Madartej21 wrote:

Quality post!

On the other hand I don't like the current pot

Can you describe what you don't like? Is it the colour, the shape, or the combination tree/pot?

marco wrote:

Madartej21 wrote:

Quality post!

On the other hand I don't like the current pot

Can you describe what you don't like? Is it the colour, the shape, or the combination tree/pot?

Especially the colour. It feels like its moving my eye to the pot rather than the tree. But its maybe because the tree is not in full leaf on the picture.
But I would use some earthy colour anyway.

Furthermore a shallower pot in general would suit the tree more.

Note that, this is just my opinion. Im no expert by any means.

The depth op the pot was decided because i wanted the tree a bit deeper into the pot, because of the nebari.
Here a picture, with leaves, right after the repotting last Autumn.

Now I too start to think it can get better pot. Color is little off may be. Of course its all about the eye of the beholder.

marco wrote:

The depth op the pot was decided because i wanted the tree a bit deeper into the pot, because of the nebari.
Here a picture, with leaves, right after the repotting last Autumn.

In my opinion it hasn´t been a wild choice the selected pot and it suits the standard basic rules. First, the pot´s depth seems to be alright, that is, it matches the girth of the trunk at its base level. As for the color, I do like the contrast that arises when looking at that pale blue, the red substrate (possibly lava rock) and the yellow/green colors that this elm portraits at its leaves.

Again, thanks for sharing.

Alain

I Made the chpise of this colour because of the nice contrast between the blue and the fresh green in spring, with also Some reddish new leaves in summer. Maybe not a standard choice, but for me it fits perfect!

marco wrote:

I Made the chpise of this colour because of the nice contrast between the blue and the fresh green in spring, with also Some reddish new leaves in summer. Maybe not a standard choice, but for me it fits perfect!

And that is the most important! Now that I see the tree wih leaves I can say it really has a nice contrast. I would still choose an earthy colour, but these are just personal choices after all

alainleon1983 wrote:

I´m just no so sure that this tree´s initial phase can be regarded as a "Mallsai" as we have seen so many times.

The fact that this tree has more potential than the average, S-shaped trees does not mean it is NOT a mallsai. It is.
A mallsai is: "purchased from garden centres, shopping malls and chain stores", according to:

bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicsdevelopingmallsai.htm

Do note that this page describes a transition from mallsai to bonsai - with a similar starter and great end-result, same as Marco's.
Actually, such trees are sold by bonsai traders as well (they do need to make a living...).

See: lodderbonsai.nl/en/about-us

Some pictures I made there:


There's a mixture of trees there - the typical, S-shaped ones, ofher mass-produced ones (but not an S-shape) and real bonsai.
You can find material like marco's tree there (which will be a long search... there are loads of trees there) for a relatively low price. But it's going to take 2 decades to create good bonsai out of it.

Forgot and couldn't edit:

I would not call a Ficus Ginseng (the fat root/grafted version) a bonsai. They really have nothing to do with it. Bonsai techniques are not used for it.
So, I just call them house plants (and when not on the forum, I call them damn ugly houseplants).

Just to share an idea about alternative color, if you ever decide to change pot. Anyway, you did fantastic on your "mallsai". Cheers