My new Elm:)

Hello.....and.....Thoughts...
Is it a photo optical illusion that the trunk at the base (above the exposed roots on the trunk) is a lot thinner than the trunk above it?

Moss. It looks good with the tree. Don't let it take over to much of the surface. The roots need air pulled in from above. Moss can stop that air exchange. Keep it tidy and open. Unless NM weather requires some surface cover for tree health.

Crisis-cross wiring. If you're leaving that wire on for any length of time it would be good to uncross those wires. You'll look better with uncrossed wires.

You have a good tree...should be a lot of fun. Try to resist the temptation to fiddle with it every time you're outside around the tree. Give the tree time to adapt to your surroundings and care.
 
Tieball: It is indeed an optical illusion:) It's the angle that I took the pic at. The reason that I put so much moss is that out here in NM the heat is high and the humidity is low (under 15%) and I figured this would help the soil to retain moisture (please let me know if you think I'm wrong as I am new to these little tree's). Thanks for the advice....
 
If the reverse taper is an optical illusion , then how about taking a few pics from it's best photo angle irregardless of the way its potted. I'll reserve judgement until I see its best angle.....
I'm also curious about this unique growing pattern in the trunk. I have never seen a natural tree grow this way?????
 
abqjoe said:
Tieball: It is indeed an optical illusion:) It's the angle that I took the pic at. The reason that I put so much moss is that out here in NM the heat is high and the humidity is low (under 15%) and I figured this would help the soil to retain moisture (please let me know if you think I'm wrong as I am new to these little tree's). Thanks for the advice....
Click to expand...
Don't worry about the moss, my teacher has a dense mat growing on all her trees and they are all extremely healthy.

Aaron
 
I don't have your heat or humidity. I've put moss on top of soil also....and taken it off. In my climate it totally blocks soil breathing and is an insect magnet...gnats love the moss...it's like a day in the best park for them...lots of cool places to hide. I used it mostly to prevent soil erosion around the roots. Moss, in my climate, also quickly grows on roots and trunks and can destroy good looking material....it seems to eat away at the bark and exposed roots as the moss roots take hold.
 
abqjoe said:
This one just came in today and it's absolutely gorgeous! 20 years old, already trained, I'm definitely looking forward to caring for this special little soul:) I put some live moss on the top soil and hopefully it takes..
Click to expand...
You're enthusiastic which is great. When you post a tree on this forum it is going to get critiqued; know that up front. No one is trying to be a butthole, it's just how this forum works. If we're not truthful with each other then we're not learning anything.

Your tree is in a bonsai pot but it doesn't really look much like a tree you find in nature, does it? Also, no matter the angle of the photograph it will have reverse taper. It's a good tree to learn from though which is a big plus. Try not to take the comments and opinions personal as we're just trying to help.

Vin
 
That said....

Well...a quick moss and gnats bit first...
I was thinking about it today as I have some gnats....but only in the ones that still have some bark...they lay eggs in the rotting bark....soon to be all 8822, and no bark at all...then , no more gnats!

Now....
First....as long as you like it...that's what matters...

But my thoughts were as follows.

1. If you think this is gorgeous...you must hold stock in McDonald's. As you can superimpose the golden arches over that canopy almost perfectly.

2. With a spread like that, you surely could afford a nicer tree than this.
Foolish of me to assume...but I thought it.
Maybe it's a NM thing...but that was also second guessed by the fact that you have Xmas lights on your yard tree still!
Poor folk do that round here!

3. What the trunk?

4. Pointing out that this is the kind of tree I wish people wouldn't pay for....is MY contribution to American Bonsai.

5. Arrived from where?

6. I shouldn't say any of this cuz it's rude.

7. Air layer air layer air layer.
There are trees in there somewhere!

But again...
If you like it...that's what matters..
It does look kind of pimp by that statue.
But I can't say it or it voids my contribution to American Bonsai!

New Mexico....True!

It's YOUR tag line!

Sorce
 
sorce said:
That said....

Well...a quick moss and gnats bit first...
I was thinking about it today as I have some gnats....but only in the ones that still have some bark...they lay eggs in the rotting bark....soon to be all 8822, and no bark at all...then , no more gnats!

Now....
First....as long as you like it...that's what matters...

But my thoughts were as follows.

1. If you think this is gorgeous...you must hold stock in McDonald's. As you can superimpose the golden arches over that canopy almost perfectly.

2. With a spread like that, you surely could afford a nicer tree than this.
Foolish of me to assume...but I thought it.
Maybe it's a NM thing...but that was also second guessed by the fact that you have Xmas lights on your yard tree still!
Poor folk do that round here!

3. What the trunk?

4. Pointing out that this is the kind of tree I wish people wouldn't pay for....is MY contribution to American Bonsai.

5. Arrived from where?

6. I shouldn't say any of this cuz it's rude.

7. Air layer air layer air layer.
There are trees in there somewhere!

But again...
If you like it...that's what matters..
It does look kind of pimp by that statue.
But I can't say it or it voids my contribution to American Bonsai!

New Mexico....True!

It's YOUR tag line!

Sorce
Click to expand...
True that..
 
"It does look kind of pimp by that statue"- Sorce

That made me laugh crazy hard...I needed that

Abqjoe I'm not here to gang up on you or your healthy tree...this post is really just a tip of the cap to Sorce's outrageous posts/thoughts.

I am happy to see that you love your tree and I'm quite sure that over time your tree will refine...with lots of effort and a little luck I'm sure all of ours will.
 
Last edited:
Vin said:
You're enthusiastic which is great. When you post a tree on this forum it is going to get critiqued; know that up front. No one is trying to be a butthole, it's just how this forum works. If we're not truthful with each other then we're not learning anything.

Your tree is in a bonsai pot but it doesn't really look much like a tree you find in nature, does it? Also, no matter the angle of the photograph it will have reverse taper. It's a good tree to learn from though which is a big plus. Try not to take the comments and opinions personal as we're just trying to help.

Vin
Click to expand...

Oh I totally understand the way forums work as I've been doing the forum thing for one passion or another since the 90's:) That being said, my skin is thicker than most. Personally and regardless of what anyone's opinion is of this tree I'm totally in love with it and will care for it as such. I'm also about to re-pot a 10 year old Hawaiian Umbrella tree into a pot that I carved out of a solid piece of quartz river rock too and I'm sure that won't please everyone either but, just like this tree I'm also in love with my quartz pot too lol:) Anyway, looking forward to hanging out with you guys a bit!
 
sorce said:
That said....

Well...a quick moss and gnats bit first...
I was thinking about it today as I have some gnats....but only in the ones that still have some bark...they lay eggs in the rotting bark....soon to be all 8822, and no bark at all...then , no more gnats!

Now....
First....as long as you like it...that's what matters...

But my thoughts were as follows.

1. If you think this is gorgeous...you must hold stock in McDonald's. As you can superimpose the golden arches over that canopy almost perfectly.

2. With a spread like that, you surely could afford a nicer tree than this.
Foolish of me to assume...but I thought it.
Maybe it's a NM thing...but that was also second guessed by the fact that you have Xmas lights on your yard tree still!
Poor folk do that round here!

3. What the trunk?

4. Pointing out that this is the kind of tree I wish people wouldn't pay for....is MY contribution to American Bonsai.

5. Arrived from where?

6. I shouldn't say any of this cuz it's rude.

7. Air layer air layer air layer.
There are trees in there somewhere!

But again...
If you like it...that's what matters..
It does look kind of pimp by that statue.
But I can't say it or it voids my contribution to American Bonsai!

New Mexico....True!

It's YOUR tag line!

Sorce
Click to expand...

Glad to have your approval and I sincerely hope that the constructive criticism you've so eloquently given me sits well with you:) Take care......
 
abqjoe said:
Glad to have your approval and I sincerely hope that the constructive criticism you've so eloquently given me sits well with you:) Take care......
Click to expand...

Only after you said you got a thick skin!

Sorce
 
Welcome.
abqjoe said:
Oh I totally understand the way forums work as I've been doing the forum thing for one passion or another since the 90's:) That being said, my skin is thicker than most.
Click to expand...
Great, then you'll do fine here. As for the tree . . .

I've been thinking for a while that we should make "New to Bonsai" bingo cards. The boxes could contain common issues we're often tiptoeing around with new members, like this sampling:
Stick-in-a-pot
Glazed/Unglazed issue (e.g. Juniper in a glazed pot or Elm in unglazed pot)
"S" curve trunk
Reverse taper and/or Lack of taper
Handlebar branches and/or Mirror-symmetry
Thin lower branch(es) and/or thick upper branch(es)
Floating root(s)
Tacky statues/rocks (with or without inspirational words)/figurines/accents
Concern for the number of "years old" a tree is
Etc.

Add to those a few common new member quirks like:
Believing a tree has a personality/soul/mind
References to "breaking the rules" of bonsai
zen/quasi-spiritual drivel
Suggestions for how the forum should change
and so on . . .

You haven't hit all of those, but I'm pretty sure we can get to BINGO!

Hey guys; what am I missing? I'm sure I forgot a few classics.
 
ColinFraser said:
what am I missing? I
Click to expand...

Get a few more and we can make it...

BONZAI

Any mention of the following.

Karate Kid.
A van.
A serissa.
A friend who purchased.
And...
Browning Juniper Foliage!

This is honestly an excellent Idea!

The Handlebar branches spot should have your picture in it!

Sorce
 
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