Chinese elm help, dropped all leafs!

[Jack12342]

Hello,

I brought a Chinese elm in September, made the mistake of bringing it indoors, within 2 weeks it’s started to drop leaves! I have now put it outside, but pretty much all the leafs have dropped off! The bark is still green when you scrath it slightly!

Any advice on what i should do other than leave it alone?

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[Bonsai Nut]

Welcome to the site! Could you let us know where you live?

 

[rockm]

Hello,

I brought a Chinese elm in September, made the mistake of bringing it indoors, within 2 weeks it’s started to drop leaves! I have now put it outside, but pretty much all the leafs have dropped off! The bark is still green when you scrath it slightly!

Any advice on what i should do other than leave it alone?

camphoto 1804928587

Image camphoto 1804928587 hosted in Freeimage.host

freeimage.host

Your location is important. If it’s autumn where you live and this tree has been kept outside before you got it it’s likely it has dropped its leaves in preparation for dormancy.

 

[Jack12342]

Hello, i am from the UK!

The tree was brought from a bonsai Nursery! It was healthy on arrival! But i brought it inside! Am i best off leaving it outside to carry on or back inside

 

[Lewis_]

Hello, i am from the UK!

The tree was brought from a bonsai Nursery! It was healthy on arrival! But i brought it inside! Am i best off leaving it outside to carry on or back inside

Leave outside. Assuming it didn't ( / doesn't) fully dry out, there's a chance it'll be ok.

 

[rockm]

Hello, i am from the UK!

The tree was brought from a bonsai Nursery! It was healthy on arrival! But i brought it inside! Am i best off leaving it outside to carry on or back inside

Leave it outside. Find a place in your garden/yard to mulch the tree into for the winter

 

[Jack12342]

What do you mean by to mulch?

I have scraped a tiny bit back on one of the branches and it’s still green inside!

 

[Jack12342]

It has completely dropped all of it’s leaves now! It has about 15 left

 

[pmalelis]

What do you mean by to mulch?

I have scraped a tiny bit back on one of the branches and it’s still green inside!

bury the pot in Mulch for winter

 

[rockm]

What do you mean by to mulch?

I have scraped a tiny bit back on one of the branches and it’s still green inside!

STOP SCRAPING BARK. The tree is dormant for the winter. Just like the trees in the landscape around you

Do a search on “overwintering elms” here. You need to do it soon

 

[Kodama]

Can you send a picture?

 

[Bonsai Babby]

The leaves drop every fall, that is normal. It probably didn't happen because you brought it inside, it just happened because it is fall.

 

[Jack12342]

 

[Jack12342]

It’s incredibly beautiful in my opinion! Was a present for my birthday off my partner!

I am going to order some wrap so i can overwinter it! It’s still around 15/17c in the day in england currently

 

[Bonsai Babby]

Whoa, that is a nice elm!

 

[Jack12342]

Whoa, that is a nice elm!

Thank you!

I was watching it for weeks before i chose it! It was expensive so i am super nervous! Trying to do as much research as possible!

I was told it would be okay indoors as it was from a green house type place but the humidity is very different to a house

 

[rockm]

Thank you!

I was watching it for weeks before i chose it! It was expensive so i am super nervous! Trying to do as much research as possible!

I was told it would be okay indoors as it was from a green house type place but the humidity is very different to a house

Whoever told your has no idea what they’re doing. It will NOT be fine inside simply because someone kept it in a greenhouse. It is a temperate zone species. Greenhouse cultivation doesn’t change genetics. It requires a dormancy period or it will eventually decline in health and die.

 

[Jack12342]

Whoever told your has no idea what they’re doing. It will NOT be fine inside simply because someone kept it in a greenhouse. It is a temperate zone species. Greenhouse cultivation doesn’t change genetics. It requires a dormancy period or it will eventually decline in health and die.

I mean i agree simply off what i have seen happen to the bonsai over the last 3 weeks! It started off fine, first week signs of yellowing! 2nd week full yellow, 3rd week leaf drop!

It have some red spider mites on it when it came delivered! I have made sure that all of these have been removed!

About overwintering! In the uk, i live in Cheltenham, central england! It rarely gets below -2/3 degrees! Can i simply wrap the tree in burlap to protect the pot and roots or do i need to bury the pot? I also have a shed i could put it in on the super cold nights? What are ur recommendations

 

[Jack12342]

It’s actually looking healthier already! Few days outside now!

 

[Edrahyl]

Being from England I think the biggest danger for the winter in your case would be overwatering. The soil seems to be very heavy in organics, this holds a ton of moisture. Roots also need air/oxygen. That's why bonsai soils are usually very coarse. In the Netherlands I don't protect my Chinese elms up till -5C.

If I were you I would just keep it outside, but don't let it get soggy in the rain. Maybe even put it under cover. In nights when freezing temperatures are expected you can put it in the unheated shed. And over the winter you can research about bonsai soil and what you available in your area, then you can repot it at the beginning of spring next year, just prior to leaf growth.