Hi!

I have just entered bonsai hobby with my entry-level chinese elm.



My questions are demonstrated in the images:

1. Should i wire one of the branches as a leader? Currently i do not see any leader.


2. Should i cut one of the lower branches?


3. Should i cut one thick branch in the crown which is too close to other one?


Thank you!

Take the wire off. Put it outside. The top needs some thinning out, and the lower branch on the right thickening up by letting it grow out. I would not cut any of the branches on the left, but grow the one on the right. Possibly the other one marked could be cut but not sure.

Thank you, do you mean put all of the wires down (i did that to keep the branches going to side instead straight top)? By top, you mean the “crown”? Be thinning out you mean remove leaves near the trunk? Or remove branches? Thank you for more detailed info.

It is nice to see all this beginner enthusiasm! But really working too much on your tree can make you dissapointed and leave the hobby.

My take on it: take the wire off, put it outside for a full season. If you manage to care for it properly you will see a lot of new growth in summer that you can cut back as soon as it hardens. When spring comes next year you had a lot of time to learn and study your tree. By then you will know yourself what is the best way forward for you and your tree.

There is nothing urgent that needs to do right now. Bonsai is a maraton not a sprint.

Welcome to the forum Enthusiastic beginner!

Tropfrog wrote: It is nice to see all this beginner enthusiasm! But really working too much on your tree can make you dissapointed and leave the hobby.

My take on it: take the wire off, put it outside for a full season. If you manage to care for it properly you will see a lot of new growth in summer that you can cut back as soon as it hardens. When spring comes next year you had a lot of time to learn and study your tree. By then you will know yourself what is the best way forward for you and your tree.

There is nithing urgent that needs to do right now. Bonsai is a maraton not a sprint.

Welcome to the forum Enthusiastic beginner!

Haha, ye, i have to slow myself down Thank you for the tips, I will let my tree grow without wires and i will see.

One more question, is it ok to keep it indoor, if it is mean to be indoor bonsai? I am worried by keeping it outside.

There is no such thing as an indoor tree,they die inside!!
Place it outside where it belongs and it will do fine. Why would you worry, there is not one tree in the entire world that lives naturally indoors!!

I am not sure why people are recommending to take the wire off. Once wired, leave it wired. Now let it grow for a bit, and decide on how you would like to style the tree towards the future.