Bonsai Focus (English Edition) – July-August 2019

TECHNIQUE

Zelkova - SPECIES

Common name:

Elm

Genus:

Zelkova

Higher taxon:

Ulmaceae

Species:

Zelkova serrata

Skill level:

Beginner to advanced

Soil type:

medium rich, but well

draining, with 40-50% fine

gravel added to the mix.

Flowers and fruit:

Insignificant small green

flowers appear in spring as

the foliage emerges.

Foliage:

Leaves are elliptic to obo-

vate. Taper-pointed at the

tip, double-toothed and

medium green when fully

developed. Autumn colour

is variable, ranging from

an undistinguished yellow

to eye-catching shades of

yellow-orange through to

red-brown.

Bark:

Smooth grey bark in youth

exfoliates with age to

reveal orange-brown inner

bark.

The lowest left branch still gives the impression that it is too thick at the base

The lowest left branch as seen from above.

Having cut back little by little, some of the

coarse nature of the branch has been

removed

The upper branch is to be left alone, the lower branch is removed using a saw

After cutting. The wound is large, but thinking of the long term future of the tree,

the sooner it was removed the better

The part which is

cut back is marked

in red

Use a fine saw to make a very clean

cut close to the trunk

18 Bonsai Focus