Page 1 of 1

Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 13th, 2009, 9:36 am
by Grant Bowie
A cutting grown Corky Bark Elm from about 1974. Used first low branch as the new trunk.
RIMG0405.JPG

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 13th, 2009, 10:19 pm
by Bretts
Ah I have seen this one already so it doesn't count :)
It shows great skill. I would be interested to understand you ramification technique and time this has taken.

I hope to get some understanding of the natural branch growth of deciduous Bonsai from Peter Adams when he gets here as he has a real knack with the deciduous growth habit.

I remember a aspiring international artist being told by the Bonsai masters on a Bonsai TV show in Japan. They all had a good laugh when they re adjusted his branches from a horizontal position to a up then down position. Even at the end of the show they kept saying up then down to him and laughing. I hope that some of what I get from Peter will ease the confusion I am getting in advice.

Dam there are alot of videos of Bonsai on Youtube now :? Can't find it.

If the lower branches here were raise at the connection to the trunk slightly and the outer flow was then a sweeping down instead of up it would spoil your composition here but I wonder if this was possible if it would give the tree a more aged feel to match the bark?
Thanks again for posting.

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 11:16 am
by Grant Bowie
Australia suffered from Black Pine Syndrome. A very nasty disease that causes people to train all deciduous trees as a Black Pine. It is a very debilitating disease and takes years to get over it, in fact some people never recover.

I have been battling it for years myself and some of my earlier trees show the result of the infection.

Anyhow this tree was grown from a cutting in around 1974 and is kept well fertilised, well trimmed and thinned out every two or three years.

Grant

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 1:07 pm
by Bretts
LOL I could have got worse than that :)

Is there any future plan for this tree Grant? Or is it mainly concerning preservation of the composition for now?

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 2:08 pm
by Grant Bowie
Once again this is an old photo( about 4 years) and I have recently started to overhaul this tree. I will show some new photos after the spring growth.

I have been doing some experimenting on this tree, which is what tends to happen to all my trees. They rarely remain the same for extended periods.

Grant

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 4:54 pm
by Bretts
Sounds Intresting. Looking forward to that.

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 5:16 pm
by Asus101
Why does the bottom branch go upwards like that? I have seen it on pines, and could never work out why.

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 7:10 pm
by Jarrod
Asus101 wrote:Why does the bottom branch go upwards like that? I have seen it on pines, and could never work out why.

As with real trees, the bottom branches grow out and up in search of light. otherwise the branches will die.

I love the shape and look of this tree. very nice indeed! Love to see a new photo.


Thanks for sharing

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 7:20 pm
by Asus101
yeah, but the branch will get heavy and start to go past parallel.
I was actually asking why he has trained it upwards, I just messed my words up.

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 14th, 2009, 7:22 pm
by BonsaiBoy
This sure is a sweet looking bonsai. Really natural and has inspired me to try something similar.
BB

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 15th, 2009, 3:57 pm
by Grant Bowie
I shortened the apex and the bottom right branch by about 30% a few months ago and will post new photos when I feel its ready. I also thinned and rewired the trees minor branchlets. It is hard to change from its original pine styling and I will persevere with it but these days I tend to do more of a natural deciduous shape rather than fighting the material.

The heavy right hand branch just happened rather than a conscious decision to have a heavy, long low branch.

With my avatar Banksia it was a very conscious decision about twenty years ago to keep and accentuate the heavy lower branch and it will never be removed.

I hope that helps.

Grant

Re: Something else for Soltan. Corky Bark Elm

Posted: March 15th, 2009, 5:59 pm
by Bretts
Helps me alot Grant. Thanks for your thoughts. I looked at this tree hard the other day(wich I enjoyed alot :) ) and came up with a game plan that I would like to do. I will try to put it into words before you show us your results.