My Chinese Elms

[Adamski77]

Looking good, I would seriously build these in training pots though, give them a little room to spread their legs and really build something special. Your trees though

@BobbyLane … thanks a lot for advice… I know what kind of trees you have so more than happy to follow. The reason they are where/how they are was because of (kind of) emergency when I bought them… you can see earlier in this thread. So I simply put them into something.
For my education… what would be the main purpose of putting them in grow boxes? Trying to develop nebari? Get more vigor? I’m asking cause I can put them in the boxes… no issues… just wondering what kind of boxes I need to design here.

 

[pandacular]

What sort of pots do you use for training? I have a few large pre-bonsai in nursery pots that I want to get into training pots next spring. My teacher recommends Anderson flats but always curious about other options.

 

[Adamski77]

Candidate number 2 went to workshop yesterday. Was thinking a lot about front selection, future potting angle and overall concept. Even kind of raft came to my mind but I don’t think root structure would support it. All in all settled for now with showing the hollow feature in front… maybe planting angle will change slightly with top of the tree pulled more to the viewer. Selected what I think the main branch structure will be and pruned towards building more taper in the branches. Also scorched some wounds that should start healing over. Photos before/after below together with rough virt of what I’m looking for here.
And honestly I like to push the trees towards what I think but keep watching them in terms of response and potentially modifying plan… so let’s see.

 

[pandacular]

scorched some wounds

Curious as to what you mean by this. Like you treated them with a blowtorch or similar? I've seen that for deadwood, but not for wounds (but I'm new, so me not having seen it doesn't mean it ain't right!)

 

[Adamski77]

Curious as to what you mean by this. Like you treated them with a blowtorch or similar? I've seen that for deadwood, but not for wounds (but I'm new, so me not having seen it doesn't mean it ain't right!)

I hope I’m using right expression (I’m not native speaker and learning vocabulary as I go along)… but what I mean is to slightly cut edge of the wounds to force callus formation… normally using knife and just slightly cutting off the bark from the edge of the wound. Then cover with cut paste. Few times a growing season and that causes the callus to form faster. I have to admit it’s just one theory and there is a number of threads on this forum with proofs and counter-proofs.

 

[Orion_metalhead]

"Scored" would be the word you're looking for. "Scorched" means to apply fire/to burn. When something is "scored" it is finely cut with a knife.

Anyone, love this second tree. Cool design.

 

[Adamski77]

"Scored" would be the word you're looking for. "Scorched" means to apply fire/to burn. When something is "scored" it is finely cut with a knife.

Anyone, love this second tree. Cool design.

Thanks a lot… that’s the word I was looking for… another step on the journey. Appreciate eduction.

 

[Adamski77]

And here is candidate number 3… took it as a last one from my batch as I really have high hopes for this one. The problem is all of them have so much old damage… like somebody would be running tractor over them over several years… which is not entirely impossible in China. Similar to the other two focus was to find new leaders, define main branches and wire some movement till I can. A lot of work ahead but I think this one is making progress too… will probably need some backbuds here or there but bones are there… worst things worst will do some grafting… though Chinese elms tend to bacbud rather easily. Here it is before and after. Exact front yet to be found but probably few degrees counterclockwise plus angle with top slightly more towards viewer.

 

[pandacular]

q

Thanks a lot… that’s the word I was looking for… another step on the journey

appreciate you explaining. we both learned something by my asking the question, 3q~

 

[simplelulu]

Like your stone wall

 

[Adamski77]

Was pruning these guys yesterday… while doing that I got some excellent news. Last time I worked on them I was fixing one scar in the back… the problem is that it’s big and long and had no nearby branches… so created a ‘naked’ part of the trunk. Yesterday found the tree actually back-budded right at the edge of the scar. Clearly more options with that plus scar will heal much faster.

Better be lucky than good

 

[Thomas J.]

Chinese Elms are great for bonsai and even for beginners as they grow like weeds and if you have the eye, you can style them really good. First pic is at purchase and second pic is the final design. The last two are a before and after and was sold recently to someone here on the Nut Forum.

 

[snowman04]

Very nice. Have my first Chinese Elm coming tomorrow. Question for all is can it do well inside?

 

[pandacular]

Question fo all is can it do well inside?

no.

 

[Tieball]

Nice find with all three trees!

 

[snowman04]

no.

Thanks. I'll keep it with all the rest of the clan then...

 

[Thomas J.]

Just remember though that these trees are sub tropical and you need to avoid going to much below freezing in the winter time, to be safe I wouldn't go below freezing at all, an unheated garage will suffice for sure when temps are that low.

 

[snowman04]

They all go in the garage in the winter. So far they all fit on one long table with double lighting on timers...

 

[Adamski77]

So finally they lost the leaves… was pretty cold here in Shanghai over Xmas so hope nothing major happened and we will have happy spring. Took off all wires and did some very minor pruning plus put couple of wires back on… kind of late autumn work. Developing fairly well though smallest one looking the best for now… bigger two have quite a few structural flaws that I’ll be fixing over coming seasons.
Plan for spring is to cut off the big root from the “curvy” one and figure out roots in another big one. Small one needs to continue ramifying… no repotting for any of them next year but will be searching pots for 2025 spring repotting.
Overall happy with progress but still a lot of work ahead.

 

[snowman04]

So finally they lost the leaves… was pretty cold here in Shanghai over Xmas so hope nothing major happened and we will have happy spring. Took off all wires and did some very minor pruning plus put couple of wires back on… kind of late autumn work. Developing fairly well though smallest one looking the best for now… bigger two have quite a few structural flaws that I’ll be fixing over coming seasons.
Plan for spring is to cut off the big root from the “curvy” one and figure out roots in another big one. Small one needs to continue ramifying… no repotting for any of them next year but will be searching pots for 2025 spring repotting.
Overall happy with progress but still a lot of work ahead.

Very nice! Spring work should be fun with these...