Ulmus parvifolia 'Seiju'

[Doug J]

@Maloghurst and @coh I have to go and get a few hours sleep. I work nights. I am very interested in what you both (and others) have to say. Please don't take this as lack of interest, but I have to work tonight. Thank you both

 

[coh]

@Maloghurst and @coh I have to go and get a few hours sleep. I work nights. I am very interested in what you both (and others) have to say. Please don't take this as lack of interest, but I have to work tonight. Thank you both

No prob, here is the idea I was playing around with (surprised I saved it actually). Using the other side as the front.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I had my eye on that one too I think what held me back is that I wasn’t sure it could winter outdoors around my zone unassisted. I think a great tree.

 

[Doug J]

No prob, here is the idea I was playing around with (surprised I saved it actually). Using the other side as the front.

View attachment 232733

I like that. Thank you

 

[coltranem]

I got one in the summer of 2017.



Reduced the height that fall


Grew it most of last summer then trimmed.


Soon it will get a new pot. Obviously it has a ways to go.

 

[AlainK]

Interesting to see so many good examples of this species that i thought no one cultivated.

I repotted the one I was given for free. There was actually very little soil, not so many roots, the tree must have been watered, but neglected, and half the soil must have been washed out :



I used a mix with mainly Akadama, a little pozzolane and composted pine bark, and added a spoonful of slow-release fertilizer :



I covered the roots with the same mix, added about 1 cm of 5-7 mm pozzolane, then "wired" it. If it develops well, I might repot it in the summer in a bigger pot, the idea is to let it grow. If it thrives, I will also reduce the top :



Still so much to do, but "Auch Zwerge haben klein angefangen"...

 

[shakotan710]

This is my Seiju, I've had it for about two years and I made the first cuts on it this past winter. It was purchased from the Muranaka nursery in Nipomo, CA. It was propagated from a root cutting about 5 years prior to my ownership.

2017-right after purchase



Winter 2017


Bark Detail

After pruning and repotting- Jan 2019

 

[Doug J]

I had my eye on that one too I think what held me back is that I wasn’t sure it could winter outdoors around my zone unassisted. I think a great tree.

I'm sure it could winter in your zone with minimal protection. So did you have any design ideas in mind if you had purchased it? I'm open to suggestions...just don't want to get into drastic pruning where it will take years to recover and morph into its new form.

 

[Doug J]

I'm sure it could winter in your zone with minimal protection. So did you have any design ideas in mind if you had purchased it? I'm open to suggestions...just don't want to get into drastic pruning where it will take years to recover and morph into its new form.

I like what @coh posted as a design idea...I believe all he did was switch the front essentially. What the other fellow posted was not acceptable to me because it was too drastic...taking years to rebound. The sketch looked good as a finished product...just not into that much time to see results. Not on a tree that I believe I can see acceptable results using less drastic methods. Thanks.

 

[Forsoothe!]

Seiju are hardy to zone 5. Put it in the landscape to grow it up, if that's what you want.

 

[MrFancyPlants]

I'm sure it could winter in your zone with minimal protection. So did you have any design ideas in mind if you had purchased it? I'm open to suggestions...just don't want to get into drastic pruning where it will take years to recover and morph into its new form.

I mean it looks like a tree already. If I had bought it, it would be a struggle on whether to cut back the first two branches on the right from that last vert. They are just a little too thick and straight. But real trees almost never have perfect branches, so there is an argument for leaving them, but I think cut back a fair amount.

 

[Doug J]

I mean it looks like a tree already. If I had bought it, it would be a struggle on whether to cut back the first two branches on the right from that last vert. They are just a little too thick and straight. But real trees almost never have perfect branches, so there is an argument for leaving them, but I think cut back a fair amount.

Yeah...I mean this was never going to be a tree that fits into a classic Japanese style. I knew that when I bought it. But that's part of the beauty. I enjoy the "naturalistic style" in addition to the "rules based" formal bonsai.

 

[Johnnyd]

Lots of choices when you chop.

 

[Doug J]

Yes indeed. Looks the the Skys the limit for that one.

 

[John P.]

Lots of choices when you chop.

Nice.

When did you perform the chop(s)?

 

[Johnnyd]

Nice.

When did you perform the chop(s)?

Thanks ! About two month ago.

 

[Maloghurst]

Coming back strong from a hard chop and root prune.

 

[John P.]

Gotta love seijus, and this one’s going to be good.

 

[W3rk]

This is my Seiju, I've had it for about two years and I made the first cuts on it this past winter. It was purchased from the Muranaka nursery in Nipomo, CA. It was propagated from a root cutting about 5 years prior to my ownership.

2017-right after purchase
View attachment 233546


Winter 2017
View attachment 233549

Bark Detail
View attachment 233550
After pruning and repotting- Jan 2019
View attachment 233553

Man I just love how this shows in the bottom photo, great graceful movement of the trunk curving up to the right and carried on by the branches. Really nice little tree.

 

[garywood]

Interesting turnaround on Seiju ;-) Reversion on a landscape tree.