Elm getting back on its feet

[leatherback]

Last year our club was approached to take care of a bonsai collection when the original owner passed away. For a big 7-ish dollar I got a sickly old elm, in a small container.

Last summer all the branches were removed, and I have started regrowing some. Last week it was time to look at the roots. And that was a bit of a disappointment.. After cleaninf and initial pruning, the decision was made.. New feet, and root-cuttings galore.. :

 

[fredman]

Nice trunk. You sure that gap is wide enough?

 

[leatherback]

Nice trunk. You sure that gap is wide enough?

No

but else I had a devils' choice.. Either clean the roots of bark - near impossible from what I could tell-, or have a narrower nebari. Decided to try this. Can always recut later this year.

 

[leatherback]

For completeness...
I killed this tree.

 

[BrianBay9]

Thanks for the update. Do you feel it was simply too much to ask of this tree without first letting it recover vigor?

 

[Mikecheck123]

For completeness...
I killed this tree.

Just now? There's a slight gap in the timeline.

 

[leatherback]

Thanks for the update. Do you feel it was simply too much to ask of this tree without first letting it recover vigor?

Yeah. Learned a lesson. Do not repot, rootprune and airlayer. The tree really never stoot a chance.

 

[leatherback]

Just now? There's a slight gap in the timeline.

Nah, closing off some old threads to avoid the "update please" requests to then have to admit defeat.

 

[AJL]

Hopefully some of your root cuttings will survive?!

 

[leatherback]

Hopefully some of your root cuttings will survive?!

na, killed all.
Taught me patience is a virtue

 

[Mikecheck123]

Nah, closing off some old threads to avoid the "update please" requests to then have to admit defeat.

I wish more people would admit (and post about!) defeat, which is equally valuable.

 

[leatherback]

I wish more people would admit (and post about!) defeat, which is equally valuable.

True. By seeing where others go wrong, you can learn. not as much as from your own mistakes but still..

Looking at the pictures I have myself wondering why I wanted to layer the thing. The nebari would have been fine after a few more years in a growing flat. At least my thinking is not static

 

[Davidlpf]

You'll do better the next time!!

Cheers

 

[leatherback]

You'll do better the next time!!

I am doing better yes!
Next time, next tree..
Since then another 50 trees have come and left my garden

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Thanks for this! It was a creative way to kill a tree I give you props for a good idea and good technique!

 

[leatherback]

Thanks for this! It was a creative way to kill a tree I give you props for a good idea and good technique!

thx

I AM kicking myself over this, still. It was an old tree with bark that was starting to peel. So not something that is too easily replaced. But now I am more cautious.. No layering in the year of serious root reductions. Works much better

 

[Bonsai Nut]

thx

I AM kicking myself over this, still. It was an old tree with bark that was starting to peel. So not something that is too easily replaced. But now I am more cautious.. No layering in the year of serious root reductions. Works much better

I lost a decent elm two years ago because I failed to water it. I had become too dependent on my broadcast sprinkler setup, and didn't realize that the end sprinkler was no longer adequately watering the tree on the end of my bench. A couple of days went by when I was busy doing something... and next time I looked at my trees I was like "OMG - what happened to my seiju!" The rootball was so dry, almost made me cry At least you went down fighting and not through negligence

 

[Mikecheck123]

thx

I AM kicking myself over this, still. It was an old tree with bark that was starting to peel. So not something that is too easily replaced. But now I am more cautious.. No layering in the year of serious root reductions. Works much better

Did you learn anything from the root cuttings? I'm surprised none of those worked.

 

[luvinthemountains]

Sorry for your loss.

On the bright side, you seem to have developed a theory out of this. Or, at least as I see it - a successful air- or ground-layer depends on a lot of healthy roots to feed the layer while it forms its own roots. Sound about right?

 

[leatherback]

Did you learn anything from the root cuttings? I'm surprised none of those worked.

Nope. No idea why they did not take. Just for the sake of knowing I did a range of rootcutting this year of a number of plants and got a 100% success rate. Guess taking a year extra to get true health really makes sense.