# Interesting Canyon Live Oak (quercus chrysolepis) pre-bonsai **URL:** \ **Category:** Beginners\ **Created:** [April 30, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/interesting-canyon-live-oak-quercus-chrysolepis-pre-bonsai/942 "2018-04-30T16:37:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![alemon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/alemon/32/843_2.png) [@alemon](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/alemon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:37pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/interesting-canyon-live-oak-quercus-chrysolepis-pre-bonsai/942/1 "2018-04-30T16:37:23Z")
I found this canyon live oak at my local nursery and was intrigued by the “air roots” that have formed. It’s an odd little tree but seems to be thriving. I was thinking of eventually using it as bonsai material. I’m curious what others think of this odd base? Worth cultivating or not in your opinion? When would you do a first repotting into a bonsai pot? ![IMG_2291](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/e/e6e1962c43f22f2da32225b5b8188628a75714e7.JPG) ![IMG_2290](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/c/cd01f2cc2699d1da38b1d7ce5534b3f4ddfca0c7.JPG) ![IMG_2285](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/bonsaimirai/original/2X/5/5742c37ab6555be1b3d704fd8b1164a36f6c7833.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![CoffeeCherry](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/coffeecherry/32/467_2.png) [@CoffeeCherry](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/CoffeeCherry)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 7:47pm UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/interesting-canyon-live-oak-quercus-chrysolepis-pre-bonsai/942/2 "2018-04-30T19:47:09Z")
This is really weird and funny. I just can’t get my head around how that could have developed…it makes me curious 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![alemon](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/alemon/32/843_2.png) [@alemon](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/alemon)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2018, 1:19am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/interesting-canyon-live-oak-quercus-chrysolepis-pre-bonsai/942/3 "2018-05-01T01:19:20Z")
i’m guessing the plant may have been replanted too high in its new soil, which then was washed away gradually exposing these main roots? ---
**Author:** ![WLKeugene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a88e57/32.png) [@WLKeugene](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/WLKeugene)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2018, 11:52am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/interesting-canyon-live-oak-quercus-chrysolepis-pre-bonsai/942/4 "2018-05-07T11:52:51Z")
Has better possibilities than many, many sticks in pots as is not just a stick. I would buy. ---
**Author:** ![KurtP](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.bonsaimirai.com/kurtp/32/16188_2.png) [@KurtP](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/u/KurtP)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://forum.bonsaimirai.com/t/interesting-canyon-live-oak-quercus-chrysolepis-pre-bonsai/942/5 "2018-06-29T03:10:10Z")
Oooh! Root over rock. Maybe semi cascade… Canyon Oaks are slow growing. Fertilize and get it healthy. Next spring… or two… Find a knarly appropriate sized rock. Nothing smooth. As large as the spread out roots(appear) to go… with fissures and valleys. Something pretty. Maybe as tall as the current pot. Find a shallow appropriate tray…make shure it has drainage holes. Round? Several inches larger than the rock at base. GLUE it to the pot…I used silicone RTV. Something permanent but removable if you want to change pots. I used a round cardboard concrete form, cut off to the full height of the rock. Hopefully it fits inside the pot lip. Anything sturdy enough to last 3-5 years. Plastic milk carton would work if it is tall enough. Sphagnum and twine in a pinch… Drape the roots down the rock–artfully… aluminum wire to hold them in place? Slip form over tree/ rocks… fill with bonsai soil. Water and… As tree/ roots grow, cut form down several inches per year. Let the soil fall off, exposing the upper roots. Untill roots are in the tray soil and totally exposed down face of rock… 3-4 years? JUST A THOUGHT…🙄