Zelcova Nire

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I've been following this forum for a while, this is my first post. I don't find any topic in which I can tell you who I am so I do it here with a "new" tree. I started with bonsai in 2007, I'm from Belgium. My english is not really good, so just shout if something is not clear.

Here is a zelcova nire
past
import from china or japan
It had been repotted in early spring before I purchased it.
YEAR 1
Picture as purchased below
what could be the next step?

 

[Poink88]

Welcome to B-Nut!

Your tree is whimsical and it can be styled various ways. How it should be styled really depends on your taste.

What do you envision this tree to be? Maybe after you give us that, we can help you attain it.

 

[edprocoat]

You bought it back in 2007, so you have had 7 years to either have air layered or chopped the top thick trunk off and develop a neat Informal Upright with the base ? What did you do, the suspense is killing me.

BTW, welcome to B-Nut !

ed

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I started with bonsai in 2007 this tree is more recent. I invision a single trunck not to high... So i have shopped it back. Pictures follow...

 

[BunjaeKorea]

Nice tree! Do you Know its age? Ik denk het boom is van China,meesten Zelcova kom daar van. Mooi boom.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

I don't know how old. It has nice thick bark, these guys get thick bark quite fast I guess.

 

[Paulsur]

Thanks for showing in dormant state so we can see the structure. Now I can't wait to see it in leaf. Very curious this one. Did you purchase this in bonsai nursery in Belgium?

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Yes purchased in bonsai shop (http://www.ginkgobonsai.be/) mass production import. Relatively cheap

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

First pictures are the selection of usable branches in February.
Last picture is the reaction of the tree in July after the partial summer pruning to promote branches on better locations. Note that there were some thicker branches removed in less than ideal locations (on the left side there was a branch a few cm's to high). These were originally kept as backup. The apex was also further shortened to bring more movement and direction.
The nebari is not perfect and has some inverse taper just above soil level. Seems to be a common problem with these...

 

[edprocoat]

Good job hoorelbeke, can I just call you whore for short? Either way you chose the correct branch to chop, good job whore.

ed

 

[johng]

Good job hoorelbeke, can I just call you whore for short? Either way you chose the correct branch to chop, good job whore.

ed

truly classless Ed...is it ok if I call you procunt.


Dirk....I like the direction you are taking this tree...would it be possible to rotate the trunk a little to reduce the inverse taper?

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

The inverse taper would be better, but losing some movement. I hope this corrects itself in the future...

 

[drew33998]

Great bones in that one. Looks headed for a bright future.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

and the journey continues

Year 1 Oktober, focus on selecting primary branches and letting the bottom ones thicken.

Year 2 march (selecting the "bones") and July (letting some grow and restrain others)

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Year 3
photo 1: Wiring done (feb.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ea8mRJ_kM5M
photo 2: june (growing out)
photo 3: Cutback
photo 4: reaction in september, back to square one
photo 5: waiting for pruning and wiring

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

OK, your turn, what's next?

forgot top view

 

[iant]

Very nice!
How about a layer just below the 1st branch?
Ian

 

[cmeg1]

I like your approach.Tree looks great.Thanks for the great pictures.
I guess you cut everything back for growth this spring.Are you going to continue to hedge the bonsai twice a season.Seems right on with technique.Or do you need to equalize some secondary branch thickness first?Did you have to wire or is everything falling in place?.I have not wired many things,I am growing zelkova.
Keep up the great work!

 

[Neli]

Have you thought of injuring the trunk above soil level, to make it callus and avoid the reverse taper?

 

[coh]

truly classless Ed...is it ok if I call you procunt.

Dirk....I like the direction you are taking this tree...would it be possible to rotate the trunk a little to reduce the inverse taper?

Jeez, he really wrote that? Good reminder of why I no longer read any of his posts.

As for the tree, that's a terrific and instructive evolution. I am torn about the reverse taper on the lower trunk...it seems to be pretty common on these cork-barked trees and doesn't look as bad as it does on smoother-trunked trees. I don't know if I'd be willing to risk layering. Would it be possible to do a graft down low on the back side, to encourage the trunk to thicken down there? I don't know how easy that is to do on cork bark trees.

Chris