AusBonsai

Hi.

I have just placed my very first tree/trunk into a pot, A corky elm. This was given to me by the person i brought my pot's off, it was a root cutting, so it has been growing in the ground for about 2 years.I cut it back just after the leaves all fell off, at the time it was about fence height say 5 foot. I was going to leave it in the ground for a nother year, after i root pruned it this year. I changed my mind... I do not have any trees in pot's as all my starters are either in the ground or in grow containers.I have been growing my starters for about 2 years, just taking my time and learning.

All my information is from this web site, i did attend the Nativies as Bonsai in Canberra this year and have payed a visit to Shibiu Bonsai (G'day Neil) as couple of months ago.

So this is what i did.

Picked out the pot it was going to go into, then dug up the tree/trunk. Removed about three quarters of the roots, anything that was growing down, up or in, were removed and placed into a Sealsol bath for two hours.Then the better/thicker roots were planted back into my grow beds.

This is when i noticed that the root system was going to be to big for the pot i had chosen.So i then placed the tree/trunk into the Sealsol bath and had lunch.

Located a larger pot and then placed the tree/trunk into the pot the mix is from Mr Ray Nesci with a bit of course river sand added, not to mutch just enough, it looked and felt good whem mixed together. A small amount of furtiliser was added to the mix as well.

I placed a the roots out wards with none going down or crossing over. I may of over potted it but this is were it is now going to stay for the rest of it's life.

So here are some pictures.

Ok comments needed, will have some more photo's when i figure out how i place the photo's after the information not in front

So please let me know your thorts, as i can not learn with out critizom.

Regards.
Irish.

Hi.

Will add more photo's when i return from fishing, and reply as well

Regards.
Irish.

If that is your first attempt irish its pretty damn good.

Sound like you done everything right. I wish for my first tree I was able to put it straight into a PK pot. Only one thing I would disagree with. This tree will most likely not stay in this pot for the rest of its life.

Well done.

Squizz

Very well done Irish and Congratulation son your first baby

It is very satisfying when you do that and I applaud you on being so paitient and you have been rewarded. A very nice trunk

Now there is nothing wrong at all about getting the pot size wrong as we all have done that, but I suspect you will get it the smaller one eventually

At the next repot, you can gut the larger roots back more as you will have lots of smaller ones to use then.
In the meantime you can now concentrate on Building the branching and apex which is better to do in a slightly larger bonsai pot as they will grow and develop faster than in a very small pot.

then slowly reduce the root mass to fit

Ken

Great start to the tree's future development. You've done well

Andrew

Hi Irish, this is potentially pretty decent material, you could help it along and lose that over-sized lower branch that isn't ever going to look right right in the future and threatens taper.

Cheers,
Mojo

I agree with mojo, I would do something with large side branch. But it looks fantastic.

mojos spot on. Cut it off, it will reshoot multibds around that cut than pick the one in a good spot and build from there.

Just do it! It will be a much better tree in the long run.

They are right, do it............

Excellent tree mate, well done. The real fun starts now, developing a branch structure and ramification.

Do the sut, there is an awesome little tree!

Hi.

Ok first thing, i was not expecting as mutch positve feed back for my first attempt, i am a bit over welmend by it, thank you.

Ok the left branck goes, will do that tomorrow.

Good to know about the main roots being able to be reduced, as this is not my first choice pot.

Once again thank you for you support. I was not expecting it.

Forgot to state that the trunk is just a bit taller than a stubby.

Regards.
Irish.