The measurements on this tree, without the knees, is 3 inches to 30 inches so a ratio of 1:10. In Japan the ideal ration for any bonsai is considered to be 1:6. Wigert's Bonsai has a very interesting video on their field grown bald cypress and there is a huge range of sizes and ratios. Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5TPdXqrerOKn6M. So to answer your question it's really up to you based on the look you want. Hope that helps!

@ Thanks that helps me a lot new to this just wanted to start off right

@@donniesquires6093 I would shoot for a ration between 1:6 and 1:10. Remember wherever you chop, that's the starting off point for the new growth. I will be doing another styling session on this tree in about another month. Stay tuned!

I will Thanks again

I'm already psyched to try it again!

I think just waiting until it's a little warmer should do the trick.

Attach the picture in an email and send it to [email protected]

My sentiments exactly!

Even though it may not have looked like it, the first pot had way more volume than the others, that's why I decided not to use it. I really don't want to let go of any of my personal pots but I hear that Facebook has a marketplace where you can sell anything including bonsai pots. You may want to check out "House of Bonsai" in Cal. I've bought pots from them and was happy with them. I just met a local potter who may make me some custom pots, still waiting to work out the details...

I have some very small ones that have a while to go. They are also very tough trees but leaf miniaturization is very difficult I do know people in the local bonsai community that have them as finished trees but because the leaves are so large most of these trees are large too, three feet or so. I've known some to cut the leaves into smaller circles to get them to reduce! Every tree I've even seen like this looks contrived, but I guess it does get the leaves smaller!

@ someone on KZbin said to trim the biggest leaves off weekly and eventually it gets the point. I just got one a week ago and started the process. Do you know if they are fast or slow growers?

@@ScottTheExperimentalist I really have no experience growing them for trunk thickness but I think they do grow fairly fast especially in a huge pot or in the ground. If you have young ones that you want to grow as fast as possible then don't prune off any leaves until it's to the size you want. I don't know anyone who has removed leaves weekly. Without leaves a plant can't grow but it may be worth a try once your trees are at that point to see what happens.

@@WoodcrestBonsai I’ll let you know how it goes. I think the comment was referring to how fast they grow and how quickly they can replace leaves. I’m going to prioritize health of tree over reducing leaf size

@@ScottTheExperimentalist My feeling is give it a try and then if you see the tree getting weak you can always stop. Keep me posted, I'd love to hear how it goes!

I've never done it but since they root from cuttings so aggressively I don't see why not. Actually I've got one in the ground that I'm planning to chop so I will do an air layer first and post a video. Thanks for watching!

@@WoodcrestBonsai awesome! I got a 1.5” trunk from Weiger’s but it just tall and straight. Thinking of air layering the top off to make a broom style. With the base I’ll see what she gives me. It’s 45-52 at night here so I’m thinking wait until the spring would be better when it’s warmer?

@@ScottTheExperimentalist I'm going to wait until spring (March here in zone 10) to air layer the one I have. I'll take a video so we can see the progress.

Sorry about that. I realize my production quality needs to improve. Have you had any problems on any of my other videos?

I do believe you are right. I searched phyllanthus and found phyllanthus myrtifolius - the mouse tail plant - and it looks just like it. Thanks so much!

I was going to put off replying to you.... hehe. Thank God someone has my same sense of humor!

Wanna come and help me move stuff around? LOL

@@WoodcrestBonsai I'm sure its a lot warmer there...Here on the Olympic Peninsula its been cold and wet...Still in the process of bedding my plants onto the ground and up against the east wall of the house out of the wind...

@@n8tyler You really don't get the brutal cold of like the Midwest though, right? I remember in Chicago, zero F was not uncommon through most of Jan and Feb

@@WoodcrestBonsai No, Here in Sequim, we are in what is referred to as the 'banana' belt...A protected area between Vancouver Island and the Olympic range that deflects most of the harsh surrounding weather...Rarely do we get into the twenties with little snow, some rai and winds...Perfect for us old retirees...

@@n8tyler I bet it's beautiful up there. And you can grow bonsai varieties that I can only dream of.

Just keep it from freezing and it should do fantastic for you. Did you check out my tour of Jim Smith's collection at Heathcoat Gardens? He had some of the most amazing ones on the planet! Here's the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIbQf62tobeejtE

I can do that! Thanks for the great idea, I feel with winter coming on that I was running out of ideas for videos. When it comes to "good bonsai" that's a tricky one because bonsai is such a subjective endeavor but I can definitely discuss the general rules that I try to follow to create my trees. You don't happen to know a Nancy Aronson who lived in the Chicago area as a little girl? I was madly in love with her when I was eight years old! LOL

Thank you Mama. I once took a writing class that taught me to assume that your reader is "intelligent but uninformed" on whatever topic you were writing about so that's how I try to do my videos. I realize that many people well versed bonsai, even more so than myself, watch my videos but I still think that taking things down to simple explanations is the way to go.

Or maybe Phyllanthus myrtifolius

Thanks for commenting! I don't think it's heather. First heather is almost constantly flowering with tiny purple flowers and this tree has never had any blooms. Also heather stays very low, like this tree is now, but the guy that sold it to me says he has one that now has a two inch trunk. Regardless of what it is I'm looking forward to working with it as if develops

@@ScottHolcombe-qn1cl Yes, you are right. I'm really looking forward to working with this material. First, cutting, cuttings and more cuttings!

Thanks Tom! I appreciate the positive input. Parrot's Beak are quickly becoming one of my favorite varieties. I am definitely becoming more partial to shohin size trees. It seems the older I grow the smaller my trees get!

So have those branches hit the ground and grow back up. I actually know of one massive oak like that right in town here, a friend of mine lives there. It is so very cool. Great idea

That's awesome! I have so many seedlings from last year I don't know what I'm going to do with them all! I hope you have great luck growing yours

It's still alive as of today!

Just plain ugly is more like it! LOL It is SO bizarre that it does have a certain amount of charm. I was going to chop it up into separate trees but since you like it so much I'll keep it intact and style it from there. I'm thinking of calling the "The Creature II".

@ Maybe I have a liking for monsters. Will be excited to see what you do with it to make it to your liking but not change its true character. I watch every episode of your channel.

@@MamaJArk Yes, the bonsai that is clean and sleek and graceful and "perfect" stirs something inside of us but the one that is contorted, twisted, tortured and misshapen can have an even more profound effect at a completely different level. I think those trees evoke that sense of struggle that we all feel at some time or other. Thank you for you loyalty! I truly appreciate it!

Thanks Nigel! I'm still a little confused so I'm going to list the trees and then try to name them. No. 1 - Clean lines, fairly large leaves, white pot. Elemental Bonsai tells me it's a "Port Jackson" rubiginosa. Concur? No. 2 - Cut backs that died leaving the tree in almost two pieces. Lots of aerial roots. Natalensis? No. 3 - Crazy wild growth with huge number of roots growing out of the pot. Burt Davii? Thanks for helping!

@@WoodcrestBonsai That's sounds right to me!!!

@@TheBonsaiZone I'm going with it!

Thanks! I think you are absolutely correct. I was able to find a picture and it appears identical especially the way the new leaves unsheathe.

I use a number of different types but my main one is any good slow release pelleted fertilizer. I have three different brands and they all work equally well so pick up one that's available in your area and you should be good to go

Is there a tree you want me to turn around?

You are so right! I never even saw it until you pointed it out to me. It appears at about :50 and is visible until about 1:00 and then reappears at about 2:02. I will definitely use that as my front since I was leaning in that direction anyway.

I used to grow landscape plants for a living 30 years ago and I guess it's still in my blood! I love to propagate new plants and I feel like there's a certain connection with a bonsai that I have grown and nurtured from the very beginning versus one purchased somewhere else.

I'm very happy with them.

Hooray! Another milestone reached! I know this is probably reaching but I'm setting my sights on 500 by the end of the year!

Thank you so much Mama! I'm so glad you are enjoying my videos.

Stumps are good! I have me share of stumps too.

I appreciate the kind words!

Thank you so much! Only six more to go! I have the feeling that more and more people are discovering my channel and hopefully I'm providing something of value.

@@WoodcrestBonsai I think yours is one of the best.

@@kevinwilkes5969 Wow, thank you man. You really made my day!

If you haven't already please check out the earliest vids of this tree. It's quite the transformation.

😜

I saw that video and they looked like real thimbles. They must need to have drain holes drilled. I think in Japan this tiny size it called "finger tip" bonsai. Just as an FYI I got my pots from House of Bonsai in Cal.

@WoodcrestBonsai yeah just a diamond hole saw bit will cut through ceramic if you ever find something that could be used as a pot I do it all the time. I was looking at some thimble or fingertip pots on Amazon. Maybe in the spring I'll get some

I just posted another video on a tiny portulacaria. Please check it out!

They are fun even with the challenges they present.