Ancalagon

Hi everyone,

I recently acquired an interest in bonsai, so I bought a tree from a mail order service (please suppress groans!).

I thought I'd buy an established bonsai so that there is less chance of it dying due to my inexperience. I bought a Chinese Elm, which I plan on keeping indoors (near a window though).

Anyway, I thought I'd buy this one so I can learn about maintaining a bonsai before I start growing and training one myself.

So far I've just pruned a few excess leaves, as well as leaves that had been cut in half during an early pruning (not by me, must have been the shopowner).

My question is about pruning. I can see that the trunk has been pruned. Is this normal? The wound looks to be at least a few weeks old, it hasnt really been covered over. Its about 1.5cms (just over half an inch) wide, and looks kinda unsightly. Is there a good reason for trunk pruning? Is it done to keep the tree from getting too tall for its pot/roots?

I'm going to keep reading some more info about bonsai (maybe buy a book or two?), but I was wondering how aggressive I should be with pruning now? I read somewhere that substantial pruning is done in mid spring, is this a good idea?

(Oh and in future I'll stay away from mailsai)

Thanks guys!

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