Overcome Fear of Bonsai Pruning: Chinese Elm Beginners Guide

I love Chinese Elm for Bonsai and now (late winter) is the perfect time to do some pruning and repotting work. BUT, if you want to know just how much I cut these trees, then you need to watch. Loads of advice and tips for the beginner with 3 very different bonsai to observe. This is definitely worth putting aside 20 minutes of your valuable time…
Everything you want to know about Chinese Elm:
• Growing and developing...
Don’t miss out on my Bonsai Basics Series:
• Bonsai Basics
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God Bless & Happy Bonsaiing
Xavier
-- TIMESTAMPS --
00:00 How many Chinese Elm have I got?
02:02 How I prune my Chinese Elm Bonsai.
03:01 How to deal with leggy growth.
05:58 How would you take cuttings?
06:27 Find the front FIRST.
08:04 How much do I ‘safely’ cut off a branch?
12:22 Let’s deal with the rootball.
15:30 Do I have to wire my screen and tree?
17:22 Securing the bonsai into its new ceramic pot.
18:40 Some aftercare tips.
19:47 A quick look at two more Chinese Elms.
Equipment & Acknowledgements:
I use a Panasonic Lumix DMC 330 Bridge Camera
All video production using AVC Video Editor Software
Sound equipment courtesy of: johnaronphotography.co.uk
Handmade Ceramics by: Dawn Isaac of deiceramics.com
Please be aware that all details of products used are given for your benefit only - I do not receive any financial recompense. I just think they are good value and you should know where to buy them if interested.
#bonsaiuk #bonsaitree #bonsaicare #elm #repotting #pruningbonsai

[@treeaddict]

Best bonsai trees for beginners!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

So long you don't take it inside :)

[@TheBonsaiZone]

Nice work Xavier, it's great you are getting to the Elms!!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Nigel - I have neglected them so much in the past. I have much more interest in my growing stock of elm cuttings. I haven't even looked at those yet :)

[@raymondbirds2392]

Lovely job

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Raymond

[@guywatson-bognorregisbonsa7370]

Thanks for the Elm show Xav. My favourite one was the one in the pond basket & you've given me a wake up call to attend to mine. Nice video. 👍👍

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I feel like spring is always just one more wake up call :)

[@zimartiste1]

Nice job, well done...

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thank you :)

[@phillipwaterman5721]

Nice job xavier keep up the good work mate thanks

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I appreciate you dropping in and supporting me Phillip. Cheers

[@sueb1317]

Wonderful trees that you are developing Xavier. Great detail in the pruning decisions and repotting process. I still find it hard to prune everything severely back to bare bones, but boy does it look nice as the leaves flush out and fill in. Sounds like you have your hands full with elm work this week. Good luck and enjoy!!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Sue - elms are now done and it is time to hit the Ash, Lindens and Alders. Thankfully the Oak and Beech are still dast asleep :)

[@TheBonsaiGarden]

I wish the bonsai fairies would leave gift trees in my compost heap 😂😂😂 My cork bark Chinese elms are just beginning to show signs of life and a hint of green in the buds.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That is when they look the best - lovely small buds of green. Then 2 weeks later it is an octopus mess of shoots :)

[@nerinat8371]

Great video Xavier, this has helped as now l have one finally cheers

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I look forward to hearing about its journey :)

[@KennetDeBondt]

Nice job Xav. More to come soon... Grts Kennet

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It is funny how i filmed all this a week before your request. that woudl have been an ideal time to do some additional clips :)

[@Bonsaicrazy]

Great video xav Hope they have a good season for you 👊

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Andy

[@bonsaibythesea]

Hopefully I’ll get one this summer and I’ll be off and running with the Chinese elm cheers 😮

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Just make sure to take cuttings and you will quickly be surrounded by them James :)

[@bonsaibythesea]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat yes looks like a good one to sell cheers

[@brucedeacon28]

👍👌🙂

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks Bruce

[@Steves_Backyard_Bonsai]

We had our first club meeting of 2024 last night. A member brought his very neglected Chinese Elm to prune. Me and 2 others offered our input, and he took mine regarding a very traumatic trunk chop. It was fun watching him cringe, but it was the right move. The tree looked much better afterwards. Great video Xav.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I think once we all start to 'believe' that these trees love to push out new growth we can take them a lot further into the true bonsai path :)

[@SusiesHappyLittleTrees]

I think "Twisty" was the name of the clown in American Horror Story! Nice work Xav!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I haven't seen that - is it worth a look ?

[@SusiesHappyLittleTrees]

I would rather work on my trees if that says anything! lol@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat

[@markjagger7139]

I had no idea you cold go that far back with the pruning/ styling, great video Xav as always.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

If it is healthy it will come back with loads of new shoots from all over the tree. thanks for watching :)

[@oachkatzlsmum]

9:58 twisty wisty 😍 you know I love YOU saying such things 😂👍 What a great and helpful video. Again. Bless you, Xavier. 🙏❤️ Cheers 😘 Martina

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Always good to have you supporting me Martina - spring is just around the corner :)

[@maryweber4176]

gesundheit!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Danke :)

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

Hmmm... Perhaps I should try one of them Elms... Hmmm.... Great video Xavier!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I see you are playing catch up again Marysol :)

[@FrostBiteBonsai]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Yes, sorry...😅 That working to pay the bills nonsense really gets in the way of things Hahahaha!!!

[@TOMSAI]

Thx you xav for Show us your nice Elms ! And your way will Work 💪🏼 the Elms are Hard trees . Hard too kill them 👍 so i am exiting too See them Next Time in Full of Green 🫶 Cheers 🍻

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

You are right Tom. If they are healthy then they respond very well. All the best my friend :)

[@tomsbonsaidiary]

I do this most years with my elm and quite a bit with my cork bark elm too. They have so many buds all over the branches at this time of year, cutting them right back to where you want the branch to start ramifying is so easy. Great tree for new bonsai enthusiasts. Great video Xav! 👌

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

You know the truth :)

[@thebrightsidepotteryandbonsai]

Looks great Xav!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It is just a shame I lost 3 of those last year to the cold snap and lack of attention from me :(

[@Rojin_Bonsai]

Great video Xav. I do love a chinese elm. Careful on the oceana root boost. It's so good I have had trees root bound again by mid summer so a little goes a long way.. going by experience of course 😅

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Thanks for the tip - I have probably been a bit heavy handed this year :)

[@DavesBonsai]

Way to be bold! Going to town on the elms! Nice work my friend.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I did something very similiar to all of these back in 2017 and they responded very well. Unfortunately I then forgot about them so have had to repeat the process. Oh well :)

[@natrjack965]

Picked one up from B&M for£15 it's a nice size it was in Coco fibra, so I re potted it in my kittydamma mix and put it in a nice pot so fingers crossed

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Getting it into better soil is bound to pay dividends. I look forward to hearing of great progress :)

[@AlexBraunton]

You're too much 😂 nah, only joking. Great video as always, Xavier ! I think one of the biggest struggles for beginners is how much is safe to prune and what effect that will have on the tree.

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

That is so true Alex. Even now, I don't go as far back as I could...or perhaps should :)

[@davidparry2301]

Done exactly that with my supermarket bought elm.. Overall it had a nice shape but it was just a birds nest of a mess in terms of branches. Totally stripped it leaving about 4 primary branches and one upward pointing to create a new leader. Let’s see how much I can improve it

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

It sounds like you know exactly what you are doing. I'd love to see how it looks now :)

[@davidparry2301]

@@XaviersBonsaiRetreat Not at all - total novice. Only started a couple of years ago. Just trying to learn from KZbin, people like your good self, books etc. All of my trees are probably what you would call raw material but I’m enjoying trying to develop them - patience is the key. One day I might buy a developed tree but it’s the satisfaction of creating something yourself that appeals

[@Ad_DOOM]

I've got a couple of these S shape elms. I inevitably end up trunk chopping them. Like yours here, they never have taper after that first branch. So it's always a snip snip from me

[@Ad_DOOM]

Also, great video Xav. Really enjoyed this one

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Agree totally Adam - I think that is the shame of these mass produced 's' shaped trees. But...when you take the plunge and start to redesign then things get fun again :)

[@Darkfire1300]

Timely, given what I have going on with the Ugly Duckling!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

Now you make sure to leave little duckling alone until May Susan :)

[@Darkfire1300]

O..K....by then it will resemble Audrey II from Little Shop of Horrors and growl at anyone walking by!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

@@Darkfire1300That is such a great and fun musical soundtracck. Steve Martin was hilarious in the film version :)

[@stanhill3980]

You throw away cutting I long for I pray the postage on a little box or envelope. Thanks

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

I really hate wasting these cuttings so if you are Uk based and interested then why don't you send mee your address and when I do decent cuttings through the year I could send them. No guarantee but let me know if anything interests you. Cheers

[@givetanks]

Healthy elm can take a lot of punishment!

[@XaviersBonsaiRetreat]

So true...and they give back so much more as well :)