Wee Trees Bonsai Help Forum Advice for all
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/

Siberian Elm Root
http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=15586		 Page 1 of 7
Author:  Keith Hansell [ 12 Oct 2016, 16:48 ]
Post subject:  Siberian Elm Root
Hi

Yes another newbie to the site. About twenty years ago I 'dabbled' with bonsai but stopped due to house moves, circumstances etc. A couple of year+ I got the bug again, starting with the usual S shaped elms and such like. A few months ago I called in at a bonsai centre and bought a Siberian Elm. At the point of buying the trunk was covered in moss and the soil needed a good weeding. For its size and my experience it was the right money. However there is one glaring problem and that is a very large root. Does anyone have any suggestions.

Thanks
Author:  Red Dog [ 12 Oct 2016, 17:33 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
A photo would be usefull, but if the root is that large you could consider putting a wire tourniquet on the trunk above it to force it to grow a fresh set of surface roots. Once that has occured you saw the trunk above the big root but below the fresh roots. You can't do it now, but wait till spring. Here is an article about the method http://www.bonsai4me.co.uk/AdvTech/ATNebari.html.
Author:  Gary Jones [ 12 Oct 2016, 17:35 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
Hi Keith - welcome to the forum. Here's wishing you many happy years of Bonsai now you've refound the hobby.

A picture of your tree and the root will help in terms of getting advice.

Sounds like you want to reduce it. You might be able to bury it, carve it or cut it back a little in stages but a picture will certainly help as much which will depend on how many other roots the tree already has and quite where this particular root is placed on the tree.
Author:  Keith Hansell [ 12 Oct 2016, 18:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
First of all thanks for the helpful comments.

I took two photos to show the root and its size but failed miserably. Maybe I should have asked for advice first on uploading photo's rather than the root..lol.
Author:  roger m [ 12 Oct 2016, 19:56 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
Hello Keith, welcome.

Roger
Author:  stymie [ 12 Oct 2016, 23:50 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
Glad to have you on board Keith. The following might be a help. viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2957
Author:  Keith Hansell [ 13 Oct 2016, 13:02 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
https://www.flickr.com/photos/148251658 ... res/c779Ph
Author:  NickB [ 14 Oct 2016, 08:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
Yuck, that's horrible!

You have to get rid of that root ASAP. However, I would wait until spring, just as the new buds are starting to swell green.
In general, Elms, recover well from root work and should heal over in a few seasons.

It illustrates why faults are best dealt with early in a Bonsai trees life.
Author:  Gary Jones [ 14 Oct 2016, 09:31 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
Hopefully you have a lot of other roots supporting the tree. There seems to be a little inverse taper from the base of the tree to where all the branches emerge so you may want to consider this as well. We haven't got a picture of the whole tree but I could imagine you having a great day out at a carving workshop. Something creative might be possible from the mega root, some hollows in the main trunk and possiby a branch or two removal as well. I think an expert eye on this could really help.

If you go for a simple root removal I'd look at the roots you have left and see what sort of nebari you can find or make by looking below the surface. There might be roots on the other side you can postion to give you something to build with. Alternatively a tourniquet / ground layer approach will take a few years longer but may give you something positive that way.
Author:  sputnik [ 14 Oct 2016, 10:24 ]
Post subject:  Re: Siberian Elm Root
What's the rest of the tree like Keith?
Page 1 of 7 All times are UTC [ DST ]
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
http://www.phpbb.com/