Im A Beginner Help!!!!!! - bonsaiTALK Community

26-Jun-2005

davitz

bonsaiTALK Neophyte

Join Date: Jun-2005

Posts: 7

Im A Beginner Help!!!!!!

well i jus brought a bonsai tree from a garden centre and i dont have a clue as to what it species it is, i think it may be a japanese Elm, if it is a japanese elm i would like it to grow much bigger and upright, so can u give me tips on how to do this, and how to properly care for a japanese elm. i have also inclded some pics of my bonsai tree so u can identify it and help me wiv the shaping tips and what not.

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26-Jun-2005	#2
RonMartin(deceased) Bonsai nare-do-well Join Date: Jan-2003 Location: Summerville SC Country: USA USDA Zone: 8A AHS Heat Zone: 8 Posts: 4,653	I think you mean Chinese Elm. Not a big deal really. Big question though. What the heck is that bottle in the 3rd picture

27-Jun-2005	#3
davitz bonsaiTALK Neophyte Join Date: Jun-2005 Posts: 7	its a feeder, it drops some in the soil every so often, the garden centre advised me to buy some, and ye i did mean chinese elm lol :\ silly me. so i take it that it is a chinese elm. can any1 give me anytips on how to care for it then ? would b much appreciated tnx

27-Jun-2005	#4
Joanie Enthusiast *MODERATOR GROUP* Join Date: Feb-2005 Location: Carlsbad, California..coastal desert Country: United States USDA Zone: 11 AHS Heat Zone: 2 Posts: 5,462	If you search this forum, and the web, using "Chinese Elm" or "Ulmus" you will get a lot of information about them. There are several very good articles about how to train them, keep them, etc. The feeder may or may not be a good idea, because it will keep the soil always wet. It is much better to look at the tree every day and see if it needs water or not. The feeder would be good if you go on vacation or something, or if your weather is so hot and dry that the tree would dry out while you are gone to work. But it is better to let the top layer of soil dry out a bit, then water thoroughly so that it runs out of the drain holes, wait a minute or two, then water again. This flushes the soil free of salt and other mineral deposits, and allows oxygen to follow the water through the soil. Your elm may live with constantly wet soil but it may not do as well as it could if you learn to take care of it by hand. I like to use a chop stick, stuck into the soil, that you can pull out and feel the end. There is a thread here about that as well, search "chop stick soil" or something like that. Good luck! Nice tree! Joanie

27-Jun-2005	#5
davitz bonsaiTALK Neophyte Join Date: Jun-2005 Posts: 7	thx 4 the help....anuva thing is i noticed that there has been a trunk chop,does this mean that my tree will never grow dramatically bigger than it is now?

27-Jun-2005

RonMartin(deceased)

Bonsai nare-do-well

Join Date: Jan-2003

Location: Summerville SC

Country: USA

USDA Zone: 8A

AHS Heat Zone: 8

Posts: 4,653

Quote:

Originally Posted by davitz

its a feeder, it drops some in the soil every so often, the garden centre advised me to buy some, and ye i did mean chinese elm lol :\ silly me. so i take it that it is a chinese elm. can any1 give me anytips on how to care for it then ? would b much appreciated tnx

I agree with Joanie on the feeder. I would get rid of it. I don't think it does any good and might even be a bit harmful.
As to care this site might be of some help.
http://www.bonsai-bci.com/species/indexgen.html

27-Jun-2005	#7
davitz bonsaiTALK Neophyte Join Date: Jun-2005 Posts: 7	wen i noticed the trunk chop my heart sank thinking that i would never b able to achieve the bonsai tree i wanted, it may b a long shot seeing as i am a beginner, but if everythin did go well i would like my tree to have turned out like this 1. can any1 tell me if it is still possible to achieve a tree like this 1 even though mine has had a trunk chop. If it is possible can could any1 give me some pointers on how to achieve this shape (maybe the wire) i dnt kno. David