Chinese Elm Cascade progression

[Shane]

I bought this chinese elm at the Bonsai Northwest 2012 auction. Got it with two other trees for $50. The previous owner said he didn't really have time for it.

As sold by the previous owner.

Under cut to help bring down the tail.

Wet raffia applied to help prevent cracking. I also scored the top of the branch lengthwise to help the bramch heal in place.

Wired, but not an angle I was happy with.

So, later I added another wire to pull it down more. Still not happy.

Tonight, as the tree was recovering well and putting out lots of new shopts, I made a second undercut, removed the tension wires and pulled the branch into a sharper angle that I am much happier with.



I'm yet to decide whether to make a formal cascade or keep the tail out to the side. Next step is to wire the tail.

[Shane]

The pot in the background is earmarked for this tree when the time comes.

[lackhand]

Looking good, Shane, keep us updated on this one. I need to find myself a heavy bending project like that.

[kcpoole]

Nice to see some heavy bending happening

Have you thought about reducing the height of the top branch?
ken

[Shane]

Oh yes, Ken. I just haven't had time to wire the rest of the tree. The apex needs to be reduced or wired down, the angle changed to direct its movement in the same direction as the tail currently points. I think the previous owner had the other side as the front, but I prefer the nebari on this side, so I'm changing the direction of a lot of elements. Cheers Shane

[LLK]

Message removed.

Lisa

[DavidWilloughby]

Hi Shane,

Its only early days for it, but I think you have done well so far with this Chinese Elm, being one of the hardiest of species it will respond accordingl I'm sure. I look forward to watching its progress.

Cheers

David

[Andrew Legg]

Comments on how well elms do as cascades? Anyone?

Cheers,

Andrew

[shibui]

Good point Andrew. I have tried several and they appear to be very apex dominant. I have lost the cascade branch whenever the top was allowed to grow a bit strongly. I think it could be done but you will need to control the apex all the time to divert energy to the cascade. I currently have some under development but without an apical branch and they seem much happier.
Good luck with this project.

[Shane]

Got some time on Friday night and progressed a bit further with my initial styling of my chinese elm. It's now going to be semi-cascade instead of full cascade as originally envisaged. It looks much better in person, I really need to work on my photography skills.


Ovethead of the tree prior to Friday night's pruning and wiring.


I would have liked more vertical movement, but the tail is quite rigid. Another time perhaps. The apex was lowered a bit.


The new overhead. Now I'll focus on ramification for a while. I do need to prune back harder in some places, but I want it to throw out some more new leaves, as I got rid of most of the new growth in the styling.

[Shane]

Lol. It really is hard to see where I have planned horizontal layers along the tail. Imagination required, 'cause the photos make it look flat!

[Shane]

Yesterday, I took a day off work and this was one of the trees I worked on. Repotted into a semi-cascade pot I found out back. (Previously slated cascade pot will now go to another tree, a cascade pine in the shohin comp; after I swap out another pine that's in it now). Took it to the BSV meeting last night to wire up, and met Tien (bonsaisensation). Tien, once I got home, I couldn't leave it alone. Repotted again for that better angle and shortened the tail to regrow with the top branch. Got to bed around 1am.


bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

[Shane]

Before repotting yesterday.


At 1am.

bonsai was meant to keep me away from the computer

[bonsaisensation]

hi Shane
now i am feeling guilty for talking you into cutting the cascade branch back this hard
but in all seriousness, the thickness and straightness of the branch was very hard to overcome and i don't believe it's worth the effort of trying to bend it. by doing what you did in the middle of the night( i hope you were awake enough when you cut it), it introduced much better taper and it will have a much more interesting movement to the hanging branch in time.

regards
Tien

[bonsaisensation]

hi Shane
now i am feeling guilty for talking you into cutting the cascade branch back this hard
but in all seriousness, the thickness and straightness of the branch was very hard to overcome and i don't believe it's worth the effort of trying to bend it. by doing what you did in the middle of the night( i hope you were awake enough when you cut it), it introduced much better taper and it will have a much more interesting movement to the hanging branch in time.

regards
Tien