Tag Archive for: bonsai

Jacquelin Hillier Elm Bonsai Tree Care Information

/in ,

The success of your bonsai depends on a variety of factors, most notably watering and light. Below are some species-specific guidelines to follow that will help ensure that your bonsai will stay healthy and happy.

Pruning Tips:
The Dwarf Elm bonsai can be easily trained and pruned using the clip and grow method. We recommend making cuts at least 4-5 pairs down from new shoots. This will ensure that there is wood in the branch to promote new bud growth. Directional pruning techniques can be used to fill out pad layers. The Dwarf Elm Bonsai tree constantly rotates leaves and sprouts new buds as old ones fall. This occurs most frequently when acclimating to new temperatures.

Fertilizing:
We recommend fertilizing your tree every month with bonsai fertilizer. Time release granules are the easiest to use and can be added every season. Reduce the amount of fertilizer during the winter. Take care not to over-fertilize as this can cause your leaves to burn.

Lighting:
The Dwarf Elm Bonsai trees thrive best with natural sunlight. We recommend filtering natural sunlight. Full sun can lead to slight leaf burn.

Temperature Requirements:
TheDwarf Elms prefer warmer climates. Due to their deciduous nature, they may lose their leaves during the winter. Leaves and bud growth will appear in the spring after dormancy. For very cold climates, Dwarf elms can be brought indoors or overwintered.

Watering Requirements:
The Dwarf Elm Bonsai require moderate watering. We recommend using a soft spray to soak the soil. Ensure that water penetrates not only the topsoil but also into the roots by checking that draining is occurring on the bottom of the pot.

Repotting:
The Dwarf Elms can be repotted during spring and fall for the highest success rates. Avoid winter repotting as colder temperatures will make it harder for roots to recover. While repotting, we recommend trimming off older roots to promote new growth. Repot your elm as the tree outgrows the pot. Depending on the growth rate, this can be every 2-3 years.

Indoor / Outdoor:

The Dwarf Elms can be placed in both indoor and outdoor environments. During the winter, we recommend bringing the tree indoors to protect against frost damage.

How To Care For Your Seiju Elm Bonsai Tree

/in ,

Ulmus Parvifolia ‘Seiju’ Bonsai Care

About The Seiju Elm Bonsai Tree

Seiju Elms are a strong and adaptable bonsai tree that makes a great tree for beginners.  They develop a lot of character in their bark, and take well to shaping, making them favored among the bonsai experts as well.  The Seiju Elm is native to East Asia, where it can grow up to 60 feet in its natural state.

Seiju is a specific cultivar that was bred grow quicker, produce late summer flowers, and stay smaller overall (including the remarkably petite leaves. This tree has a unique ability among bonsai trees to thrive either indoors or outdoors, although it may drop some of its leaves in either situation since it is semi-deciduous. Seiju Chinese Elms form a graceful upright rounded canopy with small, dark green leaves. 

All in all, this makes a wonderful traditional bonsai tree. One of the advantages to growing a Chinese Seiju Elm bonsai tree is that, unlike many other elm trees, it is not prone to Dutch elm disease — which can be fatal.

Placement

A Seiju Elm makes a wonderful indoor bonsai with enough lighting.  It can live outside but will die in temperatures below 45 degrees unless it’s incredibly well protected and insulated – so inside for the winter is best.  Make sure it gets plenty of sun (6 hours or so) with a quality grow light when indoors, or on a windowsill (south facing preferred.). Bring it inside for the season when the temperature is reaching 40 degrees and bring it out when all chances of freezing for the season are gone.

Watering

The Seiju Elm, like most bonsai trees, will die if it dries out.  It enjoys plenty of water in well-draining soil. Never let it dry out completely.

Humidity

When your Seiju Elm bonsai tree is indoors, using a humidity tray is recommended.

Fertilizing

Since your Seiju Elm bonsai is in a small pot, and not the ground, it needs nutrients.  A slow release (pellet based) fertilizer is perfect for this and can be added sparingly every 1-2 months during the growing season.

Pruning & Trimming

Trim back the new growth to the farthest safe point that looks good to you — but never remove all the new growth.  A regular trim will help keep your Seiju Elm bonsai tree short, while helping the trunk grow thicker.

Repotting

Repotting must be performed periodically on your bonsai, Seiju Elm included, when its root system has filled the pot.  If you can clearly see the roots coming out of the bottom of the pot, it’s time to repot your bonsai.  Generally, this means every 2-3 years for a deciduous tree and every 4-5 years for an evergreen.  Being somewhere in between this, the Seiju Elm will need to be repotted around every 3 years depending on its environment.  Repotting should be done in mid-summer, when the tree is at its least fragile state.

Your Seiju Elm bonsai, along with all its soil, should be removed from the pot.  From there, you can trim away no more than 1/3 of the root mass (1/4 is preferred.)  Then you can repot the tree in the same pot, or give it a newer / bigger pot to thrive in. After repotting, your bonsai Seiju Elm should be thoroughly watered.

Diseases, Insects & Other Pests

Your Seiju Elm bonsai can be treated for pests like a normal Seiju Elm tree.  Just remember, your tree is miniature and will need a much smaller and more gentile dose of treatment

Forms of Shimpaku Juniper Bonsai

/in ,

Formal upright (Chokkan): A straight, upright tapered trunk with branches arranged symmetrically balanced and layered regular pattern.  The foliage pads should be evenly spaced and arranged in a triangular shape, with the apex of the triangle pointing upwards.

Informal Upright Style (Moyogi): A more natural, slightly curved trunk with branches that create a sense of movement.  The overall shape of the tree should still be balanced, but with a more relaxed and organic feel.

Slanting style (Shakan): This style emphasizes movement and dynamism.  This gives the impression of a tree buffeted by the wind.

Cascade style (Kengai): The trunk grows downward, often over the edge of the pot and below the bottom of the pot.

Semi-cascade (Han Kengai): Like a Cascade, but the trunk only descends partially below the Pot’s rim.

Literati (Bunjin): This style emphasizes the trunk and its movement, often with sparse foliage and a strong sense of age. 

Windswept (Fukinagashi): This style is dynamic and dramatic, an extreme version of Shakan with the branches (with or without foliage) almost parallel to the ground and foliage clumped on the windward side.

 

Other styling considerations

  • Identify the most visually appealing side of the tree to the frontal exposure
    • Consider root base, observed taper and the natural movement of the tree
  • Trunk and branch movement can be created by wiring and bending the tree and its branches to enhance the overall design of the tree
  • Shape the foliage into distinct pads to create visual interest and depth
  • Shimpaku juniper bonsai works well with deadwood features
    • Jin is a peeled branch, a branch stripped of foliage and bark, sometimes with minimal carving
    • Shari is carving of a deadwood area on the trunk
    • These features impart character and age to the tree
  • Sacrifice branch(es) can be used to encourage growth in a specific area or to create a natural looking bend in the trunk
    • Sacrifice branches on the lower parts of the trunk can add thickness to the base of the tree and enhance taper
  • Branches can be shaped by wrapping wire around the branches and carefully bending them into the desired shape
    • Wrapping the branches with raffia or tape before wiring will help protect the branches, especially when doing aggressive bends
    • Check the wired branches regularly to avoid the bark including (growing over) the wires
    • A round nosed wire cutter is useful when removing the wire from the branches
  • Prune regularly to maintain (or alter) shape, remove damaged or unwanted growth and encourage new growth in the desired areas

Be patient, Bonsai styling is a long-term process, enjoy the journey of shaping your Shimpaku juniper.