Hi everyone, having looked at the species identification guide I think my bonsai is a hornbeam or beech, but if one of you could confirm this I would be

really grateful.

I inherited this bonsai from my father who grew it from a seed and it is about 35 years old.

It hasn't been repotted for at least 5-6 years.... I believe I have missed the end of winter early spring repotting window but I have heard I could repot into a larger pot without stressing the tree too much as I wouldn't be root pruning if I did this. I would then definitely repot again next early spring to a much smaller pot and really cut the roots and tree down.

Any and all advice would gratefully be appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Andy

I would say Beech, re potting now would be very dangerous, What is the reason for going into a larger pot? There does not seem a reason to do it. If the tree is growing as it looks as if it is then I would wait until next spring. The first thing I would do however before anything else is to get rid of those stones. They do nothing for the tree and may even be detrimental.
If it is draining well, then I would leave it.
Is that weeds growing in the pot? If it is then again remove them.
Please tell us what country you are in.
Geoff.

Not a beech, I'm guessing it's an (American?) elm.
Putting it in a larger pot is not a risk.

Hi, thank you both for replying to me.

I wanted to put it in a bigger pot just so it could have some new soil etc. the reason. I am saying larger pot is because it is late spring early summer so I know I can't start pruning the roots.

I am in the UK and I have now removed the stones. There are some tiny weeds which I will pluck out and some moss.

I also have some bonsai feed which I'm going to start feeding it.

More photos attached

Thanks again

Well I would say it is a Japanese Zelkova (familiy of the elm) because the bark of the hornbeam and the beech it is a smooth one and in this case, as your latest photos show, there seems to be bark plates. This phenomena is consistent with old trees of this species. Also the leaves pattern seem to be a match. So, even if I´m not 100% sure I´d bet for an elm.

I've also just looked at the bottom of the pot and the tree is completely root bound. Had roots coming out of the drainage holes etc. have cut them back and it is now draining well.

I agree with alainleon1983, I do think it is a zelkova, if not, then definitely a kind of elm.

Jaimin

I did wonder but not knowing where he was makes it more difficult. Where in the Uk are you? Just because there are roots out of the drainage holes does not mean you should go up a pot size. One way to get over this if you can get hold of one is with a cheese plug remover. This takes justa small plug of soil out and you can do this in several places in the soil and repace it with new soil. I do this on some of my trees as they can be difficult to do because of the size.
Going to a bigger pot will not help much, and as I said as long as the soil is draining then it is fine.

I've actually cut the roots coming out te holes and cleared the mud / soil that was attached to them.

I'm in surrey Geoff

Ok, well, there is a good bonsai nursery not too far away, Windy Banks Bonsai. Also Herons Bonsai. Both well worth going to and of course sell all the accessories you need. There is a good club too, Surrey Heath. Check out the F.O.B.S.S. website for their details. They have a super show as well later on in the year.
Geoff.