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So, here goes...
I just got back home with my first tree, a Zelkova (or so says the label)




Opinions?
I’m planning to grow and shape my own, but I see good potential in this one (through my rookie eyes ) and I can get started with shaping and pruning practice.

zante wrote: So, here goes...
I just got back home with my first tree, a Zelkova (or so says the label)

By the pictures attached, it is a Chinese Elm.
Ulmus Parvifolia.

Zelkova leaves:

I suspected that might be the case, hence the "or so says the label"

I like it anyway, but it's good to have my suspicion confirmed.

Clicio wrote:

zante wrote: So, here goes...
I just got back home with my first tree, a Zelkova (or so says the label)

By the pictures attached, it is a Chinese Elm.
Ulmus Parvifolia.

Ulmus invisibilis I thought at first, but you must have far better eyes than I do.

Hmmm... maybe the attached pics were too big and were removed.
Here are resized ones

To be honest.. You bought a plant here which was labelled bonsai. And is sold by the millions as such. These plants are not really meant to ever become anything beyong what they are now. Actually.. We even started a discussion on them a while ago to see what can be done. As such, it is a little hard to give recommendations.

I would for the first half a year not worry about forming or trimming. First make sure you are able to keep it alive.

What is the climate like where you live? Do you keep this inside or outside?

zante wrote: Opinions?
I’m planning to grow and shape my own, but I see good potential in this one (through my rookie eyes ) and I can get started with shaping and pruning practice.

I guess it depends on your definition of potential. A seedling has the most potential - as it still can become anything you want. An old bonsai has already fulfilled its potential - so you could say it has little potential left.

Now, a definition that probably makes more sense for bonsai is that we say it has potential if it can become a decent bonsai in a relatively short period. That would be trees that are already naturally shaped having a good base, trunk, branch setting etc.. etc..

Your tree does not have that. It is a commercial mass-product with not much going for it. It has the potential to become a decent bonsai, certainly, but it is going to take a lot of work and time.

A lot of work and time is kind-of the reason I bought it.
I spent quite a lot of time at the nursery, and decided to leave a very nice olive tree that in my opinion had some proper potential and I really really liked. In that time I evaluated what was there and decided to get this, quite cheap tree that I have a fairly good idea where i want to take it.

Yes, it's going to take a lot of work, and a lot of time to get it where I want it, but I thought that was a given with bonsai anyway. I want it to be mine, not something that was shaped by someone else (although it already has some shape ) and any mistakes I make, I'd rather make (and fix) on this one than on a really expensive really nice one.

It is currently kept inside, because it is fairly cold right now outside, and it's been kept in the tropical greenhouse at the nursery until now, but i aim to make it an outside tree and transition it to outside with the next autumn. I'm keeping it next to one of my aquariums so it gets plenty of light.
The climate here is mediterranean (literally, the med is an hour and a half drive from here) hot summers, but unlikely to go past 40 celsius, cold winters, but unlikely to go below -5 celsius, and even then for very short periods.

As for trimming it, there are a few twigs that need to be removed already: crossing other branches, crossing the trunk, two branches coming out of the same spot... things like that, but nothing major, and a few small branches I want to wire into a different direction, but nothing that needs doing immediately. I want to wait until february at least.
The roots haven't started to fill the pot yet so there is no need to even think about repotting yet, maybe next year.

Commercial mass-produced? Yes, I'm aware, even just the price screams that out, but I don't want to waste someone's work (or my money ) on a really nice tree with my current skills.
I'm planning to do some air layering come March. A former neighbour has over 380 hectares of woodland from which he harvests firewood and lumber and he's happy to have me messing around with a few branches of hornbeam, oak (I know, it's unlikely, but might as well try) chestnut, wild cherry and other trees.

By the time any of those are ready I will have had plenty of practice, and maybe even started a couple of box ones.

To make a comparison, no point in getting a nice racing bike and then put training wheels on it

I must say that I like your approach. However I am not sure you make the right descition to keep it inside. Your climate seems Good enough for the Elm. Or at least better than inside. What are the temperature outside right now? Daytime/nighttime?

Br
Magnus