Suggestions for design

fedtskruppe

Hey everyone,

I just bought this tree which I think is a chinese elm,- Im not sure though.
It hasnt been trained properly to taper or curve, but just been twisted around a stick or something, which has left some nasty scars. I want the trunk to be more tapering, and maybe also get rid of the scars on the trunk. I cant really figure out what the best to do. I was thinking about making the long branch at the second bend into the new leader, but I think this will make the tree curve in a really weired way. The other possibility i have come up with was to cut the trunk below the first bend to make it backbud, but I am not sure wether this species I well suited for this. Also i thought about making it into a banyan. What do you think I should do?

Thanks on advance

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fedtskruppe

just forgot the photo

Attached Files

babab.pdf (36.0 KB, 107 views)

jeremy_norbury

Yes, it's a Chinese Elm.

Yes they bud back (probably the best of any tree...)

Why are there leaves on the surface of your expanded-clay hydro stuff?

That trunck will NOT thicken while it's in a bonsai pot. The only way to get it to thicken is planted out in full sun in the ground allowing the branches unrestricted growth.

To be honest, I've seen a lot worse than this and I've seen probably tens of thousands of these by now. The canopy needs to fill out to be three dimensional and to some extent obscure the upper trunk. The Chop idea is not bad either and would leave you with an interesting Shohin...

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eeiko321

thats an unusual pot there...
does it have drain holes, cause it nearly looks like water close to the top.

i think thats a decent tree you have,...
looks like a root cutting perhaps?

jeremy_norbury

It looks like he's trying Hydro-culture which in principle should work - I use it for rooting cuttings. But and there's a big BUT, the pot shouldn't be more than 1/4 filled with water.

These clay pebbles are too big for this size plant. You should try getting some Seramis - they are MUCH smaller and far better suited to bonsai.

Chop? You might, but I wouldn't with your tree.

Here's one I chopped to show you how it might go if you did: http://forum.bonsaitalk.com/230046-post3.html Remember to take the whole chopped trunk piece and try to root it - because it should in theory.
To be honest I would just try grow out the branches a bit more on this little Shohin

__________________

All I ask is the chance to prove that money can't make me happy. Spike Milligan
I told you I was ill. Spike Milligan's Gravestone