Zelkova with no Leaves

drafty_uk · White Belt Joined: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 1

Hi

I am relatively new to the Bonsai world and am fascinated by these attractive little wonders.

I have a Chinese Zelkova (or at least I think it is). It is kept at the rear of an apartment, out of direct sunlight. It is in the soil that I originally bought it in. There is very little, if any, air movement in the room and can get very hot during the summer days.

In March, it went absolutely manic and grew shoots quicker than I could trim them. Then in about May it dropped all of it's leaves and now remains a bare tree. I water it about once (twice if it looks/feels dry) a week by soaking it in a bowl of water for ten minutes or so. Whenever it tries to grow fresh leaves, they are never around the original branches, always in new areas and usually where you don't want them. Even when they do grow, they seem to drop off after a week or so. If it's of any help I can email a photo.

Please help as I don't know what I'm doing wrong and I don't want to lose the little fellow. Rolling Eyes

Phil

Stymie · Posted: Mon Jul 18, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: Zelkova with no Leaves

Hello Phil.
The main thing which occurs to me is that Zelkova, being an Elm relative, should be living outdoors. That is the main problem along with a watering schedule which should be daily at this time of the year and from the top.
We will assume that it is planted in a free draining compost, which is correct for potted plants.
The branches which are no longer bearing shoots will probably be dead and you will need to allow the shoots which do occur to develop into new branches. This will be fairly quickly, once you get the tree into a more suitable regime, as indicated above.
When it is growing again and holding its new leaves, after a month, a modest feeding programme of balanced fertilizer at half recommended strength at intervals of fourteen days would be beneficial. Don't attempt any re-potting for the moment. That should take place around early March.
Please come back with any further questions and mention your approximate whereabouts.