Looking for advice... Zelkova Bonsai

[iliketrees]

I recently purchased a Zelkova bonsai from a local nursery. This is my first bonsai tree. Does anyone have any suggestions for wiring/specific branches to prune/general next steps to set the bonsai on a good path for the future? How would you go about styling this tree? I attached some pictures below for you to get an idea of what the tree looks like.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you so much.

 

[leatherback]

At the moment there is not so much you can do.

Note, this is an ulmus, not a zelkova.

I would keep it indoors only as longs as it needs to be, once there is no more frost, moe it outside and keep it outside, protect frm temperaures below -20F.

This year, my focus would be a repot into better substrate; these normally come in very poor quality substrate.

 

[iliketrees]

At the moment there is not so much you can do.

Note, this is an ulmus, not a zelkova.

I would keep it indoors only as longs as it needs to be, once there is no more frost, moe it outside and keep it outside, protect frm temperaures below -20F.

This year, my focus would be a repot into better substrate; these normally come in very poor quality substrate.

Thank you! Is there a specific season/month I should aim to repot? coming from PA.

 

[leatherback]

It is tricky, as it has been indoors for winter and is growing. No recommendation from me there, as all my trees live outside whenever possible, and I repot when the tree starts pushing.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Don't even pot it, just read up on airlayers and grow some new roots at that bulge. Letting the roots escape that pot onto the ground/another pot will help it.

Sorce

 

[iliketrees]

Welcome to Crazy!

Don't even pot it, just read up on airlayers and grow some new roots at that bulge. Letting the roots escape that pot onto the ground/another pot will help it.

Sorce

Thanks for the suggestion. Which bulge on the tree are you referring to?

 

[iliketrees]

It is tricky, as it has been indoors for winter and is growing. No recommendation from me there, as all my trees live outside whenever possible, and I repot when the tree starts pushing.

Got it. Thank you. Is there a particular substrate and/or brand of mixed soil that you recommend?

 

[sorce]

Thanks for the suggestion. Which bulge on the tree are you referring to?

I was gonna say the ugly one, but damn!

Do the top one first so buds pop below it to do the other one next year.

Just study where a good place to do it is, angles, the thickest part, etc...
Few people make layers as useful as they can be.

Sorce

 

[iliketrees]

I was gonna say the ugly one, but damn!

Do the top one first so buds pop below it to do the other one next year.

Just study where a good place to do it is, angles, the thickest part, etc...
Few people make layers as useful as they can be.

Sorce

Haha!

Are these the top and bottom bulges you are referring to? From my understanding, air layer creates new roots on a parent plant with the intention of creating a new tree. Im not sure what you mean by "Do the top one first so buds pop below it to do the other one next year."

 

[sorce]

Yeah.

The left part can probably get burned, or layered after it is established. This little green image is feasible and dope.



You could do the intermediate one year 2, then the basal one.

Sorce

 

[iliketrees]

Yeah.

The left part can probably get burned, or layered after it is established. This little green image is feasible and dope.

View attachment 364322

You could do the intermediate one year 2, then the basal one.

Sorce

Interesting! I understand now. I didn't realize air layering would cause buds to form beneath it. In that picture are you recommending doing an air layer in the middle section of the tree as well?

 

[iliketrees]

Yeah.

The left part can probably get burned, or layered after it is established. This little green image is feasible and dope.

View attachment 364322

You could do the intermediate one year 2, then the basal one.

Sorce

I apologize. I'm still confused after reading more about air layering. Is the intention here to create two separate trees from this one?

 

[leatherback]

intention

I this is up to you.
In the end, your tree, your choice. All we can do is make suggestions.
But, layering would make a second tree. And yes, often, below the layering site you get budding to occur as the growing tips do not signal anymore that these buds need to stay dormant.

 

[iliketrees]

I this is up to you.
In the end, your tree, your choice. All we can do is make suggestions.
But, layering would make a second tree. And yes, often, below the layering site you get budding to occur as the growing tips do not signal anymore that these buds need to stay dormant.

Got it. I'm new to this so I will defer to you and @sorce. Looking again, it seems like sorce's picture is actually showing the creation of three separate trees.

 

[iliketrees]

Sorry for all the questions @sorce . I made a small illustration of what I think you mean with the small green image you drew over my picture by cutting it out of the original. Also, do you think I should cut/shave down those small bulges on the new "trunk" that I indicated in the picture?

If possible, will you please confirm that this image is correct?

.

 

[sorce]

Sorry for all the questions @sorce . I made a small illustration of what I think you mean with the small green image you drew over my picture by cutting it out of the original. Also, do you think I should cut/shave down those small bulges on the new "trunk" that I indicated in the picture?

If possible, will you please confirm that this image is correct?

View attachment 364338.

Those 2 nubs will be where your continuation into the green comes from. The rest is too far away.

Radialayer™ a season saver.

Nutters, You may have noticed I almost always jump to recommending airlayers. I don't think I will ever lose my fascination with the process. In attempts to perfect it, I have worked out some tweaks so it is time to share my method. I don't understand haphazardly throwing long...

www.bonsainut.com

Sorce

 

[iliketrees]

Those 2 nubs will be where your continuation into the green comes from. The rest is too far away.

Radialayer™ a season saver.

Nutters, You may have noticed I almost always jump to recommending airlayers. I don't think I will ever lose my fascination with the process. In attempts to perfect it, I have worked out some tweaks so it is time to share my method. I don't understand haphazardly throwing long...

www.bonsainut.com

Sorce

Got it. Thank you so much. When you say the rest is too far away, what are you referring to?

 

[sorce]

Taper, is essentially the only thing we must create to make a good illusion.

Your first segment is nice, the second segment 2/3rd the length of the first, you want your third segment to be about 2/3rd the length of the second segment. Meh, between 1/3rd and 2/3.

This can be fine tuned with tilt. Exit angle.

Keep that growth for now.

Sorce

 

[iliketrees]

Taper, is essentially the only thing we must create to make a good illusion.

Your first segment is nice, the second segment 2/3rd the length of the first, you want your third segment to be about 2/3rd the length of the second segment. Meh, between 1/3rd and 2/3.

This can be fine tuned with tilt. Exit angle.

Keep that growth for now.

Sorce

Thank you! Without air layering and creating separate trees, do you not see much potential for the tree if it was left as is? I see your point about the two major bulges, could these be removed/filed down or would it only create ugly scars on the trunk?