Celtis x sinensis/africana

[thumblessprimate1]

Thanks. I have Celtis Sinensis growing and they also have those rings. It’s likely that my Celtis might also bud from the rings also....something for me to keep in mind when trunk chopping. If there’s anything else you learned from the chopping and pruning I’m open for information. Even though my trees are a different Celtis there might be tree-response similarities.

I have Hackberry, but not sinensis. Will bud from those rings, but not always exactly where I want. That's why I suggest grafts. But if you're not picky, then skip the grafts. ?

 

[fviljoen963]

I might have cut farther, given how aggressively it is budding. You've got a lot of extra trunk that you're going to want to get rid of.

Did you have thoughts of your main trunk line? I think once you decide on that, you will have a better idea of your branch development needs.

I took the tree to a friend for inputs and besides loads of people offering to dispose of it for me if I pay them a few bucks
one thing I was forced to face was that I had made and was and still making the mistake of not cutting back brutally because I love the tree too much.. I cant believe I've fallen victim to it but here I am.
I hate it when someone at the club points something like that out and then you have to accept it and you cant un-see it when you're home.

SO.. Mister Bonsai Nut, thank you and yes... you were right, I was blind to it then, but I see what I'm doing and it will lead to a perfectly trimmed tree that has zero trunk taper or ... topiary bonsai . A dreadful nightmare I'm sure you guys over there also point to and laugh at

I will post a picture and a virt of where it will need to be cut and what the outcome should be.

 

[fviljoen963]

I chopped it about three weeks ago, its going to be a long time till it looks like anything again
Also realise now its not the best photo.. well its in the ground now! The roots can run through and I can feed into the pot at the same time, this growing bed will get planted with beans as well, so nitrogen is also accounted for in soil quality, callendula and marigold bushes everywhere for the aphids and their shade for shelter to the young cuttings that went in this month

 

[Frojo]

Celtis are my favourite trees.
What a trunk!
How is it doing?

 

[fviljoen963]

Update time... Last time I had put it half buried in the ground
winter is haflway here in SAfrica and Its lost enough leaves to take pics. It grew 8-9 feet approx as I am 6'2" and it still goes on for about 2.. 2and a half ft.
The one stub was left just about an inch too long.. so I will have to cut it and los a year's growth

 

[fviljoen963]

 

[fviljoen963]

One of the photos has some yellow scribbles on where the carving/ hollowing will have to happen, another photo has a lighter for scale of the past season's shoots

 

[BobbyLane]

great to see that it even survived with so little root/feeder roots. do that to a beech and its curtains! but it could also be your climate.
great base, looking forwards to its development.

 

[jason biggs]

looks like you added testosterone to your fertilizer ??
going to be a beast

 

[fviljoen963]

great to see that it even survived with so little root/feeder roots. do that to a beech and its curtains! but it could also be your climate.
great base, looking forwards to its development.

These celtis are nearly impossible to kill, at the right time it can survive a 80%reduction in roots. Ive done it a few times

 

[fviljoen963]

looks like you added testosterone to your fertilizer ??
going to be a beast

I feed organic, chicken manure mostly. Let it sit in a big bucket of water, use the tea and water sparingly every week

 

[BobbyLane]

These celtis are nearly impossible to kill, at the right time it can survive a 80%reduction in roots. Ive done it a few times

good to know they handle root work well.

 

[fviljoen963]

good to know they handle root work well.

Obviously with proper aftercare... dappled shade, higher humidity and proper timing... It shouldn't need saying but yeah
subject to "Find what works for you, in your area, in your soil, with your skill set"

 

[fviljoen963]

What would be great if I could get some input on carving away the chops to form naturalistic uro, since Celtis never really close wounds
even paint virtuals are welcome, a new idea is always welcome

 

[fviljoen963]

SO with the grey lines depicting the approximate position of the leaders I have now, and the red being the structure I still have to grow... what do you Bonsainuts think?

 

[thumblessprimate1]

SO with the grey lines depicting the approximate position of the leaders I have now, and the red being the structure I still have to grow... what do you Bonsainuts think?

I'm concerned that it will lack taper with chops that high up. I'd chop there, but later reduce to branches lower.

 

[BobbyLane]

i think i would keep this as the front.your new front looks basic, boring and very straight.
they seem to grow extremely fast where you are so i might try these cuts


could lose the back trunk or leave it shorter for some depth or lose it and create depth from new branches.

 

[Anthony]

Have you thought about a simple raised bed variation.

say 8 concrete blocks and a bonsai soil mix on open ground ?

They do heal wounds [ Celtis l ] but with aggressive branch
growth.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[Anthony]

Healing Celtis l.

The wound



The therapy
Fertiliser is around 12 N

 

[fviljoen963]

Have you thought about a simple raised bed variation.

say 8 concrete blocks and a bonsai soil mix on open ground ?

They do heal wounds [ Celtis l ] but with aggressive branch
growth.
Good Day
Anthony

The pot is as is set only about two inches deep, I should've done this actually.. I can still do this after rootwork that follows our new summer.
We are now in the last month of winter here, hoping to gain even better thickening this year since its rooted nice and firmly now. Also, thats why I want to carve now to get the callus started asap