AusBonsai

If the holes are not too large by the time the news paper has disintegrated the soil is damp enough not to pass though the holes. A screwdriver is big enough plenty of them.
These are the same size as I use it is surprising how much fits in them. Cling wrap is the same size ( width ) as the box. In the grow boxes you don't need a plate just mound the soil then spread the roots over the mound cover with soil.
Then sit back and get another tree to start on then another Good luck
Pup

hi japh

depending on what your considering for your elm... those boxes seem a bit deep, and only if you wanted you could cut those box's down mho

have you thought about styling your tree before you grow it on

Hey Aaron, yeah they are quite deep, but I was only planning on filling them about... maybe 1/3?

I have thought about re-styling, but I feel I need to see it fully leafed first. Also, a huge part of the plan is having a sturdier trunk, which is the main purpose in the grow box.

Do you have a particular recommendation? As nothing's done yet, and I'm open to specific suggestions!

going into specifics is hard as the tree is still a bit small. i think you need to grow it, chop it back grow it chop it back etc to get some girth on that trunk first. then i would consider styling. once you have a bit of shape you can then work it out, as for now if you wanted to style i think it is lending itself to a slanting style. but that is for now, elms grow so fast that the style choice could change so quickly and dramatically you cant be so sure of where to go with it, you know you might end up with a sumo style shohin in a few years
or you could end up going taller with more foliage pads in an informal upright, endless possibilities with this size material mate. this is what i am trying to say. i guess a long winded reply for not much of an answer

well...

i look at a tree like your elm for instance, and it is at a stage in it's life that if its gonna get the 'grow on' treatment for a period of time, then you wont be able to add movement to the trunk soon. so all im suggesting is that i would add at least some character to it.

it could be any 'style' you want.

what do you think

aaron_tas wrote:well...

i look at a tree like your elm for instance, and it is at a stage in it's life that if its gonna get the 'grow on' treatment for a period of time, then you wont be able to add movement to the trunk soon. so all im suggesting is that i would add at least some character to it.

it could be any 'style' you want.

what do you think

mate i completely agree with ya there. to add movement or change in direction with work now will help later down the track.. which completly contradicts my previous post i guess. with it being an elm though to let it grow and selectivly prune the same result can be achieveable as wiring a trunk with a tree this young and maluable.
suggestions, advice and opinions are what this site is all about its to help people, and give different opinions.(plus to sohw our prized posseions with pride).
what i was saying is that there is several ways off getting about this and different method which comes down to the owners and growers choice in the end. what they take on board and listen to or not is their choice. one way or anther it is all good.
in my case i appreciate all the advice, opinions and critisism i get and take everything into consideration. good or bad
so what i speak of from my experience is one thing where someone else may think something completly different, as far as i am concerned this sort of discussion is something that ends up with a positive result as you can take a bit from here a bit from there and if all goes to plan then everything works well.
im not one for arguements, i think they are un necessary, constructive critizism and positiveness is a very powerful thing that when given right in disussion and conversation generally works out very well.
hope all is good, and i havent gone into this to much.

and an elm like mine has already had thought process put into it to a degree when i aquired it. what i have to do with it is find the tree within and use imagination, thought and nature to design my tree around what has already been done

im not exactly sure how to take that , so im sorry if i offended you jamie

jamie111 wrote:suggestions, advice and opinions are what this site is all about its to help people, and give different opinions.(plus to sohw our prized posseions with pride).

you truly hit it there

Hmm... lots to think about. I'm a little concerned about doing too much too soon and the poor plant not being able to cope.

This tree was apparently only recently repotted (about a month ago) into the pot you see in the photos. I assume some root work was involved in that too.

What I'd love to do, is wire it up to create a nice informal upright, and grow box it to fatten the trunk up. But I've never done either thing before, and I'm already a little unsure of the timing for moving it to a grow box so soon after the repotting.

Perhaps I'll spend some time tomorrow sitting and working out the flexibility and how I might wire it up anyway...

no mate lol not offended at all.
i guess i am in a typing mood and i have jast babbled on a bit
i wasnt exactly sure where you was getting at either lol, so i thought i would explain myself a bit better.
please dont take anything i said as offense, i only have the best intentions in what i say and sometimes i cant explain what im thinking properly. i have that problem in face to face conversations to so yea. all in all its all good
i hope i didnt make anything awkward that was the last thing on my mind

and i am starting to think i am using to many smileys and laughys and stuff lol

Japh wrote:Hmm... lots to think about. I'm a little concerned about doing too much too soon and the poor plant not being able to cope.

This tree was apparently only recently repotted (about a month ago) into the pot you see in the photos. I assume some root work was involved in that too.

What I'd love to do, is wire it up to create a nice informal upright, and grow box it to fatten the trunk up. But I've never done either thing before, and I'm already a little unsure of the timing for moving it to a grow box so soon after the repotting.

Perhaps I'll spend some time tomorrow sitting and working out the flexibility and how I might wire it up anyway...

mate i am always thinking about how to make my trees better so your not alone there.
being repotted recently i wouldnt be to concerned. if it was me and this was the case i would try lift the whole root ball and put into the grow box if thats what i was planning. you probly would of done a root prune anyway. just be careful doing that as to try not disturb any new roots growing. they will be tender!
if that is the style you want to do and that is what you see in the tree then go for it, i have repotted my large elm out of season because it needed it badly and it was fine and is still fine, actually need to take some more shots. growing like crazy at the moment.
with wiring the trunk and trying to fatten it up just keep a close eye on it as the wire will be cutting into the bark in no time and the scars will take forever to heal if ever!
elms are quite hardy i havent had one die yet and i have put them through hell and back and sure enough new growth has always come through strong.
with the wireing if you go that way instead of selctive pruning make sure you are carefull as to go to far they will snap, but this ones trunk should be quite flexible. i would only go a bit at a time tho if it is more brittle.
bend a bit one week then wait a while, the bend some more, dont just try and bend it all in one go
hope this helps

regards jamie