Old Corky bark elm

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Grant Bowie
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

Kyushu Danji wrote:Hello Grant,
I have read that some elms can be kept indoors during winter if placed in the right position. Is the corky bark elm one of them?

James
The corky bark chinese elm is fully deciduous whereas the ordinary Chinese elm can keep its leaves over winter and might be able to be kept inside to some benefit but I wouldn't bother.

I would not keep the corky bark elm inside at all,

grant
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Kyushu Danji »

Thanks for answering that question Grant.
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

Hi all,

I am off on a short break and getting some stuff done around the house and on my bonsai. I have got a fair few trees repotted that haven't been done for years as well as a few that have.

I decided to try this elm in a deeper pot and am pleased with the outcome.
CB elm after repot Aug 2012.JPG
.

Grant
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Jow »

Looking good in that new pot Grant. It is surely a nice tree.

One of my corky bark elms has been in leaf for a month or so and has put on about 6 inches of growth i will be wruning and wiring it soon and its not even spring yet.... Looks like it will be a busy year.
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

Jow wrote:Looking good in that new pot Grant. It is surely a nice tree.

One of my corky bark elms has been in leaf for a month or so and has put on about 6 inches of growth i will be wruning and wiring it soon and its not even spring yet.... Looks like it will be a busy year.
Hi Joe,

This tree has only just started to bud up and will still be a few weeks before it is in leaf. I hope we have a warmer summer this year than last years cool and wet year.

Grant
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

IMG_5147.JPG
Some colour in 2013
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Last edited by Grant Bowie on May 20th, 2013, 7:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Gerard »

Wonderful specimen Grant and the color this week was awesome, it got my vote
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

Gerard wrote:Wonderful specimen Grant and the color this week was awesome, it got my vote
Thanks for your vote of confidence.

I was busy when the public choice vote got announced. Any body know which trees were favoured by the public and conventioneers?

Grant
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Gerard »

It was a great display and few people agreed as to which was best.
I think the juniper was the winner but I am not certain I heard correctly.
The cascading Kunzea and cypress were high in the voting.
I had a difficult time deciding,
The gum
The banksia, if so which one
The jack pine
The privet
The deodar cedar
The grevillea
When I spoke to others the list just got longer
Oops I nearly forgot the Nicholi group
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Neli »

I can only say WAW!
I ask lots of questions that sound like suggestions. Please remember I am a inquisitive newbie trying to figure out why You made a particular decision, in order to learn.
I started a blog:http://nelibonsai.wordpress.com/2013/07 ... a-nursery/
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by maple »

Hi Grant,
Fantastic Corky! I have a Corky that is around the same age. It was grown in the the ground for the first 15 years, lifted annually to be root pruned by a well know Victorian Bonsai lady, Greta Brezny. She has since passed away but many of her trees are still around.

A number of growers in her era grew Corkies but some of the trees have subsequently died or died back requiring restlying. I have seen it with my tree where it was neglected for a few years and had little trimming or pruning to some of the branches. They died or at least become very weak. I believe if you are not regularly working on the branches cutting back and pruning, sap flow reduces and the branches eventually die. It has prompted me to ask after looking at the growth your tree has put on after branch shortening.

Have you found that with Corky Bark Elms?
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

Many people struggle with Corky bark elms because they do not keep the tree well fed; trimmed back after good growth to allow light in and keep the inner branches healthy and keep it in full sun.

The ordinary Chinese elm seems to thrive on neglect; but not the corky or seiju elm.

The wonderful bark is their best feature and very desirable but you have to do the work on the tree on a regular basis to keep it looking good and in a healthy state.

After the hard cut back I have followed the above advice and will now trim the tree out lightly two to two to two right out to the tips. It is too firmly set in the Black Pine style so I will keep the pads of foliage rather than going to a natural deciduous style.

I need to trim off the few hanging down bits and bulk up the pads etc.

Grant
Last edited by Grant Bowie on May 21st, 2013, 8:18 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by bodhidharma »

Grant Bowie wrote:The ordinary Chinese elm seems to thrive on neglect; but not the corky or seiju elm.
A very true statement Grant and, as usual, i found that out the hard way. I am now getting the hang of it after losing a major branch. Yours is stunning and a credit to your skills and wished i could have seen it up close and personal in Canberra.
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Meagi »

I was lucky enough to see it in person caught my eyes straight away I think it was one if not the best on display in Canberra
Image
Sorry for the crap phone photo
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Re: Old Corky bark elm

Post by Grant Bowie »

bodhidharma wrote:
Grant Bowie wrote:The ordinary Chinese elm seems to thrive on neglect; but not the corky or seiju elm.
A very true statement Grant and, as usual, i found that out the hard way. I am now getting the hang of it after losing a major branch. Yours is stunning and a credit to your skills and wished i could have seen it up close and personal in Canberra.
No please. Do go on.

Thanks

Grant
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