Zelkova approach grafting attempt

[AlainK]

I had these Zelkova that were coming along nicely to my taste, but a branch that I think was essential to the design died.

So I'm trying an approach-graft:

 

[Adair M]

It should work.

I think it might have been better to have done a thread graft. Drilled a hole through the tree where you wanted it. And removed the leaves of the scion, and pushed it through.

Good luck!

 

[AlainK]

It failed...

Actually, it worked: the grafted branch was severed from the pot, and after ten days or so, it was continuing to develop. So I removed the buddy-tape, and moved the pot to my working bench. Unfortunately, if the branch was not fully sealed to the trunk and since it was quite long, its weight caused it to fall from the trunk.



Precipitation=trouble, I should have known.

But this year, I spotted two small branches starting to grow lower down the trunk, so I decided to defoliate it except these two branches.

July 3rd:



Only ten days later, it already had a lot of new leaves. July 13th:



But what struck me was this first branch on the smaller tree: much too straight and big. There's at least a twig that might replace it. This is a virtual I made:



What do you think: shall I remove it or not?...

Another picture taken this morning:

 

[TomB]

What do you think: shall I remove it or not?...

I would say no - or at least not until I had tried another approach.
Looking at your 'problem' first branch, there is a small branch coming off it (point down or towards the viewer?) around one third of the way along - the first significant secondary branch. I would try making the cut just after that branch, so that the sub-branch becomes the 'leader'. That way you lose much of the straightness, but have some movement and taper.

 

[dirk hoorelbeke]

Keep the branch you might want to remove small and try to induce taper, but keep it. After you established the new branch the tree will develop a different feeling and you can go ahead and follow that feeling. Most of the time the lowest branch should be on the lowest tree. The place both branches (new and the removable one) are approximately at the same height and might visually distort the image. Adding more movement in those can sort out that problem.

 

[AlainK]

I would say no - or at least not until I had tried another approach.

I think I can see what you mean, that's very interesting, and worth considering.

Is this the branch you are considering?



That's interesting because it would be something in-between someone suggested on a French forum:



I'm not sure I can bend the branch that much (and the top too), but that's also another option worth considering.

Having made decisions too quickly, I will think about both options before doing anything.

Anyway, thanks a lot for the interest you showed and the time you took. That's really helpful

 

[TomB]

Is this the branch you are considering?

Yes, exactly. I like the French forum idea too. It's a nice tree in any case.

 

[Velodog2]

I think your virt is lovely as it is. I believe that first branch must go because it will always compete w the trunk it is on for thickness, and will make the branches of the main tree look too thin as well. It seems you should be able to put a little movement in the smaller trunk, with a clamp if necessary. It wouldn't take much. If the 'French' virt is possible it would be ok, but again, if you can make that bend, you should be able to make a bend in the trunk.

 

[AlainK]

This is what I finally did. It's a temporary solution, I might cut the former leader down to the start of the new one and use wire instead of the clamp.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

I would be very surprised if your approach graft was successful. What you are trying to do with an approach graft is align two layers of cambium that run in the same direction. The longer the area that is matched up, the more likely your graft will be to take. A graft at a right angle to the cambium layer is much less likely to take (though not impossible).

I think you would be more successful with a small thread graft since you are really just looking for a small branch at that location that you can grow out. Additionally, a thread graft will be more sturdy and less likely to fall off in the wind.

 

[CamdenJim]

This is what I finally did. It's a temporary solution, I might cut the former leader down to the start of the new one and use wire instead of the clamp.

View attachment 153645

To my eye, your solution is much better than the earlier possibilities of shortening or removing that branch. Your solution even makes the straight trunk less noticeable -- because it's shorter now, I suppose.
Well done.

 

[AlainK]

Update.

October 2019 :



Yesterday. I will wait a little before trimming it :

 

[Adair M]

Update.

October 2019 :

View attachment 300474

Yesterday. I will wait a little before trimming it :

View attachment 300475

It’s getting better!

the apex on the secondary tree is a bit too long.

While I like deciduous trees in shallow pots, this one is still in the development stage, and I think your tree would benefit from a couple of years of having a deeper pot. If it were mine, I’d grow it on a board, but put it in a deeper pot so there is more room for the roots to grow.

 

[AlainK]

Trimmed it a bit but I left the first branch on the left goo freely to get stronger.

And yes Adair, next spring I will probably repot it in a larger container.

 

[AlainK]

"...the first branch on the left grow", not "goo", oeuf corse...

 

[Hartinez]

I like this tree Alain. More and more lately I’m drawn to smaller trees and trees with thin more elegant trunk lines.

 

[AlainK]

Thanks Hartinez.

I think that smaller trees are often under-estimated (I'm not speaking of mine, but in general). It's not that there are too many big pines and junipers with a lot of deadwood, it's just that to me, there aren't enough smaller deciduous trees that represent a different vision of nature.

It's a pity you live so far away, I've got lots of seedlings and what we call "pre-bonsai" that I would be happy to give you

 

[MrWunderful]

I really like a thin, feminine zelkova with a ramified canopy. I appreciate how the base of the trunk still shows decent age even though the tree is slender.