Zelkova project

[LeeBee73]

This is really amazing! The scale seems quite big, incredible!

[TimS]

Have seen this tree in person and it’s an absolute beast, very impressive as are all of mike’s trees

[treeman]

Latest....
This is definitely a 2 steps forward 1 step back tree.
I finally got the apex where I want it...in the center on the tree.
If you want a good zelkova I believe you need a central leader.
(mind you it started as a trunk chop so to get a branch back to the middle takes many years!!!)
The front branch threatened to take the lead so I had to persuade it to back off.

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[Daluke]

Looking good - just a question regarding the central apex.

Is this centre just from the front - or literally a central point from all angles?

I like the upright style and will be trying my hand at it.

[treeman]

Looking good - just a question regarding the central apex.

Is this centre just from the front - or literally a central point from all angles?

Check out the red circle with the crosshairs.

[Daluke]

Looking good - just a question regarding the central apex.

Is this centre just from the front - or literally a central point from all angles?

Check out the red circle with the crosshairs.

Incredible. Nice taper too

[SuperBonSaiyan]

That's a nice level of ramification. Something I aspire towards in the coming years. I know I'm a good number of years off, but I find seeing pictures in threads like these helps me figure out how to get there.

[treeman]

Dare I say it's almost starting to look like a zelkova bonsai? (The leaves hide a lot of issues)

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[Rory]

Beautiful autumn colours there Mike.
But yeah wow, its gonna be at least another decade or more before the thickness of the flow of the branching looks more natural.

[Ryceman3]

… it’s gonna be at least another decade or more before the thickness of the flow of the branching looks more natural.

I guess that’s why sometimes the journey is more important than the destination!

There’s a whole thing about the importance of patience in bonsai… I don’t really subscribe to that as much as I do to the concept of commitment. Being able to commit to a strategy over a period of time (and implement it) is more important IMO than just waiting patiently for whatever to happen. I think this tree is more about commitment. I take my hat off to that.

[Rory]

Yes I get that.

I hvent grown these before, but would it not be premature to place it into a bonsai pot when it has so long to develop a reasonable flow for the branches.

I just find it odd that Mike is developing this the slower way when he has often critiqued members for placing material into a bonsai pot with the exact same reasoning.

Not having a go at Mike. But just find it curious what your thoughts are on taking this avenue. I would have thought you’d keep it longer in the ground

[treeman]

I just find it odd that Mike is developing this the slower way when he has often critiqued members for placing material into a bonsai pot with the exact same reasoning.

It's not a bonsai pot. It's a plastic pot with the shape required for root training purposes. You can no longer use a deep pot for this tree because it would encourage a deep root system which in turn encourages more strong upright branches and generally less balance throughout the crown. Something I'm constantly fighting.

[Matt S]

Love this tree Mike. I sometimes use this thread to show people how deciduous trees are built, building the trunk and main branches by allowing to grow and then cutting back hard, before you start thinking about ramification. Also, moving the tree from the ground, to grow pots, to large bonsai pots before selecting the final size, all depending on the type of growth you want for different stages of building.

It's a slow but rewarding process. Each year I look forward to seeing the updates, so thanks for the latest pics.

Matt.

[Rory]

I guess it’s gonna be a looooong project then.

But for me, it won’t look natural, as the branching starts way too high proportionately to the height.
Then it just sort of spreads out like a squid.

I’m gonna get flamed for my comments, but it’s just my eye seeing what I see.

[treeman]

I

But for me, it won’t look natural, as the branching starts way too high proportionately to the height.

But you would be wrong my good man.
Branches sould start 1/3 up the trunk, with the crown taking up the remaining 2/3. Imagination is called for