Korean Hornbeam

This is a workshop tree from the nursery in Mississippi. It is in a 3 gallon pot, and has never been styled. Give me your opinions please:) Thanks -John

This was posted in the wrong place but really i want every ones opion so maybe it can be moved later....tree height is 22 inches trunk base 2and1 half inches..thank you take care john

Hey John, I think, if it were mine, I would either:
1. put it in the ground and let it go a while to thicken up.
2. Air layer it (orange line was one thought) and chop it back
3. Just chop it back.

Just my thoughts. It looks like it could be some good material in the future.

JIM,,, Thank you for your post and opion..this is what i need to make this a good tree..i do want this one to work..thanks take care john

Dear John,

Here is what I would do..


The small crosses in red imply remove the branches. The Yellow arrow indicates that you bend that branch into the new position indicated by the brown line and the green pads. The crown needs to be arranged as suggested. Trust this should make it a good bonsai

Ravi

When I first saw the tree I also thought "chop." But, after seeing the solution by Ravi, I think it is better because: a chop leaves you with a fresh start that may or may not go a positive direction, Ravi's solution solves the problem much more quickly and with more certainty.

I think this is fine here. You'll get the opinions you need. "Bonsai Questions" is here exactly for this kind of topic -- what to do with a new potted plant. "Bonsai" is more for finished trees, shows, progressions, and the like, though that is honored more in the breach than in fact. Since you did the right thing first . . . <g>

On the tree:

Both Jim's and Ravi's suggestions are good ones.

There's a bit of confusion over the nomenclature of the "Korean" hornbeam; there are at least three trees that sometimes bear that name: Carpinus coreana, Carpinus turczaninowii, and another (C. orientalis????). Naturally I hope it is the second that is "wongest," my fingers get all tangled typing the name. Maybe Iris can straighten us out. Or someone.

Jim's suggestion would give the image of a more sturdy trunk -- always nice in a hornbeam, where trunk fattening is often quite difficult in a human lifetime, or at least in the liftime of MY patience.

Ravi's suggestion will give you a tall, slender, feminine tree with pretty good movement -- if a bit on the S-curve side -- but don't ever expect the trunk diameter to change, especially if it is kept in a small pot. If you're going to try to pull the branch down, do it now. Hornbeam aren't called "ironwood" for nothing. You will not be able to hold it down by wiring, but will need to pull it down with a guy wire. Protect the attachment points with a bit of rubber, becaue wire marks last forever in smooth-barked trees like the hornbeam.

Jim lewis thank you,,I am getting opions like i need..i do think the Ravi,s sketch is good!! i am too old to start with many stumps!!! thanks take care john

moyogijohn wrote:Jim lewis thank you,,I am getting opions like i need..i do think the Ravi,s sketch is good!! i am too old to start with many stumps!!! thanks take care john

Hmmm . . . I suspect I'm a bit older than you . . . and I have a few "stumps in training."

JimLewis wrote:

moyogijohn wrote:Jim lewis thank you,,I am getting opions like i need..i do think the Ravi,s sketch is good!! i am too old to start with many stumps!!! thanks take care john

Hmmm . . . I suspect I'm a bit older than you . . . and I have a few "stumps in training."

Hahaha....I love it!

Many Thanks to everyone for the suggestions and the pruneing picture...i think this tree will be good as my trees go..not like the beautiful ones you woman and guys show but for me pretty nice...thanks take care john

The correct botanical name is Carpinus turczaninowii. There are several older regional synonyms, but they were recently folded into one species.
How do people know I am going to read these threads & find a question for me?
Iris

Darn! I was afraid of that.

We know that your antennae twitch when someone asks a taxonomical question, Iris.

JimLewis wrote:Darn! I was afraid of that.

We know that your antennae twitch when someone asks a taxonomical question, Iris.

I have to concur...you are so dependable with the taxonomy clarifications Iris