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I just got a Chinese elm from Amazon, and it came in regular potting soil. I want to wait until spring for repotting the bonsai, any advice on how to water it?
Chinese elm is primarily an outdoor species. Being so tough it can survive indoor longer than others. Unless proper artificial light is provided, it too will die.Is the tree alive? If so, then I reckon you can leave it in that soil for now. Being that it's primarily an indoor species, you may also be able to repot it in bonsai soil right now. A simple online search for "chinese elm care" returned literally tens of thousands of results. You may want to start there.
Plus, your two posts were only 35 minutes apart. Have a little more patience in waiting for a reply. Patience is a golden virtue in this hobby, and it is no doubt the toughest part of it to learn.
A bamboo chopstick left stuck into the soil may help you check too --Depends on how big a pot it's in, but a general rule with most trees in that sort of soil is to dig your finger down into the soil to check how damp it is, and water if the soil is dry more than inch or so down.
Ok. How much should I water it if it's in regular potting soil?Depends on how big a pot it's in, but a general rule with most trees in that sort of soil is to dig your finger down into the soil to check how damp it is, and water if the soil is dry more than inch or so down.
Enough to wet the soil all the way down, but then leave it alone, just checking like I and others have mentioned.Ok. How much should I water it if it's in regular potting soil?
That’s not the problem, traveller.Sorry for asking so many questions
That 's fine but what about the roots? Is it fully rooted? Are there roots coming out the bottom?Sorry for asking so many questions
It is important to water thoroughly when you do water. Water should run through the soil and out the bottom of the pot t flush out stale air and waste products and introduce fresh for the roots so when you do water use enough water to wet the whole root ball thoroughly. Obviously that will depend on the size of the pot and how dry it was before watering. Extra water will just run through and away.Maybe a cup of water? (I'm new to this hobby, don't really know anything about bonsai)
And yet I'm about to do it myself, for the "cheap as chips" contest...the very last thing I would buy from Amazon is a bonsai.