It surprising that the tree was so healthy in that soil, it should improve now that it is introduced to good quality soil, like the tree very much , Happy 60th, I have just had my 80th birthday but still work with my 84 trees after counting them as you did earlier. Thanks for all your videos Nigel.
@@pawelm5493 seems awful counter intuitive, Pines tend to grow on rocky cliffs and rocky/sandy medium. That’s also why they tend to be slow growers in the wild. Peter Chan was referring to clay aggregate I’m sure, not mud clay
@@dawud7791 I agree, it is counter intuitive, but it is fact. You can easily see what and when Peter Chan said. And I can add that on my property, pines grow like crazy in pure clay.
I am glad you tried that new innovated upper root building method developed by Tom Fincel. i think it is ideal for trees that have been growing in large nursery containers or grow boxes for some number of years filling the pot with roots.
The top down method was created through working with the trees that were collected from Telperion Farm as they put their trees in the ground in grow bags. Such a AMAZING technique and PERFECT for your absolutely AMAZING new tree ❤️❤️ For myself I have found it also works great for the root bound nursery pots from the garden center.
I hate to distract from the fine bonsai work on a very cool tree. But just to highlight my previous point i was convinced from about 6:45 to 7:10 you used your Kurt Russel stand in Narrator lol. Im tellin ya id run with it lol. But back to reality. Happy Birthday to you from the mountains of North Carolina! I cant wait to see what your tree becomes over the next few years and im pumped for the new Scots Pine playlist!
Nigel what a perfect gift!! I remember seeing it at Rays and wondering what someone might buy and do with it… now I can see it!! I’m glad you got this tree happy birthday!!
Nigel, that method of growing roots sounds super promising! I think I'll incorporate it into my work, because I have a lot of problems with repoting, and recovering my trees after. It's due to where I live, and I can't really do anything with it. Thank You! Video, like always is awesome :), can't wait to see development on this pine
I am diggin the idea of this top down method. It makes perfect sense though, for sure! I’m so excited and happy for you, Nigel. And I appreciate you taking us along for the ride! So much to learn here!! Daggum, you got me all nervous with the stability of that stand, and I’m worried about the sun reflecting off your greenhouse and burning the backside of your tree. Really looking forward to the thinning and seeing you work your wizardry on the branches, Brother!
This is just perfect timing! I'm still in the early planning stage of my Scots Pine. Since it's still in a nursery pot from the garden center, maybe I'll also try the Top Down Method. Thanks for the insight!
And so journey begins. It’s very exciting to see the work start an this beautiful specimen. I’ll have to find the video on the top down repotting method. I’m really looking forward to watching this one develop into the future. Thanks, keep growing
A good start, Nigel, and hopefully any mycorrhiza will still be in the original soul below. Looking forward to watching it develop. And happy birthday!! 🎉🎉🌳🎂🍰
but how will you water it tho if the bottom layer is so much clay bount and the top is just bonsai soil. i didn't see the video of the top down repotting tho i will go see it after waching yours. thank you for this method i have some old trees that can use this, maby i can make then in to something the are house plants on my granmas home and mom's haha.
Hi Nigel you can get mylar that is white one side and black on the other, its belting for reflecting light and heat. You can get it from most hydroponics shops
Hi Nigel: Do you think the tree would benefit from drilling 1/8 holes all around the circumference of the pot just in the area of the new soil? I'm thinking the added oxygen flowing in the top and out the holes would really help create more phyllary roots faster like an air pruning pot. Just a thought . Great tree !
I saw the same top down repotting video several weeks ago. I wish I had seen it 3-4 days earlier, because I had just repotted a large jack pine. It would have been a great candidate for that method to see how it worked. Now I lol have to see how to see how your tree succeeds. 👍
Nigel Sir, the top down method looks good for the tree. But one thing which looks problematic is the difference in drying of the bonsai soil and the old soil. The bonsai soil will dry out very quickly and if watered according to it the lower soil may become too wet and the lower roots might rot.Just my thought, I might be wrong also 😊
@@jarosawdamianek8289 I thought that as well, as we can see how poor the old soil was draining, the danger is water will accumulate on top of the clay.
Nice one Nigel. I was nervous the pine was going to tip off the cart when you were draining it 😳. Absolutely amazing tree, looking forward to seeing its progression. Ohh and happy 60th from Australia 🇦🇺 🥳
Maybe drill some small holes in the side of the pot. (At the top of the old soil) To give your bonsai soil good drainage. Only a thought, you will soon know if it holds to much water, and this measure is needed. We al know you will have allot of fun with this tree and make it into a great bonsai!
Really excited to see you using your new BDAY presents! Happy Belated by the way. Also, that can is a beautiful piece of kit! That fine spray is amazing! Congrats!
It get harder an harder to trim a tree the older it gets i cant wait to see what you do with this tree,,,,, i have some pines i grown from small over the last 15years i find it hard to make big cuts on them
Interesting method. I'm looking forward to seeing the results and the delevopment of the tree over the next few years. I'm late quite late for suggestions I guess, but I wondered if adding more holes to the sides of the pot would help. I'd imagine the lower layer stays pretty wet. _Edit:_ I remember I heard that in Japan they sometimes repot in (late) summer, so I checked again and it seems some repot Japanese white pine in late August ~ September. Since you didn't do a whole repot and you added better quakity soil, I'm sure your birthday pine will be fine, too!
Actually for pines midsummer is the perfect time to repot and to do rootwork. The root need warmth to recover. And there will be lots of time and warm weather before the winter hits. That's why professionals use heating pads for pines when they report in winter.
What do you think is the age of the dwarf scots pine? 30-40yrs? Do you think it was field grown and then potted up years ago? Or potted most of its life? It looks amazing. Happy Birthday, congrats!
The existing soil could not have been that bad because the tree looks very healthy. Clay actually holds a lot of nutrients but doesn’t drain well. Other than the risk of root rot I don’t think that the tree was not doing well…interesting repotting technique. I might have to try it on some of my trees.
Safety sorb, perlite and bark. That’s a new combo for me. I presume that SafeTSorb is granular diatomaceous earth. Not a lot of weight to that. In NW US, I suspect that pumice, scoria, and Akadama (Boon Mix) would be the base, with a bit of charcoal and aged bark. We are also experimenting with native compact/weathered clay soils that are residuals from volcanic flows similar to how Akadama forms. Will be very interested to see how this mix performs.
I think this is a very ideal opportunity for the top down repotting technique. I am curious if it could be aided by watering it once with a light amount of rooting hormone added in the watering can. Also do you plan on making the large lower branch a Jin? I'm sure the tree will be much happier with the new soil. 👍👍
I just watched the video on the "top down" method. I have a couple of large trees I want to try it on, just waiting for cooler weather. Here's wishing us luck.
New idea sounds good. Must have been tested by time in order to prove that it works. Theory sounds good on this type of soil half top. Should work out nice for you.
Most trees are potted up quickly, one person will do a hundred trees in one day. Roots don't matter as much if the tree is going in the ground, but for bonsai, it's very important.
If the tree with original base soil was lifted and well draining soil placed beneath, water would definitely circumvent the old soil and basically leave it high and dry. Hope the PDX method works for you…some great minds and talent in that club.
Perlite... interesting.. definitely would be cheaper then pumice and akadama.. I am surprised that you didn't cut the top of the nursery bucket for better viewing. Anyway enjoy you definitely deserve it.
What happens to the roots if the bonsai soil particles are too large and the gaps between particles too large? Does it mean a less fibrous root system? Or less healthy tree? Wonderful tree though Nigel! Happy 60th Birthday! 🥳
Nigel, I've been using your soil mix here and there for the last 2 years or so. Lately though I've noticed the SafeTSorb after several months in some of my pots has been turning to a sort of "mush." I've had this problem mostly with my ficus, so I know it's not a freeze/thaw issue... I was wondering if you've experienced any sort of quality change in the product? Also the last couple bags I bought seem to have smaller particles.
I haven't noticed this, I sift my SafetySorb and the particles seem to hold their shape after many years. I haven't bought any in a long time, last time it was on sale, I bought 4 bags!
Nigel, why didn’t you take it out of the pot , it would’ve helped in what you were trying to achieve , I would have put it in a aqua container, that’s what I do for yamadori , just trying to help because it’s a nice tree
man i saw that video not all of it i just some but that one tree at the and was sceary, i hope to never see that kind of roots on my trees. i think i will take a copy off it and hung it on my trees to scread them no never do that hahahaha.
It surprising that the tree was so healthy in that soil, it should improve now that it is introduced to good quality soil, like the tree very much , Happy 60th, I have just had my 80th birthday but still work with my 84 trees after counting them as you did earlier. Thanks for all your videos Nigel.
It is what Peter Chan revealed about his pines growing method (as a his secret) - use just clay.
@@pawelm5493 seems awful counter intuitive,
Pines tend to grow on rocky cliffs and rocky/sandy medium.
That’s also why they tend to be slow growers in the wild.
Peter Chan was referring to clay aggregate I’m sure, not mud clay
@@dawud7791 I agree, it is counter intuitive, but it is fact.
You can easily see what and when Peter Chan said. And I can add that on my property, pines grow like crazy in pure clay.
@@pawelm5493that is interesting
Great advice on the top down method makes sense.
About to study the Top Down Method, but first we wish a wonderful Scots Pine BIRTHDAY to the ZONE.
belated happy birthday nigel
How fun to try something new, lucky tree to have made it into your care
I really like your new cascade/windswept hairstyle
So lucky to have the friends you do Nigel. It’s an amazing tree and I’m sure it’ll only get better
Congrats Mr. Nigel Saunders! And i hope i can follow you for atleast 20 more years!
What a nice birhday present😍
Rewatching this yet again. Ok, on to part two. AGAIN 😊
Great work Nigel. This I can really appreciate. Thanks for sharing.
Happy Birthday!!!
I am glad you tried that new innovated upper root building method developed by Tom Fincel. i think it is ideal for trees that have been growing in large nursery containers or grow boxes for some number of years filling the pot with roots.
The top down method was created through working with the trees that were collected from Telperion Farm as they put their trees in the ground in grow bags. Such a AMAZING technique and PERFECT for your absolutely AMAZING new tree ❤️❤️
For myself I have found it also works great for the root bound nursery pots from the garden center.
What a fabulous tree Nigel. So excited for you. Now the hard part . . . waiting!
Yes, it's a real super tree, I hope it does well!!!
Happy birthday Nigel 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊
I hate to distract from the fine bonsai work on a very cool tree. But just to highlight my previous point i was convinced from about 6:45 to 7:10 you used your Kurt Russel stand in Narrator lol. Im tellin ya id run with it lol. But back to reality. Happy Birthday to you from the mountains of North Carolina! I cant wait to see what your tree becomes over the next few years and im pumped for the new Scots Pine playlist!
Happy Birthday to the world's greatest RUclipsr. We love you Nigel, thank you so much for being our friend.
Nigel what a perfect gift!! I remember seeing it at Rays and wondering what someone might buy and do with it… now I can see it!! I’m glad you got this tree happy birthday!!
A cracking tree Nigel. It's going to be great. Also liking the latest hairstyle!
Nigel, that method of growing roots sounds super promising! I think I'll incorporate it into my work, because I have a lot of problems with repoting, and recovering my trees after. It's due to where I live, and I can't really do anything with it. Thank You! Video, like always is awesome :), can't wait to see development on this pine
I am diggin the idea of this top down method. It makes perfect sense though, for sure! I’m so excited and happy for you, Nigel. And I appreciate you taking us along for the ride! So much to learn here!!
Daggum, you got me all nervous with the stability of that stand, and I’m worried about the sun reflecting off your greenhouse and burning the backside of your tree.
Really looking forward to the thinning and seeing you work your wizardry on the branches, Brother!
This is just perfect timing! I'm still in the early planning stage of my Scots Pine. Since it's still in a nursery pot from the garden center, maybe I'll also try the Top Down Method. Thanks for the insight!
Great video Nigel! It's my first time seeing this method used and I'm looking forward to seeing ho wit plays out.
And so journey begins.
It’s very exciting to see the work start an this beautiful specimen. I’ll have to find the video on the top down repotting method. I’m really looking forward to watching this one develop into the future. Thanks, keep growing
keen to see this one in a bonsai pot
Happy birthday Nigel! Great present! Hope to see you working on it for at least 60 more years. :)
A small step for the tree, a huge leap for the bonsai it will become! Thanks for the morning video (on my end, at least), Nigel!
A good start, Nigel, and hopefully any mycorrhiza will still be in the original soul below. Looking forward to watching it develop. And happy birthday!! 🎉🎉🌳🎂🍰
Nice tree, big trees are awesome. Be safe on lifting.
but how will you water it tho if the bottom layer is so much clay bount and the top is just bonsai soil. i didn't see the video of the top down repotting tho i will go see it after waching yours. thank you for this method i have some old trees that can use this, maby i can make then in to something the are house plants on my granmas home and mom's haha.
After your birthday surprise party, you’ll have to count your trees again! 🤣
Hi Nigel you can get mylar that is white one side and black on the other, its belting for reflecting light and heat. You can get it from most hydroponics shops
Really much work for an birthday present))
Happy birthday, dear Nigel!
Greetings from Russia
Excellent start with the top down method. Nice lift. You made it look easy. “OLD MAN STRENGTH”
Just like copper wire I harden with age, lol!!
Happy birth day Nigel!
Hi Nigel: Do you think the tree would benefit from drilling 1/8 holes all around the circumference of the pot just in the area of the new soil? I'm thinking the added oxygen flowing in the top and out the holes would really help create more phyllary roots faster like an air pruning pot. Just a thought . Great tree !
I saw the same top down repotting video several weeks ago. I wish I had seen it 3-4 days earlier, because I had just repotted a large jack pine. It would have been a great candidate for that method to see how it worked. Now I
lol have to see how to see how your tree succeeds. 👍
Happy Birthday Nigel! You’ve clearly celebrated your birthday the right way
" HAPPY BIRTHDAY " Nigel 🙂
Cool method to try -- I'll be really interested to follow along over the next few years.
Excited to see this tree develop over time .
You're really, um, diggin that tree Eh!😄
Love the new watering can. Everytime you lift it, I lol thinking about Gandolf's new staff.
Nigel Sir, the top down method looks good for the tree. But one thing which looks problematic is the difference in drying of the bonsai soil and the old soil. The bonsai soil will dry out very quickly and if watered according to it the lower soil may become too wet and the lower roots might rot.Just my thought, I might be wrong also 😊
Nigel maybe you should drill holes in the pot at the clay soil level
@@johnmichaelrutherford3514 i love your name
@@johnmichaelrutherford3514 but the problem is the lower roots might still rot which will not be good for the tree
@@jarosawdamianek8289 I thought that as well, as we can see how poor the old soil was draining, the danger is water will accumulate on top of the clay.
Its basically like a high end version of ground layering
Nice one Nigel. I was nervous the pine was going to tip off the cart when you were draining it 😳. Absolutely amazing tree, looking forward to seeing its progression. Ohh and happy 60th from Australia 🇦🇺 🥳
It's a starting of a new bonsai subject to me actually.
Beautiful tree and thanks for the link.
Maybe drill some small holes in the side of the pot. (At the top of the old soil) To give your bonsai soil good drainage. Only a thought, you will soon know if it holds to much water, and this measure is needed. We al know you will have allot of fun with this tree and make it into a great bonsai!
It looks like it is draining well like it is.
Totally dig the new gear! Grats from the Netherlands, hope you had an awsome day! (seems like you did)
Happy Birthday Nigel! 🎉 Awesome tree. Can't wait ti see it's progress in the future.
Happy birthday! 🥳
Amazing work, can't wait to see what you do with this tree! Because of your videos I've gotten into this art myself, you provide great advice!
Really excited to see you using your new BDAY presents! Happy Belated by the way. Also, that can is a beautiful piece of kit! That fine spray is amazing! Congrats!
It get harder an harder to trim a tree the older it gets i cant wait to see what you do with this tree,,,,, i have some pines i grown from small over the last 15years i find it hard to make big cuts on them
Wouldn’t be easier to leave the pot sideways while spraying out the soil?
Happy belated 60! birthday 🎂🎂🎂
Thank you so much 😀
Happy birthday sir nigel godbless
Interesting method. I'm looking forward to seeing the results and the delevopment of the tree over the next few years.
I'm late quite late for suggestions I guess, but I wondered if adding more holes to the sides of the pot would help. I'd imagine the lower layer stays pretty wet.
_Edit:_ I remember I heard that in Japan they sometimes repot in (late) summer, so I checked again and it seems some repot Japanese white pine in late August ~ September. Since you didn't do a whole repot and you added better quakity soil, I'm sure your birthday pine will be fine, too!
Great tree, bet you've been itching to do get started, can't wait for the updates, but slow and steady wins the race
Happy birthday Nigel ..just checked the price on your new brass deggin' can, wow ! Looks like I will be sticking with the plastic version haha.
I didn't look at the price, but I know they are really expensive!!
very nice technique. thank you for sharing
I hope it does the trick!!
Cool express wagon.
Actually for pines midsummer is the perfect time to repot and to do rootwork. The root need warmth to recover. And there will be lots of time and warm weather before the winter hits. That's why professionals use heating pads for pines when they report in winter.
Can't believe you turned 60, I guess bonsai is the secret to looking young, you don't look older than 45
What do you think is the age of the dwarf scots pine? 30-40yrs? Do you think it was field grown and then potted up years ago? Or potted most of its life? It looks amazing. Happy Birthday, congrats!
The soil after watering looks muddy, but I am sure the new bonsai soil will do well!
nice big tree nigel and old i like big bonsai have a few myself
Foifth and living the dream 😁
You should lift the tree out, drill some more drain hole, and put some nice drainage material, river rocks or whatever, you know what I mean
The existing soil could not have been that bad because the tree looks very healthy. Clay actually holds a lot of nutrients but doesn’t drain well. Other than the risk of root rot I don’t think that the tree was not doing well…interesting repotting technique. I might have to try it on some of my trees.
Safety sorb, perlite and bark. That’s a new combo for me. I presume that SafeTSorb is granular diatomaceous earth. Not a lot of weight to that.
In NW US, I suspect that pumice, scoria, and Akadama (Boon Mix) would be the base, with a bit of charcoal and aged bark. We are also experimenting with native compact/weathered clay soils that are residuals from volcanic flows similar to how Akadama forms.
Will be very interested to see how this mix performs.
I think this is a very ideal opportunity for the top down repotting technique. I am curious if it could be aided by watering it once with a light amount of rooting hormone added in the watering can. Also do you plan on making the large lower branch a Jin? I'm sure the tree will be much happier with the new soil. 👍👍
I just watched the video on the "top down" method. I have a couple of large trees I want to try it on, just waiting for cooler weather. Here's wishing us luck.
Looks like a good technique to try Lori!! I hope it works well for you!
New idea sounds good. Must have been tested by time in order to prove that it works. Theory sounds good on this type of soil half top. Should work out nice for you.
Fantastic. Love the craggy bark on scotts pines. The ONLY native pine to UK!
I like your backyard
Thanks Gerard, me too, I never run out of things to do!!
Meant as a frienfly joke: you might also need some pruning, Nigel! ;)
Nigel, why do nurseries bury trees with excess soil ? What is the benefit to the nurseries ?
Is it a common practice even in bonsai nurseries ?
Most trees are potted up quickly, one person will do a hundred trees in one day. Roots don't matter as much if the tree is going in the ground, but for bonsai, it's very important.
How about drilling lots of holes in the pot like a colander so that the new root growth can air prune?
👍
Happy belated birthday Nigel!!!
It's a really nice tree. Is it from a nursery? The trunk looks old. It should make a spectacular bonsai.
best,
Mats H
Nice video Nigel! I'm really wondering how this tree didn't suffer much in that muddy soil. It'll grow well in your bonsai soil for sure !
If the tree with original base soil was lifted and well draining soil placed beneath, water would definitely circumvent the old soil and basically leave it high and dry. Hope the PDX method works for you…some great minds and talent in that club.
Glad to see how well drainage improved just by getting rid of the old surface soils…did not expect that, but it bodes well for your project.
Nice technique! But watering with that poor draining soil on the bottom is going to be puzzling
Perlite... interesting.. definitely would be cheaper then pumice and akadama.. I am surprised that you didn't cut the top of the nursery bucket for better viewing. Anyway enjoy you definitely deserve it.
Good Morning, do you still plan on starting the new greenhouse this summer?
Lucky tree to have you! Sounds like it was on a slow spiral to death before you received it.
What happens to the roots if the bonsai soil particles are too large and the gaps between particles too large? Does it mean a less fibrous root system? Or less healthy tree?
Wonderful tree though Nigel! Happy 60th Birthday! 🥳
Great tree, I would have dropped holes in side and cut the plastic container down to the new base of the tree for better visualization during work
Not finished watching the full video or part 2 but will you be adding some holes for drainage since the clay layer is very poor draining?
LIFT WITH YOUR LEGS NIGEL!
Looks like a nice project Nigel! Have you ever attempted Jacaranda trees as bonsai?
I’m hoping you make Jin out of that deadwood
What brand is the copper watering can Nigel, is it Haws? I've just looked in their website but they have nothing of that size on there.
Nigel, I've been using your soil mix here and there for the last 2 years or so. Lately though I've noticed the SafeTSorb after several months in some of my pots has been turning to a sort of "mush." I've had this problem mostly with my ficus, so I know it's not a freeze/thaw issue...
I was wondering if you've experienced any sort of quality change in the product?
Also the last couple bags I bought seem to have smaller particles.
I haven't noticed this, I sift my SafetySorb and the particles seem to hold their shape after many years. I haven't bought any in a long time, last time it was on sale, I bought 4 bags!
Nigel, why didn’t you take it out of the pot , it would’ve helped in what you were trying to achieve , I would have put it in a aqua container, that’s what I do for yamadori , just trying to help because it’s a nice tree
Oh and Happy Birthday 🎊🎉
man i saw that video not all of it i just some but that one tree at the and was sceary, i hope to never see that kind of roots on my trees. i think i will take a copy off it and hung it on my trees to scread them no never do that hahahaha.
👍👌🍎🙂
My God, I've got a bad back, that tree is nothing compared to some of the trees that I have.