The first person to mention the actual reason i made the choice. I couldn't think of any other way to make that long branch useful. I may shorten the jin though :)
Well done Xavier! Jinning the bottom branch was the right call from where I'm sitting - does make the line slender and graceful. I also think your alternate front (having the jin at the back) will bring out more feminine form. Learning all I can before I tackle my pines!
Xavier, I have been enjoying your TH-cam channel (I am a subscriber), and note that you, like me, have a particular passion for Dawn Redwoods. I live in St. Louis, and grow my bonsai in my high rise apartment on east and south facing balconies. Summers here are hot, often in the mid 90s (F). There can also be pretty significant winds. I have been at this for less than a year, and my plants have not experienced a St. Louis winter, which for the most part are fairly mild with temps generally in the 30s-40s F (above freezing) but with limited periods of temps well below freezing (as low as 5-20 F). Winds can get fairly strong. I plan to put my plants in a mini greenhouse during these periods. I now have several DR bonsai and pre-bonsai. I have one particular magnificent 18 year old specimen. It was on my south balcony, but pretty well protected from wind. It was doing very well. In July I went away for 2 weeks and had a person come in to take care of the bonsai. When I returned the 18 year bonsai's leaves (all of them) had frizzled (I believe that is a term you used in one of your videos). In an effort to try to save the tree I soaked it, removed the leaves, and placed it on my south balcony where it would get good morning sun but was protected from the sun from about noon on. I noted that the branches still had green when I scraped away a bit of the bark. In fact the bonsai came back nicely, and was repopulating the leaves a few weeks later, not fully, but on the way. A few weeks ago I was going to be away again for an extended period, and this time I brought the tree indoors and placed it at a large south facing window, again regularly watered. When I returned the leaves had once again frizzled, and this time I believe the tree may not come back, as many of the branches are quite brittle. As a note, the soil was not bone dry, nor overly wet, when I returned. Since you are very experienced with DR, I was hoping you could give me some insight, some tips for the future, and perhaps some tips on reviving this tree. As a note, I have a 16 year old DR bonsai, a large 3 year old nursery plant, many DR seedlings, and these are doing fine for the most part. Sorry for the length of this note, and I appreciate your help!
Thanks for this brilliant, if not a little sad, comment. From my experience DR return well from frizzles fronds so long the rootball hasn't dried out. Two of mine have done this twice this year and I am now seeing new buds sprouting. I expect those to die off at leaf fall BUT I know I will still have new buds to restart branching next year. They are very hardy if not allowed to dry out. Just keep it in a damp tray outside and it should return. Feel free to send me some pictures: expressionsbonsai@gmail.com
Hi xav I have taken a couple of weeks off any commenting as my health is not too good, although I am watching the videos. BTW thanks for mentioning my bonsai setup in your last video my friend. I’ll be back as the great man says.
I think it was a great choice. I think I’d still trim a little more off the dead branch. However when the top pushes more growth, it might balance out.
I agree about removing some of the legnth Dave. Sometimes i like to just sit and ponder before making further decisions - it's not like it's going to grow :)
I really gave it a few pulls and twists but that crotch limited what I could get away with. I edited out a good 10 minutes worth of me doing that in frustration :)
The literati style suits this tree. Don't love the long Jin, but hey it took you that long to decide on it that you may need a bit more time to come to terms with shortening it 😂. The apex is leaning towards the back, I'd use the dead branch to the right as the front. It looks nice either way though. Nice placement of branches in your apex, Glad you kept on thinking about improving the tree :) great progress 😊
Congratulations Xavier 😘 Hoped you would turn this twig into something beautiful 😍 I absolutely like it 🥰 Just to let you know: YT is putting ugly lot of advertisements in your videos. Enjoy your day day ☀️🙏😘 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
Personal opinion is to shorten the jin to under the first or second branch, probably first which has the nice little up turn. Looks much better. Well done.
Early on I was thinking literati, but it was interesting to see the various iterations of the lower branch. I have practically no experience with evergreen conifers. But in the end, I still think it would work best as a literati style. As it is with the deadwood, I like the deadwood projecting toward the back, like at 22:12 and ultimately, I think your revised deadwood version is a big improvement over your original ending.
It is amazing how you can film an entire video for 2.5 hours and then realise you haven't really achieved anything at all! This will be a slow build but I am hopeful for the future :)
Adding gin makes everything better! Oops, sorry, in this case it is jin, but it still makes a great improvement. As others have said, the jin to the back is a more interesting front so I would go with that. The apex needs a bit of tweaking, but that is just wire . . . and time . . .
Hi Xavier, i think that jining the lowest branch was a good call but maybe you could make it shorter. i prefer the jin being on the other side (change of front). On screen, it looks like the branch above the new jin has almost exactly the same bend as the one which so annoyed you on the lower branch. This could be hidden by a change of front. For me, you would need to lose some more foliage before it would become a literati. All in all a good improvement.
We are definitely on the same page. I left the foliage for now because I still want more back budding for better shoots next year. I was going to shorten the jin but wanted to see how most people reacted. Loving the feedback :)
I would have gone for the easiest option of changing the potting angle, that would have obliterated the angle and gave it a drop rather then a bend, and the main trunk could’ve been wired to sort the apex out
I understand your idea but in this case i was still determined to try and stick with the collabaration plan set out by Kennet from the original video. That may change at the next repot darren :)
I much prefer this alternative style Xavier! The Jin looks great. Nice work
It really was a last minute decision. Not all of those choices work :)
That deadwood feature made such a difference! Definitely a case where less is more! Lovely job Xavier 😊
My wife used to say the same thing :()
I felt the struggle all the way through. Jin was a great idea . Total makeover .
At least now I feel like I have a direction. The top is going to get wired and cut quite heavily next year :)
Good call - lighter and more elegant by a mile
The first person to mention the actual reason i made the choice. I couldn't think of any other way to make that long branch useful. I may shorten the jin though :)
Hi, I really like what you’re done with this tree. 😊
Thank you - it has taken some time! I am quietly hopeful of the future for this one :)
Looks Realy bettet xav. Good Work ! 😍👌👍💪🏼
Thanks Tom - still learning how to style these things :)
Well done Xavier! Jinning the bottom branch was the right call from where I'm sitting - does make the line slender and graceful. I also think your alternate front (having the jin at the back) will bring out more feminine form. Learning all I can before I tackle my pines!
Cheers Sue - it looks like most of you are in agreeement with the jin to the back. :)
Looks excellent now Xav, well thought out and definitely the right idea, I prefer the dead wood to the rear and turning the front completely around.
I agree
That seems to be a general view - thanks Mark
This really helps me plan the future. Cheers
Love the blue background. Make it easy to see the tree design
BUT...only if the tree is any good :)
Lovely job
Thanks Raymond
Looks great Xav! I think the jin looks much better. I agree with the front on the other side and like the movement you added to the truck!
Cheers - it definitely appears the front will be moving :)
great decision - looks loads better
It is a fun challenge and great for learning - from my point of view :)
Way better
I appreciate the comment. My next challenge will be knowing what to reduce off of the top :)
I think you've made a very good decision there Xavier. Looks great.
Thank you so much for the support :)
Xavier, I have been enjoying your TH-cam channel (I am a subscriber), and note that you, like me, have a particular passion for Dawn Redwoods.
I live in St. Louis, and grow my bonsai in my high rise apartment on east and south facing balconies. Summers here are hot, often in the mid 90s (F). There can also be pretty significant winds.
I have been at this for less than a year, and my plants have not experienced a St. Louis winter, which for the most part are fairly mild with temps generally in the 30s-40s F (above freezing) but with limited periods of temps well below freezing (as low as 5-20 F). Winds can get fairly strong. I plan to put my plants in a mini greenhouse during these periods.
I now have several DR bonsai and pre-bonsai. I have one particular magnificent 18 year old specimen. It was on my south balcony, but pretty well protected from wind. It was doing very well. In July I went away for 2 weeks and had a person come in to take care of the bonsai. When I returned the 18 year bonsai's leaves (all of them) had frizzled (I believe that is a term you used in one of your videos). In an effort to try to save the tree I soaked it, removed the leaves, and placed it on my south balcony where it would get good morning sun but was protected from the sun from about noon on. I noted that the branches still had green when I scraped away a bit of the bark. In fact the bonsai came back nicely, and was repopulating the leaves a few weeks later, not fully, but on the way.
A few weeks ago I was going to be away again for an extended period, and this time I brought the tree indoors and placed it at a large south facing window, again regularly watered. When I returned the leaves had once again frizzled, and this time I believe the tree may not come back, as many of the branches are quite brittle. As a note, the soil was not bone dry, nor overly wet, when I returned.
Since you are very experienced with DR, I was hoping you could give me some insight, some tips for the future, and perhaps some tips on reviving this tree. As a note, I have a 16 year old DR bonsai, a large 3 year old nursery plant, many DR seedlings, and these are doing fine for the most part.
Sorry for the length of this note, and I appreciate your help!
Thanks for this brilliant, if not a little sad, comment. From my experience DR return well from frizzles fronds so long the rootball hasn't dried out. Two of mine have done this twice this year and I am now seeing new buds sprouting. I expect those to die off at leaf fall BUT I know I will still have new buds to restart branching next year. They are very hardy if not allowed to dry out. Just keep it in a damp tray outside and it should return. Feel free to send me some pictures: expressionsbonsai@gmail.com
Entirely different is my favorite style of bonsai tree.
Especially with an entirely different glass of alcohol :)
Hi xav I have taken a couple of weeks off any commenting as my health is not too good, although I am watching the videos. BTW thanks for mentioning my bonsai setup in your last video my friend. I’ll be back as the great man says.
Sorry to hear that Joe - my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Great video xav 👊
Cheers Andy
I didn’t see the Jin/deadwood coming. Good call 👍
Neither did I until I realised I needed to use Adam's lime suplhur :)
I think it was a great choice. I think I’d still trim a little more off the dead branch. However when the top pushes more growth, it might balance out.
I agree about removing some of the legnth Dave. Sometimes i like to just sit and ponder before making further decisions - it's not like it's going to grow :)
I did not see this move coming, and it is great! Bonsai Releaf also did a few jin on is last video. You are both inspiring, thanks!
I appreciate that - it was definitely a last minute thought :)
So much better with the jin!!
We all love Gin :)
Yes I agree, much improved. I would have tried to crank that branch down more and given a bit more twist to it.
I really gave it a few pulls and twists but that crotch limited what I could get away with. I edited out a good 10 minutes worth of me doing that in frustration :)
Well at least you tried, thanks for letting me know.
The literati style suits this tree. Don't love the long Jin, but hey it took you that long to decide on it that you may need a bit more time to come to terms with shortening it 😂. The apex is leaning towards the back, I'd use the dead branch to the right as the front. It looks nice either way though. Nice placement of branches in your apex, Glad you kept on thinking about improving the tree :) great progress 😊
I was going to shorten that jin for the video but thought it would be good to hear other opinions...it's not like it is going to keep growing :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Jin refinement sesh for breakfast? That's some serious hours you put into this vid!
Looks good. I like the front at 22:12.
Grts
K
I shall have a look Kennet :)
Congratulations Xavier 😘 Hoped you would turn this twig into something beautiful 😍 I absolutely like it 🥰
Just to let you know: YT is putting ugly lot of advertisements in your videos.
Enjoy your day day ☀️🙏😘 Cheers 🙋♀️ Martina
I hate that i have no control over the amount of ads. It's either 'no ads' or what you get now. they are just trying to make more money :(
I'm not usually keen on jin. However, that looks rather elegant 🙂
It did help to reduce the weight of that branch as well. I may shorten it but now I am looking at getting decent extensions from the upper growth :)
Personal opinion is to shorten the jin to under the first or second branch, probably first which has the nice little up turn. Looks much better. Well done.
That advice sounds pretty good to me - love your username :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Ha ha thanks! Play off an old nickname. Again great choice. Just recently started watching your videos. Love the Ent ideas.
Early on I was thinking literati, but it was interesting to see the various iterations of the lower branch. I have practically no experience with evergreen conifers. But in the end, I still think it would work best as a literati style. As it is with the deadwood, I like the deadwood projecting toward the back, like at 22:12 and ultimately, I think your revised deadwood version is a big improvement over your original ending.
It is amazing how you can film an entire video for 2.5 hours and then realise you haven't really achieved anything at all! This will be a slow build but I am hopeful for the future :)
Adding gin makes everything better! Oops, sorry, in this case it is jin, but it still makes a great improvement. As others have said, the jin to the back is a more interesting front so I would go with that. The apex needs a bit of tweaking, but that is just wire . . . and time . . .
Agree totally Rebecca. I just need to sit and look at it with my gin&tonic for a bit longer :)
Hi Xavier, i think that jining the lowest branch was a good call but maybe you could make it shorter. i prefer the jin being on the other side (change of front). On screen, it looks like the branch above the new jin has almost exactly the same bend as the one which so annoyed you on the lower branch. This could be hidden by a change of front. For me, you would need to lose some more foliage before it would become a literati. All in all a good improvement.
We are definitely on the same page. I left the foliage for now because I still want more back budding for better shoots next year. I was going to shorten the jin but wanted to see how most people reacted. Loving the feedback :)
I like where this is going. Maybe cut back the gin some? It's a little long compared to the foliage.
Also, I like your choice of the front.
I am definitely in agreement about shortening the jin - maybe for a future Bonsai Breakfast :)
Cheers
I would have gone for the easiest option of changing the potting angle, that would have obliterated the angle and gave it a drop rather then a bend, and the main trunk could’ve been wired to sort the apex out
I understand your idea but in this case i was still determined to try and stick with the collabaration plan set out by Kennet from the original video. That may change at the next repot darren :)
@@XaviersBonsaiRetreatit’s a bit late now anyway lol
👍👌🙂
Thanks bruce
Tony is whispering in your ear.........
It better be good because it I have uploaded 2 videos for his 1st year anniversay - next Tuesday / Thursday :)
But then I’ve killed more of mine than refined .
We all face that reality Sharon