a ten year old Yukka that died back a few years ago after being kept out of the sun for too long. I cut the trunk back at the time and since then the old trunk has sprouted a new shoot which is doing very well, and until yesterday I used the old trunk as a support for the new shoot. I finally took to un-potting it to find the old trunk was rotten to the last 3 inches. I separated the new shoot, root pruned it, and re-potted it. Then looking at the remaining trunk I thought after watching your yukka bonsai videos.. 'what the heck! I'll see what happens'. It's been root pruned and re-potted, I've sealed the top in the hope to avoid any rot this time around, and with any luck it'll start to shoot some new foliage. The Yukka trunk is literally 2 inches above the soil so this could in fact be my first bonsai tree next year.
The garden centre I work for is renowned for tree nurseries which date back to the first world war and I'm really hoping to make a new hobby of bonsai in the future, and cuttings should be quite easy for me to obtain. I think I'll be taking a few walks in the forests around here soon to get a selection of cuttings to plant up and nurse into next year. Your advice of wanting to get lots of trees is great, this way you always have something to work with. With autumn coming around there'll be seeds to collect also. I love the idea of taking a tree that is naturally gigantic and representing it in a smaller way, and you do this so well. It really is great watching you at work, you clearly love your hobby. Fantastic.
I will be watching your channel with regularity to see what's new and to gain any useful advice.
Thank you S Kay, I enjoyed reading your comment, it sounds like you will enjoy growing your trees! Best of luck, Nigel
I could watch the forest all day! Great work
Thank you June!
Forrest is looking better with age, i like the black background, fantastic silhouette of the display :-)
Thank you Steven!
Hey Nigel,
your Larch Forest and your Portulacara afra Forest are my favorites of your collection. I could watch this videos again and again. Greetings from Berlin
Thank you very much, I'm not allowed to have any favorite trees, but these would be on the list!
This one of my favorites of your. I love the feel of the landscape you have created. Keep up the great work.
Thank you Sami, I'll be creating some new landscapes this summer, I want to get my dry desert one going!
My favourite bonsai channel 😊😊
Thank you very much!
Why dont you make an instagram page, and upload pictures of your bonsais, we can see the updates there easily 😊
My favorite trees in one! The larch forest and your schefflera have to be the ones I like seeing the most and both displays are looking so great! Excited to see the forest's autumn display!
Thank you Kathy, I too look forward to fall colours, but not so much to fall! I always am sad to see an end to our short summers here!
........great show, the new set with dark backdrop is excellent.....lighting as well....nicely done.
Thank you Rick!
This is amazing. Really enjoy watching your videos. Thank you.
Thank you Rakshith!
Another amazing video, my friend! If I haven't said before, I can walk through your larch's pathway and reminisce on the times I've spent in Maine. It's so wonderful. Thank you for continuing to share.
Thank so much, I'm really enjoying your soil videos!
The forest really looks spectacular! I get comforting feeling when I look at it 🤗👍🏾
O'Neil 🌴✌🏾
It is a very relaxing forest to view.
Everything about this landscape is amazing!
Thank you!
My fav of your bonsai collection!!! Thanks for all the great content very informative and helpful for beginners to the hobby!
Thank you Bernard!
Looks great Nigel! So natural looking. I love it!
Thank you Geoff!
excellent improvement on the larch forest Nigel , its nice to see how it grows wild and now they are already filled with moss cant wait to see the next update about this forest ....
Thank you Dioms! I'll keep posting updates!
The larch forest looks great with very nice moss details ! I was waiting to see this display again. Thanks again for taking the time to share. Fantastic job!
Thank you Bonsai J!
Your channel is so informative! I haven't had any bonsai in years and I really want to dive back into it!
I hope you do, you must get back into the bonsai zone!
Nigel, great job on the intro. Subtle but to the point. It sticks in with you! Bonsai Zone!!
Thank you Jerry!
Love this larch landscape. They've come a fair way since they were singularly root pruned and repotted. Looking really nice nigel. Gunna have to find a bigger nursery tray soon ;)
Thank you Luke!
I love the variety. You make it look so easy.
Thank you Patty, it's very enjoyable working on the trees!
A real work of art Nigel. Love your new channel intro too.
Thank you Edwin!
Absolutely beautiful!!! So enjoyed that!!
Thank you Virginia!
Nigel,
I definitely agree with you that it is difficult to let our bonsai trees grow out. But it gives us such great results. This is a truly GORGEOUS forest! Exactly what I imagine one to look like. Well done! Love the schleffera. I see a miniature world with huts growing under it. How about you?
Thank you, yes my imagination runs wild when I look at the base of the Schefflera!
inspirational. my grandma loved growing bonsai. sadly the neighbor sprayed a herbicide and kill all of hers. I think I will grow a larch in her memory and honor. she grew up in northern Minnesota where people called them tamaracks I think. I will keep watching and pray for me that I get around to it soon. I live a busy life with school, work and a girlfriend haha
I think she would love that!
Amazing work, love the forest. Btw I got my Kumquat back into shape, thanks for the tips Nigel.
Good to hear and thanks!
Love your work Nigel :) you work is inspiring.
Thank you Vikram!
Just amazing thank you Nigel
Thank you Ahmed!
cant wait to watch those roots progress, I like the red color with the moss too.. and I cant wait for this moss forest you mentioned.
I'll have to get my forest under way, I'm inspired by some of the underwater aquascapes for aquariums you see.
I am as well.
Really, really beautiful landscape.
Thank you Joseph!
Great stuff Nigel, good choice on the bushes.
Thank you Chris!
So amazing! I wish I could camp on that forest ehehe The new studio with black background adds a really nice contrast, everything pops out. Thank you for another great video :)
Thank you Jo San, still lots of work to go on the forest, the new pot is wider and I should be able to fit more small background trees to the planting.
Beautiful forest. Thanks for sharing .
Thank you Anita!
Fantastic my friend,it looks real
I really enjoy creating all the small details on the forest floor.
Been waiting for this! Thanks nigel! Forest looking healthy!👍🏼
Thanks Ryan, I'll be working on the landscape again later this year when the forest needs another prune.
how are you mr.nigel
thanx for update and this beautiful video
i have collected a new tree from the construction site ..and luckily it has started to sprout new leaves...i will send you pics of that and some new projects of mine...its rainy season here and plants are coming out of stress so quickly ...like some magical power is helping them to survive...rain water is really so magical😊
will send you pics
once again thabx for sharing such wonderful video...
Thank you Kaushik, I always look forward to seeing more pictures of your trees!
This one is like wow! I hope to create one just like this. Thanks Nigel S.
Thank you Joe, you will find growing a forest a lot of fun and very challenging too!
Nigel Saunders
:)
Amazing work, love the forest
Thank you again Phu!
Mr Nigel you have a more experienced regarding bonsai,I have learned to you and found many ideas of bonsai shapes,thanks for nice info,I m from Pakistan,
Thank you Danish, happy growing!
Wow, those are two of my favorites. The larch Forrest and the schefflera.
Thank you very much!
Your hair is epic, I hope u have hair like yours when I'm your age. Love your videos, they are soothing, almost like I am growing and maintaining the trees
Thank you Derek, some wild hair in the videos, my kids always get a laugh!
Your Larch forest looks great! I love Larches, especially in fall. One day when I move from my tiny NYC apartment to a place where I have outside space, I hope to have a Larch forest similar to yours!
Thank you LA. I hope to see videos of your awesome outdoor collection some day!
Nice progress. I envy your moss growth, Nigel :-)
Thank you Vinny, it takes a lot of care to keep it nice and green. I hate going away on a sunny day, the moss dries out and starts to go brown quickly if I'm not there to mist it!
Thank you very much for the videos. I have watched all your videos in Larch Forest Progression and you teach me a lot. I just started to make my own bonsai forest but using pine tree. I have put a link to this playlist in my blog to share with my readers, and I hope you dont mind. Thank you very much. Hopefully you can understand my English :-).
No problem Amir and best of luck with your forest!
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone
If you have time, can you comment on my bonsai forest. Here is the link to my bonsai forest photo.
3.bp.blogspot.com/-owUA2g749uk/WaIvtBZXZRI/AAAAAAAAMwY/QtYsbaKA3ishTn_j5Ou25gQsuVlCDOpOgCLcBGAs/s1600/20170827_102354.jpg
Good work on the black background. Makes it much easier too see the details
Thank you Hayes!
cada dia nos sorprende con alguna obra de arte . fantastico. gracias por compartilo
Estás moi benvido, grazas por entrar na zona de bonsai!
New to the bonsai world. Like your channel
Thank you and welcome to the world of tiny trees!
Great video as always...thanks
Thank you Ben.
Looking brilliant!!! Been waiting for this ;)
Thanks Dani, I too have been waiting a long time to work on the trees, I'm so gad they all made it after re potting!
Wow awesome Nigel!
Thank you Elliott!
like the new format! done well
Thank you Alek!
I love this forest it's so realistic
Thank you Fred, I really enjoy working on the forest, it's almost like being in a full size one!
nigel, maybe you could do a weekly picture timelapse of the moss slowly overtaking the landscape!
That would be cool!
I really love the new camera angles and the up close shots of the directional pruning of the buds (this was something i was still trying to understand). Thank you for your beautiful and inspiring videos. Also, would you have any suggestions on how to encourage roots to grow from cuttings in water with fertilizer?
I would place the cutting in a bright location, but not one that gets full sun. I would grow it in one of those mini greenhouse trays that you use for starting seedlings in. You can buy rooting hormone that should help your cuttings root. I root mine in bonsai soil. Good luck Scott!
Lovely progress.
Thanks, I hope the bark starts to get more crackled in the upcoming years!
Nice video, very relaxing
Thank you Martijn!
Bonsai Zone = Love zone
Stay in the zone!
Beautiful!!!
Thank you Samu!
Hi Nigel, I have a question, is it OK to grow different types of trees to develop a bonsai forest in the same bonsai pot? Do you see any challenges?
you say and I quote '' ancient trees grow completely vertical, they do not grow crooked''. I have lived in Montana my whole life, iv been around western meadow larch for many many years, not only grew around them but harvested them during my time as a timber faller for logging companies. I can show you photos recently of 400+ year old stands of larch larger then 8feet in diameter growing crooked, twisted, and down right crazy. larch are straight grain trees for the most part, but do not hold them or any tree no matter how old to a stricken standard. it is nature after all.
Thank you, I would love to see photos of these grand old giants! I think generally most old growth trees in a forest try and grow straight up to the sky and of course there are always exceptions to the rule. I'd like to add your pictures to my collection......
thekwbonsaisociety@gmail.com
I think you need a pine needle brush to clear your moss clippings from your planting. I love watching your channel. It’s very calming to me. I’ve tried bonsai a couple of times but it is so hot here that they never survive the summers. I’m almost to the point where I will try again. I’ve lost a juniper, a box wood and a very expensive lemon tree. What do you think is the hardiest easiest for a beginner like me?
I would try a Jade bonsai or a Portulacaria afra, they are really good bonsai for hot weather and they can survive without being watered for a couple of weeks!
how's the sheffie doing Nigel? I've seen quite a few on the web, but I've got to say yours is my favorite. Nothing against Mr Fuku, I just love that tree. My sheffies are going crazy, dropping aerial roots everywhere. I'm going to have to prune it soon, getting too hard to water. Thanks for keeping the videos coming. Enjoy them all. Wish I could grow larches and Hemlocks down here, but I'm happy with what I can grow. thanks.
All is growing well here! We are having a mid summer cool spell at the moment highs of 73 F and lows of 58 F.
I cannot seem to get my scheff to drop aerial roots but cant figure out the best way. Is there any specific methods that work better than others to do this?
Check out my aerial root video, very scientific!
ua-cam.com/video/I2bwGRxzdgE/v-deo.html
its so cute nigel.... pretty!!!
Thank you Helen, I really enjoy detailing the little landscapes!
Nigel Saunders, ur so awesome....!!! I am so glad, I subscribed ur channel...!!
your the best...!!!
had to sub and make sure there were no sub only videos. You have taught me more about root development in the past 2 days of watching your videos than any other sight I have looked at. Thank you very much for sharing! That said, I was directed to your sight by Appalachian bonsai, while trying to learn about local species and how to (successfully and responsibly collect) I got into bonsai in Okinawa in the 80's but military life didn't lend itself to bonsai well. I am only self taught and have no formal training it the art. I also don't want to conform to classic style but would rather learn how to apply their techniques to look like small natural versions from all angles of observation. only one question, my heart sank when your willow had top die back and was hoping it didn't die? It appeared you had a lot of time invested and your disappointment was evident in your video
The willow is still alive and the re building process continues, it will be time for an update soon! I think it will be a better tree some day, it will just take more time.
Another great video.
Thank you very much!
😍😍 love your work
Thank you Adza, I have a lot of fun with bonsai!
This is so cool!
I really like creating these landscapes, so much fun!
Great channel mr Saunders, it's has taken me 3 weeks to watch all your videos and it's has been a great journey through the years, i don't have any bonsay i had one olive tree when i was young but 15 years later it died and i only have regular plants now. For now watching your videos is enough for me. I wanted to ask you something, you have trees from seeds or from the woods or cutlings, What do oyu think about buying a 7 or 8 years (or more) bonsai from the stores?. Sorry for my english and forgive my mistakes
It is expensive to buy bonsai trees in stores, but you can get some nice trees! I enjoy growing trees from seeds and cuttings, it's nice to watch them grow into trees over the years! Buying a bonsai tree is a nice way of getting a good tree to work on if it is in your means.
Have you ever made or considered having a bonsai with roots growing in the groves of tiles? I've seen many real life trees in cities where the root system is also above ground, and the roots have spread over the rectangular groves in between the street tiles.
So, there's a lot of square roots.
I have a whole collection of this type of rootage on my computer, I find it fascinating! It would look really good as an urban style penjing. I'll try and get a tree to do this hopefully in the future, thanks!
Hey @Nigel Saunders! I would love to see a bonsai Coleus from you. Just planting this seed here :) Great videos, keep it up!
It's on my list of plants to get, I don't go to nurseries often.....some people say I have too many trees!
Sweet! Too many trees? Nonsense! No such thing :)
Nice work Nigel.
greets
Kennet
Thanks Kennet, I noticed you have a new video, I can't wait to watch it!
You just earned a subscriber! Keep up the good work :)
Thank you, I'm just working on another video now.
How are your acacia trees coming along? I very much enjoyed seeing their progress from seed to tree.
They are growing tall and need pruning! I'll be posting an update soon!
Hi Nigel... I'm really taken by the way u care for plants and trees... Could not resist myself from watching ur videos on bonsai... I'm new to bonsai... I hve gathered some knowledge from net on bonsai and hve got few plants myself... jade, ficus religiosa, tamarind, Gulmohar, a small cedar, another ficus variety ... Could not move any further than buying them... Hw could u help me on this..?
Start small, prune back a shoot that is growing out of the profile of the tree, see how the tree reacts and slowly you will gain confidence and skill.
Thank u Nigel... For the motivation.. Ur word means a lot to me... Will try and get gud results for sure... ☺
grate job ....
Thank you Sandun!
Felicidades se ve muy hermoso y real tu bosque en verdad me transporto a un bosque real
Muchas gracias, eso es lo que yo llamo estar en la Zona de Bonsai!
Any Ficus Bonsai, Root over Temple update planned for this summer?
An update will be coming, the tree is just growing now and I'll give it a prune when it gets a little more foliage.
so beautiful like a real forest ^_^
Thank you, it does give me the feeling of being in a Lord of the Rings type world!
^_^ yes, magical mystery
Alright that as an intro was good. I didn't like the big extended version but that was a nice happy medium. You seem to be a very smart man
Thank you Josh for entering the bonsai zone!
I hear to bury bonsai for winter, especially in the northern climates. just a noob wondering, do I bury it with the pot? cover it in leaves, wrap it in burlap?
Burying your tree for the winter is the best method for over wintering if the mice and rabbits don't eat your tree! The rabbits tend to go for the sweeter trees like maples and fruit trees, but the mice tend to like anything. I used to keep my trees in the ground for the winter, but every year as the snow melts, I would count the trees ringed by animals. I would usually loose a couple every year. I keep mine in an unheated part of the basement now and have very few problems.
Trees in the ground should be buried pot and all, deeply in the ground. It is best to wrap the pot and soil in something to make it easy to separate when you dig it up in spring. The moss usually survives fine also!
Hi Nigel, thanks for your videos. I have a Birch forest on a slab much similar to yours...covered with heavy moss, I notice that there are fine white roots that come out under the moss on t the slab..like little white worms....going out on the slab....Question: can I leave them to grow? eventually will entangle my slab....:(
They can be trimmed, but they usually dry up and air prune themselves.
for now they are still very small....white with red ends ...thanks
That is amazing and absolutely gorgeous, what kind of trees are these..?
These are native North American Larch trees. They loose their needles in fall, they are wonderful for bonsai!
You should do a tour of all your bonsai trees
I will, hopefully next week!
Nigel Saunders awesome!
Sir How we can Grow This type Moss in India ? I love it
I don't think it would grow well in a hotter climate. I have to mist the moss often on hot dry sunny days or it will go brown. The moss really grows best in spring and fall when the temperatures are cooler. Any moss you can find in your area will grow well in your climate if you water and fertilize it well. The tree will need a very porous soil to match the watering schedule of the moss.
Ok Sir , i will try some green moss here rainy season n moss growing well .Thank for reply :)
I love your chanel! It is very educational, I have learn a lot on how to start making my own bonsai, I was looking for a hobby and this definitely is a very good one. I will like to know if you have any gardenia bonsai. That is actually the one that I want to make but I'm afraid of cutting it the wrong way. Can I have an advise? Thank you!
I don't have a Gardenia bonsai, but they are very good material. They are really nice in flower also! I would just start slowly with the pruning and see how the tree reacts. Just prune off the long shoots that look out of place at first. Once you get the hang of it and feel more confident, you will slowly get better at pruning.
Nigel Saunders Thank you very much for the advice. 😄
You are an amazing bonsai artist. How many bonsai do you have?
I will do an official count when I do a bench tour this summer, but I'm guessing I have about two hundred potted plants!
Thanks for the reply. You have an amazing collection. -Ray
Hi Nigel, My American larch forest pales in comparison to yours. I just put it together this spring and it's coming along nicely but it lacks the variation in height that surrounds your trees. Do you have any tips on how to build up the base surrounding the trees to achieve the depth your forest so elegantly portrays? Is it just extra soil and rock? Thanks.
Hello Bob, I make a playlist for each tree, here is the link to the Larch forest. It will show you each step along the way!
ua-cam.com/play/PLQouTWwmTQoxFL4cBBle6CJkVtWtCtcf2.html
what kind of weather need to grow such beautyful moss?
You need to collect moss that is growing in full sun and then the rest is a matter of frequent water and fertilizer. You need to mist and water the moss a lot in the hot afternoon sun, if it dries out it will go brown. We have been getting temperatures of a high of 30 C in the day and night time temperatures of around 20 C.
New sub!
I've taken a teeny oak sapling from the wild, it's about 4 inches tall, the tap root is about 5 inches.. I really want to turn it into a bonsai, but where do I start?
I too started an Oak bonsai this year, I'll try and get a video of it soon!
Nigel Saunders Oh wow! Thank you!
Love the video. The title says Larch forest instead of Large forest though.
Larch is correct, that is the type of tree growing in the forest. They are a native tree to my area.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larch
it's beautiful I would like to grow my own bonsai but it looks really hard :o
It does take dedication and care but it is really relaxing and enjoyable!
Great forest Nigel. Did you grow these from seed? Or are they Yamadori?
The small trees were collected in the middle of summer by Leszek a former club member that moved out west. They were quickly and randomly placed in a wooden training pot. He ended up with too many and gave me the box of trees. I have been growing them for about 20 years now.
c'est magnifique
Merci beaucoup!
You should get a hemlock tree for bonsai do you think you will?
I did have one long ago, they make great bonsai trees. Mine got the trunk chewed my mice one winter, I've always wanted to get another one. I'll keep my eyes open!
What are some tips and tricks to grow a cutting
I just strip the lower leaves off my cuttings and stick the end in bonsai soil. In the summer with the warmth and sunshine, they seem to root easily. I have very little luck rooting cuttings in winter.
So Sir what happened to the crown of thorns plant?
It is alive and doing well. It is out on my "hot" bench, this bench is against the sunny outside wall of the greenhouse and gets full sun and also has the greenhouse wall that reflects light to them. I have my succulents there also.
No wiring in the plans?
I think I can achieve a nice look to the trees without wiring, every time I prune the branches back, I try and keep the growth going in the direction that I want it to grow. Over the years I hope to get each branch on track for shape and direction. They are improving slowly each year so far.