This oak was the first tree I posted to this website, when I started it on January 1, 2019. I updated that posting on July 19 of that year (see https://beginbonsai.net/2019/01/02/coast-live-oak-quercus-agrifolia/). The tree has gone through many changes since then.

The tree yesterday.

After my early issues with figuring out how much water this tree required, it grew well when watered sufficiently. I water it now along with the rest of my garden with an overhead sprinkler for about 20 minutes in the morning in summer, and then usually water once more by hand in the afternoon.

The tree replaces its leaves every spring, although it is considered a broad-leaved evergreen .

I was invited to exhibit this tree at the 2021 California Economic
Summit, November 9-10, as part of a ‘Tree of Life’ display. In preparation for that I slip-potted it in October from its terra-cotta training pot into a proper bonsai pot.

Minimal root disturbance during the repot.

Repotting complete.

The tree on display.

After the exhibit at the Economic Summit I raised the bonsai soil around the roots to encourage shallower root growth. I kept it this way approximately 3 months until mid-February, when I decided to repot it and work the roots this time.

Out of the pot.

Symbiotic mycorrhizae.

Root-pruned.

The new pot is large to encourage growth.

The tree planted in its new pot.
I think the oak is the hardest tree to bonsai, this one looks wonderful!
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Thanks! I really like oaks, but for me at least, they take a longer time to develop as bonsai than many other species.
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Because they grow so slowly…
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