Working on My 12 Dollar Juniper, Part 2, The Bonsai Zone, March 2023

After my 4th pruning session of this 12 dollar windswept style Juniper that I got from the Canadian Tire garden center, I'm repotting the tree, bare rooting it for the first time and planting it in a bonsai pot.
This tree is a Juniperus sabina var. tamariscifolia.
To see previous previous videos of this tree, click on the playlist here....
• Tamarix Juniper Bonsai
Check out Jonas Dupuich Sierra Juniper photos here.....
bonsaitonight....
#TheBonsaiZone

[@BlueJayBonsai]

My sixth sense told me that Nigel needed that pot.. et voila! perfection! 🐦💙

[@mattbrennan647]

That is absolutely the perfect pot for that tree. My address to follow 😂

[@BlueJayBonsai]

@@mattbrennan647 If you can prove to me you have a tree that is worthy I will send you one too!

[@HansWeberHimself]

Nice work, Jay! 😁

[@mattbrennan647]

@@BlueJayBonsai . I knew you’d find a way to squirm out of that 😂 Maybe in 10 years

[@BonsaiJCan]

Hello Jay ! 😀 What a beautiful pot you got Nigel there!

[@robkay5443]

My understanding of saying the strength comes from the foliage means that’s where the plant stores it’s energy. That’s the opinions of others and not from practical experience. I look forward to updates on this tree to see how it recovers.

[@alexbrendan7181]

You're right. Botanists like Ryan Neil talk about energy storage a lot. Of course trees get their energy from the sun, but my understanding is that wherever the majority of the energy is stored (in winter) should be pruned as little and infrequently as possible. Pines store lots of energy in the roots, and don't like being root-pruned... which I've learned from sad experience. Pruning is like surgery: it sets all trees back, but in most conifers, it seriously weakens them to heavily top-prune and root-prune in the same year--heavily being more than 20-30%. Imagine having surgery on two major organs in one year! Root-pruning essentially replicates a landslide; top-pruning is like a hurricane. No tree enjoys it, but some species can handle it better. You can butcher trident maples back to a stump, but frequent heavy pruning will make any tree suffer, weaken, rot, die back, get bugs and diseases, or at best remain in a juvenile state.

[@barryauguste9734]

So instructional, educational, and entertaining.... as always Nigel. Root and top fundamentals, slowly disseminated and ingested by us all. Thank you once again. PS. Was that the smaller bonsai aggregate that you have recently gone to?

[@georgesenju8665]

This tree really reminds me of the LEGO bonsai I have, great work Nigel!

[@murray821]

He definitely recreated the Lego bonsai in real life 😁

[@ChrispyX1985]

100%! I thought the same. 😅

[@Dylan-ok6ft]

Wow, Nigel! Beautiful work - the pruning and repotting complement each other perfectly!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

It is a polished blue glass substrate the size of sand particles. Turns a dark blue when wet. Will not wash out like sand. Might work in a stream with rocks in the stream & the substrate flowing in & around. Try on a small flat pot to see if it would work out for you.

[@birgittej5895]

Looks fantastic in the new pot. Well chosen by Blue Jay! ❤ I’m looking forward to seeing this tree develop over the coming years.

[@HansWeberHimself]

Great planting and tree! Quite a transformation over the two days. The potential was there for you to discover. Meisterhaft (Masterly).

[@myownbiggestfan]

Personally, I really liked the very first sitting. Leaning forward. It had drama and told a story.

[@landreaeo]

Hi Nigel. One thing you should consider when potting a tree is that the very dry soil can suck out all the moisture from the fine roots in about 10 minutes. So hurry up once you make contact!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

This was a great repotting. The pot from Jay really fit the bill. Pot & tree look excellent! Great part 2.

[@uhaneokalanijames8029]

those blue glass beads are pretty cool! 😉

[@abrdds]

I hope bare rooting works for you... scary notion for junipers😱

[@craft-o-matic399]

As above, so below.

[@strongbird3499]

I'll be watching to see whether this tree gets another chapter. According to the internet, heavy pruning + root work in the same year is a virtual death sentence for junipers. But I have no experience. My own $12 juniper (actually, I think it was $9.99) still sits untouched in its nursery pot.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

The tree is doing really well and growing nicely!!

[@jameslangschied7900]

I love the pot selection. It's simplicity helps to accentuate the drama of the windswept branches. Nice work. I'm looking forward to watching the progress on this one.

[@denisemac118]

Lovely tree and the pot suits it perfectly

[@laurakotzbauer4573]

I hear the roosters! Awesome! So glad they made it that they made it through the winter! Love your videos, Nigel! Been watching you for years. I, too, use the grow and clip method on my trees. I’m in Texas, so of course, I have different challenges than you. It’s already almost summer here. 😅

[@notionbonsai]

Great explanation of vigour balance between the roots and foliage Nigel!

[@BeardedWorm]

I really like this one. And the pot fits perfect.

[@StevesBackyardBonsai]

How fortuitous that Jay’s pot came on just the day a tree was ready for it. Looks great. What a cool tree that $12 Juniper is turning into!

[@BonsaiJCan]

Looks fantastic ! What great timing with the beautiful pot Jay got you ! 👌

[@craft-o-matic399]

It looks fantastic Nigel! Great work! Lisa

[@tacobonsai]

It's like Jay knew. That pot is perfect for the tree. Great roots and an awesome result!

[@mateo9989]

Why would you bare root it? Now it has very good chance of ending up just like Blade Runner juniper.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Bare rooting doesn't hurt the tree, the Blade Runner Juniper died because it was left outside for the winter and it got way too cold for it.

[@roror88]

​@@TheBonsaiZone I hope the tree will make it, usually junipers don't like bare rooting. The times i did that they died. So i don't bare root them anymore.

[@uhaneokalanijames8029]

just a suggestion; when using the blue glass i would use a white back ground first like (white sand) then cover that with the blue glass, it will insure the blue color stays blue. if you just add it on top of the brown bonsai mixture it will change the blue to a dirty color instead of true blue.

[@chaiwatpotichanid]

Just kupchak bodyguards tree beautiful design doesn't have what fully Jack national on I see national outlet because just or time will show national attention to eyesight people love national bonsai kupchak 🥰🥰👍

[@7puggiescyndycarruthers193]

Nigel, this little juniper is now just a sweetheart! Thank you for giving her a wonderful bonsai start!

[@BonsaiCornwall]

Jay is a legend, what a pot 😍 and Nigel, what a tree! Fantastic job 💚

[@KurisuBonsai]

Brilliant transformation! Worth a bit more than $12 now!!

[@hoser9463]

i have enjoyed your video so far Nigel, when do you select the apex? that is a challeng for me, thanks for sharing.

[@owena1318]

Hi Nigel! I'm new to repotting bonsai and I noticed that you don't use wire to lock down your roots; has this ever given you complications?

[@Cleman404]

The blue glass could perfectly match to a cosmic/scifi landscape 😊

[@aaronleslie1581]

I bet a little mud man underneath this tree would be cool… but that’s just my opinion!! This is a awesome tree!!

[@hoser9463]

i have not seen a video where they wash the root system, and go thru it so thoroughly, and also say how the juniper smells, awesome video sir, thank you.

[@TheAustralian1x]

Can you show an update on this tree, i wonder how its going, quite a few roots were exposed, and it went through alot of stress, beautiful little tree 👍

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Jay is one cool young whipper snapper. Great gifts from Jay.

[@snylilith]

It looks ike the pot was MADE for this tree! So beauiful!

[@mattbrennan647]

Instant bonsai… Wow! Looks amazing. Thanks, keep growing

[@gerikriedeman9809]

How do you get the moss to stay green when this plants needs 6 hours of sunlight a day? My moss keeps drying out.

[@emy1111]

sabina Juniper is one of my favourite smells in the whole world

[@mentalistsa]

You are a true master. No way that tree would live for me Nigel. It must have good genes. Looks great. Please update.

[@deepanjanbanerjee3491]

Very instructive. I notice you don’t wire your trees to the pots. Isn’t that a bit risky?

[@AMTrexler]

Love this juniper Nigel, has there been any progress videos?

[@t3dwards13]

Lol I put it out in the spirit world for St. Tom to send you blue glass.

[@spyder616.34]

Will that newly repotted tree get direct sunlight?

[@jaguardelcielo]

Foist

[@alisedaghat81]

I think the pot is too small for it Nigel

[@Derrick8WLee]

Very nice, i know you said many years before show ready, but if i had something that good i would bring it to the TBS Spring Show and Sale, May 13, and 14th.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks Derrick, maybe the trees in training section!

[@bartstellink307]

Beautiful tree in beauty of a pot.

[@aidenwalsh4797]

I thought the phrase a strength of a juniper comes from its foliage quite literaly meant the energy was stored in the foliage of the plant during the winter and slow parts of the year. That is why I was told not to over prune a juniper. Thank you for your insights.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Interesting! Thanks so much!!!

[@justlucky13]

Big cut coming up

[@amayanut]

Want a t-shirt that’s says this

[@justlucky13]

@@amayanut great idea

[@ianrowe9337]

Thats One cute little Tree Nigel, for $12 you certainly wern't robbed ! .

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks, I really like it too!!!

[@evanlewis3841]

One my favorites or yours.

[@ThePhilClark]

I JUST bought a $35 dwarf white crepe myrtle and this has inspired me and given me confidence to have a go! Bonsai White Belt

[@danieldalton8125]

Really like this composition, very powerful image. Goes to show you don't have to spend much to create something convincing.

[@GabeGonzalez]

@nigel love you and your videos!! Think it may be time to treat your head like a bonsai though. Clean up that foliage LOL

[@johnimhoff4858]

With Tony’s recent passing and my failure to let him know how wonderful his videos were, I’m taking the opportunity to let you know how inspirational your videos are to me. Thank you for your content and for the thoughtful way you demonstrate your art for those of us new to the passion. Thank you!

[@Rob1337]

I love this little tree :) I also see a head and two arms and a body, you should name him ‘treebeard’ he’s got a nature spirit look (enough of my waffling) I look forward to seeing its progress :)

[@BonsaiMethod]

Looking forward to seeing those seedlings develop .. one my list for possible indoor/outdoor.☀️

[@paulschaefer5241]

Just a little input on planting angle. Windswept trees are usually planted with the trunk leaning slightly to the side with the most branches. This is part of the explanation as to why the tree is growing as it is.

[@spacerider6168]

Wow excited for the Arizona Cypress . Its an amazing tree.

[@billhiggins5851]

It's amazing how the silhouette is the same as when you bought it, and yet utterly transformed.

[@joegarland4885]

Very nice tree for 20 dollars the best has been achieved, the pot is perfect for the tree, I like it Nigel.

[@TheCosmicDrama]

I love the look of the exposed root system. Gives it so much more character. Great work.

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Wow! Jay for the win! That tree looks absolutely fantastic! Like it came out of a book!

[@tobywilson4876]

A clear example of how much a pot can inhance a tree!! Looks great

[@MaybeBonsai]

Looks like a pretty decent root system on this already, the new pot also fits the tree well

[@ChrisVidouras]

What a gorgeous tree! Great work Nigel! Greetings from Greece!

[@brianbarnes1362]

How awsome is that! Beautifuĺl tree Nigel

[@elizabethmersereau186]

Awesome

[@yvettegraham9657]

Makes me want to find a $12 tree.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, so many hidden treasures out there!!!

[@patsfreund9164]

That little tree looks AWESOME!

[@Lynette-qh3tw]

I love the finished tree. As soon as you b unwrapped the pot, I thought that it would be great with that tree. I love the tilt and movement that you created. I really like that you kept brancing forward and backward. I really like the branching out and twisting of the trunk. As you turned the tree it made me feel that the tree was reaching and turning as if it dancing. I loved it.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thanks so much, it will be interesting to see how it grows this year!

[@MrYukonDave]

Reminds me of a treant.

[@MrYukonDave]

Stolen from a D&D site: "Trees destined to evolve into treants meditate through many long cycles of seasons. They can live for decades or even centuries before realizing their potential. Those lucky enough to awaken do so only under unique circumstances and in areas saturated with natural magic. Other treants and powerful druids can feel the stirring potential of these trees and will protect them in secret groves as they grow close to their moment of awakening. During this long process, face-like features grow into a tree's bark, their lower trunk divides into legs, and their longest branches begin to bend down to serve as their arms. When the time comes, the fully-formed treant pulls free from the earth and joins its kin in protecting its woodland home."

[@GrimsleyAllyn21]

This tree is really developing nicely!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌

[@mateo9989]

Hi Nigel. Hows the tree?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is doing really well, it's potted up in a nice bonsai pot now!!

[@gloriablanco7856]

Perfect match, thank you

[@robryan9841]

The tree looks great in the new pot 👍

[@tasanastasi7799]

Awesome , simple but looks wow !

[@curtisnt]

is this tree still kickin?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Yes, alive and kick'n

[@curtisnt]

​@TheBonsaiZone that's awesome! It looks great in the videos.

[@dabblingwithbonsai]

Magnificent 💚💚💚

[@124ziggy]

I Love It!

[@3nigma.3nc]

Where the heck do you guys find these nursery stocks with excellent trunks for $12???

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Canadian Tire!!