Nigel saunders bonsai zone [unpopular opinion]

[Rivian]

I have watched many of Nigels videos because I watch most Bonsai content thats on youtube.
But I dont care about thujas, ficus, trucks or seeing his larch forest for the 20th time
He puts young plants in tiny pots so they never grow much.
When he does "fieldgrow" its a low effort disaster
I dont watch him anymore, his trees are stuck in time as are his methods

 

[rollwithak]

I hate nigel because i started watching his videos and thought i had found a normal guy just doing normal bonsai diy at home. Even his hair is homely like he doesnt care.

But hes a fake. He may even be doing his hair like that just to get views and create the perception that he is an average joe. Lately his videos are just clickbait, long for no reason, not bonsai related. He does buidling projects and works on his greenhouse and little models for his plants but he actually never takes care if the plants.

I saw a video where he recently pruned an apple tree that was long overdue. It was too overgrown and he didnt eveb style it. Just cut it back. For the 10th time. He doesn't design or do bonsai he just cuts the trees and talks a big talk about the future of the tree, which will obviously never come. Its funny to see how clever he thinks he is. Today he updated a video on cedar clumps. He didnt even do anything to the tree. He did though show us a pine and a group of maples which were so pot bound he had no choice but to deal with it. He clearly doesnt care about those trees anymore and i feel bad for the trees.

Mostly i feel bad for myself for thinking he was not part of the youtube system that only cares about making videos to play us those ads. I have no doubt in my mind that within the next month nigel will upload a non bonsai related video. I unsubscribed a long time ago and i click through his videos. Its such a shame. A senseless waste for a man to have such a large following and be wasting peoples time instead of using his platform to show us some cool trees.

Tl;dr: sick of nigel saunders bonsai zone for neglecting his trees and wasting my time

I think there is enough HATE in the world right now to leave it off our bonsai forum. Maybe that’s just me, I don’t know.

Not sure if you’re just wanting others to join you in bashing or what you’re trying to accomplish with this thread but best of luck my friend.

 

[BobbyLane]

obviously just trolling by starting/mimicking another thread where op states what he loves or hates about popular bonsai figure, theres one on Chan, Neil, Bjorn etc
he's on a wind up by continuing the 'trend'

 

[BrightsideB]

Ah well, opinion are like A-holes..

I never liked the work Nigel does. Too wishiwashi for me. But then again, I find him better than the sphagnum moss guy.

Who is the spagnum moss guy? Never mind I saw your post lol

 

[MrWunderful]

If only we all had free will to ignore things that we don’t care for.

 

[namnhi]

Wow... Not really sure what he did to tick you off that much. The guy just enjoy his style of bonsai... Neither wrong nor right. Someone needs to find something to do to kill time!

 

[Crazy Diamond]

I hate nigel because i started watching his videos and thought i had found a normal guy just doing normal bonsai diy at home. Even his hair is homely like he doesnt care.

But hes a fake. He may even be doing his hair like that just to get views and create the perception that he is an average joe. Lately his videos are just clickbait, long for no reason, not bonsai related. He does buidling projects and works on his greenhouse and little models for his plants but he actually never takes care if the plants.

I saw a video where he recently pruned an apple tree that was long overdue. It was too overgrown and he didnt eveb style it. Just cut it back. For the 10th time. He doesn't design or do bonsai he just cuts the trees and talks a big talk about the future of the tree, which will obviously never come. Its funny to see how clever he thinks he is. Today he updated a video on cedar clumps. He didnt even do anything to the tree. He did though show us a pine and a group of maples which were so pot bound he had no choice but to deal with it. He clearly doesnt care about those trees anymore and i feel bad for the trees.

Mostly i feel bad for myself for thinking he was not part of the youtube system that only cares about making videos to play us those ads. I have no doubt in my mind that within the next month nigel will upload a non bonsai related video. I unsubscribed a long time ago and i click through his videos. Its such a shame. A senseless waste for a man to have such a large following and be wasting peoples time instead of using his platform to show us some cool trees.

Tl;dr: sick of nigel saunders bonsai zone for neglecting his trees and wasting my time

Also you didnt mention that the apple tree almost died from a fungal atack, thats why he let the few surviving branches grow and gain strength its just unfair say that. Here a Ficus that he planted from seed almost 30 years ago, you can say what you want to me its a beautiful tree

 

[WNC Bonsai]

I have watched him for several years and although his methods may not always appear traditional I feel I have learned some things from him. He is especially informative when it cones to working tree roots and his step by step by step tree pruning. Some of what he does is not my cup of joe but he has a large audience just as does Peter Chan who recently hit 250,000 subscribers! Nigel is not a fake, he actually quit his job designing locomotives and Stryker vehicles and supports his family with YouTube earnings. And if you listen closely his knowledge of traditional bonsai techniques, which is actually there but hidden under the tangled mass of hair, comes to the surface. He chooses to teach folks in a much more approachable way than either Ryan or Bjorn, and I follow them as well.

 

[Hartinez]

Brand new to bonsai and burning bridges right off he bat. Not the first time it’s happened here on BNUT and won’t be the last. I’m all about new folks coming in to join this amazing art, but some people choose to internet different than others. He’s got another gem of a post here. It starts so well, but degrades awfully quick.
https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/japanese-maple-cuttings-from-start-to-finish-a-guide.48957/

 

[badatusernames]

Yes!

And see, me, conversely... I LOVE “lecture-style”.,

Aaand I can also understand where you’re coming from with the “Bjorn” “Soul” comment...

Everyone is different.. and for SOME, whiteboard-style-stuff IS “passionate” and “soul”

For some, spending time getting to know the plant’s energies and personality, very.. “organically”.. is “the way to go”...

Personally... I love it all...

Room... for..... ALL!

Yeah, for sure. I couldn't think of a better phrase at the moment - it sounds too negative towards Ryan. I know for a fact I have a ton to learn from him and his whiteboard, I'm just not there yet and am not sure I want to be! I already spend enough time on this without a whiteboard, haha

 

[HorseloverFat]

Hehe! And for people like THAT.. the whiteboard is the BEST way of explaining their passion.

This is an art, though.. so no matter HOW you “feel” that passion... work it!.. work it HARD!

It’s like the difference between Carlos Santana, Kirk Hammett, and your favorite Local at open Mic... none are BAD... just different.

(I picked “easy to relate” musicians.. and as a musician.. it kind of made me sick)

 

[Wires_Guy_wires]

I don't watch what I don't like.
People on youtube don't owe you quality videos about quality bonsai. So talking smack about them personally is not my cup of tea.

I don't agree with Chan's techniques nor with Nigels. But they do make interesting entry level videos.

If the people are happy doing what they do, then I enjoy watching them. Whether it's kids playing with puppies, cats playing with toys, cows playing with balls or just grandmothers doing knitting.

 

[PaleFire]

His schefflera is lovely, and i love how he does it because he enjoys it and doesnt give a damn about tradition or having a masterpiece.

 

[leatherback]

cats playing

31 on YT !

 

[Tieball]

I enjoy the Nigel chatter while he is working on a tree. I understand his thought process rather then someone simply telling facts they learned. I often think the same way. I like the....I think this has to go....Well, here goes. And, it’s gone.

 

[Bravura Bonsai]

You just like his hair!

Welcome to Crazy!

I don't believe Nigel is that evil.

Sorce

I know but still he should be doing better

 

[Bravura Bonsai]

I'm not a huge fan of his...but finding the old me again. I hate seeing bad in people. I feel he feeds a certain audience..just as Mallsai brings ones into the hobby. We were given "free will"... so, what we have here is you've outgrown him and you find him shockingly less ideal. That also isn't a bad thing. So...that means, you just don't tune into his YouTube channel. You've outgrown it. Look at it as the growing part of your journey.

Such poetry. And you dont have 170k subscribers. Thats my point. Somewhere along the line these youtubers stop making good videos and start feeding us manure. I hate it.

 

[Bravura Bonsai]

Rather than say Nigel is bad at what he does, I would rather say that what he does is not for me. I happen to enjoy Ryan Neil. There are some people who don't like him as much, though I don't think that anyone would suggest that he doesn't have the experience. Rather they don't like his style, or personality, or the way he presents concepts - which is exactly why I like him!

Nigel has a lot of followers because he is very approachable. I think sometimes people just enjoy hanging out on YouTube and watching an approachable person go about their lives - doing random stuff. It gives them a break from everyday stress and drama. After all, no one is forcing you to watch his videos

This is what im upset about. Hes just being a vlogger. He is not an attractive young woman i have no incentive to hang out with him if it's not bonsai related

 

[Bravura Bonsai]

M

So, where are your trees? where are your yt chanel? I guess they are way better than this right? You are just a troll a keyboard bonsai master. By the way those are old photos the trees have developed really nice over the years as you can see in his videos

My trees and my youtube channel are availlable on my profile did you even look? You have such a loud mouth and happy clicky fingers click on my profile and find out about me first before being ridiculous. I have the right to hate what i want and love what i want. Https://youtube.com/channel/UC_VUmfDJDRxSTs1wGD1hx2g

 

[Bravura Bonsai]

He

Hate is a strong word there, guy. I do admit his new “vlog” style videos arnt for me so I don’t watch them. Every now and then I’ll click through to see how some of his trees are. He’s got good progress videos through out the year. His trees and style make him happy what’s wrong, with that? I don’t think he’s fake like you said. Just a quirky guy who loves his tress.

doesn't love his trees is literally the reason why i hate him. That is the reason