S-shaped Chinese elm?

[Lobaeux]

I have an s-shaped Chinese Elm buried in the ground to thicken, a gift from a well intentioned friend.

It's growing like a weed, I've been clipping the leggy branches. In fact, my ne'er-do-well little brother cut a number of branches off with a weedeater last month when he was down to visit (yes, I had him weedeating the front yard), and it's bounced back with a vengeance.

It's s-shaped though. Should I:

1. Chop it at or near the base and attempt to plant the top?
2. Air layer, even though I've never air layered before?
3. Let it grow, eventually train it as a pre-bonsai and accept it as a warning against "Mallsai"?

I'll post pics when I get home, but honestly there's not much to take a pic of yet.

Thanks!

 

[M. Frary]

If you're trying to fatten it up quit cutting parts off and let it grow. Then when the trunk is as thick as you want chop it low and start over again by letting a new leader grow out. Chop again.

 

[sorce]

Sho sho Florida!

Sorce

 

[Carol 83]

I have an s-shaped Chinese Elm buried in the ground to thicken, a gift from a well intentioned friend.

It's growing like a weed, I've been clipping the leggy branches. In fact, my ne'er-do-well little brother cut a number of branches off with a weedeater last month when he was down to visit (yes, I had him weedeating the front yard), and it's bounced back with a vengeance.

It's s-shaped though. Should I:

1. Chop it at or near the base and attempt to plant the top?
2. Air layer, even though I've never air layered before?
3. Let it grow, eventually train it as a pre-bonsai and accept it as a warning against "Mallsai"?

I'll post pics when I get home, but honestly there's not much to take a pic of yet.

Thanks!

Keep the iguanas away from it

 

[Lobaeux]

Haha!! It's up in the front yard, no iguanas up there.

 

[Lobaeux]

I really do take the worst pics. Here's the Elm in the front yard. Still a long, long, long way to go.

 

[just.wing.it]

I was really bored a few weeks ago, ordered myself an S shaped Elm from Brussels. (The pot was worth the $20 to me.)
Not much to look at yet, but it does seem to grow like a weed, like you said of yours.
NOW I see why everyone loves them so much!
Mine's going to stay a small S...curious to see what I can make of it...
Good luck chopping or layering yours.

 

[M. Frary]

NOW I see why everyone loves them so much!

They can be addicting.

 

[sorce]

small s

Corrected!

Ulmus Erectus

Sorce

 

[Alain]

I have an s-shaped Chinese Elm buried in the ground to thicken, a gift from a well intentioned friend.

It's growing like a weed, I've been clipping the leggy branches. In fact, my ne'er-do-well little brother cut a number of branches off with a weedeater last month when he was down to visit (yes, I had him weedeating the front yard), and it's bounced back with a vengeance.

It's s-shaped though. Should I:

1. Chop it at or near the base and attempt to plant the top?
2. Air layer, even though I've never air layered before?
3. Let it grow, eventually train it as a pre-bonsai and accept it as a warning against "Mallsai"?

I'll post pics when I get home, but honestly there's not much to take a pic of yet.

Thanks!

Actually you could do both.

If you air-layer then when you'll chop you'll have 2 trees (or more, depending on the amount of layers)

A Mallsai is just a Mallsai in the Mall btw, after everything depends on the work and care I guess

 

[Lobaeux]

I've pulled it this morning and put it into a nursery pot. I'm going to try and airlayer it like you said to get two of them.

I think that's gonna be my new schtick, kinda the Noah of Bonsai, two of each kind, no more, no less.

 

[just.wing.it]

I've pulled it this morning and put it into a nursery pot. I'm going to try and airlayer it like you said to get two of them.

I think that's gonna be my new schtick, kinda the Noah of Bonsai, two of each kind, no more, no less.

Hahaha, nice...

 

[KingJades]

Aren't the S-shapes just the starting point for something like this? I used to think that they were the worst, but only because I only saw the short term snake. They grow into large trunks with a less drastic movement, right?

I was thinking of also buying one online.

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Aren't the S-shapes just the starting point for something like this? I used to think that they were the worst, but only because I only saw the short term snake. They grow into large trunks with a less drastic movement, right?

I was thinking of also buying one online.

Not quite. The dramatic turns S shaped trees have will never become subtle like these trees.

 

[Eric Group]

Not quite. The dramatic turns S shaped trees have will never become subtle like these trees.

Are you certain?

Trees tend to grow out the curves as they thicken. Those larger ones had 3+ inch trunks, and the curves on those S curved Elms couldn't be more than 3-4 inches wide... So if the tree grows out and they tend to add wood naturally in areas that lead to a straighter look... I just wonder... How would they look when they grow to the size of the one in his first pic...?

 

[Redwood Ryan]

Are you certain?

Trees tend to grow out the curves as they thicken. Those larger ones had 3+ inch trunks, and the curves on those S curved Elms couldn't be more than 3-4 inches wide... So if the tree grows out and they tend to add wood naturally in areas that lead to a straighter look... I just wonder... How would they look when they grow to the side of the one in his first pic...?

They do tend to grow out the curves yes, but with most of the S curved trees you find are overly dramatic with the curves. That first tree could have been one with smaller curves, but most times the trees have almost 90 degree angles, which I don't think would ever turn into the trees pictured.

 

[KingJades]

I found an ebay seller for "beginner" elms and I'm trying to get one with a little subtle S motion but not too drastic. We'll see how that goes!

 

[DougB]

Dramatic "S" curves on a healthy plant lend themselves to a chop, normally at about the first curve. Makes great shohin at minimal cost.

 

[KingJades]

Dramatic "S" curves on a healthy plant lend themselves to a chop, normally at about the first curve. Makes great shohin at minimal cost.

Looks like how these two from Schley were made, which actually has the "right" amount of movement that I'm looking for. Pick up the curve and chop for a vertical leader, wire some wiggle and you're good, right?

http://schleysbonsai.com/products/chinese-elm-in-jim-barrett-pot
http://schleysbonsai.com/products/chinese-elm-bonsai02

 

[KingJades]

This is the one I picked up. I think the lower trunk portion is subtle enough to work with. My goal is a slight curve for a mostly upright form. Looks like I'm going to have to join the "I chopped my S-curve Chinese Elm" club after all. We'll see once I get my hands on it, but I'd want a better lower branch as well.

First - we must continue to thicken that trunk up. It's only ~2" right now.

First cuttings go to formal upright natural field tree style.



Goal is something kinda like this form (also from the same guy)