The 5 Year Zelkova Challenge

[Brian Van Fleet]

Just short of a month later, it is full again. Our Monday club meeting topic will be a primer on show prep ahead of our annual Spring Show, and quick demo on getting this tree cleaned up and ready. More photos to follow next week.

 

[Ron Dennis]

Last night I had the privilege of watching Brian doing some prep work for our show this weekend (Alabama Bonsai Society). While the photos of this Zelkova are quiate nice, the photos do not do this tree justice.

I think I scared Brian when I offered to take this tree home with me and relieve him of so much work!

Beautiful tree, Brian. Can't wait to see it in the show.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

About 3 months later, here are the calluses shown above:


The healing portion is the brown rings forming on the inside of the cuts; not bad after a few months and 2 defoliations!

And a shot of the full tree; looking a little thin, a month after it's second defoliation:

 

[fore]

Looking good Brian! Scars are coming along nicely too.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Update...after leaf-fall, but before pruning back.

 

[tmmason10]

Looks good Brian, getting very twiggy.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Update from today. Will probably prune it back, but not defoliate, since it was repotted fairly aggressively this spring.

 

[ml_work]

Great work Brian! Do the leaves turn red in fall...if so do you have pictures, well I am sure you have pictures, Please post some fall shots.

Thanks
Michael

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Thanks, I'll try to find some fall shots later...last year wasn't good for fall color for some reason. Usually it goes bright orange.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I have a cutting from this tree growing out in the ground. It took off over the last few years, and I layered it in two places. It has just started throwing off some roots.

Interesting how much these leaves can reduce. The one on the left in the second photo is from the cutting in the ground, on the right is from the parent tree in a pot. To the left is a tennis ball for scale...

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Fall update...will be trimming it back over Christmas.

 

[Mellow Mullet]

I like it, Brian. It is amazing to me how much of a difference there is between Mobile and Birmingham, my Zelcova has not turned yet. I hope that mine one day looks as good as yours.

 

[ChrisV]

Looks pretty awesome Brian! Nice ramification already.
Are you merely just using the clip and grow method or are you going to flat out and wire some of the smaller branches too?

 

[cmeg1]

Great thread.Awesome how everything has healed over.Thanks!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

Looks pretty awesome Brian! Nice ramification already.
Are you merely just using the clip and grow method or are you going to flat out and wire some of the smaller branches too?

The primary branches have been wired, but other than that, it's been clip & grow. Here's a recent shot...all grow and no clip!

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

I have a cutting from this tree growing out in the ground. It took off over the last few years, and I layered it in two places. It has just started throwing off some roots.

Update on these layers; one did and the other didn't. After separating it last fall. I moved it to a deep pot for the winter, and slipped it in the ground this spring. Next year, I'll start root work and developing main branches. Fortunately, 3-4 have emerged around the cut, so I'll likely have plenty to work with.

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

And since the original cutting was growing strong after separating the air layer shown in the previous post, I decided to do another air layer...guess I'll just keep working my way down until I get to the ground! Probably good for 3 more 12" high trunks.

 

[GrimLore]

The grafts are a bonus - the nice thing I see here though is that specimen can be shown in the 5 year bet timeline! Hard work but good work! Grimmy is Grinning!

Grimmy

 

[Brian Van Fleet]

No root work this year. Trimmed it up in May, then defoliated/pruned it on 6/9, and needed to trim it back again today, just 15 days later.

 

[JudyB]

FAST! Really only 15 days, that's fast.