[Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

To create the best possible Shohin sized bonsai from raw, untrained stock over a period of 18 months.
Forum rules
This category is for new entries. Enter as many times as you like.

Please ensure you read all the rules prior to entering.
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

Ryceman3 wrote:Now that's what I call a root prune! Never tried the plastic disc underneath either so I'll be keen to see how that comes out, I like the idea behind it. Is that 100% diatomite you have potted it in??
The extra movement in the trunk below the surface was a bonus... Looking good!
:beer:
Hey Ryceman,

Not 100% although it does look it in that photo. I hadn't watered it yet so the diatomite dust is hiding the pine bark nuggets, its probably 50/50. I use the pre mixed stuff from Bonsai Roots. I believe it's made up by a member at the Vic Native Bonsai Club. Seems like a great little substrate to me although I'm still quite new to Bonsai.
chriswaghorn wrote:I wouldn't have the guts to root prune that hard!!

But I do have very little experience.
Haha Chris I too have limited experience with root pruning / repotting but I guess there is only 1 way to learn how far you can push it right? I'm guessing it will be fine being a Chinese Elm although time will tell.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
User avatar
Ryceman3
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 2592
Joined: October 19th, 2014, 10:39 am
Favorite Species: Pines & Mels
Bonsai Age: 7
Location: Melbourne
Has thanked: 1040 times
Been thanked: 1523 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Ryceman3 »

Pearcy001 wrote: Hey Ryceman,

Not 100% although it does look it in that photo. I hadn't watered it yet so the diatomite dust is hiding the pine bark nuggets, its probably 50/50. I use the pre mixed stuff from Bonsai Roots. I believe it's made up by a member at the Vic Native Bonsai Club. Seems like a great little substrate to me although I'm still quite new to Bonsai.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Cool, thanks for the reply. With the repotting etc I've been doing lately, I am becoming a bit obsessed about mixes and what I should be using - it's a minefield (I too am not that experienced with all that). 50/50 Diatomite/Pine nuggets seems like a good ratio.

:beer:
chriswaghorn
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 17
Joined: June 22nd, 2016, 5:04 pm
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: Dubbo NSW
Contact:

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by chriswaghorn »

Ha! Great point Pearcy, only one way to learn.

When you use a potting mix such as you have are there nutrients in the diatomite, the pine bark, both, or does the plant rely on nutrients from external fertilisers etc?
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

chriswaghorn wrote:When you use a potting mix such as you have are there nutrients in the diatomite, the pine bark, both, or does the plant rely on nutrients from external fertilisers etc?
No nutrients that I am aware of Chris but maybe the more experienced can chime in? It's just a nice draining mix as far as I'm concerned. I'll fertalise fortnightly once it's acrive, cycling between 3 different ferts to try cover off everything.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Last edited by Pearcy001 on August 9th, 2016, 7:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
hawkeyes
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 149
Joined: December 13th, 2010, 9:29 am
Favorite Species: Chinese Elm
Bonsai Age: 1
Location: Brisbane, Australia

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by hawkeyes »

Interested to see how your Elm develops over time. Thanks for your post. :crikey:
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

This poor little guy seems to be frozen in time.

Still waiting on buds to open on this one, while my other corky bark entry shot at the start of November. When I first cut the roots back hard I got a slight opening of buds but no extension of shoots due to a lack of energy I guess. You can still see that half open leaf sitting about.

Image

Image

This guys still alive and kicking, but doesn't seem to be interested in the timeframes of the competition haha.

I do believe it will survive but time will tell. When it does decide to wake up it will be a test to see how much I can develop the tree in the remaining months.

I'll see where the tree is at next update and decide if it needs to be pulled then.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Last edited by Pearcy001 on November 27th, 2016, 2:06 pm, edited 3 times in total.
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

Buds finally opened on this one.

Think I chopped the roots back so hard it sulked for a while.

Image

I don't like my chances of getting this one up and going in time but we'll see how we go.

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

This one has had all sorts of issues one after the other since this comp started, major flop. Here's a photo anyway. As you can see the potting angle has severely changed. This was after strong winds blew it off the bench and out of its pot. I guess it just goes to show how these guys will continue to survive.

Image

Cheers,
Pearcy.

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Last edited by Pearcy001 on May 31st, 2017, 12:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
BB Brian
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 232
Joined: April 3rd, 2017, 9:32 am
Favorite Species: Chinese Elm
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 5 times
Contact:

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by BB Brian »

The green on the soil / rocks? Is that normal? Algae perhaps? Will that be an issue with the tree? I only ask as I found it on one of my trees recently too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"Ambition without knowledge, is like boat on dry land" - Miyagi
IG: @bonsaibuzz #bonsaibuzz
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

banong wrote:The green on the soil / rocks? Is that normal? Algae perhaps? Will that be an issue with the tree? I only ask as I found it on one of my trees recently too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hi Banong.

As far as I'm aware Algae is not detrimental to the tree, although it can invite fungal gnats after a while.

Algae grow in soil that is always moist. As the soil dries out the algae will start to die out. It can be caused by over- watering, closely spaced plants (not enough light getting through), or inadequate ventilation causing high humidity.

If you water at night try changing to a morning watering schedule, so as the soil can somewhat dry out throughout the day.

Also don't forget it's going into winter now so you won't need to water as much. In summer I water daily but in winter I sometimes only water once a week, it all depends on the tree species, how much foliage it has, the substrate it's planted in, the amount of sun it gets through winter and how much rain etc.

Cheers,
Pearcy.



Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
Last edited by Pearcy001 on June 1st, 2017, 11:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
kcpoole
Perpetual Learner
Perpetual Learner
Posts: 12272
Joined: November 12th, 2008, 4:02 pm
Favorite Species: Maple
Bonsai Age: 15
Bonsai Club: the School Of Bonsai
Location: Western Sydney, NSW, Australia
Has thanked: 17 times
Been thanked: 84 times
Contact:

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by kcpoole »

I find that many of my trees that are in Diatomite mixes and Kanuma get this thru winter.
i water everyday most of the year so agree just the substrate staying a little too wet thru winter

Ken
Check out our Wiki for awesome bonsai information www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki
What is Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Bonsai
What should I do now? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index.php?title=Newbie
How do I grow a Bonsai? http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _a_Bonsai?
Visit a Bonsai nursery to see some real nice trees http://www.ausbonsai.com.au/wiki/index. ... _Nurseries
User avatar
BB Brian
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 232
Joined: April 3rd, 2017, 9:32 am
Favorite Species: Chinese Elm
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 5 times
Contact:

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by BB Brian »

Awesome info. Thanks for clearing that up Percy and Ken.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"Ambition without knowledge, is like boat on dry land" - Miyagi
IG: @bonsaibuzz #bonsaibuzz
User avatar
Pearcy001
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 1307
Joined: February 8th, 2015, 7:23 pm
Favorite Species: Natives and Exotics
Bonsai Age: 0
Location: Yarraville, VIC
Been thanked: 81 times

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by Pearcy001 »

Update time.

This one has struggled constantly to thrive, especially after it fell off my bench at one stage. I reported it today and roots were only thriving on one side.

Fingers crossed it can get some vigour going, so I can attempt to put out some form of branch structure in the next 3 months.

I need longer for this one haha.

Cheers,
Pearcy.ImageImage

Sent from my SM-G920I using Tapatalk
dibly_w
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 114
Joined: February 12th, 2015, 7:16 pm
Favorite Species: chinese elm , swamp cypress and ummmmm buxus
Bonsai Age: 8
Bonsai Club: harmony tea garden highfields
Location: toowoomba
Contact:

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by dibly_w »

KIRKY wrote:Hi Pearcy, you should be able to use all the root cutting to start new plants.
Cheers
Kirky
Firstly great little elm look forward to seeing the root development .
Secondly I know this may be off topic anf I apologise if it is in the wrong spot so please remove if it is .
Thought id show this elm of mine developed from a root cutting .
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Last edited by dibly_w on August 31st, 2017, 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
BB Brian
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 232
Joined: April 3rd, 2017, 9:32 am
Favorite Species: Chinese Elm
Bonsai Age: 3
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 5 times
Been thanked: 5 times
Contact:

Re: [Pearcy] Corky Bark Elm.

Post by BB Brian »

dibly_w wrote:
KIRKY wrote:Hi Pearcy, you should be able to use all the root cutting to start new plants.
Cheers
Kirky
Firstly great little elm look forward to seeing the root development .
Secondly I know this may be off topic anf I apologise if it is in the wrong spot so please remove if it is .
Thought id show this elm of mine developed from a root cutting .
very nice root cutting forest,
Percy, I'm sure you would have a few branches to select from now.
keen to see how the little elm progress over the next few years :tu:
"Ambition without knowledge, is like boat on dry land" - Miyagi
IG: @bonsaibuzz #bonsaibuzz
Post Reply

Return to “Category 2. CREATE”