Hokkaido Elm

Brian Underwood

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I have had this Hokkaido Elm for a few years now, and have been slowly bringing the branches down with guy-wires. It needed a new pot this year, and low and behold the branches sprung back from the guy wires. Everyone who has ever had one of these trees has told me "They are impossible to wire!" Well, that is almost true. I only wired 5 branches, one of which broke right in two. So, they are 20% impossible to wire. The branches are extremely brittle, but the twiggy structure, and the smallest leaves of all the elms make it irresistible for bonsai. It is potted in a very unique pot from North Eagle Pottery of Sonoma County. Ready to show this year?
 

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serpentsgarden

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nice!!!

beautiful work. I just clip and grow mehtods for my two elms but they are small tiny shohin and resemble landscaping trees... =( straight trunks and i am so involved in planning others i dont do much but try to keep the form i have established. It is a wonderful tree and very artistic touch. On mine they show mans help on yours i woudl believe nature did this. It is a nice sight and very appealing to my eyes. I think it has potential to be a real show taker. How large is the tree and all that jazz. Nice work!!
 

Kirk

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Brian,

That Hokkaido looks very nice. It's one of the nicer elms of that variety that I have seen. Unlike yours, most look like a candelabra with warts.

Kirk
 

Jason

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Nice tree. I have one of these in the ground and have been wondering what I'd do when it came time to develop ramification. Clip and grow it is. I think I've snapped a few branches off it just walking by.
 

bretts

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Hokkaido is a miracle tree for bonsai. Those tiny leaves and such. My most local bonsai nursery , Ray Nesci has developed a Hokkaido "strong" variety. This tree is meant to be more flexible and faster growing.
I finally got one last spring fresh from the growing fields so I just gave it a basic wire and trim. Still broke the odd branch but apparently this is much better than beaking just cause you looked at it.
I think I did well for $50 will be an unusual three trunk group but could be great in no time with the right plan.
Maybe you guys should import a cutting or two. Should be easy shipping out of Australia?
I have heard of trouble keeping these guys (+ Sejiu) but I reckon they love my climate of HOT Summers and cool Winters.
Give them LOTS of sun and they seem very happy.
 

Brian Underwood

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Thanks for the compliments everyone! Yup, these trees are incredibly brittle, but with the right treatment they can be spectacular. I remember when Walter Pall came to town, he bought a few and shipped them back to Germany. Basically he cut off every single branch, leaving just a trunk, and shipped em' away. He said in ten years they will be spectacular. Maybe he can offer some input on how they are doing.
 

Walter Pall

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Here they are as of September 2009. Subsequently I traded them all and don't have a single one. I found that they are NOT good for bonsai. One cannot style them with wire. They are very weak! In winter many branches die. In summer all of a sudden a full subtrunk rots away within a few days because it cought some fungus. There is a reason why we never ever see this variety in big shows in shohin collections. I played with them for a few years and give up. It's a waste of time for me. If they were any good we would be flooded with them from Japan. They don't use them either.
 

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Walter Pall

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Some will think that this is not so bad. Well, for this species and variety it is not so bad. But it is certainly not good enough for a major show in Europe. And I see no way how I can improve them much further. The thing that really put me off is that every summer a thick trunk dies all of a sudden and ruins the whole design.
 

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Brian Underwood

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I'm sorry to hear they were so much trouble Walter. Thank you for contributing, I always hold your opinions in high regard. I too have experienced such dieback without warning, and sometimes entire trees just drop dead for no reason. This tree will be my last one of the species, so hopefully it make it OK, and if not, I'll stick to the other miniature varieties. What is your preferred elm?
 

Walter Pall

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Other varietes of Chines elm with much larger foliage are OK. The European field elm, Ulmus campestre (or minor) is very good.
 

bretts

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I know there has been this said before Walter But I just don't get these problems with them. Can't say I have a show winning tree of one yet but I can say that about all my trees :p

Here is the one I picked up last year. Should be ready for a good work over come Spring.

Also a seiju elm from our Aussie collection.
 

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rich415

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That sucks. I always think about getting one then I am reminded of others' experiences.


Rich
 

tmmason10

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Sorry to hear that, weird it seemsl like this post was showing that it is possible. Mr. Pall seemed to have the right idea, I wonder how Bretts tree is doing.
 

bretts

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As mine had only just been removed from the field I left it alone last year.

I put it into a bonsai pot and did the first styling on it recently.

Not much to report at the moment but I will update with some pictures soon.

Sorry to hear yours didn't make it :(
 

Brian Underwood

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No worries. As Walter said, they are weak. I repotted the tree early this year, and as it was just getting new leaves the snails/slugs ate every single one of them. I put out snail bait, but it was too late and the tree never recovered. It had a few leaves all summer, but eventually gave up. No more hokkaidos for me!
 
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