#BonsaiNews: Ulmus parvifolia, a bonsai beginner’s dream
They are also a good start for people keen on getting their hands dirty for the first time.
ULMUS parvifolia, more commonly referred to as the Chinese elm, has been described as ‘one of the most splendid elms, having the poise of a graceful Nothofagus’.
These bonsai are nothing short of stunning and offer the grower an almost unlimited variety of options when it comes to how one can shape and grow the bonsai to become one which may grace many stands at international competitions.
They are also a good start for people keen on getting their hands dirty for the first time – especially bonsai beginners.
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First you’re going to need a planting tray (rectangular are best) which offers decent drainage and a soil which does exactly the same – note that the seeds will definitely rot and never germinate if they are planted in soils which are too heavy.
A sandy soil, as free of clay as possible, would do great as this soil struggles to retain high levels of moisture.
A variety of small stones may be added to the soil to allow for better drainage, although these stones should remain at the bottom of the tray and not mixed with the soil directly.
Ensure that you place the seeds at the top of the soil and space them out properly if not planted individually.
Cover the seeds with no more than a quarter inch of soil, pressing down firmly to firm up the soil.
Saturate the soil after planting until water escapes from the bottom of the container and maintain the soil’s moistness – do not over-water the soil and only moisten if the soil feels dry to the touch.
The seeds should germinate within a week and should then be placed in a warm area which offers good sunlight.
The seedlings may be removed from the starter pots or wherever you’ve planted them once they’ve reached a height of four to six inches – do not leave them to grow beyond six inches as they will become exceedingly difficult to transplant.
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