Rough Bark Elms

Elm makes a great bonsai tree. There are many varieties and they can be grown in many climates around the world. In this video I'll be showing two outstanding varieties of rough bark elm to keep an eye out for.
The Yatsubusa and Hokkaido Elms.
Enjoy!
There's much more bonsai to see on my Instagram account:
/ bonsai_echo
See you there!

[@saturnynetitan]

Those are absolutely beautiful. Love the bark and those tiny leaves.

[@ScuzzyForPrez]

There's a Hokkaido Elm at my local nursery that I've been hemming and hawing over for a few weeks now, and I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on it now thanks to your vid.

[@BonsaiEcho]

Have fun! Super brittle branches…

[@mattbrennan647]

Nice looking projects for future development. Interesting and informative as usual. Thanks

[@BackGardenBonsai]

They are some small leaves! Also I think your sound and lighting was fine, I probably wouldn’t have even noticed if you hadn’t mentioned. 👍

[@BonsaiEcho]

Not very noticeable on mobile. Tele looked super bright. Those tiny leaves really do remind me of dried herbs though😏.

[@BackGardenBonsai]

@@BonsaiEcho Ah i see, I watched it on my phone. Anyway, its that time of year where its either too dark, or the low sun is just at a blinding angle.

[@briankavanagh7191]

That first air looks as if it will be great tree in the future.

[@BonsaiEcho]

Proof of air layering should make KZbin happy. 😉

[@godisgod]

Wow, seeing the hokkaido elm was very exciting. It's so beautiful with those tiny leaves. I read up on them and learned that they are very challenging to work with, and that sudden dieback is common. I'm still interested in them, and am looking forward to seeing you develop yours

[@BonsaiEcho]

Just trying to get the most out of it. Repot scheduled for spring 2020. It’s been in straight sand for too many years at the nursery.

[@BeeBait]

Oh wow, I finally found a good video on this Hokkaido! Just got one a few weeks ago and there are a few trunks I'm hoping to separate from the roots. And suggestions for when I go about splitting them up into different pots?

[@BonsaiEcho]

Handle with care. They break if you look at them too hard. They also root from cuttings or layerings like nobody’s business. Separated pieces with roots would have a high degree of success in standard Bonsai soil mix. Spring would be an ideal time to do the separation, but autumn can also be possible with good winter protection from freezing temps.

[@BonsaiEcho]

Some technical issues with the recording equipment lately. Had to reset the camera due to sound issues. Also a challenge to get lighting right. I’ll keep working at it.

[@kosmozova]

The air layered part is really nice, deserves a pot already or when it's ready :)

[@BonsaiEcho]

While the layered part did produce plenty of roots, I’d like it to develop a decent structural root base before I attempt to tie it in to a bonsai pot. I’ll likely arrange it in a training box for a time while I also work on developing the branching.

[@kosmozova]

Of course, take your time. I'd also let a canopy rather grow freely for an year or two to support root growth.

[@boombapboom]

thats nice! Can you keep a cork bark elm indoors like other elm trees?

[@BonsaiEcho]

I wouldn’t suggest it. Cork elm appreciates a full dormancy over winter. That means temperatures well below our indoor comfort zone. Temperate trees can be brought inside for a short term display of up to a few days with little impact. Beyond that, the tree will have health issues which may show either immediately or possibly even some time later. Standard Chinese elm can be semi-deciduous and can survive indoors a little longer, but will never really thrive compared to when it becomes happy outdoors in similar conditions to its native climate.

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

I had a lot of GAS for new plants for the upcoming season ...so I just ordered my first elm (a seiju), as well as a new shindeshojo, 2 diff varieties of J pomegranates, and also 2 more diff varieties of acers. Can’t wait to get it, as I’ve never had an elm.. I love the bark and tiny leaves. ✨✨

[@BonsaiEcho]

Elms are really great for those who enjoy trimming. Even the ones that don’t push much extension growth such as seiju still create a lot of foliage to be trimmed from odd places on the trunk and branches. They end up needing their legs and whatnot shaved more often than their hair cut 😉.

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

@@BonsaiEcho Yeah.. I've read a few people didn't like them because it's hard to keep up with their growth (I hope they don't grow tooo fast/much though). At least, not as fast as my portulacaria afras, jades and landscape eugenias (those all need constant trimming year round). I've also read they can have major branches die-back on occasion. Any idea if the Seiju gets too big and tall in the ground? Or is it better and safer in a container? I like landscaping and trying to make a Japanese garden... so a lot of my plants will also go into the ground once a lil bigger, healtheir and once they fill a 3-5gal pot.

[@BonsaiEcho]

Mature size can be 10 feet tall so I’d say that’s pretty big. I would expect it to take a long time to get that size though. If your intention is to put it in the ground eventually I suggest just putting it in the ground now.

[@LessTalkMoreDelicious]

@@BonsaiEcho Ah, okay... that's not too bad (sound like a dwarf or small-medium size tree). I def don't want 20-60'+ monsters though, lol

[@makeshiftmonk]

Trying to find some specific winter care for the Hokkaido but have not found any really good answers as to either let it freeze in cold storage or keep it inside the house through winter i know this is an older post but if you see this please can you give some advise on this subject thanks brother!!! :::=^)

[@BonsaiEcho]

I suggest protecting below 28° F. Not in a heated area. Completely dark is fine. An unheated garage, shed, cold frame, that sort of thing are good options. In my experience, they tend to die back quite a bit in the colder winter temps.

[@makeshiftmonk]

@@BonsaiEcho thank you so much for the reply!!!!! I do cold store the rest in my unheated garage but the elm is a new addition as of this year forcme so I really appreciate the lesson on them for winter care!!!! Thanks a bunch from the Minnesota cold!!! :::=^)

[@amos7541]

I most say l just purchased one of those hokkaido elm do you keep it in door or out door in winter

[@BonsaiEcho]

Outdoor if at all possible. It’s not native to indoor environments.

[@amos7541]

@@BonsaiEcho thanks ever so much your a star

[@BonsaiEcho]

Hokkaido are more tender than many elms so will benefit from some winter protection in colder climates. Placing next to a building and covering with mulch is an easy way to provide that in most areas that experience some freezing temperatures. In climates with prolonged hard freezes, additional protection may be required for that elm variety. I keep mine in the unheated greenhouse over winter.

[@Sulaiman.galant]

I have Seiju elms and the lookvexactly the same like hokkaido

[@BonsaiEcho]

Very similar, yes. I believe Seiju is capable of growing a little larger than Hokkaido.