How to Make an Ugly Tree into a Nice Bonsai

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

This tree isnt ugly from the Start,the Bark is very old and intresting and many people would be happy to have such an old Oak tree with such massive trunk and branches 😮😮😮

[@MiltonChang]

You are right! Why do you think I bought it? The point you pay less when up focus on the potential instead of here and now. Thanks for participating!

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

@@MiltonChang thats exactly what I thought...let it grow and fertilize and it will bud back out of old bark 🙏🙏🙏

[@jeffhurst4744]

Tilted definitely. Shows off more of the structure, and the myriad of design options going forward. I’d love a Gary Oak to turn into a bonsai.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

thanks!

[@TheBuffaluffalo]

The angled tree is already so interesting to look at! The gnarly bark really lends well to that style, I think.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

good point!

[@kennethjones6045]

I like it informal upright. Will develop into a beautiful tree.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks ! We shall see...will update every three to six months depending on growth rate.

[@kennethjones6045]

@@MiltonChang-ee6rq that's one of things I like about your program. Updates. Just really informative.

[@picklesnoutpenobscott3165]

Tilt for certain. Fun to see an oak!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes... the best isi scrub oak from high altitude. CA live oak is OK too.

[@lisahanson-mcintyre5900]

Tilted ,and can't wait to see what happens..great video

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Stay tunded...every three to six montsh!

[@damonjones1291]

Such great Instruction Milton👏🏽 I was following-along, & then you just changed the Angle of the Tree, & all of a sudden more options were created without having to cut things, that 5mins ago, i thought would be Gone/Cut... No Cuts .more options.. Brilliant! 🏆 Widened my field of Vision with this one.. 👑

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Tweaking!

[@damonjones1291]

@@MiltonChang-ee6rq In a word😊

[@FAQSlandStudio]

Tilted 👍🏼 I love your channel and beautiful bonsai. Thank you for all your content, very helpful 😊

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks! Stayed tuned...and click like! 🙂

[@sunilbadmore6030]

❤very nice present.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks!

[@zimartiste1]

👋👍 Nice vision of this oak, well done...

[@kupritbonsai]

Bonsai yang karakter tua, video yang bagus dan menginspirasi

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Terima kasih. Anda atas pujian Anda yang murah hati

[@joegarland4885]

Nice Oak tree to work on I agree that it does not appear to have much potential standing straight up but tilting it brings in a whole new aspect and will look far more interesting in time. The bark on the trunk has a lot of interest, I am not sure creating jins on the tree will be the right thing to do, I am not generally in favour of creating them on deciduous trees, but as I always say it is your tree to do what you feel is right for you. I wish you well with the tree in the future it has the makings of a great bonsai. Joe.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Stay tunded!

[@TheMysticDeep]

Definitely straight!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

thanks!

[@pattymyers4729]

Love that you bought this tree!. I enjoy trying to turn an ugly duckling into a swan. I like the movement in the branch ( the left one in the video facing us which is actually on your right). If it were my tree after seeing how it heals and responds, I would remove the other thick branch altogether near where it meets the trunk. The movement in that one branch could be just slightly tilted or left as is. Another wonderful video. Thank you🌷🌷

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Let me sit on it a while....till next video!🙂

[@MasterFalconer-pv8zb]

You are the Master, I will learn from you, thank you for your knowledge, you make the choice and I will learn.

[@UpstateYamadori]

Many options but I personally look like it straight. Excited to see what you come up with. I'm experimenting and learning with a large Japanese maple I dug up and so far it's been very successful. Learning a lot from you as well.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Learning by doing is the best way to improveyour skill.

[@KimaHolland55]

Hi Milton, good to see you interact with your viewers ! I'd keep it fairly straight & simple . You could put an accent on the beautifull trunk and roots that are hidden underneath the soil. Cut off the little branches so it can shoot out nice thin new branches to give it that thick trunk bonsai look with lush green foliage in the top. How does that sound to you ? Hope to see the results soon in the next video 😊

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I agree with you...I will definitely do that when it put it in a bonsai pot. Now, I am putting it back into the nursery pot to thicken. I appreciate your straight forward philosophy. I am too. 🙂

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

I think that if you tilt it, you would have a windswept look to the tree. The fierce wind hit it hard and tilted the trunk and roots, yet the tree hung on and grew. Maybe some debris lying around the tree from the storm. Just a thought. I like this tree. Sleep on it and the comments and then make the decision. Usually sleeping on a problem helps us to solve it and come up with a nice design. Waiting for part 2.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

In this case yes...I tend to deal with busienss issues immediately...tend to get worse.

[@joeaspley3441]

Tilt for definitely. Gives a nice angle from trunk to first branch.👍

[@cashkillion5710]

Tilted, thanks for the video!!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

You are welcome! Please click like.

[@100lols]

As for your question, I would tilt the tree! Even if you don’t make the major cut you mentioned, the tilt makes both options more exciting to me. Would you consider making a video about how to care for a tiny shohin tree? I know the smaller trees aren’t your preference, but my wife has a tiny bonsai that needs some love.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Sure...stay tuned!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

To me this tree as an ugly duckling in your hands will turn into a swan. Massive work on this root system to get the tree back into shape.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

It is always about transformation!

[@lenvivian695]

Would like to have seen his root work.

[@maryperrysmith5815]

I think that’s an amazing looking tree I love the trunk. I would tilt it. That would make it more interesting looking. ❤.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I think so too!

[@bonsaiglory5683]

Great knowledge...

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks!

[@Fambamm-ib6pw]

Tilted would look lovely ❤

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes!

[@laddieokelley6095]

My preference is to remove the smaller trunk to the viewer's right. As you say, that might leave you two options, one of them contingent on a new sprout from the right side of the trunk. (The word that refers to dead leaves clinging to a branch in winter is "marcescent," a word I like.)

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

We shall see. Thabnks!

[@jonathanzellner906]

I’m still waiting to see your hackberry tree! This is such a good video though.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

That Hackberry is sprouting well...now that spring is here!

[@100lols]

Awesome video as usual. Thank you Mr. Chang!!! It’s videos like these that help increase creativity. This tree really doesn’t look all that ugly to me. I will admit I don’t prefer oaks as much as other trees. Maybe I’ll be adding an oak to my collection soon since I live in California with you lol.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK...but you did not click like! 🙂

[@100lols]

@@MiltonChang-ee6rqwhere is the LOVE button?😂

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Haha! Thank you!

[@brianbarnes1362]

For sure tilt, 💯

[@MarkBroussard-k1h]

I vote for the tilt

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK!

[@sal-1337]

when you tilted it i wasshocked how much of a difference it made immediately. i think tilting is more interesting and leaves you more to work with too.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I think so too!

[@bonsaipedia]

I would like to see the results by tilting the plant 🤩

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK!

[@barnabascollins4625]

Love the thumbnail

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks! Wait uptil it shoots out!

[@MANNY100123]

The more interesting the tree the better! Titled would look pretty nice I think! :)

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes....has to be drastic to get noticed!

[@thomasholland7621]

Hi Mr Chang. I agree with you tilting the tree. I have a question though about oaks. I am just an amateur, just a few years experience with bonsai, but have learned through reading and through working with oaks, that if you don't wait till the new leaves come out on a oak when you do any transplanting or root work, that there is a good chance that the trunk of the tree Will die and that only new sprouts will come up from the base. I didn't hear you mention that, although you did say that you were going to to let the tree stay in the growing pot for another year., I did notice that the only root work you did was cutting off the tap root that escaped the pot , and to expose the top root work , plus cutting off a large crossing root. Even doing that much would make me nervous about losing the trunk of the tree. Am I wrong about what I just said about oaks?

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I don't think so...let us wait and see ...I willupdate you every three to six months. There are a lot of bad information being passed on...and on!

[@alanjones3207]

Straight!!!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Ok, Thanks!

[@massimiliano.giacometti]

I think I'd keep the thicker trunk (on left in the video), tilting the tree and making a jin of the second.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Se can try...I found oak wood in the garden decomposes pretty quickly...I suppose furniture don't get wet.

[@kennethglendinning8770]

When you tilt it like that the more dominant trunk on the bottom doesn’t become the main trunk, I would imagine this is the one you would want to follow up to the apex. Just a thought. Thanks for your teachings.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes! I will see and work on it when it is growing wild.

[@frederickheard2022]

I think the tilt version looks promising.

[@dianedelello5906]

I am just an amateur but I would love to see the tree tilted as you suggest, then cut the bottom branch to about half its size. What do you think?

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I will take all suggestions into consideration....really! 🙂

[@dianedelello5906]

@@MiltonChang-ee6rq thank you. No matter what you decide, I will learn from your decision

[@ChrisMarrero75]

What a beautiful tree. I do have a question though : This week I bought 6 bare root Chinesse elm and filled a grow pot. I used a lot of dirt to fill the pot. It was just top soil for now but... how much dirt do you all go through in a season. Or it is once you get them in a grow pots you just let them grow for a while ? I am using the reckonmended mix (coco coir instead of peat cause of the co2 issue)

[@bonsaiheirloom]

I add soil after planting when the soil settles down after watering a while. Coir works fine.

[@mcbabs7495]

J'aime beaucoup votre chaîne YT, merci pour la vidéo!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

merci beaucoup pour votre compliment

[@OutsidethePot]

The moment I seen the the trunk and branches I thought it was a beautiful tree with a lot of potential. I’m not a fan of deciduous trees I like leaves all year round. The closest I get are elms. I can keep the green in the winter months.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes...that is one of the advantage of Chinese elm..I don't think all elms are that. Thanks for sharing.

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

Oak trees will defnitly sprout out of old Bark if you let it grow for some Times til its established a healthy root System and fertilized it will bud back...and later you csn decide which way to go... Tilt is better way for this tree IMO 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️🙋🏻‍♂️

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I know Life oak does that. Not sure about old trunk for valley oak. Maybe by scraping off some of the old bark to expose the inside to sunlight to stimulate. Light is life!

[@thegreenmanalishiyamadori371]

@@MiltonChang-ee6rq my oaks does it evrywhere when I cut back and fertilize...they're german Oak Quercus Robur and Quercus Petrea

[@sidtewari5746]

Sir Please make Jin of either of the branches. But please keep till it shoots back.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

YeaG...always keep the options open...can always cut latter...just in case one see a different direction. Thanks!

[@andrewspar436]

Actually, I find the tuning fork growth of the tree quite interesting and would embrace it instead of getting rid of it.

[@garystaud5022]

Definitely tilt.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

omer tilt for sure. Thanks!

[@hyperionhelios190]

Tilt but you need to cut back the side branch to the twigging.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Of course each decision requires work. Thank you for participating!

[@williemills2657]

Tilt the tree it looks better in my opinion. I have Palo Verde and Mesquite trees all over my land. I think I might try to bonsai a couple. So far my favorite little trees are my Hinoki cypress. I am going to get a long bonsai pot and some cool stones and make a miniature forest with 5 of them 😊

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Just do it!😇

[@ratanashifu]

I would have it a 1 trunk solution. There's on this one branch enough going on already to make it a beautiful bonsai.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Good point!

[@mmjnice97]

Cut one of the trunks super simple

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

We shall see ...wait until it ha more growth.

[@rollmop99]

The tree you keep saying "looks bad"... really doesn't- what a beautiful split trunk and bark...

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Look bad means it is not as good as it could have been...thus the work 🙂

[@brianjanku4549]

I would hack of the smaller branch at the fork.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I qill wait to decide when there are more growth. Thanks!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes!

[@RodneyPike]

Tilted for sure

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK!

[@andreasknogler585]

Tilted.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Maybe! :-)

[@jasonhohner3864]

Tilt for sure

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK!

[@jamestracy9592]

I’m in favor of tilting the tree. Hopefully the shoots grow to complement it.

[@swadheenswain]

2nd option

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks!

[@djbeard22]

Hi definitely tilted too the side

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK!

[@FenDen0]

Tilted

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I will play with it as it. shoots out.

[@FenDen0]

Fantastic! I will be watching. ​@@MiltonChang-ee6rq

[@susanbossert6833]

I would leave both branches, but tilt it the opposite direction from what you did.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Another possibility! Thanks for the suggestioin!

[@BonsaiRiaanC-bh1ug]

I guess Tilt would be my preference...

[@KeraDawn]

Absolutely tilted ❤❤❤ So many times I watch bonsai artists cut out what I think are the most interesting parts of the tree because they want the perfect bonsai tree. Bonsai trees mimic Mother Nature and she doesn't do anything perfect.

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Yes, I always say to emulate nature!

[@eroahola9953]

try to tilt it

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I'll do anything to improve.

[@OutsidethePot]

Straight

[@RicardoAraki]

Tilted. I think that tilted will give it more movent.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK! I will wait until there is more branches to choose from. thanks for your inout!

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Hey...you didn't click thumbs up 🙂

[@cynrich1]

Tilt it and keep both trunks!

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes...I will introduce asymmetry bymake them of different lenth

[@matthewpedigo2149]

I would remove the right side completely and not worry if it budded back.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Could work...I am conservative, tend to keep mu options open.

[@t3dwards13]

Neither...yet straight. I like keeping both main branches. It reminds me of a set of horns!!!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Interesting!

[@WolfgangKeim1]

I would actually turn it clockwise and let the left branch become the leader.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

will wait until new growth comes out...but will definitely take your advice.

[@cayteo]

I hope I'm not too late to vote for tilting. Perhaps I'm too new to the scene, but those drastic prunings stress me out!

[@bonsaiheirloom]

Not too late! :)

[@nathalierouhier4726]

I prefer when the tree is not straight

[@davemirande8936]

tilt please

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK! thanks! You are so polite!

[@johnvandegrift5164]

Definitely tilted if it was mine. I might even cut the top branch off and have the lower branch be the whole tree.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK, thanks!

[@lindafox5752]

I vote leave it standing straight and remove the left branch. Your left.

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Maybe just the tp part...two tops a little strange.

[@bonsai_journey]

Amz

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

YS!

[@mariadi1069]

Tilt.

[@JanetCoulby]

Tilt

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK, Thanks!

[@robertwoods1380]

Your last option

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Thanks!

[@richardkuipers7295]

Don't like de fork cut one of

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

We shall see. Once it brnches out, we'll see options

[@davidkish9829]

Tilt the tree

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Ok! Thanks!

[@pelosnice]

tilt

[@mentalyentil]

tilted

[@crisscamt.8305]

Tilt

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

OK!

[@zimartiste1]

tilt

[@gunslingr7]

Tilt

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

Yes, that's for sure.

[@kerkmanmgc]

Tilt

[@louismilienou5442]

Tilt

[@MiltonChang-ee6rq]

I tend to agree!