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Hi all,

I got a chinese elm yesterday and noticed it has previously had its trunk cut and maybe treated? I'm new to bonsai and trying to wrap my head around how growth works. Attached are some photos of the tree and the trunk. Is there a way the trunk could ever grow back from where it has been cut? I would like the tree to grow taller. Also would it be possible to wire the trunk if it grew taller to create bends in the trunk? Any help and extra tips would be appreciated!

Thank you

This is how bonsai are created. If not trunk shopped it will grow a big tree, not a bonsai. If you want it taller just wire one of the top branches up and grow it as the new trunk.

Thank you for your reply So! So if I get this right, the top branch that is growing will be the new start of trunk that will go off to the side? As seen in the first photo, there is a branch growing from the side of the trunk quite low down, that will stay as just a branch and then make that eventually into a pad once its grown out and cut to get more branches grow from it? Sorry I am just starting to learn the basics

You decide yourself which bransch you want to grow as a new trunk. That is part of the artistic process and up to the artist. If you dont decide and wait, the tree will decide for you. Trees want to grow taller. The challenge in bonsai is to keep it small, not to grow taller.

I understand i can decide which branch becomes the new trunk, but if you let it choose itself does it typically choose the branch which is at the highest point at the end of the tree? If so, if I cut the other branches that are at the same height of the tree and have 1 branch that comes out near the top of the tree, would it be that branch that becomes the trunk?

Yes, in a well protected environment the most common is that the highest branch becomes the new leader. But sometimes the tree shoose a stronger branch further down the trunk. In exposed areas it is the most common that they creates new leader from down low in the most common wind direction. It is not uncommon that a tree that lost its leader naturally grows 2 or more new leaders.

If you shoose leader use wire to guide it in the right direction and cut anything that are competing.

Thats brilliant thank you so much for the advice! At the very top of the trunk it has an intersection of 3 branches sprouting from the same place, I will cut the 2 side ones and leave the middle, which should in theory become the leader. Would it be safe to trim the tree at this time of year or best to wait until spring? Also for the branch I want to become a new leader, it is only about 3mm diameter currently and very short as it has been cut before. If I cut it back so it has no more branches stemming from the branch I want to become the leader I assume that branch will continue to grow?

Hmm, you are in the notthern hemisphere? You are aware that the tree should be outside and dormant in winter?

Yes I'm in the Northern hemisphere so the tree is dormant atm so would it be best to prune just as the growing season starts? Maybe March/April time?