There are a lot of tree species that can be converted to a miniature tree. They can be made an indoor bonsai, outdoor bonsai, or both because some species can tolerate both environments. However, there are chosen tree species that are very good as a miniature tree and Chinese elm ranks one of the top picks. Bonsai Chinese elm can be a good indoor and outdoor bonsai. Most of the bonsai Chinese elm grows following the broom shape.
What is Chinese elm?
It is a native tree species from East Asia. It is popularly known as Lacebark elm. It can be an evergreen tree if is propagated indoors and it grows as a deciduous tree if it is propagated outdoors. It can keep its leaves during winter, or in some cases they can keep a lot of leaves during milder cold periods of the year.
What are the characteristics of Chinese elm that makes it a good bonsai tree?
It can be a good bonsai because it has slender trunk that are covered with an attractive bark. There are two varieties of barks that Chinese elms can have, which are rough barked varieties and smooth barked varieties. The former bark variety has dark brown color and has corky bark; while the latter bark variety have silver to grayish bark that appears no texture. But some varieties of smooth barked are capable of exfoliating their bark and exposes an inner bark that has orange or tan color.
It also have small, thick, and dark green leaves which have a shinning top. Every early autumn, they produce apetalous small flowers. During fall season, it bears a one-seeded fruit that matures.
Why is Chinese elm recommended to be propagated as a bonsai tree?
It is recommended to be propagated as a bonsai tree because you don't have to be an expert in bonsai propagation. Beginners in bonsai cultivation will not have difficulty in raising a Chinese elm tree species as a bonsai. The requirements to be successful in cultivating a bonsai Chinese elm are to have a basic knowledge about the tree's characteristics and you should know how to grow it properly.
How to grow a bonsai Chinese elm properly?
The first thing you should know is that you can expose the bonsai Chinese elm under a full sun and beneath a shady area. But when during the season of summer, you have to protect it from too much sunlight to prevent it from too much drying because this can lead to dehydration. Dehydration can weaken your bonsai Chinese elm and if not applied with appropriate measures it can lead to its death.
Next, is to water the miniature Chinese elm when the soil gets dry. Keeping the soil moist at all times, especially during springtime and early part of summer, is good so that it can grow well.
Then, feed it with a fertilizer that contains high amounts of nitrogen. Fertilize it every week for a month then continue feeding it every two weeks until the end of summer.
When you perform wiring in your Chinese elm bonsai, you carefully wrap the wires around the branches because it can leave scars on the bark. You should prune after early spring and leave one or two nodes closest to the main trunk. Repotting should be done every 1-3 years and it should be performed during early spring.
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Preston Blackmore is a Bonsai enthusiast. He has worked with local masters to learn everything there is to know about Bonsai. Now these years of research and development are at your fingertips. For more information on Bonsai Chinese Elm, visit http://www.beginnerbonsaiguide.com.
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