How to Make Bonsai from a Cedar of Lebanon

Рет қаралды 9,189

Күн бұрын

In this Bonsai video we transform a Cedar of Lebanon tree from raw material into a Bonsai. I am joined in this video by Bonsai artist Attila Csintalan!
I think the Cedar of Lebanon works great as a Bonsai because it grows these beautiful dense clusters of short, dark green needles and horizontal branches. This makes it very easy to create a miniature tree that also looks ancient in a short amount of time. Plus, it's not too much of a fast-grower, which makes it easier to shape and take care of. This one reminds me of Larch!
We cover the tools used when working on this tree, as well as various important techniques used in Bonsai such as creating deadwood, Jins, and Shari. This involves removing the tree's bark in different ways. As we progress, we discuss the available design options, providing insights into our thought process when crafting a design and selecting the front of the Bonsai, with particular emphasis on achieving a natural appearance.
Of course, there are numerous approaches to Bonsai, and this tree could have been styled in various ways. We would love to hear your ideas and thoughts on this!
Thank you to Attila for having me at his place! If you would like to see more of Attila's Garden, check out: A Tour of Attila's Garden: • A Tour of Attila's Bon...
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For business inquiries, my email address can be found on the Notion Bonsai KZfaq Channel About page.
TIMECODES:
00:00 - Intro.
00:19 - About The Tree.
01:41 - Design Options.
04:38 - The Tools Used.
5:00 - How To Make A Jin (Taking off The Bark and Foliage).
07:19 - Creating The Deadwood Feature.
10:44 - More Design Options.
12:32 - Creating a Little Shari with a Natural Look.
18:50 - Wiring The Deadwood and Using The Blowtorch.
19:53 - Removing The Wire and Cleaning Up The Tree.
21:45 - Styling The Tree / Beauty Shots.
23:19 - Outro.
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Пікірлер: 92

@jaafar878 Жыл бұрын

I am lebanese and i am proud that our native trees can be turend into a bonsai great job

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

This one is certainly a beautiful species to work on for Bonsai! 🌲😍

@TonysBonsai Жыл бұрын

I love this video! It shows what bonsai practice is about at its very best. Two friends discussing design and then implementing those plans. You make a great team, and while the design might not be to everyone's tastes, I really like the bold moves. Given a couple of years all that deadwood will look fantastic, and the overall design will definitely improve as the tree is further styled. Great work chaps. I can tell that you both enjoy just sitting there at the beginning studying the tree and weighing up your options exactly as I do. It's hard to capture that on camera but it's my favourite part of the process.

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey thank you so much Tony! It definitely was fun to discuss design options off camera 📷 Ideas and design options changed as we went along too which made it even more exciting!

@attilacsintalan3285 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot Tony ☺

@renegraciagalindo3871 6 ай бұрын

Gracias Adam, te veo desde 🇲🇽 Mexico. Thank you Adam, from Mexico 🇲🇽

@jimmyrasnake6704 11 ай бұрын

looks great ,love the burned deadwood

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Glad you like it! 🤗

@joegarland4885 Жыл бұрын

Great to see you guys working together on what is known to be a difficult species to create a credible bonsai, you get better and better Adam I must admit I thought you had split the trunk too deep and I still think so, that is my view but it is your tree, you are very good at explaining what you are doing, I m not sure you had an end style in mind when you started it just evolved over the time you worked on it. I do think given time the tree will begin to look a credible bonsai but not there yet, I am glad that you both are pleased with your work and the finish result which is all that matters. Well done guys.

@MatthewLeeman1990 Жыл бұрын

Class as always Adam. Something so different too!!

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Thanks Matthew! Its good to try new things in Bonsai!!

@earthladyadventures5018 Жыл бұрын

I love the way the 2 of you worked together to make such an amazing art piece ❤❤❤❤😊

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey! Thank you so much 😄 I'm sure this tree will only look better with time 🌳

@aislingseward8125 11 ай бұрын

I recently came across a photographic catalog of the earths oldest trees. Within these images, the common thread was that they all looked like they had been through hell and back. I'd say that your choices were bold BUT effective in setting the tree up for a TRUE to life ancient appearance. Can't wait to see how it develops in the next few years.

@attilacsintalan3285 11 ай бұрын

Thanks Aisling! Would u mind to mention that catalog? Would love to check it out 😊

@raymondplodzien7459 Жыл бұрын

Awesome job you two!

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Thanks Raymond! 😄 There will be more videos with Attila in the future 😇

@cristiratis7723 Жыл бұрын

Awesome! Really good video.

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Thank you Cristi!

@ag0nPT Жыл бұрын

I am a long time lurker here but i want to say thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiments. Your videos are very detailed, newbie friendly, etc. I love how you explain the thought process. Keep it on!

@renegraciagalindo3871 6 ай бұрын

Awesome bonsai ❤congratulations.

@gantoin Жыл бұрын

Waow! Really nice job

@garysaikaley8110 10 ай бұрын

I was just in Lebanon and bought 3 small cedars from the forest they are famous for. Will ne along time to get mine big .hope theysurvive Canadian 2inter

@kevinwilkes5969 Жыл бұрын

Lovely collaboration.

@tasanastasi7799 Жыл бұрын

Wow ! ..so much more interesting than a standard styling ..LUV IT Bravo !

@VictorianGoldHuntersAU Жыл бұрын

Great job lads! Very interesting idea. Love it! Something new and different. I just bought a young cedar myself. Keep up the good work Adam 👍👍

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks! I like to try new things with Bonsai! 😄 it's great working with someone else on a tree too! You get to combine ideas! 🌳🌳🌳

@harrychristodoulou3782 Жыл бұрын

That’s awesome you have both produced a masterpiece, well done 👍🏼

@ancientoak Жыл бұрын

Great Work!

@conspiraterry7393 10 ай бұрын

I really love what you did with this tree. I was unfamiliar with the species, very interesting video, you guys did good work together.

@saalikreynolds3064 Жыл бұрын

Love it, well done guys.

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey thank you so much! 🌲😄

@casandraolund9006 Жыл бұрын

Wow I love it

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks 😄

@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Жыл бұрын

An interesting styling approach - not sure it was for me but loads of skills. I wired up and styled to Cedrus deadora last week and am now back in love with the species. If you have watched Dan Barton you will see that with any newly stripped wood you can do the heating and bending at the same time thereby saving on wire. It seems to be very effective. Nice project to have on the go Adam.

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Thanks Xavier! It's an unconventional design for sure! We went more with the dead top similar to the suggestion I gave you for your pine! I'll have to check out Dan Barton! I've seen Tony bend the deadwood with the wet cloth and torch 🔥

@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Жыл бұрын

@@notionbonsai Definiitely check out Dan Barton. he was one of the oriignal four in the eighties etc..

@KennetDeBondt Жыл бұрын

Nice work guys! Grts Kennet

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey thanks Kennet!! 😄

@martingidman3325 Жыл бұрын

Fantastic tree

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Thank you 😄 There will be lots more Bonsai videos to come!

@nahdiabunga1506 11 ай бұрын

Good job friend🤩👍

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Thank you friend! 🤗

@Boldo75 Жыл бұрын

I like it!

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

😄🌲🌱

@danielfonseca5007 Жыл бұрын

Great experiment, love the live side. The big long gin is a bit weird but if that's to your taste that's all that matters 😊 looks very promising

@Vaasth Жыл бұрын

pretty cool, do you have any suggestions how to get rid of that inverse taper you mentioned in the begining? ground layer perhaps? or is the tree too big for that by now?

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

That could be an option in the future! It doesn't bother me so much at the moment, though there are some ways to get rid of it! One idea could also be to stab it down there over time to get the base to scar and swell... not sure I like this idea though as it might look a bit strange! Will consider more options when we get to that point 😄🌳

@Ollieslife101 11 ай бұрын

I've had 3 Evergreen trees, one JBP, one blue spruce, and one Cedar clump style. All 3 were nursery stock and taking advice from videos. I slowly did work while trees were IMO healthy, but who knows, IDK. After the trees were worked on, they slowly started browning, and eventually, 2 or so years later, they just pass away. I'm sure I did something wrong. I'm still newer to Bonsai and the correct techniques. Hey, I'm slowly learning and not killing my trees as much, haha. I'm having great success with decidous species and succlents like portulacaria afra (easy IMO to keep alive and propagate) just still to this day I can't keep evergreens. ***Does anyone have any advice on nursery stock and times and what should be done to help keep the evergreen species alive. I really-really wanna learn evergreens because in Michigan, they are good for Bonsai, and they are so beautiful, and there is so much I can do without needing space inside my house in the winters. PLEASE HELP*** I love Bonsai, but my wife and kids don't get it and don't like the trees inside the house. Which is OK with me. I totally understand she wants to decorate, and it's hard because I could fill the house with plants. hahaha Hey atleast i have a hobby that is joyful and peaceful. I could gamble or use ***g's, you know. 😂

@Bonsaicrazy Жыл бұрын

Bloody brilliant guys. I want a friend like Atilla 😂😂 Really cool tree mate 👍👍👍

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey Andy! Thanks so much man! Attila is a great guy!

@Bonsaicrazy Жыл бұрын

@@notionbonsai very jealous bro 👍

@bikegeist Жыл бұрын

This is going to be a polarising one. I'll reserve judgement until 4 years from now. 😊

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

I can see how it may be polarising! We definitely went hard on this tree with an unconventional style but it is bouncing back really fast now! 🌳 😄🔥

@susanbigler3014 Жыл бұрын

I think I like everything but the trunk split..it makes me vervous when I watch you do that. 😊❤🌱☘️✂️

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Totally understandable Susan! 🙂 If you think when we do trunk chops, if we chopped the tree at that point it would be fine. The only difference here is that the dead part that would be cut off is still attached to the tree 🙂 Worst case scenario if splitting it didn't work, we always had the option of cutting it right back and working with what was left 🌲😉 Thank you for watching!! 🔥

@christophersmith7714 3 ай бұрын

Looks great! I'm just getting one. Any tips on over wintering them?

@notionbonsai 3 ай бұрын

Hey! I have a longer video on the topic of overwintering 🙂In short... With the cedar of lebanon to ensure its survival during the winter, protect it from harsh conditions. Monitor watering to ensure the tree receives adequate moisture. Avoid heavy pruning during the winter months to prevent frost damage to new growth. Keep an eye out for pests and diseases, treating any issues as needed🌲❄️

@dofutofu3720 Жыл бұрын

Is it safe to take that much foliage off? I want to take the top off my juniper because the top is taking too much energy and is shading out my primary branching. I was thinking of doing something similar but I did not want to risk it

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Hey! Because the tree was super healthy we felt that removing this much was OK to do so. It was early summer when we did this also so we knew that the tree had more growing time to recover. With your juniper I would assess the health of the tree before deciding whether or not it is OK to prune off a lot. Junipers can usually take a good prune. As a general guideline I'd say not to remove any more than 1/3 of the foliage to be on the safe side. On the other hand if you don't want to prune but still allow light into the inner branches... you could try wiring it to see if you can open it up a bit 🙂

@alessandrolovaglio3137 Жыл бұрын

I love this video 😍 I have just a question, I am getting into Bonsai from a little time, and I don’t know where to start to buy my bonsai tools, where can I get them? Thank you so much in advance🙏

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Hey! You can get Bonsai tools from all sorts of places! Though its important that you check to see if they are good quality tools as they may break if they are made from weak metals!

@blasphemer 12 күн бұрын

Fascinating video! I was transfixed. I've veen looking for one of these trees to work on but they're all too tall and skinny in the nurseries I've come across. Do you know where I can buy one like yours before you started working on it?

@notionbonsai 9 күн бұрын

Thank you for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Finding the right tree can be challenging for sure! I recommend checking out specialized bonsai nurseries, as they often have a better selection of suitable trees. You might also consider online bonsai stores or joining local bonsai clubs, where members often sell or trade trees. If you're still having trouble, you can always buy a taller tree and gradually work it down to the desired size through proper pruning and training. Good luck with your bonsai journey! 🌱

@ckennedy309 11 ай бұрын

The most impressive part of this video is that you were able to find a Cedar of Lebanon. The rest of it was fine it's just not something you can find in the states.

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Ohh thats a shame! They are easy to find here. Maybe you can find one online?

@antoinequestiaux417 Жыл бұрын

Does this tree lose needles in automn like larch?

@attilacsintalan3285 Жыл бұрын

It is an evergreen conifer 😊

@birgit4674 Жыл бұрын

nice zeder, i really enjoy watching your videos, i haven't been able to get a translation for a few days now, because i can't really speak english i have to rely on the translation, the translation was always there for older videos and now it doesn't work anymore, best regards

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Hey there! The translation should have updated now 🙂

@TheBonsaiGarden Жыл бұрын

So you get to own the tree, but Attila gets to do all the work, and gets the blame if anything goes wrong. Got ya 😂 This reminds me of a large yew tree I saw in the garden centre, about £50, that I am thinking of getting and styling. A nice big project. 👍 Great video guys, and superb editing. 😊

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Exactly Jason 😉😂 I may take it home someday, though! Would love to get it into nice soil next spring!! Ooh nice! You should get it for sure! Would love to see how you approach a big bit of raw material like a yew! 🌲✂️

@andrewogawa1029 11 ай бұрын

The deadwood sweeps one way and the live portion the opposite way. ?unnatural windswept.

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

It is meant to look like a tree that was once tall and healthy... then the top died off and all that survived was a few side branches! Will have to see how it develops with time! 🤗

@masonbrowne6796 Жыл бұрын

Have you thought about doing a juniper berry tree? Very beautiful spikey foliage with a deep dark redish bark blue green foliage its quite beautiful and I don't see anyone doing them I have 5 now very recommended :)

@masonbrowne6796 Жыл бұрын

And I think you'd love a Illawarra plum pine tree aswell

@brucedeacon28 Жыл бұрын

👍👌🙂

@265petsar Жыл бұрын

These are great trees for styling , but I think the straight 'inverted' deadwood takes away from the overall design. Sometimes, people get carried away with deadwood, which doesn't look natural, as in this case. A few jins on the right side and a smaller top would have been a better balance overall.

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

Nice idea! 😄 I'm interested to see how this tree will look as time goes by! The goal was to make it look like it was once a large tree that died back and a lower branch took over. Though it is unconventional for the apex to not be on top, I have seen trees of this style in nature 🌳

@deus5185 Жыл бұрын

🌳🏆

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

🌲🔥🙂🤔

@mamanmeongbonsai3541 Жыл бұрын

Keren master

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

🤗

@gromageindustries6745 5 ай бұрын

The tree looked lovely, very nice material, very lush and vigorous, a more mature looking apical region too, It looks like a Deodora. But I don't like the finished article though, too much good branch structure was lost to dead wood, that you could have done so much with. The dead wood was thinned out too much where it met the live also, it didnt look natural, it should have gotten thicker as it met the live wood, so it will likely rot off quite quickly. Sorry. sometimes I feel people marmalise their trees a bit and I have to express myself. I wish you the best though 🙏

@notionbonsai 4 ай бұрын

Hey! Thank you for sharing your honest feedback. I appreciate your perspective and understand your concerns about the finished result of the tree. Maintaining a balance between preserving the natural beauty of the tree and achieving the desired aesthetic can be a delicate process, and I understand that it's not always easy to please everyone's tastes. Your insights about the deadwood and branch structure are valuable, and I'll certainly take them into consideration for future projects! Constructive criticism like this helps us grow and improve as bonsai enthusiasts, and I'm grateful for your input 😁 I'm sorry to hear that the finished article didn't meet your expectations, but I'm thankful for your well wishes. Bonsai is a journey of continuous learning and refinement, and I'm always striving to improve my skills and techniques. I'll keep your feedback in mind as I continue to create and share my Bonsai adventures!

@gromageindustries6745 4 ай бұрын

@@notionbonsai bless you man 💚 I'm sorry, I shouldn't have used the word marmalise, that wasn't kind, more acurate would be to say It wasn't to my taste. Lots of people loved it. Often my issue is not taking enough material off! It's clearer when the required thickness of trunk is developed. Otherwise It's always a balance between optimising development of the bonsai and development and vigour of the tree. Yeah have a fantastic year of growth. Ive got too much on my hands! 🙏

@donaldslovey338 11 ай бұрын

I think it kills the tree

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

I can assure you that the tree will recover with no problems as long as it is cared for correctly. The operation was done in early summer and the tree has lots of stored energy to push out new growth 😄

@donaldslovey338 11 ай бұрын

I don't like the dead wood look

@notionbonsai 11 ай бұрын

Understandable 😄 it's not to everyone's taste. What would you do differently? 🙂

@przypadkowyObywatel Жыл бұрын

No... I'm sorry but I don't like this design. The tree suffered a lot for dubious effect. I love my plants I won't do something like that to them .👋☺️♥️

@notionbonsai Жыл бұрын

I guess everyone has their own preferences as to what looks good for a Bonsai and I can respect your choices! 🙂🌲🌱 Thank you for watching 😄