Chinese Elm Shape

[Migs]

I am new to bonsai and received a chinese elm as a gift. The plant looks healthy but not sure what shape or what to do with the tree. I will definitely let it grow out but any ideas on shape or things to focus on?

 

[AZbonsai]

Welcome to Bnut and bonsai Migs! Your tree looks healthy. The best thing you can do right now is read...read....read. Gather as much information about bonsai as you possibly can. You need more detail than a quick post can provide. You might try this forum:

Books, magazines, and videos (incl video streams)

For discussion of bonsai instructional media.

www.bonsainut.com

It will give you some great ideas about resources for your bonsai journey. Anything by John Naka would be a good read.

You might also think about putting your location and growing zone in your bio. People who share your location and zone can offer better advice.

 

[SeanS]

Are you keeping it inside?

 

[sorce]

Fluxcore!

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Migs]

Thank you for the link... will start to research. I am going to attempt to keep indoors as I have a place that gets lots of sun.

 

[SeanS]

Do you have access to outside or are you only able to keep it inside?

 

[Zach Smith]

Thank you for the link... will start to research. I am going to attempt to keep indoors as I have a place that gets lots of sun.

You will face an uphill battle as a beginner trying to keep this tree indoors. Chinese elm can be grown indoors, but will much prefer outdoors. For what it's worth.

 

[Migs]

I can do inside and outside. I was just told it was an inside bonsai.

 

[SeanS]

Elms are outside trees, they grow as large trees out in the open. It will do much better outside

 

[Zach Smith]

I can do inside and outside. I was just told it was an inside bonsai.

Yeah, that's the sales pitch. The good news is, you keep this tree alive for a season and at some point you won't be so enamored with the tree's design (what I call the horrid "S" curve mass-market Chinese elm bonsai "design"); you then figure out where to chop the little guy to rebuild it into something that's yours. If you search this site for Chinese elm, you should be able to find some nice examples of similar trees that have been redesigned and they turn out very well. Chinese elm is very forgiving, and you can learn a lot working on them. Good luck!

 

[Migs]

Thank you. I will definitely do outside and inside as we get into winter. Good to hear it is forgiving to learn on. It was a gift so I will research more on how to make the best of the shape.

 

[kale]

Thank you. I will definitely do outside and inside as we get into winter. Good to hear it is forgiving to learn on. It was a gift so I will research more on how to make the best of the shape.

Outside in winter too. The dormancy is really good for them. Its like their version of sleep.

 

[Moridin]

Listen to Zach's advice he knows his Elms.

 

[badatusernames]

You will face an uphill battle as a beginner trying to keep this tree indoors. Chinese elm can be grown indoors, but will much prefer outdoors. For what it's worth.

How do you feel they fare if they're left outside for the summer and brought in for the winter? Any better?

 

[Zach Smith]

How do you feel they fare if they're left outside for the summer and brought in for the winter? Any better?

Sure. Chinese elms can take a lot of cold, so I always recommend a cold frame rather than warm dry indoor weather in winter. I'm not sure how needy Chinese elms are of dormancy, but mine get their fill each year. You need to learn how they behave in your hardiness zone, considering where you're located.