Working on Very Small Trees, Part 1, The Bonsai Zone, Feb 2023

I'm beginning to work on my small evergreen trees, starting with my Sawara False Cypress Dwarf Blue (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Dwarf Blue').
I'll also be making a display for showing these bonsai.
To see previous videos of my False Cypress bonsai, click on the playlist here...
• False Cypress Bonsai
#TheBonsaiZone

[@gloriablanco7856]

Like and thank you.

[@skrounst]

Thanks as always Nigel!

[@marysoldeeley2218]

It was a gorgeous day here too!! Plus 2C! That's a neat little tree. You find some really neat stuff to work on!

[@rebeccahunter725]

I am slowly developing a collection of Mame trees - trying to get one each of my larger ones! I love the idea of a miniaturised bonsai bench, really pushing the idea of small trees to the limit of what they can do. Mames are hard to keep alive, but I know you are up for the challenge (not so sure about me, though)!

[@perlakuanbahanbonsai3530]

👍👍👍👍👍👌👌👌👌

[@sauptiksaha4875]

Hey Nigel, I am also making a mini bonsai from a plant called "Kiss me quick" portulaca pilosa. I will share the images with you once they flower.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome, sounds good!!!!

[@katyb2793]

I've been so looking forward to this project! Can't wait to see the next video! I have a Monterey Cypress that I intended keeping no more than 15cm, but it go so out of hand it's now at least 40cm high 😅 I also nearly killed it repotting it, but thankfully it's growing again now with lots (too much!) vigour. I don't think I can have it as small as I intended now, but I'm determined to keep it at a shohin size!

[@geofftrivers5078]

Foist

[@lukasmihara]

I think the Chamaecyparis obtusa 'Chirimen' is what they call 石化ヒノキ _sekka hinoki_ in Japan, which literally translates to something like "petrified hinoki" - maybe because the old needles look like they became stone. I got one myself a few days ago which actually looks very similar to yours. Last year I also got one but it suddenly turned brown one day in summer. I hope this time it'll be healthier. It's a very interesting species with its small leaves, so I really wanted to have one. Good luck with your new little trees! _PS:_ maybe I should watch the newly uploaded videos, too, instead of *only* trying to keep up watching the videos I still haven't watched from before.

[@iTeachMyToast]

My unheated greenhouse in the winter goes from in the 10’s at night to sometimes in the 90’s during the day(Fahrenheit of course). Because of this I prefer to put my trees indoors. Is that type of fluctuation bad for hearty trees like junipers or even maples?

[@Steves_Backyard_Bonsai]

Sweet little trees Nigel. I like the direction you took the first one. Can’t wait for part 2. Hope the weather stays nice. Cheers

[@gandalfthehaze8380]

Hey Nigel, I’m a kw local as well, just wondering what nursery you got those lil guys at?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

You can email me at... [e-mail] I don't like to give out addresses in the comment section!

[@MaybeBonsai]

I also cannot pronounce that complex word, they need to come up with simpler specie names lol

[@donnaallbritton4539]

Love the penjing.

[@Liisa3139]

I don't like those shelf compositions that you see in shows either; they are too "neat", too tidy. In this light your vision for this project of shelves and a "concrete" back wall is fantastic. I love it! There is an industrial chic style in interior design, so your vision could be called something like that, or "casual chic", if not even "grunge". Yeah I think I would like to call it grunge. The plants that you are starting the project with didn't seem interesting at all to me, but when you showed the photos in the book and described your vision, I could see that these cedars fit in. This could become my favorite project of all your works.👍

[@Tybold63]

About the landscape you started lately I cannot understand how people express their disagreement. Constructive critique is one thing but I assume some people just like being negative. I think it is inspiring and hey it has just started and I am sure it will undergo some changes over time. I like it very much 😊

[@TheBonsaiZone]

As with any art form, your work will appeal to some and not to others!! When you put your work on KZbin, many view it as a public forum of open criticism where you can drop all levels of decent behavior and say what you want. This is very true, you can. Not only my trees get criticized, but also me personally, my techniques, my appearance, my voice, my backyard, pretty much everything I do. Many say, if you don't want to be criticized, then don't post on KZbin. This is an excuse for those people who behave badly with no decency to others. These people make up about 2 percent, but they certainly ruin the platform for many creators. Creators do not post videos to be abused. I have no problem with people's opinions, as long as it is about the art of miniature trees. I think about leaving KZbin almost everyday, but the 98 percent of the people who enjoy the channel keeps me posting!

[@Tybold63]

@@TheBonsaiZone Thanks for doing the right choice, we love you, your trees and your deeds for bonsai community!

[@spyder616.34]

Don't quit Nigel. We love watching your vids. I'm inspired by the cut and grow style your doing

[@bonsaichi5965]

Hi Nigel, be careful of that tree you are cutting, they don't normally back bud, easily, love the vids. Tony

[@haryartbonsai7630]

Hallo sobat.... Salam satu hoby ( bonsai) teman baru dari Indonesia👍🏻🇮🇩❤

[@Stettafire]

Today was the opposite here. After a few weeks of sun today the frost closed in agian

[@katifalcon]

🧂The salt flat looks great Nigel.🌳you can't expect a perfect bonsai on the first day, right. That would be insane.😉🤣

[@barryauguste9734]

Getting a start on small trees is such a challenge Nigel, so this was very educational. Anyone that didn't love you landscape is a complete idiot!

[@joannetanner7282]

I noticed your larch had no needles. I have yellow needles on mine. Should I be plucking them?

[@TheBonsaiZone]

They should fall off naturally as the new growth comes in!! Plucking them off won't harm the tree.

[@joegarland4885]

Great day here in the U.K. the weather has not been kind to the large building work what we heavy rain and then frosts but this week feels like spring. Hope the small trees end up as mame trees on a shelf you are going to make most of my trees are largish mature so I want to do the same as you and get small ones not sure I can be as brave as you but we shall see, I have a great large drift wood piece I bought 30 years or so ago which I want to plant up this year with small trees. Look forward to the series you are producing. All the best. Joe.

[@jensgrabher-meyer3565]

Great project, really looking forward since you announced it. Best regards Jens

[@Candice.BonsaiScience]

I have a fuzzy dwarf blue . . . Wasn’t sure what to do with it so I potted it in a planter outside this year! I plan to revisit it this next year! I feel your fever! The temps went up 68 degrees in 2 days! From -28F to 44f

[@mattbrennan647]

Honey I shrunk my trees. I like the plan you have for these trees. Looking forward to seeing them on their mini bench. Thanks, keep growing

[@MondayPL]

Don't want to sound too harsh, but I think you destroyed that tree. Sometimes, it's ok to use wires.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

It is not destroyed, the tree needed to be taken down to the skeleton and then built up over many years. Jumping to wiring doesn't fix the lack of taper in the branch structure also wiring the branches at that thickness will cause horrible wire scars in order to set them into position. That is not my approach, I prefer to be patient and build the tree slowly and accurately. I find with many people, wiring is the first technique they go to, even before learning to prune and structure a tree properly. Sometimes, It's ok to use clip and grow.

[@chinookwind8535]

I have purchased every one you have here in Alberta. It's fun to work on them interested to see what you do

[@debbiefine2756]

I really liked your last video the rocks looked like the southern oregon coast. Good job.

[@mzjhonbonsai]

So cute bonsai mame

[@HansWeberHimself]

We had a shockingly nice and sunny day in Philadelhpia today as well. I can fully share your spring enthusiasm! 😎

[@betulaobscura]

Cool!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌👌

[@bonsai.projects]

👍

[@hyperionhelios190]

it was beautiful today!

[@treesbonsaiperfect8420]

nice your video 🌳

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Thank you! 🙂

[@t3dwards13]

That stand idea sounds like a fun build! Since you're thinking concrete... I'd recommend making it modular, so you don't have to lift the entire weight to move it.

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Awesome!!

[@FrediOlson]

I like your plan. I'm really new to bonsai and I'm just a chicken to prune my trees! I need courage. Looking forward to your next one, thanks!

[@chinookwind8535]

For shocking if you haven't seen Nigel prune roots just wait that's shocking but is needed if you want a nice looking bonsai tree

[@Liisa3139]

You have come to the right place. Big cuts coming up!!!😄

[@uppergorple]

I just googled 'banked plant display stand', loads of stuff came up. I believe this was a traditional form (UK) for displaying specimen plants, alpines etc. You call them skids, we call them pallets - rough wood would be the way to go.