Chinese Elm Styling

Hello everyone , this is my first post as i'm a very new member here. at the last weekend I picked up this tree from the local nursery in Hong Kong , at first I hold this tree, it has been treated in the long PVC tap water pipe as a pot from nursery for the root work ,but I couldn't see it all of the root in side it, until it was the time for me to collected since last weekend ,the tree it came out with the normal training pot as the photo, that made me happy to see the root in finally like this.

This is the tree ready to styling

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and this is after styling



however ,this tree has the features as the root exposed style and also looks over tall like literati style but unfortunately this thee came out only 2 spots of big buds that for all the primary branches came out ,so I had to work on those branches , not too bad because they are long enough to make a top canopy cover but now inside canopy just empty space without any branches , a bit funny for now ( imagine of the umbrella or a jelly fish )

 



still long work to go on future .
thank you for watching and all the comment

Good job.  I like it.

And welcome to the IBC.

Welcome and I really like this tree. How long was it grown in the PVC tube?

JimLewis wrote:Good job.  I like it.

And welcome to the IBC.

JimLewis . thank you ,that is the first comment here.   

DougB wrote:Welcome and I really like this tree.  How long was it grown in the PVC tube?

Thank you Dougb. first time tree came import from China like normal Chinese elm bonsai that finished with the normal pot ready for sale, so this tree was some left couldn't sell after all lot sold out then , a man in nursery made a decision to modify them in the tube (he told me) this tree grown in the 50 cm tall tube for 4 to 5 years and every year cut off the tube from lower trunk about 10 cm.

Thank you. That is an interesting process. I wonder how many others around the world use pvc pipe. Again welcome and thanks.

I wouldn't use it. It's just my opinion but I think this looks more like a science project.

I hate to disagree with another Michigander (well I left in the 60's but still count MI as home) but I would not see this as anything different than using colanders, etc. All in all an interesting technique.

M. Frary wrote:  I wouldn't use it. It's just my opinion but I think this looks more like a science project.

  thank you for your comment. I am actually new for this bonsai world and now just try to find out the meaning of aesthetic of bonsai ,so I think this period of learning that I can call this is science project as you said too.

last weekend I just went out to find a pot for this tree , In Hong Kong I think it is really hard to find all bonsai stuff (maybe I just don't have enough information about Hong Kong yet).

I found this pot.

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this pot is made in China , this is only I can find from all less option to choice.

tree in the pot.





thank you for watching and now I think it's time to move to the next project.

I think the pot is fine.  I'm not sure I'd pile the soil that high, though.

I like it alot.

I like the roots a lot more now, I think you nailed it. I'd also be tempted to figure out the top a bit more. It's hard to see what's in there, but I'd maybe do something like this, and turn the tree close to 90 degrees. You'd be reducing the top and starting a cascade. Wire every branch with twists and turns but in the general direction you want. I'd imagine you'd get some back budding which may be useful too.

Of course, if you're happy with it that's all that really counts. Best of luck.

haft year update after first styling

M. Frary wrote:  I wouldn't use it. It's just my opinion but I think this looks more like a science project.

I have to disagree. Exposed root is an established style. You don't see a lot of them -- especially in the west -- because we lack the patience for the long "training" period required to produce self-supporting roots.

The normal method has been growing in a deep pot. The PVC pipe seems to be to be the ideal method of producing this style.

WELL done! And seeing how it has started its life in a bonsai pot, I'm even more imprssed.

Your tree is lovely and has a great future. I would consider wiring the straight long root to mimic the other exposed roots. I am going to find some PVC and do some more exposed root creations. Nice job!