exposed root Chinese elm

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 3rd, 2013, 8:26 pm

This tree started as a small starter cutting 2 years back. i grew it on in a larger pot and when repotted the following year only to have found these very attractive roots so i decided to radically cut back to a small stump and grow a much smaller tree than i intended, highlighting the roots in the design. this season ive just been focusing on ramification and will give it a full wiring and repot this winter.

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its coming along fast!

Hugh

Andrew F · Post by **Andrew F** » January 3rd, 2013, 8:29 pm

Awesome Neagari mate, was it a root cutting to begin with?

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 3rd, 2013, 8:33 pm

thanks Andrew
surprisingly no, it wasnt. it was just a small cutting i decided to take one day of a small branch from a mature tree as i didnt have any Chinese Elm yet at the time.

Hugh

Andrew F · Post by **Andrew F** » January 3rd, 2013, 9:04 pm

hugh grant wrote:thanks Andrew
surprisingly no, it wasnt. it was just a small cutting i decided to take one day of a small branch from a mature tree as i didnt have any Chinese Elm yet at the time.

Hugh

Either way its a really nice tree so far and a real credit to you and your bonsai skills.

Ive taken a smallish elm root cutting with the intention of growing into a neagari style tree, thank you for the inspiration.

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 5th, 2013, 9:13 am

Thanks heaps, it's really appreciated.
I'm glad my tree has been of inspiration.
Your cutting should be looking good in no time! 2-3, heavy feeding lots of clipping and your on your way.

Hugh

Andrew F · Post by **Andrew F** » January 5th, 2013, 5:16 pm

hugh grant wrote:Thanks heaps, it's really appreciated.
I'm glad my tree has been of inspiration.
Your cutting should be looking good in no time! 2-3, heavy feeding lots of clipping and your on your way.

Hugh

How many growing seasons till i can start lifting it out of the substrate? What ferts have you found work best for elms i have just been dumping dynamic lifter on everything on my bench with no negative side effects so far.

Bretts · Post by **Bretts** » January 5th, 2013, 6:43 pm

Nice work Hugh it looks great. I think of the exposed root as an elegant style. Maybe a some what uglyish elegant style but still elegant. So if you decide to keep this quite stout it will be interesting to see if it works.

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 6th, 2013, 9:07 pm

Andrew F wrote:
hugh grant wrote:Thanks heaps, it's really appreciated.
I'm glad my tree has been of inspiration.
Your cutting should be looking good in no time! 2-3, heavy feeding lots of clipping and your on your way.

Hugh
How many growing seasons till i can start lifting it out of the substrate? What ferts have you found work best for elms i have just been dumping dynamic lifter on everything on my bench with no negative side effects so far.

I potted it up in march and then lifted it out in August the following year so about a year and a half. As for ferts I'm finding my usual application of DL on the soil surface and nitrosol / powerfeed fortnightly to be working well. So I'd keep the DL going, it should be working as you said it has been. The elm has pushed lots of growth this season from that regime, I've had to prune it twice a month!!!
Every branch you see now has been grown since September!!!!

Hugh

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 6th, 2013, 10:25 pm

Bretts wrote:Nice work Hugh it looks great. I think of the exposed root as an elegant style. Maybe a some what uglyish elegant style but still elegant. So if you decide to keep this quite stout it will be interesting to see if it works.

I agree it's not often you see stout looking trees in this style. I'm aiming for the winter image for this tree to be the focus for display. So we will see how it develops, I'm interested to see how it's going to work too.

Andrew F · Post by **Andrew F** » January 6th, 2013, 11:16 pm

Ahhhh cool. Look forward to seeing some results in the next growing season, beneficial to have posts like these to guide young noobs like myself. Ill keep up with the DL regime and start applying power feed. Once again thanks for sharing.

Dario · Post by **Dario** » January 7th, 2013, 1:34 am

Nice one Hugh!
I like the semi cascade and keeping it somewhat compact showing off the roots too.
I have a fig cutting that I am trying to do the same with as I think semi cascade shohin goes well with exposed roots (personal preference).
Unfortunately in the space of one night bloody vine weevils ate the only low newly sprouted bud that I was going to rebuild the tree from. So I will let it run and cut back again later on.
Look forward to seeing this progress, I really like it!
Cheers, Dario.

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 9th, 2013, 7:54 pm

Thanks Andrew, I'll she sure to keep this thread updated.

Hay Dario
The squat design of the foliage I think highlights the wide base of roots which I think works. I agree I think exposed roots in semi cascade style works well as its very natural as you would imagine a tree gripping the bank as it cascades downs a cliff.
Good luck with the fig, and lets hope no more bloody vein weevils get hold of it!

Hugh

Boics · Post by **Boics** » January 9th, 2013, 8:03 pm

Hi Hugh.

Is this one a corky bark?
I was looking at a few of these the other day and I noticed a few had a similar "heavy" roots.

Great job btw - looking really good!

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » January 9th, 2013, 8:36 pm

Boics wrote:Hi Hugh.

Is this one a corky bark?
I was looking at a few of these the other day and I noticed a few had a similar "heavy" roots.

Great job btw - looking really good!

Thanks bud
I don't think it is a corky bark, although it would be a nice surprise if it were to get some corky bark on the roots!
Chinese elms in general tend to develop these fleshy type roots especially if grown long as these have.

Hugh

hugh grant · Post by **hugh grant** » March 20th, 2013, 9:55 am

after about 4-5 consecutive pruning s since January its ramifying nicely

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Hugh

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