Elmo

Forum for discussion of Deciduous bonsai – Maples, Crabapple, Hornbeam, Elm species etc.
Qitianlong
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

Thanks for the thoughts Boics, and yes that is a corky bark elm, picked it up off the internet... which i've found is not really the best way to do things. the bark is cool, but not much else about the tree is at the moment. the soil is thick and clay like, and the chap i bought it off said it had only recently been repotted, and that he'd payed $100 for someone to do it for him... water just pools on the top of the soil when I water... can't wait for winter and I'm'a'gonna get in there and clean it all out, see what lies beneath...
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Qitianlong
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

hey all, well i was gonna sell this one, got plenty of offers, but something made me keep it... after working on it today... maybe I shoulda sold it. the branch structure just leaves me scratching my head. Anyhow, here's what I did to it. Open to any suggestions.
20140107_172031 (934x1024).jpg
20140107_172031 (934x1024).jpg
20140107_184920 (989x1024).jpg
I wanna snip off that straight branch at the bottom there... but then there'd be nothing on the whole right side of the tree...
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Re: Elmo

Post by Boics »

Perhaps you could bend the straight branch to make a new Apex and chop the existing apex?
I agree the straight branch is ugly.
Is there another possible front?

I still stand by my earlier advise.
Is there a smaller tree to be found here?

If no better front and no smaller tree it may be time to cut to taper remove all branches and rebuild.
I think you have a decent trunk and nebari you just need some good branches and preferably some taper.

Note. This is only an amateur thought.
Let's see what others have to say.
Last edited by Boics on January 7th, 2014, 9:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

thanks Boics, yes I am tempted to just chop everything!!
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

so I chopped everything...

20140301_155612 (768x1024).jpg
20140301_155623 (1024x768).jpg
20140301_155635 (1024x768).jpg

and after just a few days it is budding back pretty well... I'm hoping I've removed all the problem areas of the tree, and now can start again with a reasonable base and create a smaller better structured tree in the end. We'll see said the zen master...
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Re: Elmo

Post by Rory »

An interesting redirection. It is hard to see the base of the tree from that pic, but I would say,... be careful with creating a 'well' for the water to sit and collect in. When you carve into any base of a tree, you need to make sure that water will not sit and collect in the newly formed hollow.
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Bonsai: Casuarina Leptospermum Banksia Phebalium Baeckea Melalueca Ficus

Growing Australian natives as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=289480#p289480

Buying and repotting Native nursery material: viewtopic.php?f=78&t=30724

Growing tips for Casuarina as Bonsai: viewtopic.php?p=244995#p244995

How to reduce moss from the trunk without damaging the bark: viewtopic.php?p=295227#p295227
Qitianlong
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

update... think it survived my surgery!
elmo (960x720).jpg
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Qitianlong
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

2.5 years on... an update! Thank you to everyone who helped me to get it to this point, specifically to find the smallest tree within the tree!
Elmo resized 2016.jpg
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Re: Elmo

Post by melbrackstone »

:tu: :tu: :tu:
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Re: Elmo

Post by anthonyW »

Very nice work..solid
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Re: Elmo

Post by boom64 »

Great vision Qitianlong ,paid of with a classy tree. Cheers John.
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Re: Elmo

Post by Boics »

That's looking much better!
Courage has paid off handsomely!
Well done!
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Re: Elmo

Post by Qitianlong »

Thanks Anthony, John and Boics!
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Re: Elmo

Post by zimzallabim »

Fantastic transformation!

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Re: Elmo

Post by MOGGINATOR »

wow that has turned out awesomely great effort reading through this when i saw half the tree gone i freaked out a little but seeing it now omg such a beautiful transformation :clap: :clap: :clap:
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