My Root Over Rock Cedar Bonsai, The Bonsai Zone, July 2020

I begin today with updates to many of my bonsai. I discuss some new ideas for the Yucca forest and then I prune up my tiny Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) clump that just naturally grew over an interesting rock.
To see previous videos of my Thuja, root over rock Cedar, click on the playlist here....
• Cedar Clump, Root Over...
To see previous videos of the Yucca bonsai forest, click on the playlist here...
• Yucca bonsai
To see previous videos videos of the other trees in this video, click on the playlist tab for the tree your interested in.

[@thegroundtone]

Happy Birthday, Nigel. Time does fly with bonsai. I wish I had taken up bonsai when I was a lot younger. I'm almost 48 and I came to it only about 6 years ago. I love your bird's nest spruce. It's one of my favourites.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

48 is young, I didn't get into bonsai until I was 31. I hope your trees do well for many many years to come!

[@Pim3211]

Happy birthday to you and 27 years doing this bonsai thing :-). Beautiful

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Pim van Veen!

[@davidweiss6724]

27 years! Happy Birthday and Bonsai Birthday! I love the bird's nest tree! Excellent. The Cedar root over rock cleaned up nice. Great work as always!

[@juandiegovasquez1497]

love birds nest hairdo

[@jessesnelling257]

Happy Birthday Nigel! Wishing you at least another 27 years of bonsai! Your videos add such a bright spot to my days. Thanks again!

[@craft-o-matic2377]

Another wonderful video, and Happy birthday Nigel! Your channel brings a great deal of joy to my life! You are amazing! Thank you! Lisa

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Lisa, it very nice to hear! It's great to chat with my viewers also!

[@marysoldeeley2218]

Many many more years you have to go! Trees looking good, dang fireworks... sigh. LOL I use clippings from the local cedars in my clothing storage and drawers to keep the moths and other bugs away. The nice smell of my socks and gitch is a bonus :)

[@ErikPukinskis]

Happy Birthday Nigel! I've only been watching your channel a few years but I agree, time flies when hanging out with you and your trees!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Erik, it's good to have you here!

[@n8tyler]

Bird's Best Spruce is looking great...Such a great tree...Thanks...

[@dinudavis4230]

Happy birthday Nigel... The older the trees, the younger you become... My son's first birthday also coming.. july 9 Time flies..

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Dinu, yes time passes by quickly both with bonsai and having a family! Happy birthday to your son, I can't believe it's been a year already!

[@GrimTEAM]

I love your energy Nigel

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Grim, I'm really enjoying life!

[@justinbrantley2603]

Nigel, sir, you got some amazing trees !!!! Truly appreciate you sharing them and techniques you use!

[@Iheardyoulikeplants]

Hi Nigel! Thanks for the tour of your plants! A note about leaving the dead leaves on - in my experience, dead leaves on a plant that lives outside are fine, since there are beneficial insects outside. If a plant is kept indoors, the dead leaves are a magnet for pests such as mealybugs, and there aren't usually beneficial insects indoors to eat the bad bugs. I have an aeonium indoors that I left the dead leaves on, and it was mealybug city!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Lane, this may be a factor that I hadn't thought of! I'll give it a try and see what happens!

[@TheMrericmichel]

Think that should be a on a Bonsai zone mech t shirt. " Time flies, when you doing BOnsai!" Happy belated bday Nigel! ;)

[@mattbrennan647]

The tours of your benches have become somewhat of a family reunion for me and I thank you for that. Many familiar “faces”. Happy Birthday, and thanks for your tutelage.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Matt, it's really nice to have you as part of the channel!!!

[@kelzbee4981]

I already love this guys personality!!

[@sophiaangelini4368]

The new ideas for the Yucca tree are super and original. Happy Birthday!

[@jtkruk]

Thanks for video. Happy Birthday Nigel !

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Many thanks!

[@kosmozova]

Everything is doing really well here in the bonsai zone. Happy birthday Nigel!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Sauli!

[@connorjones7432]

Happy birthday Nigel! Thanks for sharing, trees are looking great!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Connor!

[@Smoneey]

Happy early birthday Nigel, you're my main inspiration. So if my trees die I'm blaming you!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Simoney, I hope your trees do well then!!!

[@BonsaiJCan]

Really nice, that was a great walk around the bonsai garden and seeing your trees doing well. The root over rock cedar looks really good ! The screen house Laura built looks excellent, she can really build, what a great job ! 👌👍

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks J, yes Laura was a born builder for sure!

[@EnchantedwithPoodles]

Happy happy belated birthday, Nigel. I’m glad to hear that the screen house is “doing well.” Ha ha. It is beautifully designed and constructed.

[@vicbarrientos655]

Happy birthday my friend long may you run!!!

[@karinmoonhawk3720]

Great updates Nigel as well on Laura's special place, looks really good! and the little cedar is looking great again too. See ya in the next one! 💖👍😊💖

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Karin, it's always great to see your comments!

[@cherylb4470]

Geez, Nigel, are you invading Laura’s screen house with your pine seeds? Pre bonsai in the front yard, 2 greenhouses, benches in the yard…plant room and cellar in the house. Goodness, Laura is definitely a keeper, Nigel! 🤣

[@melissacanfield6570]

The House Wrens in our yard are answering yours as I watch your video. Happy Birthday, Nigel, from Oklahoma! I so enjoy all of your videos.

[@KarIiah]

Oh... I didn't know that they were actually called that way and thought he said 'house friends', which is nice too, I guess. :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They are such nice little birds and they help keep the insect population down in the yard too! I'm trying to imagine how small the babies must be! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_wren

[@alicer3423]

Wow Laura is quite the carpenter. Her screen house looks fantastic. Your trees are looking very good also.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks so much, I'll tell her Alice!

[@spenserdeardorff2737]

Happy birthday, Nigel! Many happy returns! Been hot here in California, too! 100+ degrees.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, the heat will be good for my next video, germinating Baobab seeds!

[@patsfreund9164]

Loved seeing all the bonsai in the opening segment. The focus on the root over rock tree was interesting. Enjoy Canada Day.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Pat, I hope you have a great 4th of July!

[@williamchong9203]

Blessed Birthday, Nigel . Glad to see the update on the Pomelo trees from Singapore.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They are growing well William, I think they are used to the sunlight now and should grow even better this summer! Thanks again for sending the seeds!

[@zeroeure]

Nigel, I'm really loving, and appreciating your channel! As well as your Bonsai HAIR!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Zero Eure, good to hear!

[@sophiaangelini4368]

The brown and green leaves are natural and look great together.

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

You've got a lot of happy plants there Nigel, and I have to say I *really* love the Brazilian Rain tree. Stunning! I'm also really liking the Mimosa.. I guess I love all those long composite leaf trees. Great video! Regards from Dave in Madrid

[@zackau9807]

I love your little cedars. I want to hike there!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It looks like a nice little ridge to walk along!

[@jballenger9240]

The front of your root-over-rock-cedar remembles legs crossed. Nice.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, like sitting on a park bench!

[@Youngwiseditor]

Happy birthday so glad to see your beautiful bonsai collection

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Anil! I'm looking forward to hopefully many more birthdays!

[@craft-o-matic2377]

Oh, btw, the photos you were showing in the desert southwest were Joshua Trees, which I love. I never thought about them being in the Yucca tree family, but it makes sense. I love the sloughing of the leaves on Joshua trees, but I don't find I enjoy the way it looks on others, but hey, you can make trees look so beautiful. I will just have to wait to see what you can do with the Yuccas. Lisa

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, we'll see how it goes!

[@lucius249]

Happy Birthday Nigel I hope it is a good year!!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Lucius, every year is good, just gotta keep them coming!

[@alaindavid2419]

Nice to see a review of all trees I've watched and have learned to practice on my bonsai. Happy birthday Nigel ! Give us update too , when the pear tree fruits are ready for picking. Lol.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I'll be sure to try them on camera! Thanks Alain!

[@rman8028]

Happy belated Canada D'eh and early birthday, Nigel! We're celebrating Treasonist Colonists Day on Saturday. A massive update on everything! I was wondering about the yuccas recently; they look like they're doing well. Stay hydrated along with your plants and rabbits.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, yes there is a good and a bad side to every celebration, even my birthday!

[@vighneshks3944]

Happy birhday to you🥰😍i will wish for you to make you live more 100years😍

[@bonsai_life_style]

Good luck Nigel I have birthday in 5.7. too (I m 44 so little yunger) so we will celebrate. Have a nice life And happy birthday it Is special day for your sole she s reminding the day she come to earth .

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Damir, have a great day, it's nice to be spoiled a little on your birthday!

[@patrolland9740]

Happy Canada day to you Nigel. :) loved the outtakes at the end. LOL

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Pat, all the best to you!

[@farmert9679]

My P. Afra, same. I have out in full sun now trying to get it to sprout leaves. Trunk still green about 2 inches up and the rest is all drying out. Same for me in the winter. Plant just went downhill.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Winter is tough on some trees, they need the sun and warmth of Africa!

[@TobyJin]

Rewatching this and looks like I forgot to say happy birthday, Happy birthday Nigel, sorry for being late

[@joaquimdomingos23]

Happy Birthday Nigel from Portugal great video

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Joaquim! I hope you have a good day when your birthday comes rolling along too!

[@farmert9679]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!! With many, many more to come.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks T, I have to live a long life to see the Baobab seeds grow! It's a good motivator!

[@Lewythefly]

Nothing like a good root on the rocks

[@stevehennigan2269]

Happy Birthday Nigel ! I hope you had a happy CANADA DAY ! Canada Rocks !!!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Steve!!!!

[@VinciecBonsaiJourney]

Happy early Birthday Nigel! You dont look near your age! Must be all that oxygen produced by your beautiful collection! Its really cool to see all the variety, and also the accent plants are good to see 😁

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you kindly Vincent!

[@dabblingwithbonsai]

Wondered if you were doing a longer update with more than just a few trees.. Worth the wait tho, all is looking good! Happy birthday! Expecting you to continue your bonsai work for at least another 27yrs , teaching us noobs the art.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I hope I get another 27 years! That would be awesome!

[@GrimTEAM]

And happy birthday my man :D

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, 58 today!

[@the_nvd]

Nigel about the jade forest. Those that arnt fine all located near the edge of the pot. It might be the reason. Much more temp. Variation at the edges..makes more tension in the roots.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, yes it could be the location and maybe it was drying out to quickly near the edge also?

[@jonattanpichardo8655]

The Behind the scene was great new perspective!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, I'll never run out of bloopers, I'm actually quite good at messing up!

[@rolineland5207]

Happy birthday .. One other channel that asked all his subscribers to send a photo of all their best bonsai to make an exabition video with all the photos and I thought that wad a good idea

[@TheBonsaiZone]

That's an awesome idea! Thanks!

[@ChopsticksDIYGarden]

Great video as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Quang, more to come!

[@japf4865]

Hi Nigel, congrats for your incredible collection, just sublime. I was wondering, want kinda rock is that under the majestic Cedar tree? Again thx for your hard work. Happy Holidays!!

[@7puggiescyndycarruthers193]

Nigel, I acquired a sweet little Brazilian Rain Forest Tree earlier this Spring. She is growing vigorously in bright Eastern sun. I am hoping like heck you will be pruning yours soon so I can get some help on how to prune her back. I eventually want a true canopy specimen. Cheers!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Mine is growing well, it should be ready for more pruning soon!

[@NEWCREATIONRaiSantosh]

So, beautiful collection sir

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Many many thanks!

[@alexanderwiggin846]

Just saying a fan won't cool the trees as much as it would cool a mammal because the trees are room temperature, and unlike a mammal trees do not sweat so therefore the evaporation won't carry the heat off of the trees. So only use the fan to get hot air out of the greenhouse and cool air in, but don't ever use the fan with the door closed or it will just use electricity and slightly even make it hotter due to friction, just saying. great video and thanks for uploading as always.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Trees do pump moisture up to the leaves to cool the tree and keep them hydrated, some trees like Willows pump out so much, it feels like rain when you stand under them on a hot day! Thanks Alexander!

[@alexanderwiggin846]

@@TheBonsaiZone though what you said is true it's not as effective as mammals because they are not warm blooded.

[@Strawberryfidelity]

Amazing. Happy bday 👏❤️🎉🎂

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you so much!!!

[@mr.pebbles9201]

This is the best video on you tube

[@Coralnstuff]

I want to set up a drip for a bonsai tree next to my aquarium I have a high power indoor plant light as well and was wondering if you had any species of tree you think would work

[@bartstellink307]

Just love this tree, looks awsome! By the way, thanks for saving my trees and plants from an investation. That soap and water mixture did the trick. 3 weeks treatment and it was gone. Love the bloopers!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, good to hear about your trees!

[@bartstellink307]

@@TheBonsaiZone, are people still sending photo's of their trees? Haven't seen that in a while.

[@ashinimeitei566]

Amazing video, nice father

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you very much Ashini!

[@everist22]

Maybe the leaf damage on the American Elm is Elm Leaf Beetle? The American Elm is generally pretty hardy against it but there may have been some limited grazing?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's possible, I think the Japanese beetles have finally stopped eating the leaves, the Elms must taste good I guess!

[@olliesargent6174]

Great video, thanks! How do you overwinter the mimosa?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It goes inside into the plant room. I don't heat the room until the temperatures start to get down to 10 C. It gives the trees a rest period, especially the sub tropical trees.

[@ricklandaubonsai5506]

The dinosaur that is featured on the witche's tree. I've got the saaaame one from waaay back! They came in happy meals from Mcdonald's when the movie Dinosaur came out XD

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Good eye, I watched that movie over and over and then over again with my kids! Luckily it's a good movie! I think I have most of it memorized.

[@hmm_silas]

I love your vids I’m new to bonsai

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks!!! Grow bonsai!!

[@hmm_silas]

@@TheBonsaiZone will do

[@hannahfletcher9615]

Happy early Birthday from Maryland! Love your channel! You were my inspiration to start bonsai trees :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Hannah, great to hear and happy growing!

[@jadedazzlewood5417]

Hey Nigel sir is back with another interesting video

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Rajveer!

[@LABUKETChanel]

Nice.. Thank toturial..

[@hautranst25]

Bật thầy chơi cây bonsai 😂 . Trồng đủ loại cây

[@iamaloner]

Happy birthday! Hope you do bonsai got another 28 years if not much more.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Me too, thanks Abhishek!

[@HAJUBONSAI]

nice sharing.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you very much HAJU BONSAI!

[@CDM10000]

Enjoyed the video, and happy early birthday

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Christian!

[@YOtaBZH]

Hey Nigel!! :) Weather is kinda cold those last few days in french britany....not feeling like summer haha! lucky you are :) so you're going for another 27 years long bonsai journey hehehe :) easyyyy haha ! Take care Uncle Nigel :D

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, we'll try for another 27 years!

[@mattdemoraes]

Happy birthday Nigel!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you Matthew, I did my 40 km ride yesterday on the bike and all went well, except me going up the hills!

[@mattdemoraes]

@@TheBonsaiZone Ah well, at least if you end up rolling backwards down the hill you get a new view of the trees on the way down

[@robertjossa1258]

Great video loved the little bloopers lol

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Robert, I'm good at making bloopers, it's my gift!

[@marybryan7199]

Happy Birthday Nigel

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Mary!

[@jitendrapatel2706]

Happy birthday sir 🎂🎉

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Jitendra!

[@microd3369]

5:25 how do you get such extreme bend on the trunk of your spruce tree with just clip and grow?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, it was just clip and grow over many years!

[@IndianBonsaiZone]

Nice update.

[@dk2614]

Hey Nigel, can I recommend a shrub for you. Caragna aborenses. Siberian pea shrub. Not only is it a traditional chinese flowering shrub used in Penjing but during the great depression it was widely used in the United States to provide food for chickens. And with a name beginning with Siberian you shouldn't have trouble with hardiness.... think it over. I may be able to send you some seeds when I send the other's this fall.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

My wife planted them all around her chicken area! Thanks D K, seeds would be awesome, some for bonsai and some for growing around the chickens!

[@rolineland5207]

For the jade give it less water and as much heat and sun I live here in south africa and for the most part that is what the whether is and the jade trees like it a lot .Here in south africa on of the biggest languages is Africans and here a jade is called a spekboom which directly translated means spec tree

[@rolineland5207]

Oh and if you make a cutting leave it on a tray for a week and then put it in soil

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, very good advice!

[@the_nvd]

& happy birthday man 🌹

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Navid!

[@LemonsGraphics]

I have two lemon sprouts outside only about 4 weeks old. Very hot day today! Supposed to stay hot all week

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's hot here too! I hope your trees do well!

[@LemonsGraphics]

@@TheBonsaiZone i live near your area so im getting the same 31 to 34 C.

[@andrewbetrosian2784]

I have 4 Ginkgo's, How much water do you give them. mine are growing just a little at a time.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I water mine twice daily in this sunny hot weather. It is best to check and see if the soil is beginning to dry out before watering again. I fertilize daily with a very small amount too.

[@mikec3820]

hey happy bday nigel! im a cancer too. mine just past(6-27) 39 this year

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, a late happy birthday Mike!

[@mikec3820]

@@TheBonsaiZone i bought a portulacaria afra from frank yee for my bday. so excited to have one from him

[@tylerkelly1965]

So much good stuff in this vid. So many tree updates, around the yard, and the truck. Great video. What’s up with the fiddle leaf?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

The Fiddle leaf showed the first sign of green just the other day, I think even the cutting may survive also!

[@tylerkelly1965]

Nigel Saunders, The Bonsai Zone that’s so great!

[@remiralte3941]

Beautiful..by the way,what about your dawn red wood style juniper bonsai?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

The tree died one winter, I had to leave it outside in the coldest weather because our furnace broke just before it went down to -25 C. I had to clear a path for the furnace to be removed and the new one put in. We were 4 days without heat, I was busy outside chopping firewood and keeping the fireplace going., the house just barely kept above freezing! I lost a few trees that winter, it was just one of those years.

[@jupatj24]

Maybe it's the weather what is making it hard for your Portulacaria forest to thrive? Here in Mexico City it's super easy to get those growing. But try with a Cryptomeria and those don't even last a couple months, even on the shade.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It can be difficult growing trees that aren't suited to your own climate, you have to be so careful, one mistake and they are doomed!

[@Rellesofsaturn]

Hello from Riverside CAlifornia you’re tree r amazing

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Molina and hello Riverside!

[@carynludwig6667]

Just saw this video a year late, so Happy 28th birthday doing Bonsai! Do your cedars suffer from pruning in July? I always thought that any pruning is done while dormant. Your tree didn’t get a huge hair cut, so maybe a light pruning can be done in July?? I have a newly purchased Western Red Cedar that needs a severe chop, but I’m worried about doing it now. How did your cedar do, since I’m asking 1 year later…? Does it winter outside, or in your greenhouse?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thuja trees can be trimmed in the summer, they grow continuously in the warm weather. If you want to thicken up a section of the tree, it's best to leave that branch untouched. The Cedars in this video are doing really well! They will need a bit of protection when the temperature drops below -18 C. A shed, garage or cold basement is ideal until it warms up a bit. I keep mine in the basement usually for Jan and Feb only. Severs cuts are probably best done when the foliage gets it's fall colours, that olive green colour.

[@carynludwig6667]

@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks so much for the info! Really enjoy your videos, and the lessons learned.

[@zackau9807]

You're mimosa was from a seed, mine was from a weed! :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Funny, depending where you are from, a plant can be an exotic or a weed!

[@zackau9807]

@@TheBonsaiZone exactly! :)

[@brackenwilson5891]

Can you trunk chop a elm tree, and could you turn a corncob euphorbia into a bonsai?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes and yes. The euphorbia will get branches and I think a woody trunk in time.

[@PaediatricUrologist]

Can we repot a ficus religiousa at this time of year when it is having a fresh growth sprout?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is best to wait until the new growth has hardened off and root prune and repot when the tree is in between growth spurts. If the weather is hot, sunny and humid, re potting on most Ficus trees can be done anytime as they are fairly even growers, but I find the Ficus religiosa grows in spurts.

[@Taylor314T5]

Shame about the p.afras. My p.afras that I grow inside under a grow lamp started dropping all their leaves. I think they just got too dry. I wasn’t watering much over winter/spring, and I think they needed more once the heat of summer hit and the room warmed up. I cut all the remaining leaves off and they’re recovering. Trying not to over water, but they feel pretty demanding right now.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Taylor, glad yours are recovering!

[@Bonesy50]

Happy early Birthday !! From Arkansas.

[@alvarolupinacci641]

Happy Birthday in advance!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Alvaro!