I've seen roots on those large trees from Vietnam escape into the ground, it does look very cool! I'm sure I'll keep them! Have a great new year James!
I thought bonsai will be hard with all the wiring, but Nigel has helped me out with his vids and his own collection showin us that we can just snip n grow! Ima grow my Pohutukawa like his Ficus here... Keep as much horizontal and try lowering height of canopy. Its growing quite the same way his Ficus is.. Cheerz Nigel! BONSAI ZONE!!!
The Ginseng Ficus bonsai in the printed pot looks really good after cutting it back, it's interesting how those roots are turning out. Happy new year and wish you and everyone all the the best in 2020 !
When you said it looked like a haunted tree it reminded me of the oldest oak in Sweden. It's called "Kvilleken" and is around 1000 years old and 13 meters around the circumference. Happy new year!
in the winter time my ficuses are the only plants that I keep at home and I really love em thanks to you I'm no more "affraid" to do defoliation wish you all the best in new decade Nigel!
I'll be designing and making lots of cool ones this winter, I'm hoping to get some really wild designs made, stuff that you can only do on a 3D printer. Stay tuned in 2020!
@@TheBonsaiZone thanks for your sharing everything about bonsai hobbies, I'm very new in this world and I appreciate all your sharing everything in your experiences likes no other. Happy NEW YEAR and more videos.
Hello Nigel, first a happy new year to everyone. I haven't found Ficus Ginseng so appealing, but yours has something. I still haven't found a channel that describes the "Cut and grow" method so well and in detail. Through your videos, I also learned a lot about dealing with the roots. For 2020 I wish you to continue as before, it is always a pleasure to watch you.
Nice video, love those ficus, they look so ancient! I love that you can show how to get such different trees from the same species, just with different styling.
Thank you my friend, I'm very happy to see your channel doing so well again this year, keep up the good work and have a great 2020! Some day in the far future, we may meet!
Yes true all ficus are dense plants. But another fact is the love a lot of rain 🌧. Nice plant here and cool bonsai pot. I got ginseng ficus bonsai at the age of 14 from my father 👨. Edited: The big one looks old like the gaint ficus ghost trees shown in Indian 🇮🇳 movies 🎥. Cool bonsai. 😎
Ficus make one of the best bonsai I found a ficus bonsai at Walmart yesterday but I didn't buy it because it had been glued into the pot the pebbles on top could not be moved
@@TheBonsaiZone maybe or I could just take cuttings from a tree in my neighborhood because every bonsai I find ay a store is beyond fixable they look more like bushes then trees
Obrigado, nossa estação de crescimento é tão curta, mas eu tento me contentar com o que tenho! Tenha um ótimo 2020 e mantenha o bom trabalho com seu canal!
“Haunted” look...seems similar in feel and style to what Walter Pall would call the “Fairy Tale Style,” the style that invokes a sense of age and mystery. Really fun to watch you do this fundamental structure work. It’s clear you’ve developed a fine tuned sense of foresight.
The older ancient trees seem to take on a unique look, short tapered trunks and stubby branches. I think this and the hollow trunks gives us a natural fear of these trees, as who knows what or who is hiding inside? Have a great 2020 and I look forward to more of your videos!
Bonsai is like 3D printing, if you watch your print it takes forever, but if you stay busy working on another model, the 3D print can seem instant! Have a great new year Ollie!
The ficus is looking good. I have a similar kind ginseng style ficus, which doesn't seem to want to grow at all. I put some sphagnum moss around the roots so I can cut them a bit shorter and put it in a nice pot next summer. Hopefully in 20 yrs mine looks as good as yours! Happy New Year, Nigel! Looking forward for what you are up to next year (especially waiting for update on the birch forest of Jonathans in the spring). Cheers!
Was just thinking that I hadn't seen a Bonsai Zone update in a while. Or at least it seemed that way... Been a busy holiday season. Happy New Year, Nigel!
Happy New Year Nigel! I love trying to guess your next move, when you give choices. I get a lot more correct nowadays! Now I just need to put the practice into play!
I have one of those grafted “faux bonsai” trees, apparently it can grow up to 1 meter but I find it hard to believe. So I’ve decided to let it grow and see how big it can get. Happy New Year to you and thank you for your youtube channel! Much appreciated
Thanks Louise, i think you might get that kind of growth from suckers that form from the roots, but the grafted part will most likely grow slowly. See you in 2020!
It is important to keep the tree in good growing conditions for recovery, a nice bright warm spot! The leaves should come back in in late January. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
I love this tree want to know where to get a pot like this I really like the root growing over the pot I would like to know what was used to carve the grooves in the roots great job Nigel
I have a Ficus nitida I started back in the 80's I think. When Home Depot first sold them. It turned out impossible to do more with the canopy then a hemisphere. At least I never could. No open cloud with this plant. But it's got the fat trunk and roots...no show winner,but nice. It growing outdoors here in California,btw.
Thanks Stan, it might be hard here in Canada to get a nice canopy, but I'll keep trying, maybe with better lighting in winter I can make progress. As long as we enjoy our trees, all is good!
Hey Nigel! You should start a mulberry someday. I have a few and they are just so vigorous (more so than ficus) so I'm really keen to watch how you control it. I grow them as a tropical so I'm not sure how it'll perform there in Canada, but their genetics sure are good for leaf reduction!
@@TheBonsaiZoneI always cringe, but I also can almost always predict when it's going to happen. You have inspired me to start my own. Just have to get a plant safe space
Hi Nigel, I hope you keep the roots growing out of the pot, they really age the planting in my mind. Or at least keep the one, I can understand you removing the one growing out of the drainage hole. I'm just starting in bonsai again, after a 40 year hiatus. My wild child lasted a long time! I have a question for you, totally unrelated to the ginseng. Have you finished cementing your posts for your greenhouse? Because there is an easy way to keep your posts level (perpendicular) while you're cementing them in. If you attach 1"x 4-6" boards to the post to hold it in position while adding the cement, you don't need to check so much. Speeds the process up quite a bit. Anyway........ Have a safe and wonderful new year Nigel!! Ditto for all your fans
Thank you, a good tip for my cement work, I still have more posts to go in. Good to hear you are back into bonsai, I will keep the roots, I can always drill another drainage hole in the bottom.
Hi Nigel, I don't know if it's something you've been doing more recently, or I've learned enough from your videos now to notice, but you often seem to get a bit carried away with pruning. You had a lovely dense canopy on this one and I don't think it was necessary to prune it this severely to get a bit more horizontal spread. I noticed you reducing many of your other trees to twigs as well recently, taking 2 steps backwards, 1 step forward. If I'm wrong feel free to tell me. I still love your videos of course, keep it up and happy new year!
This approach gets you a nicely tapered and twisty branches for that miniature look. The fine branching will come at a later stage, at this point I'm just trying to build an interesting primary structure that I can build on later. This is the basis for a clip and grow bonsai, letting the branches grow and then pruning them back to get a tapered branch with movement and character. It does seem like 1 step forward and two backwards, but the trees do make progress and you get something really special in the end!
Hi Nigel, I am also growing a ficus tree. When starting it, should I keep the part of the tree that I pruned off in water and let it grow there? When I used seeds and also when I pruned and kept it in soil it died in a week. (I could show you some pictures of how I kept it)
It is best to keep the cutting in water until it shows some white bumps at the base. You can then put it in bonsai soil, but keep a tray of water under the pot so the soil stays constantly wet until the cuttings begins to grow. The cutting will need bright light, warm temperatures and high humidity. You may want to put a clear plastic bag around the tree.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone Thanks Nigel, it is just that when I put it underwater, the leaves still dried out. Do you think I did something wrong or is this normal and there’s nothing to worry about?
Great Vid Nigel ! one question, I have a branch half way up a tree that is to thick, can I thin it down somehow, I don't want to lose it as it has a lot of fine branch structure coming from it. regards
It can be done, but it would take many years to heal and blend in. You would have to remove all of the branch except for one live vein. Over many years the living part of the branch would slowly round itself and become a normal looking branch. I have done this for roots, but not a branch, but I'm sure it would work the same way. Just leave enough of the branch that it can support the weight of the branch tips.
Did you know, some of the plants cells around the grafted part can actually be genetically be a mix of both specimen ? See you 2020, when you hopefully get your new greenhouse completed during the year.
I have a tiger bark I just did a really hard prune on, a leggy 3+ foot tall plant I cut all the way down to a 5” stump. One month later the stump has already put on about 3” in branches. I would imagine it will look something like this in just a few more months. Is it better to harder prune less frequently, or can I prune a branch or two whenever as needed? I’m not sure I feel comfortable pruning too much foliage at once during the winter.
If you want nice taper in your trunk, it is better to hard prune the tree and let it grow more in between. As your tree approaches the refinement stage, you are better to prune less off, more often. I try and do my pruning either mid summer, or just before the trees come inside for the winter. At this time the trees go through a spring like growth with the warmer temperatures indoors.
I was giving the STL file away for free, until my computer crashed and I lost the files. I don't sell anything on my channel and I am in the process of re modelling the pots and they will be posted on Thingiverse.
There a tree like yours with heart shape leaves on line I saw. U should buy. There a rare rubber tree I saw before on line. Four shades of green on the leaves u should get your hands on . It was 60 bucks for it.
Happy New Year Nigel! I have a weeping willow that got trunk chopped. I'm in Oklahoma zone 7. It's younger in age and from Tractor Supply. Should I leave it outside or in the cold garage? Please help, thank you.
If the tree losses it's leaves, it should be fine outside, if you are trying to force a winter rest, it is best to remove the leaves and then place the tree in a cold dark area for at least 6 weeks. After the winter rest return the tree to full sun.
I watch your channel all the time and love all the different trees you have. One question, in all these videos I don’t think I have seen one Juniper. Is there a reason you like so many different trees but shy away from Karate Kid trees? I know they can be challenging but it’s probably less challenging than growing tropicals in Canada.
I've had a few Junipers, but one by one, they didn't make it through some tough winters. I have a new Juniper for styling that will be coming up on a video soon. I do like them, I'll have to get more!
Yes, if the tree is healthy and vigorous at the time you do it. Good conditions must follow the operation, good light, humidity and warm temperatures. Ideally this operation should be done during the hot humid days of summer.
I could have sworn there was a video of you sawing off the ginseng roots, but I cant find it in the playlist. Im considering doing the same to mine, I assume early spring is the best time. Do you recommend branch pruning or defoliation when hail mary cutting the roots or not?
I don't have a video of this one, maybe I didn't expect it to live? It is best to do this root chop in the middle of summer when it is hot and humid outside. You can leave the leaves on the tree, but mist it a lot the first few days, try to keep the leaves wet at all times. A small greenhouse will help, even just a clear plastic bag over your tree will work well. Be sure to put some air holes in the bag and keep it out of direct sun as it could get too hot inside. Heat and humidity and good light will get the tree to grow new roots quickly, after the first week the tree should continue growing like nothing happened. I keep the leaves on the tree, and it usually drops a few, but once the roots start to grow, the remaining leaves help supply the tree with energy and this helps grow the new roots.
The very best time is mid summer when it is hot and humid. The tree should be left to grow for a year before doing drastic pruning to build up the strength in the tree for a quick recovery. Any time after a period of good growth is also good, the end of summer can be a good time if the tree has been left to grown wild in the summer and the tree is brought indoors to a sunny window for recovery. If the tree has grown strongly over fall and winter, you can prune them back before taking them outside for the summer. It is important to give the tree good conditions for recovery, warmth, sun and humidity.
Hi Nigel, I remember when you got some of those Vietnamese pots and stands printed. Are you or the people sprinted those for you going to market those? I would like to get one about the size of the one for your Focus and maybe a little larger for the Jade Forrest I want to plant in the upcoming spring.
I haven't heard anything from Spectra 3D, I think the company took off and got very large and busy! I am getting a 3D printer this winter and I'll be designing and making many pots and making the design's available to all for free. I think the printer will pay for itself if you make your own pots? Have a great new year Lyle!
It can be done anytime after a good period of vigorous growth, I typically let my trees grow for the summer and then prune them back in fall. It is important to keep the tree in good health and under good conditions for recover. Watch for aphids on the new shoots coming in and keep the tree warm and in good light.
How do you feel about those , fat ginseng "bonsai " that Canadian tire get around this time of year, the ones I saw have nasty grafting wounds , and lots of ugly roots
They can be made into something nice, if your up to a good challenge! This tree began life as one of those commercial trees and some day I hope it looks grand!
Hi Nigel I’m the guy that texted you about the Vietnamese pots and you said your computer crashed and u told me to stayed tuned I have this exact same ficus and want it in that pot . As your biggest fan I’m hoping you get the computer working again and I want one of those pots I hope there not that expensive and if u can find it in your heart to make me one I’m pay u and pay the shipping and stuff I’m sure u get a lot of comments on these pots.. hope to see your reply . Happy new year 🎈🎊 Mike G.....
Hello Michael, I'll make sure to model this style next as it is a popular style! I'm going to be getting a 3D printer and I should be able to make some in the future. I will be posting all the pot files on Thingiverse for free. I'll be leaving the links to the pots in the description of the video. I'm hoping to make a larger and slightly deeper version of the pot too.
Hi everybody! New to the bonsai world and still learning, and I need HELP. I transferred my 4 month old flame tree from a seed starting soil to a proper bonsai soil a week ago...the bottom branch leaves are starting to yellow and die off. DID I KILL HER?!?😰and if so, can I save her
It may be just the transition, as it is common to get some die back after re-potting. You can try placing a clear plastic bag over your tree and pot to keep humidity high, this will help the tree recover. Keep the tree out of direct sunlight with the bag as it could get too hot inside. You should poke some ventilation holes as a precaution. Misting a couple of times a day will help also.
Thank you very much! I will do that. I live in Florida so was hoping, even though it is winter, that she would benefit from being out outside for a little bit as well. Most of what I know is from watching your videos, I truly appreciate you and your videos...I think you’re great!
Happy New Year! Another great video sir! Question from a newbie. Do you not need to use wound paste after you've done the big cuts on this ficus tree? Looking forward to the next update as I also have one growing. Thanks!
Thanks David! I don't use wound paste and if I do, I use white carpenters glue, it seals the cut just long enough to stop the initial moisture loss and then it washes away with rain and watering in about a week. Some people think cut paste is good, others think it promotes rotting. It is best to research the topic and come to your own conclusions!
Yes I do, we can get a period of nice sunny days in the winter and with the sun reflecting off the snow it can be very bright in the plant room. The trees grow well and they need some fertilizer to keep them happy. Here is my video on fertilizing.... ua-cam.com/video/gXIIpxUqxdY/v-deo.html
The STL files got lost when my hard drive crashed, I am making new ones and they will be available soon. I will be showing the new pots on the videos and I can send you the style that you want as they become available!
Do you think that I can be successful at growing my own bonsai tree with help from youtube? I really want to grow one☺ I have two very young pomelo trees and a one and a half year old mango tree, which one shall I try with?
Both can be developed into bonsai. I am growing Pomelo seedlings at the moment and you can follow along with me as I work on the trees. Every tree gets a playlist, here is the one for the Pomelo seedlings... ua-cam.com/play/PLQouTWwmTQozczDyhNWg3L6BacPFeAY4n.html
You can download the file for free and then you'll have to find someone with a 3D printer. Here is the link.... www.thingiverse.com/search?q=Nigel+Saunders&dwh=545e6062c75a0be
Hello nigel,I'm watching your videos and learning from you a lot in the past 3 years. And i have to say,you are the best. I'm traveling in vietnam right now and i have some beautiful bonsai pictures from here. Let me know if you want me to send you these photos,and give me your email adress🙂 Marry christmas!
Keep the root hanging over the pot. I love it gives me the feeling like it's a really old forgotten bonsai in Vietnam.
I've seen roots on those large trees from Vietnam escape into the ground, it does look very cool! I'm sure I'll keep them!
Have a great new year James!
I was thinking the same thing, but repotting must be a nightmare.
I love it how you say "Big cut. Here I go!" But man, the things you DON'T consider a big cut. Boggles the mind!
I thought bonsai will be hard with all the wiring, but Nigel has helped me out with his vids and his own collection showin us that we can just snip n grow! Ima grow my Pohutukawa like his Ficus here... Keep as much horizontal and try lowering height of canopy. Its growing quite the same way his Ficus is.. Cheerz Nigel! BONSAI ZONE!!!
Thank you and happy growing for 2020!
Wish you and your family a healthy 2020 full of love and free time for your hobbies 🎆🎇🎉🍾
Thank you very much, see you in 2020!
The Ginseng Ficus bonsai in the printed pot looks really good after cutting it back, it's interesting how those roots are turning out. Happy new year and wish you and everyone all the the best in 2020 !
Thank you J, see you in the new year for more fun!
When you said it looked like a haunted tree it reminded me of the oldest oak in Sweden. It's called "Kvilleken" and is around 1000 years old and 13 meters around the circumference.
Happy new year!
It does look like the old Oak! Here is a link to this amazing tree....
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumskulla_oak
in the winter time my ficuses are the only plants that I keep at home and I really love em thanks to you I'm no more "affraid" to do defoliation
wish you all the best in new decade Nigel!
Thanks Eric, as long as you let your Ficus grow with vigor before defoliation, the tree will recover well, if kept in good conditions too!
Love those 3d printed pots!
I'll be designing and making lots of cool ones this winter, I'm hoping to get some really wild designs made, stuff that you can only do on a 3D printer. Stay tuned in 2020!
@@TheBonsaiZone that is exciting, im looking forward to it.
I always enjoying Mr Nigel hairstyle, it needed to be pruning and gave it a nice bonsai shapes.
It's a test to see how wild looking my hair will get! Have a great new year Khuong!
@@TheBonsaiZone thanks for your sharing everything about bonsai hobbies, I'm very new in this world and I appreciate all your sharing everything in your experiences likes no other. Happy NEW YEAR and more videos.
Have a Green year Nigel...
Thank you Dinu, I have a lot of work in the new year with my greenhouse and all my trees as well as maybe a bit of travel too! Have a great 2020!
Looking forward to more bonsai adventures with you in the New Year. Peace, Health and Prosperity for you and your family.
Thank you Pat, lots more bonsai adventures to come! Have a great new year!
Love the zoom and spin at 19:38! Happy new year!
Thank you Eric, happy new year too!
Hello Nigel, first a happy new year to everyone.
I haven't found Ficus Ginseng so appealing, but yours has something. I still haven't found a channel that describes the "Cut and grow" method so well and in detail. Through your videos, I also learned a lot about dealing with the roots. For 2020 I wish you to continue as before, it is always a pleasure to watch you.
Thank you and have a great 2020!
Nice video, love those ficus, they look so ancient! I love that you can show how to get such different trees from the same species, just with different styling.
Thank you, see you in 2020!
Mark here great video Nigel your right the tree looks spooky Sleepy Hollow ! Have a Happy New year's Nigel 👍
Yes, it has that ancient spooky look to it! Thanks Carmie, see you in 2020!
Happy New Year Nigel! Wish you all around growth this year, with your family and as well as your Bonsai. Love from India.
Thank you my friend, I'm very happy to see your channel doing so well again this year, keep up the good work and have a great 2020! Some day in the far future, we may meet!
@@TheBonsaiZone Meeting you will be a "dreams come true" event to me.
Yes true all ficus are dense plants. But another fact is the love a lot of rain 🌧. Nice plant here and cool bonsai pot. I got ginseng ficus bonsai at the age of 14 from my father 👨.
Edited: The big one looks old like the gaint ficus ghost trees shown in Indian 🇮🇳 movies 🎥.
Cool bonsai. 😎
Ficus make one of the best bonsai I found a ficus bonsai at Walmart yesterday but I didn't buy it because it had been glued into the pot the pebbles on top could not be moved
Yes, I'd stay away from those! You'll find a better one.
@@TheBonsaiZone maybe or I could just take cuttings from a tree in my neighborhood because every bonsai I find ay a store is beyond fixable they look more like bushes then trees
Seus ficus estão cada vez mais bonitos , ficus é uma espécie que gosto bastante 👍👍
Obrigado, nossa estação de crescimento é tão curta, mas eu tento me contentar com o que tenho! Tenha um ótimo 2020 e mantenha o bom trabalho com seu canal!
@@TheBonsaiZone Obrigado e tenha também um feliz 2020 com muita saúde e paz a vc e sua família .
“Haunted” look...seems similar in feel and style to what Walter Pall would call the “Fairy Tale Style,” the style that invokes a sense of age and mystery. Really fun to watch you do this fundamental structure work. It’s clear you’ve developed a fine tuned sense of foresight.
The older ancient trees seem to take on a unique look, short tapered trunks and stubby branches. I think this and the hollow trunks gives us a natural fear of these trees, as who knows what or who is hiding inside? Have a great 2020 and I look forward to more of your videos!
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone you too Nigel, onward and upward!
'it'll take a few years but I'm in no hurry' - bonsai in a nutshell, we could all learn some lessons from this :)
Bonsai is like 3D printing, if you watch your print it takes forever, but if you stay busy working on another model, the 3D print can seem instant! Have a great new year Ollie!
Happy New Year Nigel! love to see your updates.
Thank you Sanjay, see you in 2020!
And a happy new year!
Thank you Quinn, have a happy and green new year and keep making cool trees and videos!
Love the root overhang. Looks individual.
Thanks Angie, I will keep the escaped roots, they do look cool!
Hey Nigel HAPPY NEW YEAR ....and good luck for your new trees and for new ideas
Thank you Rahul, happy new year and I've got some cool stuff coming in 2020!
@@TheBonsaiZone thanx for your reply and am waiting for your new ideas 😉
"It'll be an exiting 2020" was a minor understatement..
I don't think anyone expected 2020 to develop like this. A wake up call to our modern smaller globe.
Happy New Year Nigel to you and your family from Berlin! Hope to see many more videos about your trees and the progress of the community gardens.
Thank you and happy new year! Lots more videos coming for 2020!
Happy New Year to you too!
Thank you Denise, happy 2020!
The ficus is looking good. I have a similar kind ginseng style ficus, which doesn't seem to want to grow at all. I put some sphagnum moss around the roots so I can cut them a bit shorter and put it in a nice pot next summer. Hopefully in 20 yrs mine looks as good as yours!
Happy New Year, Nigel! Looking forward for what you are up to next year (especially waiting for update on the birch forest of Jonathans in the spring).
Cheers!
Thank you Aija, spring will be exciting and I'll be sure to update the Birch forest! Happy growing and have a great 2020!
That Ginseng Ficus Bonsai is developing quite well. Happy New Year to you too! Thanks for sharing
Thank you, I think 2020 will be a busy year and time will fly! Happy new year Hobby Scape!
Happy New Year sir and very nice video
Thank you Chandrakant, see you in 2020!
Was just thinking that I hadn't seen a Bonsai Zone update in a while. Or at least it seemed that way... Been a busy holiday season. Happy New Year, Nigel!
It's always a busy time of year, but lots more videos coming for 2020! Happy new year Spenser!
Happy New Year, Nigel. Looking forward to seeing many more lovely bonsai creations from you in 2020.
Thank you Vishwanath, lots more to come in season 7!
Happy New Year Nigel! I love trying to guess your next move, when you give choices. I get a lot more correct nowadays! Now I just need to put the practice into play!
Thanks Marysol, good to hear! Have a great new year and I'll see you in 2020!
Thanks and Happy New Year to you Nigel.
Thanks Mikey, have a great year also and a good green one!
Have a great New Year Mr. Saunders! I look forward to the continuation of learning from you.
Thank you and happy new year too! Lots more to come for 2020!
looks very nice love they way you bring the plants out to make look giant, excited to c the final product of the 3d pot
Thanks Aussie Bb! Have a great new year!
@@TheBonsaiZone you aswell good sir
Happy New Year Dear Nigel!!! We are wait your news videos!
Thank you so much,
хорошего нового года, до встречи в 2020 году!
I have one of those grafted “faux bonsai” trees, apparently it can grow up to 1 meter but I find it hard to believe. So I’ve decided to let it grow and see how big it can get. Happy New Year to you and thank you for your youtube channel! Much appreciated
Thanks Louise, i think you might get that kind of growth from suckers that form from the roots, but the grafted part will most likely grow slowly. See you in 2020!
Hello Nigel I also have a ficus for 5 years now. Your ficuses look gorgeous! Happy new year!
They are really nice trees, i love the aerial roots they can get!
Happy new year Nigel!
Thank you Kelly, 2020!
Do you have a video of you cutting up the big roots to split them in 3
Yes I do....
ua-cam.com/video/PIj3JHXKwIQ/v-deo.html
Thank you! Happy New Year to you Too.😇
See you in 2020!
Those ficus look amazing, I really want to get one.
They just keep getting better with age, a great tree for bonsai!
Happy new year!!!
Thank you Bart, season 7 coming up!
Woohoo!
Really exited to see how this tree turns out! Also, love the intro music.
Thank you, yes I think it looks good with it's short tapered branches, a step forward!
Didn’t know I could do this to my ficus in December. Guess I will. Nice vid as always.
It is important to keep the tree in good growing conditions for recovery, a nice bright warm spot! The leaves should come back in in late January. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
I love this tree want to know where to get a pot like this I really like the root growing over the pot I would like to know what was used to carve the grooves in the roots great job Nigel
I have a Ficus nitida I started back in the 80's I think. When Home Depot first sold them. It turned out impossible to do more with the canopy then a hemisphere. At least I never could. No open cloud with this plant. But it's got the fat trunk and roots...no show winner,but nice.
It growing outdoors here in California,btw.
Thanks Stan, it might be hard here in Canada to get a nice canopy, but I'll keep trying, maybe with better lighting in winter I can make progress. As long as we enjoy our trees, all is good!
Hey Nigel! You should start a mulberry someday. I have a few and they are just so vigorous (more so than ficus) so I'm really keen to watch how you control it. I grow them as a tropical so I'm not sure how it'll perform there in Canada, but their genetics sure are good for leaf reduction!
And a happy new year !
I've always wanted to get a Mulberry and I'm sure I will some day! They make fantastic bonsai!
Happy new year too! Thanks!
Hi Nigel, nice to watch your video, may know which video show the progress/result after you prune
Your last video of 2019?
The next will be 2020 and hopefully the first of many!
Happy New Year Nigel.
Thank you Margaret, I think it is the last video of season 6! See you in the new year!
Happy New year, Nigel!! I wish you and your family all the best for 2020! ❤️
Thank you very much, I hope you have a great 2020 also! 2019 seemed to just fly by, I hope this year time slows down a bit!
@@TheBonsaiZone I wholeheartedly agree!
My cat really enjoyed this video and tried to play catch with you!
My cats like bonsai, but they don't that involved!
Please post a follow up after it grows back in.
Happy New Year
I will Susan, thanks happy new year!
@@TheBonsaiZoneI always cringe, but I also can almost always predict when it's going to happen. You have inspired me to start my own. Just have to get a plant safe space
Wishing you a joyous 2020 👌👌👌...!!!
Thank you Sunit, have a great 2020 and I hope to see your comments in the new year!!!
@@TheBonsaiZone Yes sure...👍👍👍
Hi Nigel, I hope you keep the roots growing out of the pot, they really age the planting in my mind. Or at least keep the one, I can understand you removing the one growing out of the drainage hole. I'm just starting in bonsai again, after a 40 year hiatus. My wild child lasted a long time! I have a question for you, totally unrelated to the ginseng. Have you finished cementing your posts for your greenhouse? Because there is an easy way to keep your posts level (perpendicular) while you're cementing them in. If you attach 1"x 4-6" boards to the post to hold it in position while adding the cement, you don't need to check so much. Speeds the process up quite a bit. Anyway........
Have a safe and wonderful new year Nigel!!
Ditto for all your fans
Thank you, a good tip for my cement work, I still have more posts to go in. Good to hear you are back into bonsai, I will keep the roots, I can always drill another drainage hole in the bottom.
Baba u r full power. Amazing .....
Thank you Mayuresh, lots more to come!
Happy New Year Nigel!
Thank you Ronald, happy new year!
There both looking good. As always keep up the great work and hope you have a happy New Year as well.
Thank you, see you in 2020!
Hi Nigel, I don't know if it's something you've been doing more recently, or I've learned enough from your videos now to notice, but you often seem to get a bit carried away with pruning. You had a lovely dense canopy on this one and I don't think it was necessary to prune it this severely to get a bit more horizontal spread. I noticed you reducing many of your other trees to twigs as well recently, taking 2 steps backwards, 1 step forward. If I'm wrong feel free to tell me. I still love your videos of course, keep it up and happy new year!
This approach gets you a nicely tapered and twisty branches for that miniature look. The fine branching will come at a later stage, at this point I'm just trying to build an interesting primary structure that I can build on later. This is the basis for a clip and grow bonsai, letting the branches grow and then pruning them back to get a tapered branch with movement and character. It does seem like 1 step forward and two backwards, but the trees do make progress and you get something really special in the end!
Looking great! Both pots and trees. Will you make a fountain pot set up to make a ho non boh?
I'll be making a lot of 3D printed pots and experimenting with different pot designs and bonsai styles, have a great new year Matias!
@@TheBonsaiZone Happy New Year Nigel! Thank you!
Hi Nigel, I am also growing a ficus tree. When starting it, should I keep the part of the tree that I pruned off in water and let it grow there? When I used seeds and also when I pruned and kept it in soil it died in a week. (I could show you some pictures of how I kept it)
It is best to keep the cutting in water until it shows some white bumps at the base. You can then put it in bonsai soil, but keep a tray of water under the pot so the soil stays constantly wet until the cuttings begins to grow. The cutting will need bright light, warm temperatures and high humidity. You may want to put a clear plastic bag around the tree.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone Thanks Nigel, it is just that when I put it underwater, the leaves still dried out. Do you think I did something wrong or is this normal and there’s nothing to worry about?
Great Vid Nigel ! one question, I have a branch half way up a tree that is to thick, can I thin it down somehow, I don't want to lose it as it has a lot of fine branch structure coming from it. regards
It can be done, but it would take many years to heal and blend in. You would have to remove all of the branch except for one live vein. Over many years the living part of the branch would slowly round itself and become a normal looking branch. I have done this for roots, but not a branch, but I'm sure it would work the same way. Just leave enough of the branch that it can support the weight of the branch tips.
Did you know, some of the plants cells around the grafted part can actually be genetically be a mix of both specimen ?
See you 2020, when you hopefully get your new greenhouse completed during the year.
Plants are amazing! I'm going to really enjoy building the greenhouse in spring and making lots of videos!
Have a great new year!
And a Happy New Year to you as well. 🇩🇰🇩🇰🇩🇰 Pls. keep up your good work, thanks 👍👍😎
Thank you Finns, have a great 2020 too!
I have a tiger bark I just did a really hard prune on, a leggy 3+ foot tall plant I cut all the way down to a 5” stump. One month later the stump has already put on about 3” in branches. I would imagine it will look something like this in just a few more months. Is it better to harder prune less frequently, or can I prune a branch or two whenever as needed? I’m not sure I feel comfortable pruning too much foliage at once during the winter.
If you want nice taper in your trunk, it is better to hard prune the tree and let it grow more in between. As your tree approaches the refinement stage, you are better to prune less off, more often. I try and do my pruning either mid summer, or just before the trees come inside for the winter. At this time the trees go through a spring like growth with the warmer temperatures indoors.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone Thanks! That is good info and will help me get the taper I want. I still have a ways to go before I’m refining it.
Does it matter what season it is when you prune it?
how do you split the big ginseng roots into those small ones?
The long-legged bonsai pot, (3d printed). Where can I buy one ?
I was giving the STL file away for free, until my computer crashed and I lost the files. I don't sell anything on my channel and I am in the process of re modelling the pots and they will be posted on Thingiverse.
There a tree like yours with heart shape leaves on line I saw. U should buy. There a rare rubber tree I saw before on line. Four shades of green on the leaves u should get your hands on . It was 60 bucks for it.
Thanks Chris, I'll keep my eye out for different varieties!
Happy new Year to jou to!
Thank you and have a great 2020 too!
Happy New Year Nigel!
I have a weeping willow that got trunk chopped. I'm in Oklahoma zone 7. It's younger in age and from Tractor Supply. Should I leave it outside or in the cold garage? Please help, thank you.
If the tree losses it's leaves, it should be fine outside, if you are trying to force a winter rest, it is best to remove the leaves and then place the tree in a cold dark area for at least 6 weeks. After the winter rest return the tree to full sun.
@@TheBonsaiZone thanks Nigel!
How many years did it take you big bonsai to grow that big?
Hallo, my dear friend! Happy New year!!!
Thank you Vadim, have a great 2020!
I watch your channel all the time and love all the different trees you have. One question, in all these videos I don’t think I have seen one Juniper. Is there a reason you like so many different trees but shy away from Karate Kid trees? I know they can be challenging but it’s probably less challenging than growing tropicals in Canada.
I've had a few Junipers, but one by one, they didn't make it through some tough winters. I have a new Juniper for styling that will be coming up on a video soon. I do like them, I'll have to get more!
Happy GreenYear !! For twenty twenty !!
Thank you for a great 2019 Minstera Marc and I hope you have a fantastic 2020!
I have a question Nigel. Do ficus’ do well and grow roots if you cut all the roots off and cut it flat? Thanks.
Yes, if the tree is healthy and vigorous at the time you do it. Good conditions must follow the operation, good light, humidity and warm temperatures. Ideally this operation should be done during the hot humid days of summer.
I could have sworn there was a video of you sawing off the ginseng roots, but I cant find it in the playlist. Im considering doing the same to mine, I assume early spring is the best time. Do you recommend branch pruning or defoliation when hail mary cutting the roots or not?
I don't have a video of this one, maybe I didn't expect it to live? It is best to do this root chop in the middle of summer when it is hot and humid outside. You can leave the leaves on the tree, but mist it a lot the first few days, try to keep the leaves wet at all times. A small greenhouse will help, even just a clear plastic bag over your tree will work well. Be sure to put some air holes in the bag and keep it out of direct sun as it could get too hot inside. Heat and humidity and good light will get the tree to grow new roots quickly, after the first week the tree should continue growing like nothing happened. I keep the leaves on the tree, and it usually drops a few, but once the roots start to grow, the remaining leaves help supply the tree with energy and this helps grow the new roots.
when is the best time to do major pruning on a Ficus? I live in zone 6b
The very best time is mid summer when it is hot and humid. The tree should be left to grow for a year before doing drastic pruning to build up the strength in the tree for a quick recovery. Any time after a period of good growth is also good, the end of summer can be a good time if the tree has been left to grown wild in the summer and the tree is brought indoors to a sunny window for recovery. If the tree has grown strongly over fall and winter, you can prune them back before taking them outside for the summer. It is important to give the tree good conditions for recovery, warmth, sun and humidity.
Happy New Year my Bonsai hair Master! I am gonna get my self some Ficus!
Ficus are really good for bonsai!
Hi Nigel, I remember when you got some of those Vietnamese pots and stands printed. Are you or the people sprinted those for you going to market those?
I would like to get one about the size of the one for your Focus and maybe a little larger for the Jade Forrest I want to plant in the upcoming spring.
I haven't heard anything from Spectra 3D, I think the company took off and got very large and busy! I am getting a 3D printer this winter and I'll be designing and making many pots and making the design's available to all for free. I think the printer will pay for itself if you make your own pots? Have a great new year Lyle!
@@TheBonsaiZone let us know what brand and type of printer. I would be very interested in knowing that and give it a try in making some pots.
Good bonsai👍👍❤️❤️
Thank you very much
Hi there 🤠 from Australia
Just wondering what season you do this? Thanks 🌿
It can be done anytime after a good period of vigorous growth, I typically let my trees grow for the summer and then prune them back in fall. It is important to keep the tree in good health and under good conditions for recover. Watch for aphids on the new shoots coming in and keep the tree warm and in good light.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone great, thanks for the help 🤗
Happy New Year!
Желаю зеленого и очень счастливого нового года!
Thanks, Nigel! It’s such a great present to get an answer from you in Russian! I wish you green and happy New Year as well!
How do you feel about those , fat ginseng "bonsai " that Canadian tire get around this time of year, the ones I saw have nasty grafting wounds , and lots of ugly roots
They can be made into something nice, if your up to a good challenge! This tree began life as one of those commercial trees and some day I hope it looks grand!
Hi Nigel I’m the guy that texted you about the Vietnamese pots and you said your computer crashed and u told me to stayed tuned I have this exact same ficus and want it in that pot . As your biggest fan I’m hoping you get the computer working again and I want one of those pots I hope there not that expensive and if u can find it in your heart to make me one I’m pay u and pay the shipping and stuff I’m sure u get a lot of comments on these pots.. hope to see your reply . Happy new year 🎈🎊
Mike G.....
Hello Michael, I'll make sure to model this style next as it is a popular style! I'm going to be getting a 3D printer and I should be able to make some in the future. I will be posting all the pot files on Thingiverse for free. I'll be leaving the links to the pots in the description of the video. I'm hoping to make a larger and slightly deeper version of the pot too.
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone thanks for the reply can’t wait for your next upload
Hi everybody! New to the bonsai world and still learning, and I need HELP. I transferred my 4 month old flame tree from a seed starting soil to a proper bonsai soil a week ago...the bottom branch leaves are starting to yellow and die off. DID I KILL HER?!?😰and if so, can I save her
It may be just the transition, as it is common to get some die back after re-potting. You can try placing a clear plastic bag over your tree and pot to keep humidity high, this will help the tree recover. Keep the tree out of direct sunlight with the bag as it could get too hot inside. You should poke some ventilation holes as a precaution. Misting a couple of times a day will help also.
Thank you very much! I will do that. I live in Florida so was hoping, even though it is winter, that she would benefit from being out outside for a little bit as well. Most of what I know is from watching your videos, I truly appreciate you and your videos...I think you’re great!
Happy New Year! Another great video sir! Question from a newbie. Do you not need to use wound paste after you've done the big cuts on this ficus tree? Looking forward to the next update as I also have one growing. Thanks!
Thanks David! I don't use wound paste and if I do, I use white carpenters glue, it seals the cut just long enough to stop the initial moisture loss and then it washes away with rain and watering in about a week. Some people think cut paste is good, others think it promotes rotting. It is best to research the topic and come to your own conclusions!
very nice and instructive video as always !!
beautiful results ..
a question .. do you fertilize even in winter?
hello Nigel !! and happy New Year
Yes I do, we can get a period of nice sunny days in the winter and with the sun reflecting off the snow it can be very bright in the plant room. The trees grow well and they need some fertilizer to keep them happy. Here is my video on fertilizing....
ua-cam.com/video/gXIIpxUqxdY/v-deo.html
Nigel, would you please email me the STL files for any printable pots? Thank you
The STL files got lost when my hard drive crashed, I am making new ones and they will be available soon. I will be showing the new pots on the videos and I can send you the style that you want as they become available!
Do you think that I can be successful at growing my own bonsai tree with help from youtube? I really want to grow one☺ I have two very young pomelo trees and a one and a half year old mango tree, which one shall I try with?
Both can be developed into bonsai. I am growing Pomelo seedlings at the moment and you can follow along with me as I work on the trees. Every tree gets a playlist, here is the one for the Pomelo seedlings...
ua-cam.com/play/PLQouTWwmTQozczDyhNWg3L6BacPFeAY4n.html
How can I purchase this 3D pot
You can download the file for free and then you'll have to find someone with a 3D printer. Here is the link....
www.thingiverse.com/search?q=Nigel+Saunders&dwh=545e6062c75a0be
Have a very Happy New Year and Decade :-D
Thank you Elisabeth, have a great 2020!
Exciting 2020? This didn't aged well!
Come posso contattarla in privato?
Puedes enviarme un correo electrónico a ...
thekwbonsaisociety@gmail.com
It's not an exiting 2020 rather a disgusting one......but i love your content .love from West Bengal, India💓
Yes, not a typical year and for many, not a good year at all.
Love the fact that this dude can careless what his hair looks like! Lol
Just glad to still have some left!
Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone Lol!! I pray I have as much as you do when I’m your age.
🎉🍾🥂👍
Thank you Jan, happy new year!
Hello nigel,I'm watching your videos and learning from you a lot in the past 3 years. And i have to say,you are the best.
I'm traveling in vietnam right now and i have some beautiful bonsai pictures from here. Let me know if you want me to send you these photos,and give me your email adress🙂 Marry christmas!
I'd love to see your pictures! You can email them to...
thekwbonsaisociety@gmail.com
Thanks and have a great new year!