Chinese Elm - First one

[Scooter_M]

Hey Guys,

I havnt been checking out the forums for a while, i had the good fortune of getting hitched and buying a house Good timing because of course the bonsai's didnt do much during the winter, however as spring sets in, i got them all set up on a little stand soaking up the sun and starting to see shoots and leaves as everything comes back to life. Most of all the maples have gone bananas.

I was down @ Garden world on the weekend and never realised they have a bit of a cheap corner when it comes to bonsais. a few that are a little lacking, broken limbs etc. Picked up a reasonably developed chinese elm for 20$. Since its my first Elm tho, i've done some research and found blogs on people saying they like the humidity, warmer weather also, could do with a misting etc. Are they harder to care for than any other Bonsai?

Mainly however, there is a lower branch on it, quiet thick (relative to the rest of tree), that has been broken in half, probhably the reason for its cheapness. I think i would have taken it off anyway given its so low, but im just curious for some advice, should i be cutting it off now, or letting it repair a little bit, its already started to get little shoots off it, the wire on it at the moment is digging into the bark already and has obvoiusly been on too log, so has to come off either way, i just dont know what to do with it.

Also any tips on design would be nice too

Could be the Front ?

Chinese Elm 1.jpg

the other front?

Chinese Elm 2.jpg

Broken Lower branch (The one with the Large wire around it):

Chinese Elm 3.jpg

[Isitangus]

Hi scooter I think the branch being that low it has to go from an overall design point of view but u could leave it as a sacrifice branch. Or you could keep it as a "mother/daughter" type arrangement.

[Ray M]

Hi Scooter,
The tree looks quite healthy. I live in Winston Hills, Sydney and I find that the Chinese Elms are quite hardy. I don't give them any special treatment.

At present the tree has a fairly straight trunk. If you are willing to do some Air Layering I have added some ideas in the following photo. You should be able to get at least 3 trees.

Chinese Elm 4.jpg

Regards Ray

[ADO]

Hi,
If that were mine, I would put it in a larger pot or in the ground (maybe in a colander?) for it grow thicker. Don't chop anything off for now as the leaves will be the fuel for it to crack on nwith growing. give it At the moment its very straight so you would need to thicken up the base considerably and rebuild new taper from there. Just my two

good luck

Adrian

[Scooter_M]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the tips, never thought of air layering it, i was thinking of going for the formal upright, and growing it to a very typical try shape.

Might try and airlayer the bigger lower branch next year, and just upsize its pot for now, i have pretty terrible sandy soil in my yard, so i wouldnt want to put it in the ground.

Will keep you posted on its progress

[Scooter_M]

hey Guys,

Just thought i'd share an update of this one, cant believe its been a year.

Its structure has stayed reasonably similar overall , however has had a few un-required branches lopped off, its been straightened out a bit, but still has what i like in a bit of a twist to its trunk, Its in a much bigger pot, so although relative it looks almost the same size, its now in a 45cm pot, instead of a 23cm. Its growing nicely, and recently just had a mid-spring prune because it was becoming an octopus.

Chinese Elm 1.jpg

As always, advice on shaping and pruning always welcome. Again sorry for the shabby photo.

[Brad75]

Hi Scooter_m,

You'll find chinese elms addictive once you get the hang of keeping them. Plenty of water, Nitrosol (from Foodworks) and a bit of pyrethrum will keep your tree in the pink.
Good purchase.

Cheers,

Brad75.