Chinese Elm from supermarket

achtungluchs

Seedling
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
Location
PL
USDA Zone
7a
Hello everyone,

I recently purchased a Chinese Elm bonsai (Ulmus parvifolia) from the Obi supermarket back in June 2023. I'm excited to document its progress here as I work on developing it into a bonsai. I’m still a beginner, so any advice or feedback is more than welcome!

At the moment, I only have some low-quality photos, with the background removed by AI. I’ll be adding better-quality photos over time, but I thought this would be a good starting point.

I’ll keep updating this thread with photos and notes as I work on shaping, pruning, and caring for the tree.

Looking forward to any tips and thoughts!

Thanks!
 

Attachments

  • 02-07-2023.png
    02-07-2023.png
    221.8 KB · Views: 30
05-06-2023 first pruning and moved my Elm to a bigger pot. Visible is the big, horizontal cut on the trunk.
 

Attachments

  • 05-06-2023.png
    05-06-2023.png
    216.1 KB · Views: 29
27-06-2023 I’m refining the cut with a concave cutter, making it at a sharper angle. I’m also developing a sacrificial branch to help close the wound.
 

Attachments

  • 27-06-2023.png
    27-06-2023.png
    487 KB · Views: 24
10-10-2024 the cut is starting to heal over. I’m using two sacrificial branches to thicken the top of the stump. One of them was used for a thread graft to add a new branch on the lower part of the trunk.
 

Attachments

  • 10-10-2024.png
    10-10-2024.png
    429.2 KB · Views: 16
  • branch.png
    branch.png
    253.5 KB · Views: 18
06-11-2024 I’ve switched the wound sealant to a putty type.
The pot with the elm is placed in a large basket filled with soil (to encourage root growth and faster development), along with other plants, which makes it difficult to take a good photo. In the spring, I plan to do a ground layer to improve the currently very unattractive nebari.
 

Attachments

  • 06-11-2024.png
    06-11-2024.png
    397.9 KB · Views: 16
  • Cut.png
    Cut.png
    436.5 KB · Views: 22
I keep it on the balcony all year round, even during light frosts. It stands on the floor, sheltered from the wind. Last winter, the coldest it got was around -8°C at night, and only for a few days, during which I brought it inside for the night.

It drops its leaves in winter, but fairly late. Right now, most of the leaves are still green, with only a few starting to turn color.
 
Back
Top Bottom