White 'decay' on Catlin Elm (Part 2)

bonsamurai

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Hello again people of Bonsai Nut,

It hasn't been long since my last thread (http://www.bonsainut.com/threads/white-decay-on-catlin-elm.24904/) on the forum, but I come once again for some help.

As an update for anyone, it turns out that the "white 'decay'" on the leaves was simply calcium carbonate residue as a result of the hard water I was (the operative word) using.

But now there is this (in pictures attached below): lightening at the tip and eventual shedding of leaves scattered around the tree. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason as to which leaves go, but my best guess at this point in overwatering "or simply the aftermath of its transition to a sub-indoor environment"which I realize many of you out there have concerns - probably an understatement - about.

To reiterate, some background of my care for the tree:
- it (and I) currently live in LA
- the tree is placed on the windowsill of a fourth floor apartment (I've read just about every post about the inadequacies of keeping trees indoors but it's the best I can do at this point in time)
- I water it whenever the soil is almost dry a 1/2 inch below the surface soil (about every other day); however, I do not mist regularly or at all
- facing the southeast, it doesn't get direct sunlight but apparently Chinese Elms prefer not to (or that's a least what I was told when I bought it from the owner of the bonsai nursery)
- there is fairly sufficient ventilation as there is a near-constant light breeze

Thanks again in advance guys (and gals)!
 

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justBonsai

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For the most part your tree looks fine. Elms are slowly beginning to lose their leaves at this time.
 
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The white residue on the leaves is calcium from dried up tap water. Water more heavily than you are doing and completely soak the foliage and the residue will reduce.
Are you misting? Don't.
You can simply pull off the half dead leaves - it's autumn/fall now, this happens...
 
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Isn't it better to manually clean the leaves in this case because it's unsure if he overwatered already?
I see no signs of overwatering.

He lives in (the desert of) Los Angeles and it's outside, how could it ever be overwatered? You could water this thing 3 times a day and still not overwater it.
 

Cypress187

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I see no signs of overwatering. He lives in (the desert of) Los Angeles and it's outside, how could it ever be overwatered? You could water this thing 3 times a day and still not overwater it.
Oh yeah, haahahah :D
 
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bonsamurai

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I see no signs of overwatering.

He lives in (the desert of) Los Angeles and it's outside, how could it ever be overwatered? You could water this thing 3 times a day and still not overwater it.
Is this fairly typical of how leaves of a tree begin to look undergoing their dormancy period - or rather, what would be signs of overwatering?

One thing I do know is that I am certainly not underwatering, drenching it about every other day. However, it is possible that the reduced amount of direct sunlight could be contribute to overwatering, as it has also been not as torrid as you might think as of late (it has hardly felt like a desert at least).
 
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Certainly Chinese elm leaves will do this now. Some elms act deciduous, some semi-deciduous and some just hold all their leaves. Some of you leaves look like they were damaged (maybe during trimming others) and this is a natural reaction. In the end it's a deciduous tree and this is not abnormal in my opinion.

I water every day sometimes up to 3 times daily in summer.
 
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