Strange Chinese Elm

Treebeard

Hi all,

I acquired this chinese elm about 4 years ago. It looked kind of interesting with the flared out rootbase (and it was half price) but when I got it home and removed some moss & soil from around the base I found out why it was half price. (moral: prod & poke before purchase!)

I've just left the tree alone until now, just 1 repot and a haircut each spring. This year it had a very bad infestation of scale bugs which sapped the strength a lot.

When I finally eradicated the bugs I repotted and raised the roots higher out of the soil to try to make them a feature. It has been like this for 6 weeks now, and I don't like it much.

Attached Images

ulmus roots.jpg (65.6 KB, 327 views)

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Treebeard

here is the tree after repotting:

Attached Images

bonsai 014.jpg (61.1 KB, 324 views)

__________________
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-JRR Tolkien, The Two Towers.
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Treebeard

somehow it just doesn't look right to me, so I've done a virtual that I like better.

What does everyone think?

Ok as is?
Layer lower or higher?
Please give me your frankest and most honest opinions & views, don't pull punches.

Regards,

TB

Attached Images

chelm virt.jpg (48.9 KB, 312 views)

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

TreeBay

I like the levitating pot in the final sequence, swami!

Exposed roots will thicken, but with the energy in this tree's branching, I think you'd be better off pursuing a classical root base.

I foresee a ground layer in my crystal ball for this tree's future. There are some divinations on air layering here at bonsaiTALK. The good omen is this process is so quick for elms, it transcends belief.

The essence of ground layering is to follow the same golden path as the airlayer except, rather than developing the roots in a separate entity, you simply build up the walls of your growing container a bit higher to better approach the heavens, or perhaps repot in a deeper pot to better contain the chakra, then proceed to sever the lifeline, dust with 'chi powder (as you would with an air layer) and raise the level of the soil in the pot.

Try consulting the oracle (searches tool below) on these incantations for more enlightenment:

airlayer
air layer

I also sense metaphysical energy in the ***FAQ*** under the sign of Propagation

Hope this brings you and your tree back to earth!

Regards,

Matt

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miyagi

The original tree does not look too bad to me, i have lots of photos of chinese penjing with this style of exposed roots that i quite like. Obviously this is a matter of opinion so you should go whichever way you prefer.

Miyagi

Carl_Bergstrom

You could always show a toy car driving through it...

*shudder*

-OMC

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TreeBay

or maybe a toy car trying to drive through it

I would not have a problem with penjing ordinarily, but the design of the branches clearly suggests a peaceful, open field tree growing in ideal conditions, and the roots are the rock clasping or soil eroded type which tell an entirely different story of trial and tribulation.

I can't buy either story.

Regards,

Matt

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bonsaial1

Matt, you just haven't gazed deep enough in the crystal ball yet.

mfp1028

dear mr. Treebeard,

I have a feeling that if you leave it with the roots exposed you could probably get at least a hundred and fifty bucks for it on ebay.

Looks good on the virtual.

mike