M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
I acquired a seiju elm a couple of months ago and the thing is doing good. My question is pruning it. The new growth comes out in these frondlike growths and I am not exactly sure how to go at. Any help?
seiju elm Bell
- Thread starter M. Frary
- Start date
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Prune them pretty much like any elm, knowing that they're prolific, and any leaf left has a dormant bud at its base that will grow a new shoot. They're also somewhat brittle, so it's much easier to clip and grow...or hedge-prune in this case!
pjkatich
Chumono
Brian has offered some good advice.
Could you post a photo of your tree?
It would help in giving you more specific recommendations.
Here is a link that you might what to check out. This is an example of what you can do with Seiju elm.
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?4737-Elm-in-a-white-pot
Cheers,
Paul
Could you post a photo of your tree?
It would help in giving you more specific recommendations.
Here is a link that you might what to check out. This is an example of what you can do with Seiju elm.
http://bonsainut.com/forums/showthread.php?4737-Elm-in-a-white-pot
Cheers,
Paul
M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
Not sure where you are, but Seiju elms did best in full sun on my benches. This one looks like it could be cut back pretty hard (to primary/secondary branches), fed and placed in full sun to fill in closer to the trunk. Don't baby it, they need heat and light! It's got good bones, don't let it get leggy and lazy on you.
pjkatich
Chumono
Once again, Brain has offered some very sound advice.
What is your vision for this tree?
That should be the determining factor on how to proceed.
Personally, I would turn this Seiju into two trees. I would air layer off the top section for one tree and regrow the bottom section into another tree.
An important thing to remember with Seiju elm is that they can sprout back profusely almost everywhere on the branches, the trunk and the roots. Never let more than two branches grow from the same spot or the intersection will swell up and form an ugly knot.
Be diligent in rubbing off buds that sprout in areas were you don't want branch. This will encourage the tree to focus it's energy into the areas you want to develop.
You have a good tree with some great potential.
Cheers,
Paul
What is your vision for this tree?
That should be the determining factor on how to proceed.
Personally, I would turn this Seiju into two trees. I would air layer off the top section for one tree and regrow the bottom section into another tree.
An important thing to remember with Seiju elm is that they can sprout back profusely almost everywhere on the branches, the trunk and the roots. Never let more than two branches grow from the same spot or the intersection will swell up and form an ugly knot.
Be diligent in rubbing off buds that sprout in areas were you don't want branch. This will encourage the tree to focus it's energy into the areas you want to develop.
You have a good tree with some great potential.
Cheers,
Paul
cmeg1
Imperial Masterpiece
I was in a similar position last year when I purchased a 'yatsubusa' elm. I should of been more prepared to use a systemic insecticide.I had lots of advice to chop my tree,but did not,which is really not a problem.It is more important to keep the tree alive.Cause' cutting back becomes very fun in the future.I started pinching the tree and it responded until these extra tiny aphids took control.I ended up getting frustrated and stuck it in the ground in very poor condition.It actually survived a very cold winter ,so I dug it up cut it hard and put in a 13" colander this Spring.My point is that it is actually nice advice about cutting back,not that you have to do it right away,just that you can and if it buds back anything like"yatsubusa" there is no problem.Of course learn by doing,try what you want first and enjoy your tree.I left a few pictures of my elm as purchased last year and what it is doing this year after a round of chopping and the back buds.I want it to get air pruned in the 13" colander cause' now it needs to grow quite a lot before I trim it this season because it needs to be vigorous first.PURCHASED IN BONSAI POT,pictures proceed backwards cause' you cannot drag a photo on an iPad.
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M. Frary
Bonsai Godzilla
I was considering putting it in a large container and letting it go this year and maybe the next year air layering the top off. I would put it in the ground but since I live in northern Michigan I don't think that's feasible.
Brian Van Fleet
Pretty Fly for a Bonsai Guy
A large pot for a year will only really produce large roots. If you want to grow a bigger trunk, it will take several years (probably can't go in the ground in MI).
If you want to strengthen it, compress the foliage, and prepare it for layering, I'd cut it back to primary and secondary branches and try to chase growth back toward the trunk.
Layering can be done next spring, though I'm not sure how easy it is to layer Seiju. Usually C. Elms are propagated from root cuttings.
