I'm looking for some styling advise. I'm new to bonsai, and I feel like there is an overwhelming amount of branches on this tree, and I'd like to clean it up a bit, but have no idea where to start. Any guidance is appreciated!
by readfirstspeaklass
Bonsai
8 Comments
It’s beautiful, the only thing I’d do is trim is back a good deal to get the proportions looking more like a tiny version of a big tree, those leggy long growths with big leafs are where I’d cut, and otherwise it’s styled amazingly
I would do a shakan style bonsai. Using the natural movement I suggest going to the left and using foliage available to create movement.
Devour
The foliage is too sparse to contemplate styling. This needs to get healthy first & foremost.
Chinese elm is often marketed as being able to be kept indoors which I think is so that they can get more sales… not sure I’ve seen a Chinese elm live indefinitely indoors for many years. They’re truly a fully outdoor broadleaf deciduous species. That’s how you reach their full potential.
Prune the shoots at the top to encourage growth at the lower branches. Like most trees your chinese elm tries to grow taller. The tree sends all engery to the highest branches and over time the lower ones will die. Just prune back the long shoots at the top to 3 or 4 leaves. Make sure the shoots end with an outwards pointing leaf because that’s the direction where the new shoots will grow. If you get longer shoots at the lower branches, let those grow wild for a while to strengthen those branches.
By selective pruning you can redirect the growth of the tree to get a more balanced appearance. Other than that your tree just needs light, water and fertilizer
I bought a similar tree a few years ago, lots of branches and leggy growth. I cut all of the branches off down to the trunk and developed new ones where I felt branches should go (ideally pointing outward of from the curvy bits). I increased the ramification of the branches with regular tip pruning, trying to make flat pads and let the top portion grow wild until recently to strengthen the tree. Anyway this is the shape I have after the last pruning and wiring, I’m hoping it will fill out with leaves and new branches a bit before the end of the growing season but I’m happy with the progress: [Chinese Elm Bonsai Image](https://imgur.com/gallery/ByfMWHj)
Not sure if the radical pruning was best for the health of the tree at the time, but it survived anyway. Your tree looks healthy enough to do some pruning without causing it too much stress in my opinion.
I’d start by removing dead branches, then start wiring branches down into position. I remove redundant branches while wiring, then shorten everything as needed. Then let it grow…
I have the same one. I leave It outside (coast of Oregon ) in summer , fall and it’s pretty happy
https://preview.redd.it/a3975ltp42hd1.jpeg?width=4284&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d11a66ccb340f999b1ea98cf267560befe7fe999