This is a very old thread but, I was wondering if anyone has done any experimentation since the initial posting. I have sprouted about 150 seedlings and thought I might try to bonsai a few of them. My guess is they make poor “classic” bonsai material or the Japanese would’ve been showing them off long ago. I know this is an EXTREMELY slow growing tree but, I’d still like to try a few as bonsai. It’s unlikely I will ever see a thick-trunked, mature looking tree. I figure if I ease up on my daily beer intake and limit the microwaveable burrito consumption, I might get to see 20 years of progress (which is good enough for me). Any personal advice or experiences with keeping this species alive in a pot and/or compaction techniques would be greatly appreciated.