Six years of work on a nursery juniper, from nursery stock to bonsai

Sometimes you buy a tree mainly for its trunk, and that is exactly what happened here. Bonsai Empire followed a juniper of about 20 years old, which had already had roughly ten years of preparatory growth in the nursery. The tree cost around 200 USD. The makers call that a real investment, but they feel the thick trunk with its beautiful movement made it worth it.

At the first styling, a branch that had grown too thick was removed and replaced with younger branches that still bend well. Because the tree was healthy, around 30 to 40 percent of the foliage was taken off. Then hanging shoots and downward-growing twigs were cleared, branches of similar thickness were wired in pairs, and work proceeded from the main branches upward, with finer wire for finer branches.

The pot got attention too: drainage holes were covered with mesh, and two long wires were attached to anchor the tree firmly. Old, dark roots were removed, and the new soil was made of akadama, lava rock and pumice. The old organic soil disappears step by step at later repottings, to limit stress.

In years 2 to 4 little happened, apart from maintenance pruning twice a year. In year 5 came refinement of the branching, rewiring and a second repotting. In year 6 the tree looks almost finished.

What I personally like is the message that a bonsai is never really finished. The video title, by the way, mentions 26 years, presumably including the years in the nursery.

Source: Bonsai Empire