Old Corky bark elm

[Haydenmc]

Hi Grant

How hard do you work the roots on this guy? Do you find them like English elms - in that if they aren't worked annually they start to regress or is it a little more sensitive?

Thanks

Hayden

[Sean M]

This tree has had more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

[Grant Bowie]

Hi Grant

How hard do you work the roots on this guy? Do you find them like English elms - in that if they aren't worked annually they start to regress or is it a little more sensitive?

Thanks

Hayden

I don't root trim this tree each year and it has gone some longish stretches without repotting. I haven't noticed too much major difference whether I do or don't repot; I think the trick to keeping it healthy has been the fertilising and the trimming.

Every 2 years to repot would be fine.

Grant

[Shannon]

Great looking tree Grant, I hope my tree achieves ramification as good as yours.
Have you had any issues with corky barks dropping branches or having random die back....... is this a myth?

Regards
Shannon

[Grant Bowie]

Great looking tree Grant, I hope my tree achieves ramification as good as yours.
Have you had any issues with corky barks dropping branches or having random die back....... is this a myth?

Regards
Shannon

It is not a myth and I have seen many people have problems with it; but I explained how to guard against it partially earlier in the thread.

I believe that good/regular ferts, lots of sun and regular trimming to keep it even in vigour all over the tree; and thinning to 2 x 2s. By eliminating the weaker growth and keeping the stronger growth in the 2 x 2s you get nice healthy growth all over the tree.

Simple but lots of work.

Grant

[Shannon]

Thanks Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Update.

IMG_7411.jpg

This tree was repotted in full leaf in April(autumn) into a beautiful Japanese pot(53cm width) that I purchased in Japan in February.

Tree is 60cm high and 60cm wide and about 55cm deep.

Grant

[kez]

Great tree Grant, great nebari, great pot and above all great placement in the pot, really makes the composition

[bodhidharma]

Geez Grant, you are starting to get good at this Bonsai thing.

[kcpoole]

I second everything Kez mentioned, but to me it its such a powerful strong trunk, but yet in the same view seems elegant and almost dainty as well
I suspect the fine ramification of the branches does provide that aspect of the composition.

Nice Grant

Ken

[Jarad]

Excellent tree Grant!

How do you decide which pot to put it in?

After reading the whole thread I have noticed that it changes quite a lot, are you having trouble finding the right one?

Would a more a darker pot with sharper edges suit such a masculine looking tree?

This tree has had more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

[Reece]

[treeman]

Very nice Grant. Congrats!

[Grant Bowie]

Excellent tree Grant!

How do you decide which pot to put it in?

After reading the whole thread I have noticed that it changes quite a lot, are you having trouble finding the right one?

Would a more a darker pot with sharper edges suit such a masculine looking tree?

This tree has had more shoes than Imelda Marcos.

I do love the muted colours of the Petra Engelke (I bought it in 1995!) but it just a smidgeon too small, whereas the very white previous pot is very shallow but around the right width.

When I went to Japan in Feb I was on the hunt for a pot that was good quality, nice glaze of any colour really, the right width and depth. I can't get an Australian pot big enough for it; as no-one(at least up till now) is able to make one big enough; because of the kiln size i believe.

I found 3 pots that fitted the bill approximately and of the 3 this was the best fit.

I am going back to Japan in late October to purchase a couple of pallets of Japanese pots; so I may have more to choose from early next year.

84f69a.jpg

The potter that makes this pot does the most amazing glazes so I will look there as well as the potter that made the current one.

Grant

[Grant Bowie]

Got one (a pot) that suits. Photos soon.

Grant