Chinese elm

maxine · White Belt Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

Hi,

I was brought a chinese elm for mothers day and it is quite happily growing away, but i`m not sure when i am supposed to trim it, and how far back should it be trimmed. Its growing a bit wild now.
Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you Smile

Stymie · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese elm

Hello Maxine and welcome.
Your Elm will grow best if kept outside as nature intended. You will find some guidelines at the top of this forum which will help. Prune new shoots back to leave only two or three leaves. This option allows you to choose the highest leaf which is facing outward or downward. Subsequent growth will follow the angle of the end leaf and improve the shape as well as increasing the density of twigs. Whereabouts are you? you might be just around the corner from one of us.
Keep in touch and ask anything which occurs to you. We hardly ever sleep. Wink

Lubot

On the tag in the pot when i bought the tree it said "Avoid direct sunlight", so Ive put it somewhere fairly well lit but out of sunlight. But i read something Dick wrote about placing near to a SW facing window?! Why do they write such things on the tags?! Im now experiencing soil mold and a bit of leaf droppage, and im concerned its not getting enough light or too much water? Im giving it a little spray every day, is that too much? I have a SE window, should i put it by that? I repotted when i bought it, is there such thing as a "pot too big for tree"? Im thinking i should have maybe sought a medium pot online as most centres only have tiny or fairly big. Ill get a pic up soon. Thanks for any help. Lucie

Lubot · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:08 pm Post subject: Second look

Ok so I looked again and there is also withered leaves... It has been a hot couple of days...
I sprayed with a little water and the mould disappeared but i expect it will return...

Pics> http://s24.photobucket.com/albums/c29/TheBlackVoodoo/Chinese%20Elm/

Stymie · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese elm

The short answer is that it should be outside in natural conditions.

If you can only grow things inside, you should choose something native to semi-tropical areas.

maxine · White Belt Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

thank you for your help, at the moment i have it on the kitchen window sill and i have now cut back all the leaves and it is looking very healthy, Its not too warm in my kitchen, but gets plenty of light so probably why its surviving okay at the moment. By the way i`m a southerner living in Dudley. Smile

yamadorinige · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese elm

Surrey John · Posted: Sun Apr 27, 2008 11:19 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese elm

Maxine - that's the first time I have every seen someone from the Black Country call themselves a southerner! Or did you move to Dudley from the sunny south?

Best wishes anyway, and I hope your elm survives, in its cool place with lots of light.

Wink

SJ.

maxine · White Belt Joined: 08 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

Yes i`m from the south (London) lived in Dudley for 8 years now.

Very Happy