Bonsaify | Spring Bonsai Work on 5 Elms - Pinching, Trimming, & Baby Steps

Eric delves into some spring work using 5 small elms he has grown from cuttings as examples.
00:0:45 Eric wants these to stay small, so he's working on branch development, cutting back and/or pinching all the tips.
00:01:12 Eric demonstrates pinching with both fingers and scissors. He's shortening the node length to force compact growth and back-budding, and to stop runners from growing.
00:01:52 For the strong shoots that already have wood, pinching won't work so Eric cuts back with scissors.
00:02:29 Eric explains middle development - trunk is already set according to his goal for the tree, and it has primary and some secondary branching. So the focus now is on increasing the density of twigs.
00:03:14 With all the shoots off, Eric can see the structure of the tree.
00:04:00 Eric decides to cut the current top off due to a knot he doesn't want in the composition. Demo of using a concave cutter!
00:05:09 Final look at tree #1.
00:05:31 Pinching and trimming on tree #2, from rough work to more refined - one leaf at a time.
00:06:12 Where and how elms bud out.
00:06:57 The second tree is done, and why Eric removed a particular branch or two!
00:07:29 With tree #3 Eric shows how to allow the tree to get a little bigger but maintain small branches at the same time.
00:08:05 Be conscious of a potential problems with this approach!
00:08:35 "It's challenging to get mature characteristics of the tree to come out at really small size."
00:09:14 Tree #4 is getting a twin trunk planting approach due to a sucker which Eric wires with very thin wire.
00:10:26 After working on tree #5, Eric shares that baby steps on deciduous trees is the name of the game!
00:10:42 Eric reviews his plan and decisions with the five trees, and why he chose generally not to wire at this time.
Thank you for watching! Like and share this video, and tell us about your experiences with spring elm work in the comments below. Please subscribe to our channel for more great bonsai video content!

[@xaynhatrongoianphuc8964]

loveeeeeee Bonsaify ------- say hellooooooo from Vietnam 💯💯💯💯💯💯🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@davidmorgan3508]

Aussie Dave here Eric 👌, good video on trimming 😃🤗

[@peterzukof7942]

I’ve had some good success with elm root cuttings, even one that was matchstick thin. I’m a novice but elms are fantastic because you can root from branch or root cuttings and they air layer (did my first last year) pretty easy- and that has given me a lot of material to experiment with. I started with two elms about 5-6 years ago and now have a dozen or so different sizes. Thanks for all the useful info in your videos. Because elms grow so quickly in the spring I’m always unsure of when to trim

[@ctk39]

Fantastic information and yet another exceptional video, thanks Eric!

[@samyoel5384]

Lovely trees, would love to see how u made them from roots!

[@cherylandrews3195]

I love how you teach as you work, thank you!

[@Bonsaify]

Thanks Cheryl!

[@firefrom70k98]

Great video! 😊

[@mikecipriani7792]

Well I hope I didn't kill my Ficus tree, it's been in potting soil since I got it last summer at Lowes. Has not grown much. Not a lot of roots, but looked good. Anyway, I reported it in bonsai soil (monto clay-Perlite-lava rock) in a little bigger pot. I see everyone using that substrate. Didn't do anything to the roots.. I just can't make myself cut of the roots. Really enjoy your videos.

[@Bonsaify]

Tropical repotting is reportedly best in hot weather (and humid.) But as long as it's growing actively I think you're safe. I actually cut all the roots on one of my ficus back to stubs a few years ago to get it into a tiny pot...it was slow for a bit after that but then grew well again. I'm now keeping mine in a greenhouse after repotting.

[@henzobonsai]

Nice sharing videos..👍👍

[@andersnrregren9087]

I love the size and i need some elms

[@kuyagalvlog.5725]

thank you for the tutorials for bonzai Idea.

[@Jojosawesomeadventure]

This is great! Thanks!

[@DarthMasiah]

👍👍

[@sabikmercuriobravo5976]

Nice video! Have you ever done a root cutting with an elm or a zelkova planting it upside down to obtain taper instead of get reverse taper planting it as it should be??

[@Bonsaify]

I have not. At least for Ulmus parvifolia, Dirr says that polarity is important - e.g. upside down root cuttings are not viable. In my experience they only leaf at the cut point, not below that. But Dirr and I don't know everything, so give it a try!

[@northascrowsfly]

I will search for "bonsai timelapse" after I drop this comment, but I wanted to say that for noobs like me, that's probably what we need to see. I don't mean having a camera trained on a tree for years at a time, but a large number of photos strung together at a rapid speed. Add normal speed segments where significant work was done, and we'd understand better. That would be a major commitment, but maybe worth it because I doubt there is much out there like that. [leaves to search for examples...]

[@danielramirez4264]

I’ve never had any success rooting any cuttings. 🙁 they usually die by the time fall rolls around. If I start something this spring, should I bring them into the house to protect them from the cold? I’m in Texas DFW area. What time of soil mix should I use?

[@danielramirez4264]

🤔 interesting response to my questions.

[@kylepurvis6231]

Your in a similar climate to mine, I’ve had great success with rooting hard wood cuttings, the key is taking the cuttings when dormant in the winter, use a good rooting hormone, something with 1-2% active ingredient. I’ve used course sand, and pine bark as medium, this year I’m using perlite with 10% vermiculite mixed in, so far it’s been the best medium. Very easy to extract the rooted trees in the spring. Place them in a shady spot, filtered sun, and I use a mister ever 4 hr in the spring, more frequently as it gets warmer. I’ve had really great success with maples, elms, Dawn redwood, and hornbeam. I don’t mess with the cuttings till next spring, about July I start exposing them to more sun, but never total sun in out climates it’s way to intense on new rooted cuttings. Hope this helps.

[@danielramirez4264]

@@kylepurvis6231 😯 thank you for the feedback.

[@Dulur-Bonsai]

Fantastic information and yet another exceptional video, thanks Eric!