Chinese Helm and leaves falling off

bongo · White Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 3 Location: London

Hi all

I have had a few bonsai's in my time, and glad to say although not an expert - I have kept them alive for a few years! Smile

I have a beautiful helm which is from Marks & Spencer. I have two, one in the kitchen which prefers not as much sun light, and this one I am referring to on the window sill - it loves the heat and seems to flourish.

I was away for 3 days over the weekend (last week when the temperatures were in the high 20's) .. I came home and had noticed alot of the leaves had curled up, and alot had dried out - so dry that majority are now falling off, and the ones that do fall off can be crumbled. There are even some with what appears to be burn marks.

I have kept it well watered since then, and even gave it some fertiliser (first time this season) .. however it is loosing alot of leaves. There are still alot that are moist (where the back of the plant is where it received less direct sunlight) .. and new shoots appear to be coming out and ok - however I am concerned that this process is not going to slow down and I will soon have a bare, bald and dead bonsai.

If you need a photo let me know, otherwise any help would be appreciated.

RossDas · White Belt Joined: 09 Mar 2008 Posts: 24

Hi Bongo, I'm not an expert but I think the problem is that the plant is meant to be kept outdoors, even though they are marketed as indoor plants.
I'd get advice from others before making any drastic changes though.

yamadorinige

You did the right thing by keeping the soil moist, but giving a sick or weak tree fertilizer is the worst thing you could do. I would stop feeding until the tree has recovered

bongo · White Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 3 Location: London

..thanks for your replies.

ok so the problem WAS too much sun exposure/not enough water, and has anyone had this happen before (with the leaves falling off/drying up) and is this recoverable? will it become bushy and alive again?

yamadorinige

Not quite! You are probably losing leaves due to the soil drying out but a tree kept indoors will NEVER get as much sunlight as it will outside.
Ross is spot on elms along with all temperate trees should be grown outside

bongo · White Belt Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 3 Location: London

Where this bonsai is situated, it gets a fair amount of sunshine! I know they are meant to be outdoors (even though purchased as indoor).

I have another indoor bonsai from M&S and it's fine - I reckon if I put it in the sun, it would grow alot quicker due to higher sunlight exposure (and obviously, dry out more often) but it seems to be doing well.

So if I keep it moist, back in the sunlight and ensure I won't be away for 3 days in peak heat, it -should- make a recovery and those leaves (the older ones especially) will re-grow?

blouvet · White Belt Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Location: Paris

Mr. "Bongo",

Had the exact same thing happen to our C.E. trees (outside bonsai) when we had a hot spell and they were left "on their own" for three days... all the leaves died, curled up, and turned yellow... we examined the branches and saw that some green bark could be revealed so the waiting game was on...

I kept the soil semi-moist and made sure it didn't dry out completely... thankfully, buds began to develop by about week three...

I did manage to save three of our trees... they are pretty sparse with respect to leaves but we have leaves just the same Very Happy

The fourth tree has a green truck so I'm waiting and seeing what will happen next year - I'm hopeful that it just couldn't push out a leaf but may next spring...

What was your experience? Did you manage to save your tree??

Thank you for any kind of info you can relay.

Bye for now.

graham

Hi Bongo,don't worry to much as Chinese Elms are very robust,i would say that it should recover,however,by leaving the tree outside,in the fresh air,allowing it to receive fresh rain water and sun light,you would greatly increase it's chances of recovery,also it will grow stronger.
Good luck Smile