first Bonsai :)

[wal]

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Hi all I'm Wal from brisbane and was lucky enough to score a Chinese elm today thats about 9 years old i had my first go at wireing prob not the best but i think after a prune she will look good

Did the photos work? Unsure as im using my phone

[benbonsai]

Welcome wal
Sorry no photo

[wal]

Thanks mate hmmm perhaps the file is to big? Im just trying to upload direct from my phone

[benbonsai]

Perhaps
I use an app called Resizer on iPhone

[wal]

Thanks man

[Kevin]

Wal,

Wiring looks okay.
You will need to develop some branching lower down on the trunk.
Searching within AusBonsai for 'Trunk Chop' will help you develop new buds.

Welcome,
Kevin

[wal]

Hmm so if i chop the top off abit the bottom will grow more? How far back should i go... ive just seen some very hardcore ones not sure i have the gutts yet lol

[Kevin]

Hello Wal,

I should have mentioned, it's important to have a very healthy tree before any work is done upon your trees.
At the top right side of every page you will see 'Wiki'.
Within Wiki type in your plant name to find a wealth of information on how and when to care for your plants.

Kevin

[kcpoole]

trim back the branches to about 1/2.
Trim back the top of the trunk to the just above your bends and in a few weeks you have shoot down lower to look at in awe.
let thos gorw and then wire to shape and learn how to shape and care for it.

you will gain experience and learn along the way and in a few years, you will cut back again probably

Ken

[wal]

Thanks so much for the advice.. do you mean 1/2 of the legnth of each branch or half the number of branches? I was going to remove a good few of them fully

Very exciting stuff

[wal]

Hmmm if i chop to much wouldnt that slow her getting thicker? Ive been reading ppl often replant in the ground to get a thicker trunk but would just jumping up in pot sizes more often help or do the really only respond well to growing free in regards to trunk

[bonsaeen]

I dont have a proper backyard so cant grow in ground but i was wondering if i should just use a bigger pot or a box? And i think fertilizer would help the trunk too.

[wal]

Seems using a bigger pot with Sacrifice branches may be a very good option for us mate.
From what ive been reading will still take a good few years...

[kcpoole]

Thanks so much for the advice.. do you mean 1/2 of the legnth of each branch or half the number of branches? I was going to remove a good few of them fully

Very exciting stuff

Remove what ever branching you want completely, and then cut the others back by 1/2 to promote back budding

Ken

[kcpoole]

Hmmm if i chop to much wouldnt that slow her getting thicker? Ive been reading ppl often replant in the ground to get a thicker trunk but would just jumping up in pot sizes more often help or do the really only respond well to growing free in regards to trunk

Yes cuting will slow the tree down somewhat, but what are you trying to achieve? Learn Bonsai, or grow on larger stock? the are somewhat mutually exclusive.

If you want to play and learn then that will slow down growth,
Planting a tree out ( a good idea) but will not teach anything about caring and developing skills.

Ken