Pruning My Crown of Thorns Bonsai, The Bonsai Zone, Dec 2020

[@ThePadren]

I love when you show the history of the tree at the start of the video like this.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, it's nice to be able to go back in time and see the trees development!

[@jessesnelling257]

Agreed! The refresher is really nice.

[@jensenmerrick2112]

you prolly dont care at all but does someone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot my password. I would love any tricks you can give me.

[@erickmanuel7852]

@Jensen Merrick instablaster =)

[@jensenmerrick2112]

@Erick Manuel Thanks for your reply. I found the site thru google and im trying it out now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@bastiv7806]

I never thought the crown of thorns will look that good in such a short time. Good job! Encouraging me to start one on my own.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, I hope you do!

[@bastiv7806]

@@TheBonsaiZone I have got mine now. I rewatched all your videos on thios tree and today it's going to be potted. Thanks for inspiration! until next time. Do something green today!

[@GuilleSpiegeler]

I really enjoy seeing segments from previous videos to give context to the current state of the tree, you've been doing that lately and it's such a great addition! Thanks for your videos, fantastic work as usual.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Glad you like them!

[@kittykat8284]

Excellent ‼️‼️💖💖💖🥰

[@locutia7]

This is a revelation! I have quite a few crown of thorns, mostly because I can't bring myself to throw away cuttings. It did not occur to me that I could treat them, at least some of them, as bonsai. I'm very much a beginner, so I'll have lots of material to work with! 😃

[@lisalombs1239]

My favourite thing is when you start carefully trimming a single branch and the next shot the whole tree is a stump! I don't have the courage.

[@BonsaiByLAN]

WOW! What a progression over the last 4 years! You were right about the inverse taper correcting itself.

[@sklim5389]

This is the best teaching video I have watched so far. Clear explanations of intent, rationale and patient demonstration. You have inspired me to have a bonsai style Crown of Thorns plant too. Glad I chanced upon your clip. Thank you so much.

[@bettymar255]

Very nice work! Love to heard how you described your pruning! Thank you ! 😊 🥰 following your videos! Hola from Ontario!

[@Enjoyplant]

Look so beautiful and healthy.

[@dinib5545]

Nigel, I could watch you for hours. Thank you for your daily upload. 🙂

[@chelseasmile7689]

What 😲 I had NO idea they could grow like this! That looks amazing 😍

[@MadeBySillo]

Hello! I’m new to your page and actually new to being a plant mom. Do you take all kinds of plants and turn them into bonsais?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, I have species from all over the world!!

[@fircrunch]

You would make a perfect Herbology teacher for the next harry potter! Nigel Saunders aka the Bonsai Wizard!

[@parikhspiecederesistance3958]

A big thumbs up 👍🏻 I ❤️ Euphorbia Millii 🙏🏻 Mumbai India 🇮🇳

[@dk2614]

Wow, I really enjoy this bonsai! The flowers are fantastic.

[@bubbybeefcakegaming3403]

i just got a crown of thorns because i heard they were easy to take care of and my green thumb is pretty lacking so seeing this video has made me pretty excited about my new plant.

[@redzepplin7397]

Super Cool Nigel, I love how you show the tree history!

[@angiebaby9022]

First time watching you! This is wonderful! Thank you!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Angie, I'm glad you enjoyed the video and welcome!!!!

[@gusiu]

This was very informative and I feel more confidant about pruning my plant back.

[@gracenmotion2402]

Thanks so much Nigel for the awesome tut… my wife and i went out and purchased a cute little oriental style dish, similar to the dimensions you used. I trimmed the trunk except the crown and it looks wonderful… thanks so much… you’re awesome 👏

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Fantastic!

[@BonsaiJCan]

What a difference over the last few years, it's looking really good 👍

[@Dev7D]

Hi Nigel, amazing work. Thanks for sharing old videos for reference. Awesome. I haven't seen anyone doing like that .You are true Bonsai lover. Like it.👍🏻

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Many thanks!

[@mraden45]

Great video, thanks Nigel.

[@MaybeBonsai]

Lots of thorns on this tree Nigel. I had one of these from cutting which I planted in a tiny aquarium. They root in water easily and grows in water but one weekend something got into the tank. Everything from fish to plants all died, I think someone has sabotaged however investigation by myself is still ongoing. So far I have no leads, this happened 2 years ago.

[@jballenger9240]

Nicely done.

[@DavesBonsai]

Fun tree Nigel! Dangerous to work on!

[@ogsxl]

What a fun watch

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks!!

[@OddBonsai]

Good job with the nice rammification on all branches! It seems that the main branch structure is going to gett a little bit cluttered in the following years but I'm sure the tree is still going to get better and better.

[@jNyOA]

I've neglected my Crown of Thorns for many years because every time I tried to prune it, I get pricked! Watching you make a bonsai out of this plant, I'm inclined to take better care of mine and maybe follow your footsteps and make it a bonsai as well. 😁

[@johannaquinones7473]

Wow. Love what u did!

[@wadmadhushan4434]

So beautiful mini bonsai sir

[@selfmade6142]

A pretty little tree. Nice work from you.

[@joanjackabon4515]

I have several large bushes and I would like to trim one back to try to get it looking like yours. Thanks for all the tips.

[@nonig3898]

Get some bbq tongs to handle your cactus. Beautiful crown of thorns bonsai ❤

[@rsliu4646]

Very helpful video. But I'm wondering when would be the best time to do the trimming for Crown of Thorns, for those in zone 6b and the plant will be moved indoor in early November? The info from Googling is really confusing: some said early Spring before the growing season while some said in winter after the flowers and leaves fell off, and some warned not to do in late fall etc.

[@Jmenoless]

This little tree of yours was the very inspiration to turn my crown of thorns to some kind of bonsai. I took some cuttings and in future years I'm planning for them to became a "sparce" forest in style of those iconic Dracaena cinnabari known as "dragon trees" you can find in Socotra island in Yemen. Since they tend to be leggy but nicely rich in branching and with good response to pruning, those Dracaenas imediately poped in my mind and I don't know why I just want to use them in that way... with all those thorns... 😄 But it will be fun to try!

[@peteryoung9164]

thanks for the videos. very helpful.

[@JayreneTV]

Thank you for relocating that Spider sir 😊

[@romabalami9963]

Great video. Thanks alot

[@Bw40099]

my christmas cactus cuttings just started to root i am excited!

[@satisharibam]

Good video Nigel Sir.Really enjoying your videos which are coming regularly nowadays.What a journey this tree had in the last four years,now looking forward to the next four years when it’ll look even more awesome! Didn’t know the Crown of Thorns grow so fast....

[@laurap1647]

I love your videos! You’re my favorite bonsai guy😉. You’re such an inspiration, you’ve encouraged me to try. So far everything is working out well with the things I’ve tried. I have a too tall crown of thorns I’ve been meaning to do something with. It flowers beautifully for me year round, but has to be dealt with. I’ve cut it way back, and will start some of its cuttings, to try and make my own bonsai. I have a question though. When cutting back does it have to be to a set of leaves for it to branch off there? It seemed like you cut anywhere along the stem🤔

[@jessevdmeer]

Great video. I really enjoy watching your videos! 👍

[@amberlo8827]

This information was so helpful! I was gifted an indoor Crown of Thorns plant 11 years ago. I have very much neglected it and it has one very long, leggy center branch that’s probably 2 ft tall, with just some small branches around the bottom. I want to work at making it thicker because it’s not very attractive. I live in a cold weather climate. Since it lives indoors, can I prune that long branch now, in the fall, without harming the plant? Or do I need to wait until spring?

[@ThePhobosAnomally]

I remember - I think it was a first update of this tree- how fast did the reverse tapper disappear. It's really something! Beautiful tree, Nigel!

[@betulaobscura]

Interesting pruning! It looks nice so far!

[@LemonsGraphics]

Hey nigel what water do you use to water your trees with in winter? And also what soil do you use for seedlings? I tried 50/50 perlite and oildry for some lemon seedlings and thwy arent enjoying it haha.

[@BlueYogurtLid]

WOW!! So awesome, I just bought 3 COT plants and am going to put them all in the same pot and bonsai prune them as one unit! 2 questions: 1) whats the best lighting? I live in an area with hot 3 month summers and cold winters with snow. Beautiful springs and falls, too. 2) is bonsai soil better than succulent/cactus soil? I'm probably going to wait to re-pot in Spring since winter is almost here. Thanks!!!!

[@Tybold63]

It reallly starts to get some character very nice. Always thought it to be a candidate for a tree in miniature and you showed me right. Have acquired a tiny cuttings planted but it looks miserable atm but maybe it is the darkness that prevails here up north lol. The challenge must be to know how dense i.e. how many branches to keep - I think I would like it even more sparse. But then again you usually know what is best :)

[@25marshalyn]

I would love mine to be more full. It keeps growing with a long stem and flowering.

[@rouvenkadgien8591]

Hey Nigel, is your crown of thorns closing the wounds with callus or does they dry up? ✌🏼 Best wishes and happy new year! 🌳🌲🍀🙏🏼

[@Flesh_Tube]

Can u Bonsai an African milk tree (euphorbia trigona)? Or have you tried?

[@Toni85034]

Hello, thank you for the information and wonderful video! How do you grow the cuttings from the crown of thorns?

[@lifeoutdoors8059]

Hi nigel keep up the good work

[@vasista1971]

So good

[@lambofgod6643]

Are the thorns and milk like sap of this plant poisonous?

[@suzannerowe6308]

When you are unable to use your cuttings do you sell them? I live in Montana and Crown of Thorns are very difficult to find. I would be interested in purchasing some of your cuttings.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Suzanne, I can't ship plant material across the border with out a special permit. Maybe a mail order place can ship you one? They are sold in a lot of places here and are as common as Jades. I find it interesting how plants are rare in certain parts of the world and very common in others!

[@suvette72]

I have a crown of thorns that used to be 30 cm tall and very busy, now it is leggy and i can see lots of thorny branches and not much green folage. Do you think if i prune it pretty hard it will be okay.? I'm worried if i prune it alot i'll lose the red flowers. I have a rough idea thanks to your video, so thanks very much.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It should be OK, I would try just a few branches at first and see how the plant reacts.

[@toasterlul]

can we get a 2 year update please

[@davidparke6604]

Nigel, any way to get some of your COT cuttings?

[@annettenoga6182]

Very informative video. I have a mature crown of thrones and not sure how to start thinning the dense leaves, best tool to use, to check out the branches. I cannot see any of the branches. Bloomed last year with few flowers and no blooms this year yet. Any advice would be appreciated.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Annette, it's best to use a chopstick to investigate the branches and see what's going on. Once you begin cutting away some of the branches with some long handled scissors, the plant will slowly open up and you will begin to see more and be able to make good pruning decisions!

[@annettenoga6182]

@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks for your feedback. I have now pruned alot of the leaves and the next step will be to cut some of the branches, but I'm hesitate in case it doesn't regrow. Hopefully this will encourage it to bloom.

[@hagakuretv]

Hi Nigel, do you remember the video title of your clip where you visited somebody (a KW member??) Who showed you his bonsai? I remembered he had plenty of peperomia

[@hagakuretv]

He had trees growing in his basement with some cool plant lights

[@bonsai_life_style]

Look nice I remmember when you buy it )))

[@bulletzzz3]

My bonsai havnt grown since November. I’ve been growing them since September and I’m assuming they’re just sleeping since it’s winter. I have no clue when to repot them next year and I hope they aren’t dead 😭

[@xXLunatikxXlul]

I can never get mine to bloom! Does it need more sunlight?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They need to be outside in the summer to get lots of light to bloom!

[@clipngrowbonsai6946]

Hi Mr. Nigel, could you please show some failures in the bonsai zone or mistakes that you've made and learnt from? Things like using wrong soil, overwatering, wrong lighting or something like that...

[@clipngrowbonsai6946]

I'd this one question in my mind - how come your succulent/cacti type plants grow moss or algae on the soil? If there's moss or algae growing doesn't it mean the soil is staying too moist for the trees as well, wouldn't this kill such 'less water loving' trees? Hope you could shed some light on this 😊

[@fredgrech1498]

Hi Nigel I was given a crown of thorns plant which is very tall I’m dying to put it in some good bonsai soul and reduce it down when is the best time to do this it’s spring time in Australia now

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello Fred, I'd wait until it is hot and dry outside, then do the big cut. Keep the plant on the dry side and as new leaves grow in, slowly increase the watering. Too much water while it has no leaves will cause the roots and trunk to rot. Be sure to dry out the soil before the chop!

[@fredgrech1498]

@@TheBonsaiZone thanks Nigel Enjoy the show

[@mattgiglio7738]

Amazing work! Would love to see a video of your serissa and hear your thoughts about it

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It's chilling in the basement, but looking very healthy!

[@altonjesus1]

Can this grown into a tree if we keep pruning?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes indeed, a tree form at least!!

[@feerion]

Hey :) could you share what's the soil mix for the first year od euphorbia milii bonsai and what would be the best soil mix afrer a year?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I put mine into a 50/50 mix of sifted perlite and turface, with the first re pot. It has done well in this mix so far!

[@ms.m6060]

You have a lot of patience

[@kingkumul9386]

Can you make a new video on this one so I can see it

[@notbonsai671]

I left mine out in the cold too long I think. All my leaves except the newest growth fell off

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hopefully it will recover! You are Foist Quinn!

[@bulldozer360]

My crown of thorns just refuses to regrow branches after pruning :( no idea how to make it branch

[@floranfauna3946]

Foist?

[@logaminglog]

Nigel Saunders : My Crown Of Thorns has been flowering all summer. Friends that i gave some cutting plants : The Crown of Thorns has stopped flowering. Me : My Crown of Thorns has been flowering from the first week when I first got it from nursery. And till now for 2 year's, it never stopped to give me flower. I always see flower in my Crown of thorns.

[@Long.Bacninh]

❤️❤️❤️

[@joannaclukey3629]

Mine went wild it’s about three feet tall

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Wow!! They will grow very tall if you don't prune them!

[@GardeningLecture]

Sir ... Please make video on bonsai trees soil mix... I live in India ..so Please send me soil mix for bonsai tree

[@lifeoutdoors8059]

Hi

[@sap.3145]

I have bigger one

[@Najaxyutara]

;)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks!!!!

[@Najaxyutara]

@@TheBonsaiZone Merci :)