eugene's chinese elms

[eugenev2]

Creating this thread to try to keep track of my chinese elm and it's bebies

 

[eugenev2]

When i bought it in 2022.

 

[eugenev2]

Early 2023 and spring 2023 with it's first "proper" repotting. I wasn't as harsh with roots as i should have been...but o well

 

[eugenev2]

Spring 2024, i was a lot more brutal with the roots this time round, but i have a bunch of cuttings now if anything happens to the mother plant, regardless this growing pot will be its new home for at least the next 2 to 3 years

 

[SeanS]

Spring 2024, i was a lot more brutal with the roots this time round, but i have a bunch of cuttings now if anything happens to the mother plant, regardless this growing pot will be its new home for at least the next 2 to 3 years

Did you take root cuttings? They’re a fun way of developing elms

 

[eugenev2]

Did you take root cuttings? They’re a fun way of developing elms

Technically no, i'm slowly building up my courage with it. I say technically, because the one root sprouted, so now i have one. But as i have a number of cuttings now, so i have material to experiment with

 

[SeanS]

Root cuttings create great little trunks because of the odd shapes that roots can grow in when they’re still roots in the soil compared to branches and twigs which generally create straight cuttings. Give it a try next time

 

[eugenev2]

Root cuttings create great little trunks because of the odd shapes that roots can grow in when they’re still roots in the soil compared to branches and twigs which generally create straight cuttings. Give it a try next time

Any specific approach you follow with root cuttings from elms?

 

[SeanS]

Any specific approach you follow with root cuttings from elms?

Same for any root cuttings. Plant them in a pot with some soil with just the tips (the upper end, the cut end) sticking out the soil a little. In a few weeks they’ll start sprouting

 

[rockm]

You repotted the tree twice in two years?

 

[eugenev2]

You repotted the tree twice in two years?

Yes, not arguably the best idea, but i lost the nerve while doing the report last year to do proper root work (about 10 to 20% of the roots removed) , mostly because of inexperience and concern that i might loose my only elm. But i spent last year building vigor and as the roots have mostly filled the pot (but not really pot pound) i decided to take the risk and did a 50/60% root reduction and hopefully setting it up to become a real bonsai one day...or possibly die ...only time will tell

 

[eugenev2]

One of the elm cuttings i made last year, showing some potential already

 

[eugenev2]

About 1 month after repotting and so far so good

 

[Youngling]

Root cuttings create great little trunks because of the odd shapes that roots can grow in when they’re still roots in the soil compared to branches and twigs which generally create straight cuttings. Give it a try next time

Also great for root over rock plantings. Just drape and tie it around a rock and bury the whole rock with the tip of cutting sticking out.