Redesigning a 400-Year-Old CA Juniper Bonsai Bought at Auction

Today, I have this magnificent California Juniper that I got at the Lake Merritt Mammoth Bonsai Auction. It has a beautiful trunk with twists that remind me of calligraphy. I'll show you how to repot and reorient a bonsai to fit your artistic vision.

0:00 Introduction
1:15 Remove tree from the pot
5:05 Reorient a bonsai
6:23 Bonsai root work
7:05 How to know how old a tree is
10:46 Soil mix for bonsai
12:53 Repotting and orienting the tree
13:40 Use a stick!
15:04 Before & after
16:53 One week later update

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[lindafox]

Thank you. After 20t years I still consider myself an amateur. I just stumbled on your program and have subscribed to learn more. You make it easier than most others that I have seen. I have books by the half dozen that I want to donate to the library because they just don’t help me that much, so I will happily subscribe and watch you.

[RodneyPike]

Very cool tree. I look forward to seeing it develop.

[birdshenanigans]

I could watch your channel all day. Thank you .

[suzannepoffel]

❤Calligraphy yes I see it too! 🎉 Dragon 🎉

[Toulamaples]

Very nice Mr Milton. Keep up the great videos!

[jonathanzellner]

Your transformation is amazing, my friend

[jesusmartinez-gdcd]

Love how your videos are always straight to the point. Could you do a progress update on the Chinese elm nursery trees that you cut back a year ago?

[Fambamm-ibpw]

Always nice to see you and your content ❤

[OutsidethePot]

I understand the desire for an older looking tree. If I could afford to perches a tree like that I would buy them. I try to take 5 to 10 year old trees and make them look like a tree. I pick traits that give the illusion of a larger tree. I also work with tropical and succulents. I haven’t had a lot of luck with confers.

[growclipbonsaiforseniors]

Year of the Dragon and this does have the look of a Dragon. This was a nice tutorial and the special care you took for the roots of this 400 year old lady. I enjoyed the care taken for her.

[tanarehbein]

Thank you for your patient and comprehensive teaching. I am constantly inspired.

[joegarland]

Hi Milton a lovely looking tree it will be much better at the new potting angle it appears not to have a great root mass so will need work to increase than over time, I have two trees not that dissimilar to yours, one is well over a hundred years old, the other is around the same, they are Sabina Junipers collected from the mountains of Spain sustainably many years ago, they are not too easy to create a style which is acceptable to me I have been trying for some years to do so but still not there yet. I agree the deadwood does resemble Chinese calligraphy. Good luck with the tree giving you the pleasure of working it. Joe

[sunilbadmore]

Very nice, you repot the ca junipar nicely it's very informative.

[cashkillion]

11:45 Great use for a bag, thanks for the helpful hint, I love your videos!!

[nerinat]

Very informative video, looks so much netter... TY much appreciated

[jeffhurst]

What a great tree you have improved this old Juniper into, and future bonsai. Can’t wait to see its progression, 3, 6, and 12 months later. You’ve done it again, given us the inspiration to improve our bonsai.

[laddieokelley]

When I look at this repotted tree, I do not think of age at all. It is a work of art, a sculpture. It is possible to create the illusion of what I call "old growth, " like the Eastern Red Cedars near me where vultures perch at the top or like the Bald Cypress one sees in Louisiana, neither of which retain a hint of the pyramidal shape of their youth. Your beautiful juniper is in a different category, the way I see it. Thanks as always for a stimulating video.

[MANNY]

Love the angle you chose so much more than the original one!

[growclipbonsaiforseniors]

Now that is a tree and a half! Super cool!

[BUY_YT_VIEWS_m]

Like so many others, this video is a true inspiration, thank you.