Chinese Elm... seeking advice

Jamo

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So I have had my Chinese elm for a couple months now and though it is a young and small tree I would like some ideas as to what to do with this tree moving forward. I would like to thicken the trunk and get more dense foliage. I'm open to whatever you think could best help this tree moving forward.
I call to elm masters for help !
 

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aml1014

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You may not like this, but if you want it to thicken, put it in the ground or in a large pot and let it grow a few years. After a couple years it will thicken a lot and start to bark up, then you chop it, keep doing this until your happyou with the trunk thickness and taper. It's a process to develop a tree that is so young, but very fun and satisfying in the end!

Aaron
 

Jamo

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You may not like this, but if you want it to thicken, put it in the ground or in a large pot and let it grow a few years. After a couple years it will thicken a lot and start to bark up, then you chop it, keep doing this until your happyou with the trunk thickness and taper. It's a process to develop a tree that is so young, but very fun and satisfying in the end!

Aaron
Could I air layer instead of chopping it? What do you think? What type of soil in the bigger pot?
 

aml1014

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Could I air layer instead of chopping it? What do you think? What type of soil in the bigger pot?
You can absolutely airlayer, even several areas to get quite a few trees. I can't say on the soil though, your in a very different climate then I am. I personally love pumice and like NAPA 8822 diatomaciaous earth, just make sure that it is fast draining. Welcome by the way!

Aaron
 

sorce

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Best thing about Chinese elm is you can get the leaves small enough to not need much trunk.

That said.......

You can make this trunk "bigger" by growing smaller branches on it.

Layer it, chop it, give it hell.

YOU...master it.

Sorce
 

aml1014

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I think I will move it to a 5 gallon pot and just let her be and come next spring do a big chop or air layer! Ideas? Advice?
Great idea, after a full year of growth with no pruning you should get some good thickening, after 2+ years it'll put on some serious growth. Hopefully some buds from a similar climate will chime in on a soil to use.

Aaron
 

Jamo

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Great idea, after a full year of growth with no pruning you should get some good thickening, after 2+ years it'll put on some serious growth. Hopefully some buds from a similar climate will chime in on a soil to use.

Aaron
For soil do they sell pumice and bonsai soil material at nurseries?
 

aml1014

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For soil do they sell pumice and bonsai soil material at nurseries?
That depends on your area, in my city you can buy pumice bagged for about 25 dollars per cubic foot, or you could get 2 cubic yards delivered from a nearby mine for about 150 which is what I do.

Aaron
 

sorce

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That pot will be fine for awhile.

If I was you....seeing as how repot time is kinda passed....
And it is new....

Maybe just make your layer this year...

It looks healthy as hell...
When that is the case....

Your entire goal should be only to keep it that way!

Sorce
 

Jamo

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That pot will be fine for awhile.

If I was you....seeing as how repot time is kinda passed....
And it is new....

Maybe just make your layer this year...

It looks healthy as hell...
When that is the case....

Your entire goal should be only to keep it that way!

Sorce
The trunk is not too small to air layer?
 

sorce

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The trunk is not too small to air layer?

Not at all....

A good place to do it at is a different story.

It's hard to see the top.....aviary-image-1488396677972.jpeg
But it looks like you can take one up there.

Utilize the middle bend for one next year...yellow.

But hacking it at the green and growing a formal broom from that is going to make the most appropriate Japanese Bonsai...
And that is what I would go for.

Sorce
 

sorce

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Should I re pot or wait until next spring?

Watch this!

If I was you....seeing as how repot time is kinda passed....
And it is new....

Maybe just make your layer this year.

:p

Your repotting window has kinda passed.

If it drops leaves next fall, you can repot normal in spring...

But an indoor Chinese elm...in leaf, never out of leaf?

You gotta ask a dude in a Bonsai van about that!

Sorce
 

Jamo

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Watch this!



:p

Your repotting window has kinda passed.

If it drops leaves next fall, you can repot normal in spring...

But an indoor Chinese elm...in leaf, never out of leaf?

You gotta ask a dude in a Bonsai van about that!

Sorce
But you really think I should make that cut this spring only after having the plant for a couple months
 

sorce

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I would make the Orange layer today.

It should root in a month or 2.
Cut it off....

If you get enough foliage on the bendy part to layer it directly after, I would, you should have the time since its indoors.

By then you will have read o_O.....
By then you best have read....:cool:

Everything there is to know about a formal broom.
And you can make one.

Sorce
 

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Sorce is an S hater. Many are. LOL
Big enough pot if soil looks good let it grow outside all year and think about it.
 
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