ROR Siberian Elm

[Hartinez]

Figured this little cutie deserved its own thread. Started in may of 2020 from a seedling collected in Abq’s Bosque.

2020. Left to grow and set some branches with a pretty typical bonsai shape (which may not have been the best decision). It grew well as all elms here do.


2021. Unearthed the tree to inspect the roots. EXCELLENT root distribution around the lava rock.



Original design was to extend out away from the rock, but in 2022 I decided to wire it back over the roots and rock. I also lost several key roots making it necessary to rotate the rock clockwise so the way the roots wrapped the rock looked right to my eye. It was planted in this little Sam Miller pot.




Spring 2023 I repotted and put it back into the Sam miller pot. The rock it was wrapped on is awfully small and so slow thickening is actually important so I don’t lose the entire rock in 3 years time.

During the summers I keep the little pot inside of another pot to allow the roots to escape which makes watering and care simpler. About halfway through this summer, a bud popped from the roots on the opposite side of the rock. I think I’ll let it go and start a second trunk from it!

What do you think? Cut it? Or keep the second trunk?

 

[Hartinez]

 

[Hartinez]

 

[bonsailevel:master]

Pretty badass little tree for 4 years old!

 

[Hartinez]

Pretty badass little tree for 4 years old!

Thanks. I’ll be up-potting into the bigger pot the tree sits in. It’s a @Colorado ceramic. The roots are also wrapped in the tree tie wrap to make sure any growth and thickening stays tight to the rock

 

[Ruddigger]

I really like the new upright design. The ramification is progressing quickly too, nice work.

 

[Hartinez]

Trimmed and wired this tree. It’s not the most natural form for an elm, but a cool tree none the less.

 

[Hartinez]

 

[Hartinez]

This little tree coming right along.

 

[VAFisher]

This little tree coming right along.
View attachment 572778

Very nice. I've always admired ROR and I don't have one. This is inspiring me to try. Maybe with a winged elm cutting.

Curious why you abandoned the 2nd trunk idea?

 

[Hartinez]

Very nice. I've always admired ROR and I don't have one. This is inspiring me to try. Maybe with a winged elm cutting.

Curious why you abandoned the 2nd trunk idea?

Thanks Dan. No great reason to cut off the second trunk, other than I just didn’t like how it was looking.

 

[Hartinez]

 

[Maiden69]

Now that the tree is filling up I am feeling as if the rock is too small for the composition. Especially since elm's roots tend to thicken considerably. Otherwise, the tree is looking great for only 4 years in training.

 

[Hartinez]

Now that the tree is filling up I am feeling as if the rock is too small for the composition. Especially since elm's roots tend to thicken considerably. Otherwise, the tree is looking great for only 4 years in training.

For sure. Not a ton I can do about it at this point unfortunately other than keep it in small pots and cut back often.

 

[Hartinez]

Now that the tree is filling up I am feeling as if the rock is too small for the composition. Especially since elm's roots tend to thicken considerably. Otherwise, the tree is looking great for only 4 years in training.

I may try and pair up the current rock with another piece of lava rock in as seamless way as I can to extend the bottom of the rock more for scale.


I also just may sell the dam thing.

 

[Ruddigger]

Curious what you plan the directionality of the tree to be. Originally it looked to be going right, with the new angle maybe left?

 

[Hartinez]

Curious what you plan the directionality of the tree to be. Originally it looked to be going right, with the new angle maybe left?

Yeah at this point it’s def moving right to left over the top of the rock. I changed that ultimately because of the size of the rock. I should have used a bigger rock from the get go.

 

[Ruddigger]

Yeah at this point it’s def moving right to left over the top of the rock. I changed that ultimately because of the size of the rock. I should have used a bigger rock from the get go.

I’m guilty of doing the same. Using a rock for he current size of the tree without taking into account the final size.

 

[Hartinez]

I’m guilty of doing the same. Using a rock for he current size of the tree without taking into account the final size.

With the rock being Lava and so organic and busy, I may be able to hide an intersection if I connect it to another piece of lava rock that looks about the same.

 

[Ruddigger]

With the rock being Lava and so organic and busy, I may be able to hide an intersection if I connect it to another piece of lava rock that looks about the same.

I’m sure you can. I use mortar for this purpose.