From an S curve to a…?

[Trigobontree]

Hello All,
I have this Chinese Elm with an S curve that I’m not a huge fan of (and the roots are a mess). How and when should I “fix” it? I’m thinking above the red line is just firewood, too much of a reverse taper. Is the blue line a good place to trunk chop? And if so is it worth trying to air layer between the red and blue? First picture is an older one of when I first got it a few months ago-can better see the trunk. Second pic is current.

Does anyone else have examples of trees that you’ve restyled from an S into something else?

 

[BonsaiMatt]

Check this article out:

S-Curve Elms

Let us consider the imported S-curve elm. I know that most “true” bonsai artists hate them. So much so that they don’t even look at them. Too bad for them and good for me. This is…

www.google.com

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Caitlin elm - as purchased.

Reduction.

After.

Sorry about all the mud and the weeds in the photo Not sure what was going on in my garden when I took those pics Maybe those were my Turface days

 

[Trigobontree]

Caitlin elm - as purchased.
View attachment 387690
Reduction.
View attachment 387691
After.
View attachment 387692
Sorry about all the mud and the weeds in the photo Not sure what was going on in my garden when I took those pics

Wow! That trunk is a beast. How many years did it take to get from point A to B?

 

[Firstflush]

Took the top curve off this little tiger bark.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Wow! That trunk is a beast. How many years did it take to get from point A to B?

9 years between photo 2 and photo 3, though I was doing a lot of root work during this time as well because the tree had some big root issues.

 

[BobbyLane]

ive seen pretty cool rafts made from these.

 

[Trigobontree]

But then is it bad that I like the curve on my snow rose? I call her “Big Bertha”. And she reminds me of an older (but not grandma per se) robust woman that everyone in the neighborhood calls “mom” who bakes pies and gives the best hugs.

 

[Trigobontree]

ive seen pretty cool rafts made from these.

Which ones in particular? The link brings me to a bunch of albums

 

[Adair M]

One thing that would help a lot is to change the planting angle. It comes straight up out of the soil, then moves in those big curves, going horizontal for a while before going back into another big curve.

It would be better to have it coming out of the soil at an angle, and have no horizontal lines.

Your other problem is lack of taper. Pretty much the only way to fix that is to do a drastic cut somewhere, and grow a new leader.

I think a combination of both these actions will go a long way to improve the tree. Mind you, it will take several years to start to see results.

 

[leatherback]

Mallsai into raftsai

 

[BobbyLane]

Which ones in particular? The link brings me to a bunch of albums

like the one Leatherback just posted, ive seen them done elsewhere too.

 

[Mikecheck123]

I like my S curve because it is sentimental as my first tree. You can still make it epic.

 

[River's Edge]

Hello All,
I have this Chinese Elm with an S curve that I’m not a huge fan of (and the roots are a mess). How and when should I “fix” it? I’m thinking above the red line is just firewood, too much of a reverse taper. Is the blue line a good place to trunk chop? And if so is it worth trying to air layer between the red and blue? First picture is an older one of when I first got it a few months ago-can better see the trunk. Second pic is current.

Does anyone else have examples of trees that you’ve restyled from an S into something else?

I would consider the blue line a good starting point with this material.

 

[BobbyLane]

I would consider the blue line a good starting point with this material.

I would agree, i dont think the raft actually suits this particular S shape.

 

[hinmo24t]

my former s shape tigerbark. two other sections of the s are being rooted now too

 

[jason biggs]

cut these 2 x microcarpa s shape trees years ago and cannot close the massive scars at all...
trying to threadgraft through the scars??
I think i cut them too low as they were already big trees 10 years ago...

 

[hinmo24t]

cut these 2 x microcarpa s shape trees years ago and cannot close the massive scars at all...
trying to threadgraft through the scars??
I think i cut them too low as they were already big trees 10 years ago...View attachment 387950View attachment 387951

Interesting. Could be w a 2" trunk and no definitive leader for awhile maybe. A link above to a blog with them is inspiring for the smaller ones. You have adeniums going still?

 

[hinmo24t]

cut these 2 x microcarpa s shape trees years ago and cannot close the massive scars at all...
trying to threadgraft through the scars??
I think i cut them too low as they were already big trees 10 years ago...View attachment 387950View attachment 387951

I meant baobab