Last fall in my new-to-bonsai-going-to-buy-anything-I-can-afford I was pretty sure I'd gotten a pretty good deal. Two chinese elms in 2 gallon pots standing about 12 feet tall. Jackpot!
Or not. Twelve feet tall doesn't mean squat for their trunks as I've found out. Their bases are maybe 1" diameter. How I managed to overlook this crucial aspect of them is beyond me and probably subject for a pretty lively debate.
The 12' beanpoles are now 1 1/2 - 2' beanpoles, I chopped them both down to the lowest branch I could find.
My tentative plan is to reduce the trees once more this growing season at (hopefully) a much lower bud. Unless I let these two grow wild for a while the 12' trees will probably end up being about 6 inches tall.
I suppose the question I'm dancing around here is whether it's worth the time it would take to make something out of these cylindrical trunks. They've served their purpose as a learning tool on what NOT to buy so they're not a complete loss as it stands right now.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.
Or not. Twelve feet tall doesn't mean squat for their trunks as I've found out. Their bases are maybe 1" diameter. How I managed to overlook this crucial aspect of them is beyond me and probably subject for a pretty lively debate.
The 12' beanpoles are now 1 1/2 - 2' beanpoles, I chopped them both down to the lowest branch I could find.
My tentative plan is to reduce the trees once more this growing season at (hopefully) a much lower bud. Unless I let these two grow wild for a while the 12' trees will probably end up being about 6 inches tall.
I suppose the question I'm dancing around here is whether it's worth the time it would take to make something out of these cylindrical trunks. They've served their purpose as a learning tool on what NOT to buy so they're not a complete loss as it stands right now.
Any thoughts or comments appreciated.