ROR Siberian Elm

[edprocoat]

Figured this little cutie deserved its own thread. Started in may of 2020 from a seedling collected in Abq’s Bosque.

2020. Left to grow and set some branches with a pretty typical bonsai shape (which may not have been the best decision). It grew well as all elms here do.
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2021. Unearthed the tree to inspect the roots. EXCELLENT root distribution around the lava rock.
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Original design was to extend out away from the rock, but in 2022 I decided to wire it back over the roots and rock. I also lost several key roots making it necessary to rotate the rock clockwise so the way the roots wrapped the rock looked right to my eye. It was planted in this little Sam Miller pot.
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Spring 2023 I repotted and put it back into the Sam miller pot. The rock it was wrapped on is awfully small and so slow thickening is actually important so I don’t lose the entire rock in 3 years time.
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During the summers I keep the little pot inside of another pot to allow the roots to escape which makes watering and care simpler. About halfway through this summer, a bud popped from the roots on the opposite side of the rock. I think I’ll let it go and start a second trunk from it!

What do you think? Cut it? Or keep the second trunk?
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With the majority of the fine roots being below the rock you really should have used a larger rock. Elms like this are great for root over rock and they grow fast which is a plus in that style.

 

[Hartinez]

With the majority of the fine roots being below the rock you really should have used a larger rock.

obviously but not much I can do about it now. So I’ll see what I can do with it and ultimately pass it on if I decide I’d rather not.

Plenty more elm seedlings and cool rocks for me to start another.

 

[Maiden69]

Lava is easy to fracture, maybe getting a bigger rock that have a similar end as the one you have now and chiseling it to shape, then carefully handle the big roots way from this one and onto the new one. I don't have a Siberian, but my Chinese, Seiju and Yatsubusa roots are very malleable even at this size. It will push you back into development for the roots, but the end result will look proportionate.

 

[Jorgens86]

Doesnt lava rock break down in time?

 

[edprocoat]

obviously but not much I can do about it now. So I’ll see what I can do with it and ultimately pass it on if I decide I’d rather not.

Plenty more elm seedlings and cool rocks for me to start another.

Sorry man I commented on the 1st post you made and just read the other posts now.. If I would have read on I would have seen you had already mentioned a larger rock as well as another guy had said the same thing in a later post.

 

[Hartinez]

Sorry man I commented on the 1st post you made and just read the other posts now.. If I would have read on I would have seen you had already mentioned a larger rock as well as another guy had said the same thing in a later post.

It’s ok. Kind of a jerk response on my end, sorry about that. If I only knew then what I know now! This tree just may need to move on to someone else and I start a new one.

 

[Ruddigger]

Oh snap, someones gonna get a Danny Hart original for a steal!