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| Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' http://weetrees.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=19308 |
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| Author: | BGOG [ 30 May 2022, 10:20 ] |
| Post subject: | Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Hi all Not been on here for years as my bonsai have been ticking along quite nicely. Sadly my 'snake' Chinese elm seems to have given up the ghost. Not sure if I killed it while re-potting it in early spring but as you can see from the photos, the main branches appear to all be dead and no sign of returning. However I am getting some new growth out the trunk so I'm thinking I can get something out of this by chopping the trunk and starting again, however I'm a bit nervous for obvious reasons so any advice would be great. I suppose my questions would be, are the branches def not coming back? Should I leave it a while to recover before I do any major surgery? Where and how should I chop the trunk? I know it's only a 'snake' but I've had it around 12 years so quite fond of it. https://www.dropbox.com/s/32mtprajd6vmg ... 4.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/gmwlovf0xaklr ... 5.jpg?dl=0 Ta Phil |
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| Author: | Gary Jones [ 30 May 2022, 13:31 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Very probably dead above the new growth but I would now leave this all year to grow and then chop and restyle in Autumn or early spring. It's an opportunity to set a brand new style. You'll be amazed how creative you can be if you put your mind to it. Two or three years good growth and styling and you'll have a nice little tree again. |
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| Author: | BGOG [ 30 May 2022, 14:15 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Ah, great, thanks. That's what I was hoping for. Is there a method for chopping in the autumn or do I just go for it above the growth? |
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| Author: | Jay [ 30 May 2022, 14:48 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
I agree with Gary, just let it grow this summer then chop later. |
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| Author: | Keith Hansell [ 31 May 2022, 10:01 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
I agree, leave well alone at the moment, just in case the problem is a result of repotting. Chopping will only rock it and possibly damage the roots. Equally don't be surprised if it gives up the ghost in a month or so. Sorry but plants often send out new growth when they are on their last legs. I'm not sure if its a survival mechanism, trying to hang on, or using up stored energy. |
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| Author: | BGOG [ 27 Jul 2022, 12:30 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Quick update on this. The new growth appears to be thriving (as in the pic). I'm just leaving this alone this season, right? I shouldn't be cutting the new growth back at all? should I be feeding? https://www.dropbox.com/s/g1ne0eeqjqocr ... 7.jpg?dl=0 |
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| Author: | Gary Jones [ 29 Jul 2022, 11:51 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Yep. Just leave it mostly alone for now. Mild fertiliser is OK. In the autumn as the leaves fall I would remove the dead wood and put some direction in the hardened off new growth to set new trunk and branch lines for next year. They won't set until spring growth so you could leave it any time until then (just before bud break). Of course you'll need to let it grow out a lot over a few years to thicken up. |
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| Author: | BGOG [ 30 Jul 2022, 10:43 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Great thanks for the advice! very helpful. |
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| Author: | BGOG [ 24 Mar 2023, 10:03 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
So it looks like it's made it through the winter! (buds just coming through on all the new growth). https://www.dropbox.com/s/6mgp4hgfy4ede ... 4.jpg?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/7ykorjz3fwtb4 ... 5.jpg?dl=0 Bit unsure where to start next. Do I leave the branches alone for a couple of years to thicken up? Should I start cutting the trunk back even further to try get a pleasing shape? Or just leave the thing alone to recover for another season? Thanks |
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| Author: | Gary Jones [ 27 Mar 2023, 20:53 ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Rescuing Chinese Elm 'snake' |
Looks like you've got loads of growth there and multiple branches from the same locations. If it were mine I'd thin out the branches to one in each location. Don't shorten them. Then if they are strong enough wire some movement and shape into the keepers. You don't need to wire the whole length just the bits closest to the trunk, but you can if you want to, so it looks nicer. If in doubt keep more than you need and keep one in every location for overall strength. Let it grow all this year to thicken the branches. This time next year you may have further surplus branches to remove and possibly start reducing some in length if they're getting thick enough. If you wire it remember to check the wire before it cuts in to deeply. If you want to and the tree is secure in the pot you can cut the trunk back to the highest living branch. Anything above that will be dead. To me there's a question of possible reverse taper going on. If so you may want at some point to air-layer at the base of the bulge (where teh big cluster of branches is or cut back to that point. Not necessarily a task for this year. And please see if you can use imgbb or similar so your photos are embedded in the post. Just makes it a little easier to comment. |
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