I turned a cheap Christmas tree into a Bonsai (3 years later)

Three to four years ago I picked up a cheap Picea (spruce) Christmas tree for just $5 — and instead of tossing it after the holidays, I decided to see what it could become as a bonsai. In this video I walk through the full development process: Initial styling and structure work on raw nursery stock First repotting into organic soil while the tree was still developing (a mild, gentle repot to keep it healthy) Ongoing pruning to build ramification and refining shape Three separate wiring sessions to develop movement and branch placement Final repotting into a proper bonsai pot using inorganic bonsai substrate (Akadama/pumice/lava mix) The result: a cheap, unassuming Christmas tree transformed into a bonsai. If you're curious about turning inexpensive nursery or garden center stock into bonsai, or want to see a realistic multi-year progression (not just a "finished tree" reveal), this one's for you. We thank the Japanese garden Clingendael, and our two technical supervisors Bob Ruitenbeek and Christiaan Yeh for their help.

#bonsai #picea #spruce #bonsaitree #budgetbonsai