Chinese Elm - Styling

[gbupp]

Well I got into Bonsai not too long ago, and have been attempting to absorb every bit of knowledge I come across. I currently have a few of them, and have been keeping them alive and going well for about a month and a half now. I have done a good job thus far of learning the general care needs and leaf reduction techniques. I was able to wire to some success, but currently there is only a small amount on any of my trees. However, I made this thread in regards to my Chinese Elm. The other Bonsai I have, I have a mental image of what I would like it to come out like in the end. This one, I am having a harder time doing that. I really am not a huge fan of the "nub" on the trunk line where it was originally chopped. It's too visible and I can't think of any good way to cover it up. Any other suggestions would be great. I know it's rather unimpressive, but I'm working on it! I also need help choosing a "front", though I have a pretty good idea of what I want it to be anyway (would be IMAG0602).

 

[JudyB]

Gbupp, welcome to Bnut forums.

I would say to you first off, that you will want to learn how to wire. Looks like you have an interesting base to start with, but wiring can change everything about how the piece turns out. There are good how to videos, and some good books about the subject. Deborah Koreshoff's book springs to mind, and boons videos.

Other than that, leaf reduction is undertaken when you are at almost the final image of the tree, if you do it before, you slow growth, and spend more time in the development stages.

Keep asking questions!

 

[gbupp]

Gbupp, welcome to Bnut forums.

I would say to you first off, that you will want to learn how to wire. Looks like you have an interesting base to start with, but wiring can change everything about how the piece turns out. There are good how to videos, and some good books about the subject. Deborah Koreshoff's book springs to mind, and boons videos.

Other than that, leaf reduction is undertaken when you are at almost the final image of the tree, if you do it before, you slow growth, and spend more time in the development stages.

Keep asking questions!

Thanks for the reply! I actually did wire it when I first got it (picture attached), and had success with it. I should not have an issue moving forward with wiring, I am just looking for some assistance with "style" so I can go about wiring it into said style.

I guess I didn't really think about leaf reduction slowing down it's growth. I was only removing leaves too big in size anyway, but I guess it makes sense in a long term perspective to just leave them and leaf reduce when you have the final product.

Back to the original idea of this post, do you have any commentary on how to go about styling this tree? Is there a way I could properly carve the "knob scar" on the base of the tree out to make it less noticeable once healed?

 

[mat]

Not too bad a piece of material for your first post. Many first elm posts in the "new" section don't have near as much potential. It's never going to be a masterpiece, but it looks like a fun plant to me.

Based on your last image as the front, and assuming that you're ready to zero in on a final image soon... You'll want to address that branch going straight up out of the back of the main trunk. Could it be forced down & back, to create a foliage layer at a lower level?

I'd prune most everything growing inward from the smaller trunk. I think that you can get rid of that odd lump without compromising much.

Are you keeping it outside or inside?

edit - Nice moss. That's another item that's often saved for the end stage: Display. I don't follow that suggestion strictly, but I tend not to add moss to trees in development.

 

[gbupp]

Not too bad a piece of material for your first post. Many first elm posts in the "new" section don't have near as much potential. It's never going to be a masterpiece, but it looks like a fun plant to me.

Based on your last image as the front, and assuming that you're ready to zero in on a final image soon... You'll want to address that branch going straight up out of the back of the main trunk. Could it be forced down & back, to create a foliage layer at a lower level?

I'd prune most everything growing inward from the smaller trunk. I think that you can get rid of that odd lump without compromising much.

Are you keeping it outside or inside?

Thanks mat! The straight up branch on the main trunk can't be bent at all, it's pretty set in it's ways.

When you say you would prune everything inward on the smaller trunk, are you talking about the weird off shot with 3-4 long lanky branches coming out of it? I have been frustrated what to do with those, and could probably live with them going. Feel free to give a paint picture with it marked out, can be difficult to know exactly what you are talking about.

This will be staying Inside the house. I could put it outside, but I would prefer to keep it inside. I have a window that gets direct light most of the day. It has lived there for a month and a half now....seemingly very happily.