Ulmus parvifolia - Chinese Elm

[Jon Chown]

I bought this stock for $30.00 at the 1987 Bimer Bonsai Show. It had heaps of branches and was potted in a styrofoam box.

After spending several days studying the tree, I decided to remove all but five small branches, I bare rooted the tree and potted it into a large cerestone pot.

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I began Michael Pasiano's Superfeeding program and was amazed at the growth. I had to trim it weekly and it wasn't long before I had created a fine twiggy branch structure.

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[Steven]

Excellent ramification Jon! When were those recent photo's taken mate?

S.

[Jon Chown]

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The tree in leaf - A lot of people tell me that this tree is too neat

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As time went by and over several repotting times, I finally decided to remove the two roots that extended out on the LH side. One of these roots was so straight that I decided to make a Broom style out of it. When I can grow the reverse taper out of it, it may turn into something.

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Unfortunately this tree suffered greatly during our water restrictions and I lost a lot of branches - so it's back to the drawing board to start again.

Jon

[Jon Chown]

When were those recent photo's taken mate?

Photos were taken in June 2005

Jon

[anttal63]

awsome jon well done. tell me was that clip and grow or was it extensive wire?

[Jon Chown]

In the early days, I can remember sitting on the rear deck with Lindsay Bebb and doing copious amounts of wireing while we chatted about this and that but in latter years it became largely clip and grow.

Jon

[ketutg]

it's always great to see a progression of a tree.
i really like the movement of the trunk. great work jon

[kcpoole]

Nice Jon
Got a recent photo?

[Asus101]

That is a great tree. very very nice.

[Jon Chown]

Nice Jon
Got a recent photo?

Thanks Ken, I will take a new photo of this one, even if it is just to show the devistation caused by lack of water.

Asus said
That is a great tree. very very nice.

Unfortunately a more appropriate word would be 'was' a nice tree. But thank you for your comment.

Jon

[stymie]

Unfortunately for some people, my large U. parv. is a typical chinese pom-pom, currently standing at 27"(69cm)

[Jon Chown]

Both trees look good and you are right I like the top one best. Very Chinese.

Jon

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Jon,

I have given up on Chinese elm! When I wired branches, they kept on dying.

Amazing results. Might be you write technical-paper describes this process?

Regards,

V.

[Jon Chown]

Might be you write technical-paper describes this process?

Hi Viet, Not sure that I could write a technical paper, but I havn't had any difficulty with branch die back due to wire. The branches set fairly quickly so you don't need to leave the wire on for long. Did you try to bend the branch too serverly in one attempt? Did you leave the wire on for too long?

Jon

[daiviet_nguyen]

Hi Jon,

I still have a corky bark elm. Whenever I put wire on the branches just died off.

This growing season, I have not wired it at all. No branches die. I do not believe
I leave wires on for too long. And I am really throughout in watering as well.
I water the entire pot.

I do realise that elm is a very strong variety. Some of my previous elms had
their roots onto the ground, I cut them off. Now I still have an elm-bush at the
backyard.

I admire your skills on the elm.

Best regards,

V.