Help with a Chinese Elm

C4RL · White Belt Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Croydon

Hi All,

I'm new to the world of Bonsai and would like some help with my Chinese Elm.

Over the winter month's the leaves started dropping and it got to a point where it was eventually completely bald, but I read somewhere that this can happen. A

anyway, over the past month or so it has started leafing again but VERY slowly and the leaves on the new shoots seem to drop off after a while. Plus I've noticed a small amount of what looks like white mould appearing in the soil surface.

I must admit, being new to Bonsai I have been unsure about watering, some books say to water when the soil starts to look dry and others say every other day.

During the winter months I fed it once a month with a Bonsai feed and have now started doing it twice a month as recommended, but I just don't know why the leaves won't stay put and why I have mould growing!

The tree stays indoors at the moment and is mostly in shade, the room can get a bit cold over night but in the afternoon the sun pours through the window, so I occasionally put it on the windowsill. It's also sitting on a humidity tray.

Any help and advice would be appreciated! You can see a pic of the tree here.. http://www.c4rl.co.uk/Elm.jpg

jimothy · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 4:49 pm Post subject: Re: Help with a Chinese Elm

Stymie · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: Help with a Chinese Elm

Are you absolutely sure that its mould on the soil surface C4RL?
White stuff thereabouts is sometimes residual calcium salts which can be disolved away by acidifying the compost slightly.
Does your compost drain freely without puddling on the surface? A really free draining mix is very difficult to over water and is always desireable.
I heartily endorse the advice to get your tree outside. Mine stay outside all year no matter what the weather throws at them and are robust because of it.

C4RL · White Belt Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Croydon

Thanks for the advice guys, that's great! Smile

I rarely put it outside because I have this book that says it's an indoor tree that should only go in the sunlight for a few hours at a time... but that obviously is doing more harm than good, so outside it will go!

As for the white stuff, it's definitely mould Stymie, small fluffy patches of it. The compost does drain freely, no sooner is the water applied at the top it's running out of the bottom of the pot, so no worries there.

Would brushing the mould of be advisable? Or would I need some sort of fungicide to remove it and prevent further growth?

I haven't actually replanted the tree since I bought it and I've noticed alot of thin roots sticking out of the surface slightly, would this indicate a need for re-potting?

mushashi · White Belt Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Posts: 24

Hi C4RL,

I have several Chinese Elms. One of which I used to keep inside. It always had leggy growth and never quite looked right.

One day I had it, trimmed back the leggy growth acclimated it to outside where it gets lots of sun and now it looks great.

Don't let the books fool you. Chinese Elm are an outdoor tree. If you have the absolute right conditions, lighting, humidity, etc. you might get away with it surviving indoors, but if you want it to thrive put it outdoors. It will love you for it!

Stymie · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Help with a Chinese Elm

The season is getting on so if you decide to repot, do it very soon.
A fungicide application is an alternative but I like the repot idea.

C4RL · White Belt Joined: 02 May 2005 Posts: 3 Location: Croydon

Thanks guys, the tree is now outside! Smile

One more question though (last one, i promise!)..

Here in the UK the weather is temperamental, should I bring the tree in at night when the temp drops and when raining outside?

Stymie · Posted: Tue May 03, 2005 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: Help with a Chinese Elm