Chinese Elm Pot Suggestions Etc

Whimsical

Hey, all
I avent posted in a while, but I still read semi weekly, school and work just keeps me too busy. Woudn't a thread graft for the root be easier and faster? To me though, this three is too busy in the canopy. I think that reducing the branches to the fundamental elements of the design and getting that "triangle shape" would bring this tree to life. But, its refreshing to see an elm in this apricot/quince style.

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Treebeard

Jay, this is a reason why I can't/won't use the back as the new front, two big chop scars. They have actually been done way better than almost any other mass market chinese elm trunk chop that I've seen, but still I wouldn't want them staring me in the face. You can see another more 'conventional' horizontal chop over the back of the twin scars, in what is the current front, but that will be relatively easy to fix with my new dremel.

Attached Images

chopz.jpg (67.6 KB, 281 views)

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Treebeard

Jim, thanks. That's music to my ears! hopefully I will be able to acheive what I want in one repot. I agree about the left having better nebari. At the moment I am veering towards the front being somewhere between the current front and left, but nearer left. Here is a quick & dirty crop to show what nebari I could end up with, after tilting the trunk more upright, as per Mittar.

Attached Images

tilt.jpg (68.2 KB, 259 views)

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Jay

Chris, another reason why you can't give good advise in 2D without all views. I can understand the desire to avoid bringing the two scars to the front! Is it possible to just go part way and soften the view of these scars?

I have a feeling you have already thought of these possibilities and they will not work! Is airlayering a possibility or even a root graft?

Should have waited... while I posted this reply your reply to Jim answers some of my questions.... I like the vert!!

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Treebeard

everyone else, thanks for you comments and advice, most appreciated. keep em coming.

Joe, nice virtual. I was actually thinking of squarer sides, ie not leaning inwards towards the bottom, but the same colour and proportions as the one you chose.

Regards,

Chris.

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"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
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bnsaijim

Tree beard,


Ideas:

You could make them a feature by really hollowing them out.

You could eliminate the center trunk completely and try to coax the remaining branches up -course you'll still have a scar in the center...

Maybe tear it downward in the removal process to have a severely damaged/hollow trunk...

Let that center trunk grow freely to callus them over.

I'd probably go the first or even the third route if I was in a hurry.

Finally, with respect to the repot, think of it as a big cutting, plan for where you'll want the new roots to emerge, nick adn use hormone...may want to have sphag on the top to keep it moist...



Sincerely,

Jim Stone
TX

David Chauvin

TreeBeard,

Here's a quick virt using the left side with the crown reduced. The pot color isn't the best, but I like the size & shape. You may want to consider a general housekeeping to rebuild the twigging if it has not leafed out yet. I don't know enough on repairing nebari to make a suggestion, but Jim's advice sounds right.

David

Attached Images

tb ulmus parviflora.jpg (45.6 KB, 174 views)

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Treebeard

David, your pot shape is pretty close to what I had in mind, but with different feet. I've been tinkering myself with pot virtuals for this tree today, but I have the advantage of a photo of what will probably be the new front, taken this morning. see below.

Jim, thanks for the ideas, I will probably go for the third one. With a bit of hollowing out and trimming the existing callus, I hope to get them to heal over, in time. In the short term, they won't bother me too much, as long as I can hollow them OK. If they don't heal over as I plan, then I may think about completely hollowing out the top part of the trunk.

When I repot, I will nick what will be the new back, and hormone & moss it, as you suggest.

Here is a new pic, showing what will be the new planting angle and trunk. There is still a wee pigeon breast effect, but nowhere as bad as the other view.

Regards,

Chris

Attached Images

elm.jpg (64.1 KB, 165 views)

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
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Treebeard

And here is a possible pot. What do you all think?

BTW I know one of the chopped roots is showing. It won't in the real repot.

Regards,

Chris

Attached Images

virt repot ulmus 01.jpg (70.8 KB, 157 views)

__________________
"Do not be hasty, that is my motto"
-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
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christopherguise.co.uk