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Detailed explanation of how to make an elm bonsai

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Bonsai can be seen in many home environments, and some flower lovers are very fond of elm. In fact, elm likes light, is cold-resistant and drought-resistant, but is not tolerant of waterlogging. It can adapt to dry and cool climates; it prefers fertile, moist and well-drained soil, and is a relatively easy species to grow. So how should an elm bonsai be made?

Bonsai can be seen in many home environments, and some flower lovers are very fond of elm. In fact, elm likes light, is cold-resistant and drought-resistant, but is not tolerant of waterlogging. It can adapt to dry and cool climates; it prefers fertile, moist and well-drained soil, and is a relatively easy species to grow. So how should an elm bonsai be made?


Elm bonsai

Freshly dug old elm stumps should be planted in plain sandy soil in the ground or in clay pots for "stump cultivation." This is generally done from late autumn to spring (the survival rate is highest in the two or three months before bud break). Before planting, the root system and branches must first be pruned, and sticky sap often flows from the cut surfaces. If too much liquid seeps out, it will seriously affect the survival rate. The cuts can be sealed with paint or wax, or coated with a layer of erythromycin ointment or sulfonamide ointment, and then sprinkled with fine sandy soil. After planting, press the soil down as firmly as possible. It is not necessary to water; simply spray the branches with clean water 1-2 times a day, and after 3-4 days water thoroughly once. After that, do not water unless the soil is dry, and strictly forbid water accumulation in the soil.

Second, when styling an elm bonsai, based on the basic form of the old stump, it should be made through wiring, pruning, and so on into different forms of bonsai such as straight-trunk style, curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, waterside style, cascade style, wind-swept style, forest style, and rock-clinging style. Styling can be done during the dormant period after leaf fall, or during the growing season, but the bud-break period should be avoided.

After the elm bonsai has taken shape, before spring growth begins, plant it in a fine pot such as a purple clay pot for viewing. It is best to plant it in loose, breathable, well-drained sandy soil rich in humus. Usually place it in a well-ventilated spot with ample light for care, and keep the pot soil moist but not waterlogged. In summer, when it is hot and dry, water can be sprinkled on the ground around the plant, but it is not suitable to spray water directly on the leaves, so as to avoid the leaves becoming larger and losing their beauty. Apply a fully decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer about once every 20 days.

How to make an elm bonsai

Elm, especially old elm stumps growing in the wild, has gone through many years of human chopping and carving, or wind and rain erosion, animal gnawing, and so on, gradually forming many different and strange postures. Some have twisted roots and gnarled branches, vigorous and ancient-looking; some turn the rotten into something magical, with dead roots and new leaves, opening up a world of their own. They are excellent material for making bonsai.



Below is a brief introduction to the steps involved in making an elm bonsai:
Freshly dug old elm stumps should be planted in plain sandy soil in the ground or in clay pots for "stump cultivation." This is generally done from late autumn to spring (the survival rate is highest in the two or three months before bud break). Before planting, the root system and branches must first be pruned, and sticky sap often flows from the cut surfaces. If too much liquid seeps out, it will seriously affect the survival rate. The cuts can be sealed with paint or wax, or coated with a layer of erythromycin ointment or sulfonamide ointment, and then sprinkled with fine sandy soil. After planting, press the soil down as firmly as possible. It is not necessary to water; simply spray the branches with clean water 1-2 times a day, and after 3-4 days water thoroughly once. After that, do not water unless the soil is dry, and strictly forbid water accumulation in the soil.
Second, when styling an elm bonsai, based on the basic form of the old stump, it should be made through wiring, pruning, and so on into different forms of bonsai such as straight-trunk style, curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, waterside style, cascade style, wind-swept style, forest style, and rock-clinging style. Styling can be done during the dormant period after leaf fall, or during the growing season, but the bud-break period should be avoided.
After the elm bonsai has taken shape, before spring growth begins, plant it in a fine pot such as a purple clay pot for viewing. It is best to plant it in loose, breathable, well-drained sandy soil rich in humus. Usually place it in a well-ventilated spot with ample light for care, and keep the pot soil moist but not waterlogged. In summer, when it is hot and dry, water can be sprinkled on the ground around the plant, but it is not suitable to spray water directly on the leaves, so as to avoid the leaves becoming larger and losing their beauty. Apply a fully decomposed dilute liquid fertilizer about once every 20 days.
Elm has very strong sprouting ability and grows relatively quickly. During the growing season it should be pruned frequently, cutting away overly long and messy branches to keep the tree shape graceful. The best viewing period for an elm bonsai is when the new leaves have just emerged. If all the leaves are removed in early to mid-August, and water and fertilizer management is then strengthened, new leaves will grow again by late September, increasing its ornamental value. In winter, move it to a cool room with bright light, or bury the whole pot in soil outdoors in a wind-sheltered, sunny spot, reduce watering, and let the plant enter full dormancy. During care, repot once every 2-3 years to keep the bonsai growing vigorously and full of life.

How to grow an elm bonsai? How to make an elm bonsai


Image: Small elm bonsai

[Common questions] How to grow an elm bonsai? How to make an elm bonsai

[Expert answer]

How to grow an elm bonsai?

1. Increase light.It likes sunlight and is slightly shade-tolerant, so it should be placed in a spot with ample sunlight. If there is insufficient sunlight, it will produce leggy branches, the leaf color will be poor, and it will also be prone to pest problems.

2. Keep the pot soil moist but not waterlogged.Elm likes to grow in moist places, but it is also afraid of waterlogging. Therefore, when spraying water, water thoroughly, and in the hottest summer period water once in the morning and once in the evening. If water accumulates in the pot, drain it as soon as possible.

3. Fertilize appropriately.Use fermented peanut cake made into liquid fertilizer, or crush peanut cake into pieces the size of a thumb and bury them in the soil. It is also suitable to use some compound flower fertilizer. Fertilize once in early spring and once in early autumn; do not apply too much.

4. Prune and shape in time.Elm has extremely strong sprouting ability, and the three groups also grow quickly. If it is not pruned, the stump bonsai will lose its ornamental value. Pruning and shaping can be done in autumn. First cut off useless branches and diseased branches, then trim the branches according to the intended shape or the formed posture.

5. Elm often suffers from aphids and scale insects.It can be sprayed with omethoate diluted 1000 times with water. Elm stumps are not only used for bonsai viewing, but can also serve as decorative trees in courtyards, forming a scene by themselves with excellent effect. However, when transplanting large stumps, native soil must be included, and it must be done before leaf growth in winter or spring. After planting, wrap the trunk with rice straw mixed with yellow mud water, and water frequently to keep the soil and rice straw moist.

Making an elm bonsai:

1. Seedling source

Elm stumps are mostly dug from the wild. Wild stumps have strange and changeable postures, winding and twisting, ancient and lovable, take shape quickly, and have relatively high ornamental value.

2. Potting

The best time for potting and planting is February to March in spring, and it can also be done in autumn. Before planting, prune the root system and branches and leaves once. To prevent excessive loss of elm sap, which can cause the wound to rot and the plant to die, apply a medicinal eye ointment or sulfonamide ointment to the wound, then plant it in plain sandy soil in the ground or in a clay pot for recovery cultivation. After the stump has gone through recovery cultivation, it should be put into a fine pot. Use loose and fertile garden soil or leaf mold, which is beneficial to root development. For the bonsai pot, it is best to use a purple clay ceramic pot or glazed ceramic pot, mainly rectangular and oval in shape, and plain-colored pots are best.

3. Shaping and pruning

For shaping elm, pruning should be the main method, combining pruning and wiring. According to the basic form of the old stump, many styles can be made, such as straight-trunk style, curved-trunk style, slanting-trunk style, lying-trunk style, or cascade style. Because its root system is well developed, it can also be made into a raised-root style or rock-clinging style bonsai. Elm branches are soft and can be wired into many styles of bonsai. Elm branches and leaves tolerate pruning, so they can be cut into cloud-cluster style, or cut into any desired shape according to the maker's creative intention.

[Editor's comments] Elm has relatively strong sprouting ability during the growing season. To keep the bonsai beautiful, it must be pruned regularly. The editor of First Agricultural Economics above introduced for you how to make an elm bonsai, as well as the key care points for the bonsai. Friends who grow elm bonsai can learn more about it. In addition, remember to repot once every 2-3 years so the bonsai can grow full of life!

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