AusBonsai

All,

This i my first post and I have a dilemma with regards to a Chinese elm that has just come into my possession.

My Grandmother on the weekend gave me her Chinese Elm which she has had since the mid 1980's so she says. I have never seen this tree previously and it was offered to me as it was being neglected.

The tree is in 12' x 8' rectangle pot which it has well and truly outgrown. According to my Nan, the tree had not been repotted for quite some time and the root managed to breach the pot and go to ground. As a result this tree now stands about 1m in height. (I intend to post pics when I take some tonight)

Most of the vertical height is taken up from a branch that has grown up and I am considering air layering this off the tree and creating a jin in that spot to bring the tree back to about 65-75cm in height. My biggest concern is the root material. The tree was repotted (in the same pot) about two years ago and it is becoming very pot bound. This is primarily due to the fact that the root mass is more than the pot can handle. Most of the roots have spiralled around the base of the trunk also and are quite large and well exposed. What I would like is some advice on what to do with this lower section. The trunk is beautiful and well weathered and has good slanted view. A bigger pot would complement this, but I am concerned about the roots. Can I wire the roots out and possible make them a better feature? Or can I remove them without damaging the view at the base?

(Will provide photos shortly)

Photos are a must. Just remember being a deciduous tree you can't do any root work until it goes dormant next winter. And welcome too by the way

So here are some photos to explain my predicament,
Apologies for the terrible photos.

This is the tree. Its about 1m high


This is the roots. You can all the exposed roots and the tree is quite unstable sitting on to there.


I plan on air layering the section directly under the main body of leaves and the creating a jin at the top. Re shape the base leafy branches and leave it in slanted shape.

Personally it looks like the tree is still quite healthy.

I'm not really sure what you mean by...

"Can I wire the roots out and possible make them a better feature? Or can I remove them without damaging the view at the base?"

From memory around now you can start an air layer on this species..
I reckon with a bit of care you could probably slip pot it into a slightly larger pot as well.

Don't know if you really want to do much more until the air layer has taken..

Be interested in others views.

Hi and welcolme.
The idea of putting it into a slightly larger pot has merit. It will allow some new growth and also allow you to cover some of the exposed roots just to see how you like the roots covered. Water and fertilize well until next year and then we can really start to work on it.
It really does have the makings of a good bonsai but needs some food so it can grow into a healthy tree.

I'd agree, slip pot into something bigger, and cover the roots a bit to see what they look like when they actually come from ground level - they should look quite strong. Not neat, but strong. The highest root on the left can probably go, but keep most of the rest.

Layer's a good idea, go for it now, and feed it well. Don't forget to layer it where you can see the trunk getting interesting - maybe the trunk goes up to a strong branch where you can cut the trunk back to, to get angles and movement.

The base has nice age - you'll have fun growing it's top back.

Gavin

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies. I am glad you all thought similarly to me. I will most likely start the air layer on the weekend. I will also take all of you advice and slip it inot a bigger pot and cover the roots.

@GavinG If I remove that root should I attempt to make it more of a jin so it doesn't look out of place?

Again thanks to you guys and I will post some photos of my progress.

and, if a jin/s is/are made... are these treated the same as with pines? i.e. lime sulfur? or does that white look out of place on an elm??

Can Any one of you more knowledgeable chaps fix those photo`s up, they are hard to look at craning your neck.

I would slip a plastic pot around the tree and run a ground layer to grow new roots.
You may want to include sections of the existing root mass, but to me I would get rid of 85% of the roots i see and grow new ones.
This will give you a better platform from which to work the upper tree.
Its no point working the top until you sort out the roots and get it healthy.
Its not a bonsai without a 5-10 yr work plan

Qitianlong wrote:and, if a jin/s is/are made... are these treated the same as with pines? i.e. lime sulfur? or does that white look out of place on an elm??

Many people believe that On a Deciduos tree, there is no place for Jin anyway as many of them do not have it naturally occuring.

If you want to have Jin, then treat with LS or Wood hardener, but add some Ink to the mix to darken it.

Ken

thanks Ken, what about Shari on deciduous?

Hi All,

Thanks for the advice. Over the weekend I pot slipped it into a much larger pot and covered it. I also put a small plastic pot around the base and started to (attempt) a ground layer hopefully to remopve the unsightly root mass at the base. I am holding off on the air layer as I think that I may be able to work with its current size or take some of the top off. But this can wait until the ground layer has taken and I have a better idea over the next few years. I will add some photos shortly.