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Progressions
Ulmus parvifolia `Corticosa´
 
Many cheaper prepared raw bonsai stocks are very uniform when put on sale. So if
you buy such a plant on an early stage and unfinished in many levels, there is a
change of putting your own mark on it, make it your own tree so to speak.
There are tons of these Chinese Cork bark Elm´s on the market, and in 2005 I
bought one for my self. Like the others at sale they were developed in a broom
style leaving not many ideas of changing the style. I decided though to
give it a try pushing the style in another direction.
The key feature of this tree is a very thick trunk, with the characteristic cork
bark adding age to the image, although very young speed grown trees.
2005
At the first image I have pruned away a
little of the top branches, looking also for at movement in the trunk.
This done in summer when growth is rapid.
An inner section is pruned away to get some movement and direction to the
remaining branches.
Many branches are removed to simplify the shape. All this done with a future
design in mind, that may take a few years to reach.
Branches are wired for this initial styling.
To achieve a better tapering a bigger lump of the top trunk is pruned away.
Afterwards the scar is sealed thoroughly to prevent rotting and healing up the
big scar
better. Ulmus heals very well so no worries with such a major cut.
2006
One year later the branches have developed
slightly, and here foliage have been trimmed to let light into the inner spaces
of the tree to gain new growth.
One month after this trimming, new growth
clearly expands.
2010
Now five years after the first actions, the
tree has matured and branches thickened seen in the winter image.
Pruning has been carried out regularly, and
especially developing the lower branch at the left has been part of the job by
letting it grow, cut back and grow again, to gain a thicker lower main branch.
This have to be developed further the next years to come.
This lower left branch was not present at
the original tree purchased, but emerged later on after pruning, and now is
developed as a key feature.
New pot have been chosen, fitting the image
at hand. The tree is
also tilted slightly to the left to add more movement.
2012
January 2012 the image of a mature tree now
begins to show six years after the purchase and firsts steps were taken.
Originally intended broom style changed to a more powerful image. Focus on
branch development still.
The base of the trunk and roots (nebari)
shows better now too. By slowly removing soil covering the surface roots and
connection to the trunk the roots thickens, gets bark and looks older.
Important part of showing an aged tree. Each year I little by little brushes the
soil away to expose the roots for the air and sun, and with time a nice result
is coming along.
In the start I have the roots covered with
mosses the first seasons, which make new roots sprouting at the base. After some time these roots
are covered with soil instead of mosses. Next step is to expose the roots for
sunlight, removing the soil little by little over a year or two (maybe more), and then a better
nebari is developed. This is actually one of the first focus points I have on
any of my trees in the start, and because it is a
slow process, better get started early
developing with the tree as it ages
and develops.
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