M first post

[Mooremj]

Hello,
My name is Matthew Moore and I first got into bonsai about a year ago. In that time I have killed a ficus and and fukien tea tree. I live in a small town in Gregory MI. After killing my first two trees I began reading as much as possible on the art of bonsai. The problem is I do not know anybody that actually does bonsai as a hobbie to learn from. So as much as I read sometimes I just want to find a clear answer. In the last year I have aquired 4 more bonsai trees. I have a 7 year old Chinese Elm, a 5 year old Blind Wisteria, a 5 year old Jade, and a 6 year old Trident Maple. My first question is regaurding my Chinese elm. The trunk is a typical S shape. I think my best bet would be to form this into an informal upright. What are your thoughts, also any suggestions as far as training tips. Another thing I am wondring about is how long should I let my Chinese Elm stay dormant for during the winter months. I have read that they only need a short dormentcy period of about 1 to 2 months, is this correct. Last year I let it stay outside until November when it lost all of its leaves. Then I brought it inside where it woke back up. I kept it next to a window that gets a lot of light and it seems to be doing fine. I have included pictures. Ignore the dead Jade on the left in one of the pictures. The company sent it to me in January when it was negative 40 degrees and it was frozen when I got it. Also, I am going to go to my fist Bonsai meeting with the Ann Arbor Bonsai association this Wednesday to hopefully meet other bonsai people to learn from.

 

[jk_lewis]

You have taken the best step by going to a club meeting. Folks who know local conditions can give you the best advice about your trees. The club may also have a library with a few books. You should read them.

You seem toi have done fine with your elm so far. In the warmer months it should go outside. The trident maple also should go outside and should be dormant ALL winter in a protected spot. I have absolutely no idea what a "blind" wisteria is.

Good luck with your new hobby.

 

[KennedyMarx]

If you have space outside why did you bring the elm in? It should sit outside for winter dormancy then it will bud back out in the spring when it warms up. Bringing it inside shortens the dormancy period and weakens the tree. When it wakes up inside it doesn't have near the light levels as outside and the humidity levels indoors are equivalent to a desert.

 

[Mooremj]

The reason I brought it inside was because I was under the impression that it could not tolerate the long cold winters in Michigan. I think I read that the tree can't withstand tempuratures under 30 degrees for long periods of time. I bring all my trees back outside in the spring. But the Chinese Elm come inside at the beginning of winter.

Blind Wisteria is also called Millettia japonica 'Mekura Fuji'. I guess it resembels a japanese wisteria but rarely will flower.