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Small Elm winter image

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Post  Richard S Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:37 pm

Hi folks

As a relative newcomer to bonsai I don't have any trees that you could describe as finished. Quite the opposite in fact, most of my trees are in a very raw stage of development. One or two of them are starting to get there though so I thought I'd post an image and ask for peoples views/opinions.

This is a small Elm air layer that I've had for a couple of years (it went into it's first bonsai pot this spring). Now that the leaves have finally fallen and I've removed the wire I thought it was starting to look quite good so I took a photo. Of course photos have a way of concentrating your eye on details (and frankly defects) that you don't necessarily see or at least dwell upon when viewing a tree in the flesh. As a result I'm not quite as satisfied as I previously was.

Still, there's plenty of scope for change and I have a few ideas of my own but if anyone else would like to make a suggestion or two that would be very welcome.

I'm not a member of any bonsai club and none of my friends or family are into bonsai so it would be great to get some constructive criticism and advice from more experienced enthusiasts on this forum.

Cheers

Richard

Small Elm winter image 7ec635f3-1ceb-409a-98d5-c96a40923fd7
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Post  JimLewis Sat Dec 07, 2013 12:57 pm

I wonder if you could remove some of those low branches, then wire the lowest, right-hand branch up quite a bit to start on a twin, mother-daughter tree? My virtualization talents aren't up to showing that branch in the correct position, I'm afraid.

Small Elm winter image Jun11
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Post  Richard S Sun Dec 08, 2013 9:35 am

Thanks Jim

One of the things I noticed myself was that the lower branches were a bit weedy compared to the top of the tree. Your suggestion would not only simplify the overall design but largely resolve this problem also.

Definitely consider that option.

Regards

Richard
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Post  abcd Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:47 am

An other virtual solution
Small Elm winter image <a href=Small Elm winter image Tree10" />
Without cutting the first branch on the right, let it grow 3 or 4 years .
It seems that the crown is going to the back side ?.
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Post  -Daniel- Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:50 am

It can be a solution to the virtual jim. Very Happy 

Onother solution is to remove all the larger branches and reconstruct thinner branches and give more stability to the right. ThumbsUp 

This is my virtual :

Small Elm winter image 7ec63510

Best regards , Daniel santa 
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Post  -Daniel- Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:53 am


Whoops, we wrote together, more or less the same virtual . lol! 

Best regards , Daniel santa 
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Post  Todd Ellis Sun Dec 08, 2013 2:18 pm

I like this tree!
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Post  Richard S Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:22 pm

Thanks guys, that's really helpful.

Daniel, nice virtual. I'm sure you are right that cutting back and growing new branches would solve the imbalance that the tree has. However I quite like the existing top. It would allow me to add as much movement as I like though so maybe?

abcd, also a great virtual and one that has got me thinking. You know it's funny because it's such a simple idea to change the planting angle but it really hadn't occurred to me to try that. It looks good as an informal upright. The wider pot looks right as well, assuming the future ramification you've shown. Also yes, the crown is leaning to the back somewhat but perhaps not as much as it looks in the photo.

Todd, thanks.

Regards

Richard
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Post  Richard S Sun Apr 20, 2014 2:20 pm

Was just outside taking a few photos of my trees now that they've leafed out so I thought I'd update this post.

The Elm hasn't changed at all, just grew some leaves but this what it looks like now. The plan is to let the lower branches grow freely but to keep on top of the apex. Next spring I may consider a wider pot and a change of angle.

Small Elm winter image SmallElmSpring14

Regards

Richard
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Post  BobbyLane Sun Apr 20, 2014 6:11 pm

Thats a lovely tree mate...
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Post  Richard S Mon Apr 21, 2014 1:35 pm

Thanks, it's getting there. Give it a few more years to thicken those lower branches!
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Post  BobbyLane Mon Apr 21, 2014 6:28 pm

I could be wrong, but it looks to me like an English Elm?
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Post  Richard S Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:42 am

Well the moss grew aggressively this season if nothing else did! Not much branch thickening going on there although the ramification may have improved a little bit. Perhaps it's root bound already?

Anyhow, think I will definitely plant the tree in a bigger pot next spring and try the more upright position as suggested.

Small Elm winter image Autumnelm

Cheers

Richard
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Post  Richard S Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:18 pm

Just another photo update while I'm sorting through the files.

Small Elm winter image Small_12
Autumn 2015

Small Elm winter image Small_13
Winter 2015/16

Regards

Richard
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Post  BobbyLane Wed Mar 02, 2016 5:37 pm

Hi Richard, if it was mine i'd want to tidy it up a bit, the red indicates where ive removed a branch and wired another into its place, with the others following suit. i also thinned the apex a tad, i'd also have those on the right rising too, up and out.

Small Elm winter image F265c922-d477-4c76-9cbb-e8e83a78227c

the other side of the branch i removed looks like it could do with a tidy up too, or thinning slightly. just my thoughts and what i'd want to do as these things would bother me. maybe you're just growing the tree out before cutting back the straight branches for movement?
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Post  Richard S Wed Mar 02, 2016 6:58 pm

Well your quite right that it needs a tidy up but I was hoping that by letting it grow freely the lower branches might thicken a bit. Not much sign of it yet though.

Thanks for the suggestion.
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Post  Stan Kengai Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:13 pm

The top of this plant looks much stronger than the bottom. Have you considered defoliating the top? I don't know this species, but American elm and (most) Chinese elms can be defoliated.

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Post  Richard S Thu Mar 03, 2016 7:07 pm

You know, I hadn't considered defoliated the top of this tree. That's perhaps worth trying.

Your right that top is very vigorous while the lower branches appear to have essentially stopped growing. The tree was very root bound in the old pot and I hoped that re-potting into bigger container would be enough to improve the growth but it only worked at the top (which of course wasn't where the problem was).

It grew a lot more before it went into a bonsai pot of course so putting it back in it's old plastic plant pot would be another option.

Regards

Richard
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