Water Elm Forest Progression

[VAFisher]

I thought I would post up a progression of my water elm forest that I started from cuttings from the tree shown below. This tree is now sadly gone (due to a stupid mistake) but at least I still have the cuttings that came from it. I rooted the cuttings in 2016 but I don't have any pics of them from that year.



In 2017 I put 7 of them together and tried to get them in a somewhat random placing.



Here is the forest in July 2018 moved into a larger pot.



April 2019. Not a whole lot of change.



August 2019. The trunks thickened up quite a bit in just a few months.



June 2020. Trunks are still getting thicker and the roots are starting to push the trees up out of the pot. Definitely due for a repot in 2021.



November 2020 before getting ready for some work before going away for the winter.



Dec 2020. All branches and trees shortened and did some re-positioning with guy wires. I also reduced the soil mound to reveal the surface roots that went a little crazy on me under there. I will give it a proper repot in the spring.





The plan is to just keep developing the branching. In particular, tree #2 needs at least one more branch coming off the right side. Hopefully the hard prune will result in something popping close to where I need it.

 

[AZbonsai]

Looks great! Have never heard of that species before.

 

[PA_Penjing]

Great looking forest, that really came together fast.

 

[VAFisher]

Looks great! Have never heard of that species before.

Thanks. Planera aquatica is a southern species that isn't a true elm, but is closely related. The grow in swamps along with bald cypress. My original tree came from Zach in Louisiana. They require some winter protection in Virginia, and as I found out, can wake up pretty early in the spring after a few warm days in a row. Things get tricky when it gets cold again and that's how I lost the parent tree. It was sitting in front of a window in my garage and got too cold after coming out of dormancy early this spring. This forest was only a few feet away, but not in front of the window, and was spared. They love the heat of summer and I think the hotter and more humid it is the better. Mine grows faster in July and August when other trees are taking a break. They have small leaves and get twiggy pretty fast. All in all, it's a really nice species to work with.

 

[johng]

Nice! I have a couple water elm forests as well as some larger single trees. They are fast growers...just don't let them dry out!

 

[hinmo24t]

well done

 

[VAFisher]

Nice! I have a couple water elm forests as well as some larger single trees. They are fast growers...just don't let them dry out!

Or get too cold!

 

[AZbonsai]

Or get too cold!

I have 3 montezuma cypress I wonder if I could get one of those to grow in AZ?

 

[Dav4]

Looks great! I think water elms are one of my favorite deciduous trees as bonsai subjects. Keep up the good work.

 

[BobbyLane]

Nice natural composition, looks good.

 

[Carol 83]

Really impressive for only three years, I like it alot.

 

[VAFisher]

Figured I would update this progression thread. Here is the forest in 2021 after the cutback and repot.

 

[VAFisher]

And here is the tree today after the first haircut of the season. This thing really gets going in July and August so I'll have a lot more to do. One thing that bothers me about this forest is the right front tree. It was positioned pretty well initially, but as it's grown the roots have pushed it out to the right and it obscures the view of the tree behind. I've been trying to move it with a guy wire but have been mostly unsuccessful. I don't know if I can do anything about it at this point though. Maybe at the next repot I can do something about it.

 

[Cajunrider]

And here is the tree today after the first haircut of the season. This thing really gets going in July and August so I'll have a lot more to do. One thing that bothers me about this forest is the right front tree. It was positioned pretty well initially, but as it's grown the roots have pushed it out to the right and it obscures the view of the tree behind. I've been trying to move it with a guy wire but have been mostly unsuccessful. I don't know if I can do anything about it at this point though. Maybe at the next repot I can do something about it.
View attachment 440797

Very nice my man!

 

[pandacular]

Lovely composition. Forests really highlight to me that the best tool we have is time, as when this was planted, it was little more than saplings. But even after just 3 growing seasons, it looked excellent!

Have you been letting long branches extend prior to cutback to aid in thickening?

 

[ERClover]

Inspirational forest. Have a few ideas to try my first come next spring and it’s examples like this that get me more and more excited!

 

[VAFisher]

Lovely composition. Forests really highlight to me that the best tool we have is time, as when this was planted, it was little more than saplings. But even after just 3 growing seasons, it looked excellent!

Have you been letting long branches extend prior to cutback to aid in thickening?

I mostly hedge prune it during the growing season and then do hard cut backs once the leaves drop and I can see what's going on.