Thanks for watching. I've been busy with projects outside of bonsai that have consumed all my free time and nearly half of my sleep time. January will mark a clean slate for my projects and I should be getting back into working on my trees and making videos.
Thank you for saying so and thanks for watching. I'll be posting updates at least once per year. Even if I have to post as late as I did this year. If you want to be notified when I post new videos, there's a little gear next to the subscribe button. Click that and check the box to receive updates.
Thanks for watching! The challenge is to shut me up. I talked about so many different bonsai topics during this video, I had problems developing a narrative. It's like this with every video.
And thank you for watching! I'm finishing up a video of a bald cypress 23-tree slab planting I made last year. I should have that one up by the 1st of September.
I collected one 2yrs ago,was 25ft tall I cut it down to 4ft. I plan on bringing it down to about 2ft this yr. I had in mind doing a hollowing out like you did. At what point did you do your hollowing out? I wish I could send you a picture of one that I have been trying to get a flattop out of. At this point I’m unsure about which branches I should cut! Being totally self taught I’m scared to mess up what I already have.
I collected my first bald Cypress a few days ago. if the area above the live branches appear to be dead should top that area off or should I wait until spring to see if any branches will grow out? thanks
If you look at my earlier videos on collecting, you'll see how I reduce the height of the tree immediately. I remove all the branches, as well. This forces the tree to start new growth along the trunk. If the tree you collected has a dead zone, determine if you want to make this into a deadwood feature. I'd like to know how big your tree is before I give any further advice. I also want to know what you've done with the roots/soil/growing container. Oh, and where did you collect it? A swamp, bayou, marsh, dry land... I don't need to know the name of the location, just the type.
That's another one of my toys. It's a Pargon CS-14D glass fusing kiln. I anneal the copper at 1500°F (800°C). The video shows the heated copper as being a magenta/fuchsia color. To the naked eye, it's a bright orange color. The difference is because of UV light. I was wearing shade 3 welder's goggles. What I should be wearing are cobalt glasses.
when is the best time to wire? I'll make a better longer video today... I chopped one lower branch as soon as I got it... but otherwise let it grow all summer
Best time to wire is late December when the leaves are all turning brown. You can go ahead and defoliate the tree, wire it, and then let the buds break in late January or February. That's all New Orleans advice. Depending on how far north you are, the tree may lose it's leaves sooner and the buds break later. You can actually wire at any time EXCEPT when the buds are forming and leafing out. All you'd be doing is knocking off the buds and pushing the tree's development back a bit. Thanks for watching!
For people potting bald cypress bonsai along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, I recommend a soil mix of 30-40% inorganics (haydite, turface, lava rock), and 60-70% organics (pine bark mulch and such). I also recommend that the soil have more finer particles than you would allow with other bonsai, but not dust. You can get this by only sifting your soil components with a window screen. This will be a moderately well draining soil. When the soil's drainage gets very slow or stops, it is time to repot. Other regions will have other needs. I cannot speak for those areas. Consult your local bonsai societies or submit questions to a discussion group such as bonsainut.com, reddit.com/bonsai, or ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com Bald cypress roots will fatten up when the tree is submerged for extended periods. I drown my trees when I get them out of the swamp to aid in their recovery. I also drown the roots my bald cypress when I want to fatten up the base of the tree. Once I am satisfied with the base of the tree, I move to a pot that will drain water. I hope this answered your question. And thanks for watching!
Hmmm.... I don't believe that there is. I wonder why? I'm thinking maybe I gave the tree a year off. I've been pushing it hard to work on it each year and make significant design changes in the videos. It's on the list of trees I'll be working on this year. So where am I? Local collection spot with Dennis: Almost done editing. Hopefully within a week. North Louisiana collecting with Byron: Almost done editing. One week after the Dennis video ABS St. Louis Convention: Multiple per day videos shot on hand-held and edited on my phone. April 19-22. Oh hell! is that in 2 weeks? Hollow-13: To be filmed this year, perhaps in May. Saint Kateri: This year, perhaps earlier than Hollow-13. This is a vigorous tree! Briseuse de Coeur: Done. Twice already this year. Follow-up on the advanced technique I used will be out in a few days (one of the techniques failed and I do a post-mortem on why) Bill's Bayou: Last summer, a vacation sprinkler failed and more than half the slab died. I will address this and rebuild what I can. I'll likely film this in December. Torque: I really want to do this one this year. Like really really really want to do it. Fat Rat: It's a boring tree. I've never published anything on this one. I did film its initial styling, but never published it. I should do something about the weeds growing in the pot. An elderberry tree is taking over. Should be in December when I can do a full bare-root repot to get the damned tree-weed out. Wood Preservative Test: Not sure if I'll get to this before June. Things I want to test: Minwax wood hardener, Tung oil, Smith's CPES, PC Rot-terminator, PC Wood Petrifier, Epoxy diluted with denatured alcohol, and of course, just Lime-sulfur The Knee Creation Project: Need to start filming very soon. Follow up taping will take place each year until something happens or I give up. Estimated time until publication: 5-10 years
Thanks for watching! I'd be happy to explain if you could clarify your question. The bonsai is in progress. I won't say that it is show-ready for a few years yet.
This is new to me. Beautiful trees, and makes me miss the swamp
Another educational and entraining video, Bill. This is a great tree. Cheers, Dick from Vancouver.
Thanks for the series grow up. Looking for next 5 year. :)
wow you done a awesome job I can't wait to see more of this Beautiful tree
Thanks for watching. I've been busy with projects outside of bonsai that have consumed all my free time and nearly half of my sleep time. January will mark a clean slate for my projects and I should be getting back into working on my trees and making videos.
Looking very nice that is! look forward to future updates.
Thank you for saying so and thanks for watching. I'll be posting updates at least once per year. Even if I have to post as late as I did this year. If you want to be notified when I post new videos, there's a little gear next to the subscribe button. Click that and check the box to receive updates.
That is, I'll be posting updates on THIS TREE at least once per year.
I enjoyed the video and your thought process!
Thanks for watching! The challenge is to shut me up. I talked about so many different bonsai topics during this video, I had problems developing a narrative. It's like this with every video.
great , congratulations.
great job, and thanks for the update
And thank you for watching! I'm finishing up a video of a bald cypress 23-tree slab planting I made last year. I should have that one up by the 1st of September.
Fantastic. Thank you.
And thank you for watching.
Bello ese trabajo,saludos
¡Gracias!
Any updates on this tree by chance? Watched all the videos on the playlist!
nice
I have a huge BC that I may want to carve also, when do you think its the best time for that? Thanks for the great videos Bill !
I collected one 2yrs ago,was 25ft tall I cut it down to 4ft. I plan on bringing it down to about 2ft this yr. I had in mind doing a hollowing out like you did. At what point did you do your hollowing out? I wish I could send you a picture of one that I have been trying to get a flattop out of. At this point I’m unsure about which branches I should cut! Being totally self taught I’m scared to mess up what I already have.
Look for me on bonsainut.com. post your question in the "Other Conifers" forum.
4 years since the last update... you didn’t lose it did you???
Update please!!!
I collected my first bald Cypress a few days ago. if the area above the live branches appear to be dead should top that area off or should I wait until spring to see if any branches will grow out? thanks
If you look at my earlier videos on collecting, you'll see how I reduce the height of the tree immediately. I remove all the branches, as well. This forces the tree to start new growth along the trunk.
If the tree you collected has a dead zone, determine if you want to make this into a deadwood feature. I'd like to know how big your tree is before I give any further advice. I also want to know what you've done with the roots/soil/growing container. Oh, and where did you collect it? A swamp, bayou, marsh, dry land... I don't need to know the name of the location, just the type.
what was the light thing the wire was in
Thanks for watching! Yeah... I'm going to have to plead the 5th on that one.
+BillsBayou it's at 3:47
That's another one of my toys. It's a Pargon CS-14D glass fusing kiln. I anneal the copper at 1500°F (800°C). The video shows the heated copper as being a magenta/fuchsia color. To the naked eye, it's a bright orange color. The difference is because of UV light. I was wearing shade 3 welder's goggles. What I should be wearing are cobalt glasses.
when is the best time to wire? I'll make a better longer video today... I chopped one lower branch as soon as I got it... but otherwise let it grow all summer
Best time to wire is late December when the leaves are all turning brown. You can go ahead and defoliate the tree, wire it, and then let the buds break in late January or February. That's all New Orleans advice. Depending on how far north you are, the tree may lose it's leaves sooner and the buds break later. You can actually wire at any time EXCEPT when the buds are forming and leafing out. All you'd be doing is knocking off the buds and pushing the tree's development back a bit. Thanks for watching!
+BillsBayou I'm on good ol Alabama... so the advice should do me good... thanks a lot man... I have a new video posted ... I'm going flat top so.
Do bald cypress need good drainage since they can grow in water?
For people potting bald cypress bonsai along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, I recommend a soil mix of 30-40% inorganics (haydite, turface, lava rock), and 60-70% organics (pine bark mulch and such). I also recommend that the soil have more finer particles than you would allow with other bonsai, but not dust. You can get this by only sifting your soil components with a window screen. This will be a moderately well draining soil. When the soil's drainage gets very slow or stops, it is time to repot.
Other regions will have other needs. I cannot speak for those areas. Consult your local bonsai societies or submit questions to a discussion group such as bonsainut.com, reddit.com/bonsai, or ibonsaiclub.forumotion.com
Bald cypress roots will fatten up when the tree is submerged for extended periods. I drown my trees when I get them out of the swamp to aid in their recovery. I also drown the roots my bald cypress when I want to fatten up the base of the tree. Once I am satisfied with the base of the tree, I move to a pot that will drain water.
I hope this answered your question. And thanks for watching!
BillsBayou it does. Thank you. I'm in North Alabama. They are along the rivers and even in best buy parking lot.
Is there a follow up to this video ??
Hmmm.... I don't believe that there is. I wonder why? I'm thinking maybe I gave the tree a year off. I've been pushing it hard to work on it each year and make significant design changes in the videos. It's on the list of trees I'll be working on this year. So where am I?
Local collection spot with Dennis: Almost done editing. Hopefully within a week.
North Louisiana collecting with Byron: Almost done editing. One week after the Dennis video
ABS St. Louis Convention: Multiple per day videos shot on hand-held and edited on my phone. April 19-22. Oh hell! is that in 2 weeks?
Hollow-13: To be filmed this year, perhaps in May.
Saint Kateri: This year, perhaps earlier than Hollow-13. This is a vigorous tree!
Briseuse de Coeur: Done. Twice already this year. Follow-up on the advanced technique I used will be out in a few days (one of the techniques failed and I do a post-mortem on why)
Bill's Bayou: Last summer, a vacation sprinkler failed and more than half the slab died. I will address this and rebuild what I can. I'll likely film this in December.
Torque: I really want to do this one this year. Like really really really want to do it.
Fat Rat: It's a boring tree. I've never published anything on this one. I did film its initial styling, but never published it. I should do something about the weeds growing in the pot. An elderberry tree is taking over. Should be in December when I can do a full bare-root repot to get the damned tree-weed out.
Wood Preservative Test: Not sure if I'll get to this before June. Things I want to test: Minwax wood hardener, Tung oil, Smith's CPES, PC Rot-terminator, PC Wood Petrifier, Epoxy diluted with denatured alcohol, and of course, just Lime-sulfur
The Knee Creation Project: Need to start filming very soon. Follow up taping will take place each year until something happens or I give up. Estimated time until publication: 5-10 years
Thanks for the reply, would be great to see where the Hollow-13 is today!
how can you Let a tree not look like a tree omg
Thanks for watching! I'd be happy to explain if you could clarify your question. The bonsai is in progress. I won't say that it is show-ready for a few years yet.
I have a smaller bald cypress... if you would take a look at my video on my channel... I want it to be flat top of course... thanks for the video
Parasols>Domilises. ;)
Free shirt I received.
Tracey's > Parasol's
Lol now I gotta go to rocky n Carlos up the street!