Styling advice on this Chinese Elm?

[siddhar]

Hi all, This Elm needs lots of ramification, but any other thoughts would be most welcome?

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[Handy Mick]

Looks good mate, just keep going with it.

Mick

[mickaus]

I think perhaps the middle section is a bit to large and lacking taper. It just seems wrong to me given the great taper from the base.

That being said I would be very happy if it were mine

[kcpoole]

Hi Siddhar
I reckon it needs to be copped at the bottom of the vertical section. this is the same diameter as the section below and thus has no taper there
I would cut and regrow above that bit to make full use of the lovely lower trunk
Also the top 2 segments are too long anyway and again no taper between them.

Ken

[Guy]

Possibly the only thing I would do is get rid of that last straight area near the apex by removing at the height of the bottom of window sill -then reposition that new forward leader

[alpineart]

Hi Siddhar, i've been working mine for 16 years now and yours has more appeal and is more pleasing to my eye . If it was mine i would slip pot it into a larger tray and spread the roots but not root prune , 1-2 days after a good soaking as its leafed out . .After a period of root run the foliage will no doubt begin ramification , allow this to grow outer most for this season trimming only the extreme tips . With all the branches up top this should improve the taper . If you are set on reducing the height i would then choose a new apex and wire it applying a little more movement into the upper section , but not chop the top .. After this season the tree should be set for what ever decision you can comfortable make .

Each and everyone of us has a different opinion and a different styling idea and its difficult to replicate someones design or even maintain someones tree . . I would be more than happy to have it sit next to my Elms .

Cheers Alpineart

[bodhidharma]

I agree with Alpine. You have the basic structure and the tree needs secondary and tertiary branching. Wire and let grow de-wire and cut back to second leaf for ramification and movement. Just time and patience and a little knowledge needed. Should be a great tree in 10-15 years.

[siddhar]

Great advice thanks to all of you. I think I will just develop the secondary and tertiary branching and give this tree some time to develop.

[Jan]

I agree with Alpine. You have the basic structure and the tree needs secondary and tertiary branching. Wire and let grow de-wire and cut back to second leaf for ramification and movement. Just time and patience and a little knowledge needed. Should be a great tree in 10-15 years.

I agree with both Alpine and Bodhi. You might find Colin Lewis's,"Art of Bonsai Design", where he details the progress (including building ramification) of a number of his elms, interesting. Your local libray may have it or be able to source a copy for you (ISBN 0-4027-0070-9),

Jan

[siddhar]

Hi all, Thought I'd update this Elm for you. It's amazing what can be accomplished in 2 months. You may notice a mound of soil at the base of the tree, I've also applied the toothpick method to this tree to correct the trees nebari.

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[Craig]

great woyk Sidd,

[Dario]

Hi Siddhar, well done!
It looks great now that the foliage has filled out more and you removed that lower branch.
Did you also reduce the height a little? I have been closely looking at the OG pic and the latest and I think you may have?
Funny, when first saw this post I thought the tree needed serious height reduction...boy was I wrong!
Cheers, Dario.

[siddhar]

great woyk Sidd,

Thanks Craig,

Im amazed at what can be achieved with Chinese Elms, very fast in getting the desired results

Hi Siddhar, well done!
It looks great now that the foliage has filled out more and you removed that lower branch.
Did you also reduce the height a little? I have been closely looking at the OG pic and the latest and I think you may have?
Funny, when first saw this post I thought the tree needed serious height reduction...boy was I wrong!
Cheers, Dario.

Thanks Dario, I did reduce the height be about 2 inches, found a new leeder and then wired the apex and lowered some branches a little more. I've been feeding my trees like made this growing season and have had some great results overall
I think this Elm will look really good in another 2 years. I just need to decide on a new pot for it?

[Craig]

but any other thoughts would be most welcome?

G'day Sidd, tell me to get lost but something for your consideration; IMo i feel the tree is unbalanced in the Apex area, i think it's the top leader going back against the flow of your tree. I can see you have the very top leader going to the right but i think if you were to wire the next one down to the right(as marked in red) and go from there, the tree would flow alot nicer, what do you think mate ??

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[Matthew]

im with Craig