AusBonsai

it looks like the hole on the right hand side of the pic looking into the hollow is a downward slope to the back

Hi Jamie , love this carving caper , its a challenge of differing tastes .It had some clothes on it but was still 1200mm high so i lopped it down to 400mm and 1 side shoot .Can' find the original pics but it doesn't matter .Cheers Alpine

all good

original pics dont matter !!! the tree is going somewhere now and thats what counts

jamie

Hi Matt ,there is a nice run off through the holes 1in 2 to be exact . No i don't drill through the bottom ,gotta let something rot to add character .It looks flat but thats digital camera's.The trunk looks far better in the flesh , maybe its the "cameraman" yer definately the cameraman.Cheers Alpine

Hi Jamie , 3 down , 2 died , 25 to go Cheers

Spotted it once Jamie pointed it out, I am just a bit dizzy its all good...

I wouldnt have expected you to neglect such things you seem to enjoy your carving TOO much but like the addendum of having to let it rot some... I love letting nature & its various ways get to work.

Now get back to work, sounds like you have plenty to keep you busy

Matt

Edit spelling

The hole to the right is not for drainage its higher than the base .Yes its angled as all the holes are .It drains through the front and left side .You cant beat mother nature for true effects , a little rot ,remove then seal .Cheers Alpine

MattA wrote:I love letting nature & its various ways get to work.

So do I, having even contemplated/attempted the introduction of white ants and curl grub to give some rot/deadwood a helping hand...

wow!

Anja wrote:

MattA wrote:I love letting nature & its various ways get to work.

So do I, having even contemplated/attempted the introduction of white ants and curl grub to give some rot/deadwood a helping hand...

i would caution the use of curl grubs and white ants to aid in rot/deadwood.. the curl grub will kill a tree quick smart.

if oyu want a natural deadwood effect, check out bonsai4me.com and the use of sphagnum moss on deadwood to encourage rot.. it is a much "safer" way of doing it then white ants, i wouldnt want them near my trees let alone my house! thinking outside the square is good.. but yea

jamie

Anja wrote:

MattA wrote:I love letting nature & its various ways get to work.

So do I, having even contemplated/attempted the introduction of white ants and curl grub to give some rot/deadwood a helping hand...

Hi Anja , got plenty of both here ,i had them treated but to no avail .They are 2 pests that i can do without .Cheers Alpine

here is the article anja

http://bonsai4me.com/AdvTech/ATpromoting_rot.htm

would say its a little safer then curl grubs and white ants

Cheers .Alpineart

Well i thought it was about time to do some work on these trunks over the next few days . Out of the 30 i collected 18 are still growing .The biggest trunks i cut off with the chainsaw died .Another lesson learned , don't get too aggressive with these elms . They did shoot without an issue , but i think the lack of after care was the main issue . These 4 in the training bags/boxes have had the most care , fertilizing , trimming ,etc . The rest of them are still in the ground , while i lifted them and trimmed a few roots off then cut back some foliage , they have basically just been watered when i find the time . I think i have a couple of pots big enough to slip the better trunks into ,this will be the next job on a cool day I find it strange some of the foliage even above the grafts is yellow or green .The original root stock is naturally green but i am still a little puzzled .Not to worry they will still continue to improve as time goes by .

Cheers Alpineart