Advice....Please Help...

Guest · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 3:29 pm Post subject: Advice....Please Help...

Hi. I have a chinese elm, in about december, it went very strange, and dried out very very quickly, but a little while later i manager to restore it and it was literally glowinng it looked amazing. It seems to be going off again. A little while ago it started looking very dry again, and the leaves all went crispy very very quickly...the few leaves that were left i decided to trim off as they would have followed suit. Its been a good few weeks now, and nothing seems to be happening, im starting to fear for the worst, its just tree, no leaves atall...i just dont know what to do...im in england, and the weathers rubbish here, its never sunny, i have it under an attic window where it would get the best sun possible if the sun would shine. Im still watering it, though im starting to get very worried....can anyone offer any advice?

Thanks in advance...

steve · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 4:26 pm Post subject: Re: Advice....Please Help...

What exactly is your watering schedule? Do you have it inside? It should be outside where the rain would take care of much of your watering for you. You could be having one of many different problems from soil mixture to lighting. Come back and let s know a little more so we may be of more help.

Stymie · Posted: Mon Jun 06, 2005 6:19 pm Post subject: Re: Advice....Please Help...

Hiyah Nex. We, in the UK, seem to have better, stronger Elms, when they are outside all the time. Now is a good time to acclimatise yours to the great outdoors. Light levels are many times stronger out there. Moisture levels could be another problem. Mine are watered daily but are in very free-draining compost with a high level of grit. This doesn't hold too much water and there is little danger of overdoing it. Your aim should be to keep yours at a just moist level at all times. Can you tell us what your compost consists of? It should not be capable of holding puddles on the surface. Water should pass straight through and out of the drain holes quickly, leaving just enough for healthy growth. Where in the country are you? Come back again with your reply.

Moldy · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Advice....Please Help...

I was told at a Bonsai shop that there are 2 types of Chinese Elms: north and south.

The southern ones are less hardy and may need time to acclimatise to being grown outside (mine is one of these I think, as it was sold as an indoor tree so I have had to get it used to being outdoors).

The northern ones are apparently hardier, and therefore I assume more capable of being outdoors in harsher weather.

Not sure if this is true, but it sounds plausible!

Dick · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Advice....Please Help...

After practicing bonsai for 35 years, I have never heard that there is a "northern/souhtern" distinction with Chinese elms anywhere, including from a wholesale grower that I know in another state who deals with them exclusively. I sense that maybe the seller of this tree is trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

steve · Posted: Tue Jun 07, 2005 3:20 pm Post subject: Re: Advice....Please Help...

I've got to go with Dick on this one. It sounds a bit ridiculous. Just another example of how some dealers make bonsai harder than it is so they can make a buck.