Bonsai Novice.. Mystified

[nanigirl]

Hello all,
I brought home a new Chinese Elm about 3-4 weeks ago and it seems to be very happy. It's watered consistently, and living in front of a huge NE facing window which is open 24/7.

It was very unkempt when I brought it home, but I figured I had some time to think over pruning since it's the middle of winter. To my surprise, it's exploded with growth this week.

Why? How long should I wait before trimming, and if anyone has any thoughts or references to a shape that might be appropriate for this little guy I'd be happy to hear it.

Thanks all and happy growing!

 

[Mike Westervelt]

If you put your location and climate info in your profile you will get better and more appropriate advice.
Most folks will say Chinese Elm should be grown outside, myself included, however some people are successful growing them indoors.
No reason not to trim if it is actively growing.

 

[nanigirl]

If you put your location and climate info in your profile you will get better and more appropriate advice.
Most folks will say Chinese Elm should be grown outside, myself included, however some people are successful growing them indoors.
No reason not to trim if it is actively growing.

Thanks for the info Mike. I'm in NYC- an apartment, so outside isn't really an option.

You're saying I could prune off whole branches while it's actively growing?

 

[Mike Westervelt]

Yes in theory, although probably best to wait until spring just before it starts to really take off.

 

[gooeytek]

Where did you get it from, a month ago? was it outside?

 

[nanigirl]

Where did you get it from, a month ago? was it outside?

A small bonsai nursery. It was indoors there as well.

 

[brentwood]

If you're limited to keeping it indoor, might be worth getting a grow light, bulb and trying that 9-12 hours a day. It will appreciate that.
When I get a new kind of tree, I spend some time looking at Google images, like"Chinese elm bonsai" - look at all the different ways people have done them, see what you like, lots of ways to style a tree, I'm always surprised. Your tree looks relatively young, but that's sometimes a bonus, not stuck in someone else's design. Lots of time to take that tree as far as your interest lasts. Much luck with it!

 

[Shibui]

Chinese elm can be pruned any time of year. No problem pruning when they are growing - that's the time we trim most often to keep our trees in shape.
Almost impossible to hurt a Chinese elm by pruning. They are very tough and hardy which is one reason they are recommended for beginners as well as experienced growers.

You may have noticed that most of the new shoots are way out at the ends of branches. That's normal so if we want shoots further back along branches to increase ramification and build branches we need to trim those long shoots much shorter to get the new shoots where they are needed.

 

[Ininaatigoons]

Couple ways you can go with this one. Basic Broom style or train a new leader. With a broom you'll want to imagine an umbrella canopy and trim to shape a slowly expanding dome. With training a new leader you'll want to pick a branch and let it grow until it is 3/4 the thickness of the first section. Meanwhile pruning one branch as the first branch. You might like to try to wire the new leader as well as the first branch. That first branch is kept small by pruning while you let the leader go. Then 1/3 the length of the first section you chop the leader and train a branch and next section. Repeatedly do this until the basic structure is there. Then time for refinement and that goes on indefinitely. That's the basics.
One suggestion is to try others as well. Ficus and brush cherry are easily kept indoors. I've had luck with Serrissa and Luma Apulicata as well. Pomegranate and citrus are also OK indoors, but hard to fruit and citrus may have a tougher time without strong light.