Nursery Stock Series Pt. 1

Design - In this week’s stream we kick off Part 1 of our Nursery Stock Series, where we visit various local nurseries to select and style material straight from stock. We discuss the selection process and the decisions of that pivotal first styling with a unique Blue Rug Juniper.
For more information and for more videos like this, please visit:
live.bonsaimir...

[@liverocks62]

I am so glad I am watching this video almost 5 years later after posting because I am closer to seeing the progress and final result of this beautiful masterpiece.

[@dianawood2671]

Rayan is not only a bonsai master but also an excellent teacher. Thank you Ryan for your lesson!

[@rodneytimothy6900]

I've been doing Bonsai for over 27 years and Ryan Neil has taught me more about pines in the last three months with his videos than any other book or teacher that I"ve ever come across. I have been following him for a few years now and he is blossoming into a serious word of authority in the Bonsai world. God bless him for putting up with all the abuse Mr. Kimura put him threw because he has returned to the states with a plethora of knowledge that he is sharing with the serious Bonsai person. It would be awesome to see him do a video on "" Blue Atlanic Cedar, glauca"" because this tree brings a level of class to this hobby. I'll be joining Bonsai Mirai very soon and be a big supporter of Ryan Neil and his Art.

[@groovygranny5565]

I really like your conversation about fear. I feel the same as Kendall and as you echoed. What really helped me was to go to a kid's bonsai exhibit that a karate instructor friend of mine organized. These young people were karate students who were also doing bonsai in the back of the dojo as part of their training. I was so impressed and humbled by their lack of fear and unrestrained and uninhibited creativity. Each one of them had a idea for their tree, and they were allowed, even encouraged, to follow their idea. I was so inspired, I decided I had to be more like them. I had to discard my fear of breaking a "rule" and approach my bonsai with fresh eyes and attitude and a sense of abandon. It's become waaay more fun.

[@lifelikelu]

Im just so grateful these videos exists. Thank you.

[@lump88]

Umm. The most informative and important 2 1/2 hrs that i have spent. First ive been wanting to ask this since you set the first trunk on the left hand side then kept saying it would take 18 months for us to see it, 18 months for us to appreciate it. The question, Once you drew the line to show us where the air layering was going to be is it true that you saw what this stock was going to be a decade for then? Once you started the stream, just by the way you had the stock positioned i knew it was going to be a forest, but i had no idea you had that journey in store for me. That vision is to be commended and the amount of knowledge in this stream is invaluable to someone like me who is a beginner. Thank you. im going watch the whole series, i just hope at some point now being 3 years along, that you have an updated video or photo. this steam has taken me from $10 - $20 comfortable to $80 "lets go!!" that fear is gone.

[@davidallison4031]

Awesome!!!!!.... The ability to see this outcome from unpromising nursery stock is mind-blowing. It has taught me to open my mind to obscure solutions to creating from such material.

[@dbr1310]

Absolutely the best instructor, breaks it down to make it easy to understand. Ryan is down to earth and very likable. Thank you so much for inspiring me.

[@smilinjef]

I just wired my first nursery stock juniper before watching this video, now I want to throw it away :) Great video! Greetz from Belgium.

[@loycemarch9603]

I get plants on sale and play with them. I look for 2 plants in one. We have stores here where they sell plants for 99cents. Some go back in black pots. Some go in small pots. So I can kill and be a bit sad, but it is ok. I have a couple plants in yard that were overwhelming area. So I will dig roots and try it. I dug up seedlings from aunts yard to test. I am 75 yrs old and decided I could stay in garden with bonsai and not have to get onto heavy work as my knees give out, lol. Love your shows and work.

[@greggles1987]

so nice to see someone else who shares the enthusiasm for scouring nurseries for new material. us bonsai fanatics are not alone :)

[@craighunter3273]

Yes. Your video was 'effective'. I would never have imagined I would watch such a long vid on bonsai. But I did. And I must say it was the best video that I have ever watched on bonsai. Well done and thanks for your enthusiasm. Cheers Craig

[@nk3835]

Need more nursery stock videos. Soooo helpful

[@jamesfloyd6803]

Outstanding demonstration. I may watch this all the way through again tomorrow.

[@BONSAIenCORTO]

La madre que me parió!!!!! impresionante!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gracias por toda la información, por toda la pasión y por enseñarnos más allá de cualquier prejuicio, sin guardar nada, con verdadera sinceridad. Estoy francamente impresionado por tu compromiso y por tu profesionalidad.

[@JohnnyRocket54]

This video left me with so much anticipation of where this project could be headed in the next 18 months you have stated it will take to view a presentable piece of bonsai material. Your vision was a total surprise. I hope you post a follow up on the air layering process that will be taken; as that procedure is what will determine the future of the tree and turn its potential into reality. Great demonstration Ryan!

[@fgdavid]

Thanks Ryan, amazing job and incredible details explanations. You have open my eyes to go one step further in visualization a futures of a bonsai and nursery material. Many thanks from Mallorca, Spain.

[@808danimal]

Rewatching this two years later I have been able to take in so much more information and can appreciate the process of learning the art of Bonsai so much more. The best take away for me has to be not letting fear stop you from taking action and making mistakes. I read somewhere that there are two ways to learn first is from mistakes and second from mentors . The benefit of learning from mentors is that you get to learn from their mistakes. I’ve had this tree in my front yard that I’ve been wanting to air-layer for years and after rewatching this I think I definitely want to have a go at it. That being said I am no where near ready to take that on, so I’m going to practice on some other lesser quality material and clipped branches until I can build up the necessary skill set and refine my techniques so that I can do so. Stoked for this and all of the videos you put out there. Ryan is my favorite bonsai artist to follow and I love his take on the art form as well as the information he gives about making sure that the health of the tree should always be your number one priority over aesthetics. Thanks again for all the knowledge you continue to pass on to future bonsai artists 💙🌲😁🤙🏾

[@vinnyvdalidemonet8527]

That was awesome. I learned a great deal. So much information given. The video was long, however it had my attention the entire time. I really enjoy watching someone that is an expert at what they do. It is truly a privilege to witness such skills. I look forward to watching this tree develop into an award winning master piece. I believe this is one awesome creation Ryan unveiled. Bonsai! Thank you for sharing.

[@kienkenyap6144]

Love it , Ryan, your clip solve my puzzle of years on how to position branches on my bonsai and truly as you said, need hand on practice to sharpen yourself to become a better bonsai lover. God bless you and appreciate your sharing to the world.

[@franknagel7564]

just stumbled across this video and i´m painfully aware that my english is very out of practice at the moment. Ryan - thanks so much for breaking down such a heap of decisions and work into understandable steps without denying the complexity of the process. this has given me new drive for springtime work which has to be done once the frost is over. cheers Frank

[@sidewaysonhighways]

Here’s my conflicted approach to this piece of material. When I first saw this stream, I didn’t see any other way to deal with this blue rug juniper than how Ryan did. However, I didn’t like that there was so much waste in air layering the clump away from the main trunk. In the end, the trunk did its job in feeding water and nutrients to the air layering site, until roots were plentiful. Now I see it and am surprised that Ryan didn’t pull some Mr. Kimura shit and attempted to separate the live vein from the deadwood; provided there was any dead wood, and contort the live vein downward to compact it. Then peel the deadwood into broad flat strips and shape them in a curvy, swept formation, which in a concept sounds good, but I don’t know how realistic that would be on that exact tree. I totally respect what Ryan’s approach was, because he saw where the best potential was to create a desired composition and in a manner where the composition could flourish. Plus Ryan knows the material.

[@socalbonsai2778]

Thanks for starting with nursery material. There are very few places in the states to purchase actual bonsai to work on, so I usually have to start with nursery material.

[@MitchellMasilun]

As a "professional" photographer and educator, your wisdom on how a professional should have humility and ability really rings true. I tell my students all the time that the camera (read: tree) is only a tool, its up to the person (bonsai master) to use their craft and vision to create a masterpiece. "Chicken salad out of chicken sh!t". Well said.

[@intronintron2608]

The shopping part was actually very very informative, thank you!

[@joelarcher5016]

To the point. Always helps having simple phrases to recall. Thanks for the video!

[@hermanvanjaarsveld6597]

Just discovered you channel Ryan, subscribed! South African fan here, where it get's so hot our roots cook in the pots ;) much respect for the teachings !

[@robertfowlkes1166]

WOW!!!! Ryan, that was amazing. I could not possibly have imagined what you were going to do when I saw you with this tree in the beginning of this video. You've done Kimura proud....no one but you could have come up with such a wild idea, Dude, you're my hero. Unfortunately, I could only hit 'like' one time, cause buddy, you have 10 thumbs up from me.

[@mark_zuckerburg]

The number of times he references “Tiered Members” sucked me out of my Tuesday night zen and made me feel like I was listening to a Pyramid Scheme pitch.

[@dragoncraftercreations6277]

I was totally with Kendall by the end I feel I learnt a lot and the information makes sense and is explained well and yet I still felt a little lost. For me that's primarily because I've not started the practical just learning the theory and I'm nervous about where you begin once the trees actually sitting before you, arrgh! But so much helpful information. These have been fascinating videos and I look forward to the next ones to sink my teeth into. Thank you

[@69kesh]

RYAN YOU ARE AMAZING , I HAVE DONE SOME SIMILAR WORK , I M NO BONSAI EXPERT IT TOOK ME VERY LONG TIME , YOU DONE ALL THE WORK IN NO TIME AT ALL, I AIR LAYER IN 2 PLACES ON THE SAME BRANCH I TOOK A CHANCE , WORK WAS DONE IN MARCH 2017 , I HOPE THEY ROOT, WAITING IS A KILLER, PLEASE KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, I M BASED IN LONDON UK

[@lyndadaniel3163]

One more question: "May I have that awesome tree?" Seriously, the best video I have watched to date and I have watched so many..thank you!

[@acer_p_bonsai]

Great video. Excellent application of unified flow/design throughout this material. Looking forward to experimenting on a juniper this summer. 🙇🏻‍♂️

[@AlandosAnjos83]

When we realize that we dont have acess to thouse 100 years old material we began feel sad and frustrated than I saw this vídeo and starts to belive that we can do bonsai. That's a more realistic approach and I would like to thank you Ryan. Hope become a Mirai member as soon as I can. Sorry about my english! :) Cheers from Brazil!

[@n6356583]

1 month and 11 days until we reach Ryan's "I told you so" deadline. I'm psyched.

[@vuho4728]

I love this video great job on the work. Love the mind set ..the attitude , the outcome and further of the tree. I been reading books and watch video learning bonsai on my own. I understand alot of your teaching concept on this video. I subscribe to your channel. Hope to learn some more from you. Thank you for sharing a great video and knowledge 🍻

[@ReindeerD]

Lmao poor Kendal unintentionally stressing Ryan out is killing me 😂

[@mmjnice97]

It's interesting that you are talking about nursery stock because if you're ever in Dayton Ohio let me tell you about a nursery gem in the gem city... btw the gem city is Daytons nick name.. go to north Dayton garden center. The nursery has been a fundamental part of my bonsai experience because they have been in business since the 60s. family owned and they never throw any material away so you could easily find an Eastern red cedar that has been there since the late 80s still in its mostly Disintegrated nursery pot. Or junipers and ficus that have been in there bonsai nursery since the 60s. I regularly find material that has been there for 25 years and the family remembers mostly when all the stuff landed at their feet. They tend to buy in Bulk from other nursery that have older material that doesn't hold on to old stock so you find gems all the time like Burberry bushes that have turned dead white and has most of the dirt long washed out the pots to expose all the root flares.. most of the material has been there for over 5 years with that 10% over ten years.. definitely worth a visit.. ask for Pete..he's the guy that's been doing this since the 60s in his early 90s still give old Peter Chan a run for his money in a cage fight hahahahaha

[@user-mz2rx5qo2e]

Super, er hat goldene Hände

[@hotwaterishot]

This inspired me to go out a buy and wire a Hollywood Juniper!

[@eFaKaUdwa]

best bonsai video ever (except of the other of your videos!)

[@veegee49]

Man thanks a million I learned so much from you I am headed for the nursery today

[@govcolin]

That is staggering. I can't wait to see an update on this.

[@robwiley4964]

Pando is in Fish lake national forest located 3 hours south of Salt lake city. I would say this is closer to Zion's National park than SLC.

[@paulbruniera2081]

Thanks Ryan.

[@guytriggs7114]

Thanks Ryan, a lot of info and inspiration taken out of this episode !!!

[@apathetik11]

Any update on this bonsai? One year later.

[@JAMES-dv5ns]

Yeah look on instagram

[@JackDagnaIs]

@@JAMES-dv5ns Got a link to the specific post? They have 1200 posts on instagram :/

[@alessandromassimo5717]

@@JackDagnaIs yeah I am looking for it too

[@nashdrifter3629]

If anyone finds it please post the link. Interested in seeing it also! Thanks!

[@horanbenjamin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn_QnnaVo9iojs0

[@domeniccosta5579]

U rock...... big thanks from Portugal

[@sevenmile]

28:50 "Basically hoping it dies so they can quit watering it..." Oooppss! Done that.... lol

[@ericbrown4761]

I'm moving up to the majors fast. I kill one a year on average. Thanks Ryan and Bonsai Mirai.

[@bonsaicentercr9267]

wow! amazing what you get out of nothing. congrats and greetings from Costa Rica!

[@gazkaleiodscope]

Good call! Great vid😁 hello from Durham uk

[@paidgigs]

This is awesome education! I’m signing up for classes!

[@BonsaiMagic]

This is really amazing !!!

[@modtheblackmarvel]

Life hack Ryan 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾✊🏾✊🏾

[@christophpenny1457]

Hi, it's now 5 years later, I was wondering how the new tree came out and did you do anything with the bottom tree? It's giving me a great idea for a fat tree thanks from England

[@groovygranny5565]

Is that R. impeditum you were looking at? One of my fave plants. Had a few in my yard in Seattle. Have often thought I would love to make one into a bonsai. And, oh, BTW, did you really say "rad"? Hahaha. You crack me up. You're so adorable. I can say that because I'm old as dirt. I love your nursery series because I can't spend a ton of money on plants so most of the time I get nursery stock. And I love your spirit of adventure. Because I do get nursery stock and because I'm curious and adventurous and a beginner, I love experimenting. In my bonsai classes, I have had to put up with ridicule over some of my choices which are all equal in my eye. You're humility is so refreshing. You get excited by the orphans and rejects and uniquely different plants. I'm sure I'm breaking all kinds of rules, but I'm having fun and learning from it. My new mantra: "Take humble material and make it work for me." Thank you so much for that story about laughing at the homely, unattractive tree. With you as my inspiration, I will keep doing what I'm doing!!

[@hermanvandervoort4807]

Good work man.

[@danieljones5948]

Would love to see updates to this tree and other demos done in the past

[@8872217]

cant wait to see the result after air layer.

[@rashidaldossary5385]

AMAZING, THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH!

[@TheBarefootedGardener]

I would love to see you make something beautiful out of an Alberta Spruce… never seen any nice bonsai from those shit trees…

[@OldCountrySeeds]

I hope you made the guys who laughed strike all the cuttings from what you cut off. :)

[@coll1208]

Ryan, great material. I'm wondering if you have an update on this tree.

[@dracokaiser]

Actually, you might be able to save the bottom portion with the two remaining branches and remove 2/3rds of the trunk so you could bend it....

[@krunoslavcicmir5166]

Just an suggestion, I would like to see that tree in an actual bonsai pot in the end, and other ones too thanks

[@enobishop1419]

I see it ... beautiful

[@kahoaalohamalalis8841]

Awesome job. I like the teaching that you use what is available, be it yamadori or nursery leftovers. Thank you for the inspiration. Here in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, I try to use natives such as the eastern white pine and the Jack pine. Two opposites, one long needle and one short needle with different growing habits. Still learning their ways to bonsai. Already killed several. LOL. But I'm still impatient, it's hard to wait for a tree to start looking old. Going on 15 yrs. and my white pines still exhibit immature green trunks, maybe the bottom inch or two show any maturity. Wondering if I'm treating them incorrectly, if they're the wrong material or I'm too impatient?

[@peterboneg]

At 2:01:00 he talks about making the angles of the branches the same and symmetry. Exactly what kind of symmetry does he mean? Both shapes he made with his arms were symmetrical about the vertical axis. In mathematics the word symmetry can mean many things and I wish he'd defined it more and why it relates to branch angles. The other question I have about that is whether it's natural or not? I think it's natural for many conifer species for the branches to be at the same angles but not very natural for most deciduous species where the angle of the lower branches is normally lower than the upper branches.

[@danachats8944]

That is some serious wiring and how deftly you do it to create unimaginable beauty. Super wow. How many years are these wires going to be on?

[@sationobudi1706]

Apik tenan! Good vision!

[@PumpkIN-jr8rm]

This one was a waste of wire When you picked the tree the tree to the right of the one you picked was dope I would have left the one you got

[@dracokaiser]

You can actually make the bottom part as a windswept bunjingi

[@christopherfrechette]

I think I like the angle at 2:00:30 better as the front

[@juanpablogarcia9377]

hi, the whole nursery series is great for beginners like me, one question, Where can i find the Spring water ( air layering) video, couldn't find it in your videos. Thanks for your help

[@dimitarvelkov]

Are there some photos of this three in order to see the progress?

[@Costic_Studio]

do you ever bonsai fruit trees that are tropical if so would you water them with worm water.

[@curtismyrick9715]

Wondering if an umbrella pine could be used for Bonsai?

[@chrisbanner7551]

Awsome

[@benclancy557]

loving the finger guns

[@masterkayaman]

Do you have an update of this tree?

[@JAMES-dv5ns]

Instagram

[@masterkayaman]

Do you have the URL?

[@JAMES-dv5ns]

Uhhh... look up bonsai mirai on instagram...

[@masterkayaman]

@@JAMES-dv5ns thanks, I found it

[@nashdrifter3629]

@@masterkayaman could you please share the link to the update. Many thanks if you can. Have a great day!

[@nicklanphier9222]

Any updates on this bonsai or any of your other nursery stocks?

[@johnhernandez3134]

Is there an update? If so can you tag the update?

[@jesusmedina636]

HOW OFTEN WOULD I WATER A PLANT THIS SIZE IF LEFT OUTSIDE DURING SUMMER DAYS , I LIVE IN TEXAS BU THE BAY? THX.

[@JAMES-dv5ns]

What’s the appropriate time to prune and style conifers

[@johndavis8998]

Is there a follow up to this video or photos of the potted bonsai?

[@DonHawkinsPhoto]

Is there an update on this tree? How does it look today? Would love to see it!!

[@horanbenjamin]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn_QnnaVo9iojs0

[@acheronexile]

Question: can the remains after the air layering become beautiful literati?

[@acheronexile]

Looking at it and dreaming, I see that the few branches on the one side of the remnant could be bent around and potentially drawn together into several parallel lines that curve around across the top and then separate and bend back slightly making a bit of a canopy. Given time, the thin branches would thicken and give the appearance of being even closer together, a false trunk made of a ribbon of thin branches, attempting to hide the otherwise missing taper. Past that, it would almost beg for a subtle djinn shortly above its newly designed trunk and apex.

[@davidryle1164]

That's a blue rug? Is it top worked? I've never seen it except as prostrate.

[@ahb5819]

It's basically trained on a stake to get the trunk ,and then just let juniper droop. Kinda a landscape thing, but dropped out of fashion. So it will be difficult to find now.

[@alaingarbaccio7990]

When is it the best time to air layer a Elm tree? Thank You

[@ilsQ]

Is there another site where members Can see the Update on this bonsai?

[@richardlynch8009]

his vision and mine are simply not the same.

[@gabrielookami8774]

Any update on this Juniper? Thanks

[@joeyhernandez14]

Man where did you get a blue rug at the only ones I've found are small as hell

[@ericbrown4761]

joeyhernandez14 most are between three to five years old.

[@abbasduman6963]

What is inverse taper?

[@zsandmann]

Could you update us on this material?

[@smokyhillbonsai-gerrettmor6373]

At 1:09:25 Ryan talks bad about Turface. Does anyone have a link to where he explains his issues with Turface? I like to learn about that before I order for next spring.

[@keyleamichael3538]

Ryan you are takeing bonsai to new levels brother, Carlisle, UK

[@ericbrown4761]

Gerrett Morris I don't know about Ryan's experience with turface, but it has a reputation for being nitrogen fixing, meaning it soaks it up and only gives it back, when it starts to break down. That's unfortunate because that's when you're going to be repotting right? People have used it for years, and I think that it's fine, especially if you live in an area where rain can be infrequent.

[@smokyhillbonsai-gerrettmor6373]

Thank you Eric! I live in Kansas, defiantly a place where rain in infrequent.

[@peterboneg]

I'd like to have an answer from Ryan about this. In the UK a lot of us use a specific cat litter, which is basically the same stuff. Normally Ryan gives the reasons why, but in this case he just says that turface sucks without any explanation.

[@danachats8944]

What does Ryan use?

[@808danimal]

Where can you get more details about the Bonsai Mirai apprenticeship/classes?

[@808danimal]

Thanks, this demo was by far the best I've seen in terms of detail, possibilities, and information...not to shadow any of Ryan's other demos though.

[@kahoaalohamalalis8841]

Hmm, 808. Hawai'i?

[@sergiosaravia2932]

Any update on this tree?

[@nikolaus2688]

This thing needs to be planted on a rock. It just has to. Would be thrilled to see how it's coming along BTW.

[@wriv819]

That was a disaster demo. What were you trying to make?

[@BonsaiMirai]

Hi, William. Thanks so much for the feedback. To see a more complete transformation of this piece, watch this short video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/nn_QnnaVo9iojs0

[@777greglee]

@@BonsaiMirai Great answer! The finished product is pretty special.