Working on My Kapok Tree, The Bonsai Zone, Dec 2023

[@rebeccahunter725]

A perfect way to spend a soporific afternoon. We are about to have Christmas dinner, while you will be waking to the fun of Christmas morning in a few hours. Have a great day!

[@kathyvettraino2267]

Those roots are amazing! I love that you show us the different trees of the world!

[@TheBonsaiZone]

I wish I could have one of every tree!!!

[@NoDecaf7]

The variety of trees Nigel shows off are the reason I feel so confident growing trees in pots. What seemed so impossible before suddenly seems completely doable!

[@Nuggettfaz]

I've seen 'Kay-pock' trees growing wild in Northern Australia and my dad said that Kapok was always used for mattresses and pillows in his younger days (he's 90 now). Kapok is naturally hypoallergenic and kapok pillows or bedding are excellent choices for anyone with allergies or sensitivities. So ancient wisdom is wisdom rediscovered.

[@NoDecaf7]

Hey thanks for sharing this information! Very cool to learn 😊

[@Stettafire]

I've heard similar about bamboo also. I make lots of clothing etc, my understanding is that bamboo and kaypovk behave similar to cotton (they're all plant fibres and if you have allergies it'll generally be to an animal fibre of some sort. Wool allergies are really common. But natural fibres tend to breathe in general, so synthetic fibres are really bad for dust allergies ect because the fibres don't breathe.) In my making of stuff I use a lot of wool, cotton and linen (linen is also a fantastic fibre) but the one thing with cotton is that, while it is cheap, a lot of it is grown unethically sucking up lots of water from aquafers. Cotton can be grown sustainably, but a lot of it isn't. Which is why a lot of folk who are environmentally conscious are moving over to linen, bamboo and kaypovk etc as an alternative to cotton for a lightweight plant based fibre (particularly vegan folk, while I'm not, many of my friends are). Wool is great as an insulating material that still breathes, alpaca and mohair same deal. But disadvantage of those is not suitable for vegan folk, and they tend to be too warm for the summer usage. (Mohair is also VERY expensive and is super warm. Too warm maybe). Wool is great as a fibre though (so long as you're not vegan lol). Anyway, IDK if this is any use to anyone. Maybe? IDK 😂

[@gayefanner731]

Extremely interesting, thanku, it all gets filed away for future reference, no worries ✌️

[@davebond8251]

Have a lovely Christmas Nigel and family 🎄

[@hugolafond5545]

Merry xmas Nigel and all bonsaï lover

[@PercyWarX]

I also bought some Kapok seeds online, in my area of South Africa is a Zone 12a. Hope they will survive here. With them I bought Brazilian Rain Tree Seeds. Merry Christmas to you and family.

[@glynhopping7102]

Merry Christmas, Nigel - thanks for a great year in the Bonsai Zone 10 Happy New Year in the Bonsai Zone 11 Cheers from UK

[@bannerbruce3666]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Nigel 🎉

[@KennetDeBondt]

Hey Nigel, I wonder if you should keep bigger roots on this one to get that interesting rootsystem. Grts Kennet

[@soonzach4017]

Merry Christmas, Nigel🙏❤️

[@n8tyler]

Really enjoy your videos Nigel...

[@Santi-us9ec]

Que tenga usted un feliz nuevo año y que podamos seguir disfrutando de sus excelentes enseñanzas. Gracias.

[@trybonsai]

I've seen some amazing things done with kapok trees as bonsai....great work as usual and merry Christmas 🎉

[@mattbrennan647]

I’m wondering what would happen if you planted the root cutting? Thanks, keep growing

[@Johnblackbass]

Merry christmas Nigel !!!!

[@dkstott29]

Merry Christmas to you and your family as well as your trees..🎄🎄🌲🌲🎅🤶

[@BlueSkyBonsai]

Hi Nigel, I also love the buttressed roots on the fully grown trees. I remember a few years ago you tried to recreate those on ... maybe a ficus microcarpa?? Anyway, it's still a great goal worth trying for. Maybe they need decades and lots of weight...? Anyway merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@TheBonsaiCreator_Krish]

Great pruning ideas.. Merry Christmas

[@harrietb2141]

Good luck👍

[@mlungkerbonsai]

Pohon ini tidak asing bagi saya, di tempa saya juga banyak tumbuh pohon kapok, namun saya baru menyadari kalau pohon kapok ini bisa di buat bonsai dan anda bisa menunjukkannya. Terimakasih sahabat, teruslah berkarya dan memberikan inspirasi bagi pecinta bonsai. 21:50

[@icariumrage3137]

The large piece of roots and stem might be able to grow as well.

[@Liisa3139]

Good luck with the Kapok. My local Botanic garden has one (or two maybe) in a greenhouse. The spiky trunk is really cool. Have to go and see it again some time in spring.

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

They are super cool trees! That planting looks amazing! Merry Christmas! We have a Florida Christmas this year!!😄

[@kathyvettraino2267]

Hello!!!!! 🎄🎄🎄🎁🎁🎁

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Hello!!

[@davidruiz2474]

These grow here in deep south Texas and if they are established in the ground then they can definitely withstand colder weather....they will need to stay a lot warmer

[@pennyduncan5980]

❤😊

[@paulschaefer5241]

I know this isn't exactly bonsai related, I did notice on the calendar that Tue Dec 26 is labeled as Boxing day in Canada. Just curious What does this mean. I am in the state.

[@calvinchau5479]

Big Sales. Like the day after Xmas Sales. British thing my friend.

[@kathyvettraino2267]

I thought it was where people box up things to gift/donate to others?

[@jballenger9240]

One explanation, found in Wikipedia from the Oxford English Dictionary notes “… the earliest attestation from Britain in 1743, defining it as "’the day after Christmas day"’, and saying ‘"traditionally on this day tradespeople, employees, etc., would receive presents or gratuities (a "’’Christmas box"’’) from their customers or employers."’[9] As I understood, Boxing Day was the day those servants that had worked on Christmas Day got their Christmas gift Boxes, from their employers, and celebrated the 2nd day Christmastide season with their families. But I also live the US and may have it skewed.

[@Stettafire]

It's a UK thing they inherited from us. Here in the UK it mostly involves an extra bank holiday where people eat leftovers and clean up from the day before 😂 I'm told it's original purpose was rich folk would box up unwanted stuff to give to their poor servants after they recover their shiny new stuff. And gave their servants a day off. Course times have changed, so really now it's leftover food day😂

[@lukasmihara]

Very interesting species! I hope it'll turn into a giant-looking healthy Bonsai some day 🌳 By the way, as there were reference photos from e.g. Sierra Leone, it seems this is an African tree, right? I've just recently noticed, that the so called "Cotton Tree" (Bombax ceiba) is actually also a variety of Kapok. I've seen that variety of Kapok in East-Asia, but at that time I didn't realize they are Kapok, too! This Asian Kapok is fine with 10℃ and lower, by the way. Interesting how they differ! So, I'll make sure to also include photos of the Asian Kapok for you. Hopefully I can get my hands on some seeds someday as well..! They have beautiful big red flowers in spring!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌

[@uppergorple]

I've seen these thorny-trunk trees in town squares in Cascais - southern Portugal. Always wondered what they were. Presumably seeds brought back from the tropics by traders? They looked happy.

[@barryauguste9734]

Love the video as always Nigel, and impeccably executed. What soil are you using now? Best wishes for the New Year!

[@jballenger9240]

Merry Christmas 2023🎄🎄🎄 A question please, how old is this tree; how many times have you pruned it and when was the last time it was pruned? Thank you.

[@chaiwatpotichanid]

Thanks kupchak first different doing different long distance go black doesn't tree bonsai you relying see tree yes very much agree tree people loudly began 🥰🥰👍

[@alvarolupinacci641]

Hi Nigel, I am trying to get some benches made here in Brazil. I loved the grid that you used on the glass green house benches. How thick they are to hold all that weight?

[@lynnmusson3496]

I hope you got a comb for Christmas 😊

[@myterracegardening]

I don’t think the roots are always to be made like that, if bonsai is imitation of nature as we look at it, not all trees of same species fan out their roots always 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@shahesfelazi8549]

We call it car-poke tree in Malaysia not kay-pok....the kapok tree is known for having spirits hanging or standing on its branches.

[@uppergorple]

Comment two: I'd have trimmed off those top roots and worked with the more mature ones at the base of the cutting. Your call of course.

[@vinny184]

That’s one of the most common beginner’s mistakes in bonsai. Often beginners will leave the biggest, most mature branches and roots and cut the smaller ones because of the belief that it will save them years of time. While those smaller branches and roots would have produced a more aesthetically appealing bonsai in the end.

[@Bearbok]

Is there a specific reason you repotted and pruned one of your most tropical trees during winter? Instead of doing it in summer? Seems dangerous

[@justlucky13]

Foist

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Christmas luck!

[@kathyvettraino2267]

@justlucky13 you weren't first the other day and I was actually concerned about you! 😆

[@justlucky13]

Merry Christmas@@kathyvettraino2267

[@vinny184]

Why don’t you just anchor the tree down in the pot using wire instead of using stones? You want the tree to be firmly stable after repotting and especially root pruning, because every form of movement will damage the newly grown feeder roots and prolong the healing process. Stones are a very inefficient and ineffective way to stabilize a tree.

[@Minstera]

The roots in the pictures look like ,rockets , elephant ears , fish tail or snakes growing out of the tree ,like that horror movie i dont know Sleep well 🐍

[@babanamkevalam1]

If you planted that root you can get other plant😢

[@robbiemillard4173]

Kapok trees will take temperatures down to at least 42 fahrenheit. I have several that have survived in my greenhouse for four years. I let it get down to 42 degrees and have had no issues. They don't even lose their leaves. You must have something else going on causing them to die.

[@Stettafire]

Just for any confused Brits/Canadians reading the above. 45F is 7C, you're welcome 😂