Moss or Mold on Trunk and Pruned Area

[canadianlights]

Hello everyone,

I have a Chinese elm bonsai that I've let grow unrestricted is doing well but I noticed some green moss (not exactly sure if it is moss?) growing on the trunk and on a part that had been pruned off. It doesn't look that harmful but I can't be too sure. If it is something harmful, how would I go about removing it? The bark is also coming off a tiny bit in the area circled, is this natural and expected?


Finally, I attached a few photos of the entire tree. Can anyone advise me on some styling tips for the twin trunks? It has grown quite leggy and I hope to trim it down into something nice but any ideas of what style or direction to go with the tree that would be amazing.

Thanks, everyone!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

Chinese elm is also called lacebark elm. This is because the bark flakes off in patches, leaving a "lace" pattern of different colored bark. So flaking bark is perfectly normal.

The moss or more likely algae on the tree is also perfectly normal. When you get considerably more, you can gently scrub it off with a soft brush dipped in vinegar. Not necessary at this point.

 

[sorce]

That green up there looks more alive, like a slime mold or something.

Sorce

 

[canadianlights]

That green up there looks more alive, like a slime mold or something.

Is it something I should be worried about then if that's the case? Should I just go removing it with a toothbrush as Leo suggested?

 

[sorce]

The trunk could be cleaned gently.

But that thing on the upper part looks like if you touch it, it'll like, open some wings and fly away!

It looks like nothing but "I wanna see better pictures"!

Sorce

 

[canadianlights]

Ahahaha that's true! It does look quite lively.

I went with my gut instinct and rubbed it away with the toothbrush and vinegar, so its unfortunately gone. It would've been cool to see what it would've become though.