Haydee
Seedling
Hi! Just got this Chinese Elm on our Club's annual auction. I love it, but I don't know anything about Elms. I live in Houston; any suggestions are more than welcome.
(2/1/2017)
(2/1/2017)
(2/1/2017) (2/1/2017)
My first Elm - Don't know anything about it :-)
- Thread starter Haydee
- Start date
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
Well... it is actually a good piece of material!
The beauty of Chinese elms is their virility - you can chop them or air-layer them or take cuttings and they respond well to just about any abuse.
That said, I think the challenge you will face with this tree is the lack of taper. It looks like some of the secondary branches had a reasonable amount to work done to them - but they seem out of scale with the caliper of the trunk. The good news - I would air-layer the main branches off and create four separate trees, and you would probably find that all four trees show better potential than your original!
The beauty of Chinese elms is their virility - you can chop them or air-layer them or take cuttings and they respond well to just about any abuse.
That said, I think the challenge you will face with this tree is the lack of taper. It looks like some of the secondary branches had a reasonable amount to work done to them - but they seem out of scale with the caliper of the trunk. The good news - I would air-layer the main branches off and create four separate trees, and you would probably find that all four trees show better potential than your original!
Haydee
Seedling
Thank you for the advice! I love what's going on with the branches, but agree, needs taper...
I'm new to Bonsai (8mo.)... When is the best time to try to do the air layer? I live in Houston.
Bonsai Nut
Nuttier than your average Nut
In the Spring, as soon as the buds pop. Don't repot or do anything to the roots. I know people who will do two airlayers at once, but I would chose the first branch and airlayer it successfully before I would move on to branch #2.
In the Spring you should be able to do a successful airlayer on a Chinese elm in 6-8 weeks.
Haydee
Seedling
Excellent, I will try it and will update here.
BTW, I just joined the Forum and I'm loving it a lot of good information
BTW, I just joined the Forum and I'm loving it a lot of good information
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Welcome to Crazy!
Check these out!
http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/tw...air-layered-from-mallsai-7-years-later.26139/
http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/ulmus-selfie-contest.18272/
Sorce
thumblessprimate1
Masterpiece
Were it mine, I'd consider air layering each of those primary branches to create a forest or individual trees.
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