[Ray M] Corky Bark Chinese Elm #2

[Kyushu Danji]

Looking good Ray!

Just FYI, your previous thread inspired me to buy many, many colanders from the $2 shop.

[Ray M]

Hi Kyushu,
Good on you mate. I have found them a great way to grow trees. Because they drain so well, remember to keep the water up to them.

Regards Ray

[Kyushu Danji]

That's a very good point. I intend to keep them in the ground from this autumn onwards so that the roots can search for water more freely. Anyway, without detracting too much from this thread, thanks for the tip

[lackhand]

I'm pleased with the bark. This is one of the reasons I have been extolling the virtues of air layering. I could have cut this piece off the host tree and threw it away. With this bark and diamater it was to good to throw away.

Regards Ray

This tree provides a very solid argument for air layering!

[Ray M]

Hi all,
I decided to repot my two Elms and the Olive. The following is what I found when I pulled the tree out of the pot.

I knew this was one of my air layers, but, I had forgotten using a piece of stainless steel sheet as the disk when I planted the layer into a container. The roots were very fascinating. They grew out to the edge of the disk then curled under the disk into the deeper soil.

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With the roots looking so good, I spared no expense and decided to buy a new pot. Don't you love the colour?

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Regards Ray

[Meagi]

Love this little tree ray a true show stopper !
Cheers

[Andrew Legg]

The colour picks up the leaves quite nicely mate!

[Ray M]

Hi all,
Update on this Chinese Elm. The elms have slowed right down. There wont be any real change until the warmer weather starts.

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Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Hi all,
This tree has opened up more than my other Elm. It looks quite healthy now. This season I should be able to get a lot more ramification and shape.

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Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Hi everyone,
Update on the Elm. This one is looking quite healthy. Started doing some wiring.

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Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Hi everyone,
Update on this tree.

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Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Hi all,
Update on this Elm. Same thing happened to this tree, as happened to the other Elm. I thought they were going to sleep. There were dead and browning leaves, and then we got some very nice rain. I haven't cut this one back so you can see the new growth.

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Regards Ray

[Ray M]

Hi all,
Update for this tree. The tree is very quite at the moment, there's very little happening. I have chosen a pot for the tree.

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Regards Ray

[bouquet]

Ray

I know peoples soils mixes are like a well kept secret but this looks very open.

Is that de-composted granite and pine bark of say 2-7mm

If not would you mind advising on the mix you are using here...pleasee

[Ray M]

Ray

I know peoples soils mixes are like a well kept secret but this looks very open.

Is that de-composted granite and pine bark of say 2-7mm

If not would you mind advising on the mix you are using here...pleasee

Hi bouquet,
As you can imagine there are more soil mixes than you can pock a stick at. The following is what I use.

BASIC MIX
Ray Nesci's mix.
A very good quality potting mix.
Zeolite.

Start with half a bucket of Ray Nesci's mix.
Put two double handfuls of Zeolite into the mix and mix together.
I then mix the basic mix 50/50 with a very good quality potting mix. I stress this should be a good potting mix, not something you can buy for $3.

RAY NESCI POTTING MIX
I appreciate that everyone can't buy Ray's mix. I will have a talk with Ray and see if I can get a breakdown of what he uses. When I get the information I will update this post.

FIGS AND PINES
Figs and Pines love a very open mix.
I mix my basic mix 50/50 with orchid mix. I use a good quality orchid mix, eg Yates.

Regards Ray