Chinese Elm loosing leaves

[Luis46]

My chinese elm tree is loosing leaves. I bought the tree two years ago and it has been doing great until now. I am in the Valley of Los Angeles and it's getting hot, but not as hot as last year, so I don't think this could be the problem. When I purchased the tree I was told that they had replaced the soild in 2002. I Water my tree each day and it has really good drainage so I am wondering of my solid needs to be replaced becase it might be depleted in menerals?. I did take the bonsai to a bonsai master and he told me it needs water and more sun. He touch the soil and he said it was dry. I purposely did not water the tree that morning as the pot would get too heavy for me to carry, but I do notice when I water it drains really well. I been following the instructions of watering my bonsay since I bought it and this is the 3rd day and is still loosing the regular leaves. It does have new baby leaves on the tops bit not sure what will happen. The tree is looking very naked. Here are some pictures. Thank you all in advance.

 

[Adamski77]

that doesn't look like chinese elm to me... unless some very special variety... chinese elms leaves on the edges are not round... serrated I think is the english word to describe it...

having said that the tree you have doesn't seem to have some massive problem... new shoots look good... foliage is all green (based on your photos)... normally water problems would result in at least some foliage to get yellow...

 

[fredman]

that doesn't look like chinese elm to me... unless some very special variety... chinese elms leaves on the edges are not round... serrated I think is the english word to describe it...

I agree. Also...the bark (bit I can see) don't look Chinese elm to me.

 

[Shibui]

Time for a new bonsai master! That is definitely NOT a Chinese elm.

We do not change soil because it has run out of minerals. Nutrients are added by using fertiliser. You should apply fertiliser every 2-4 weeks depending on what sort of fert you are using. Soil is changed because: organic particles have deteriorated and water cannot drain out or because roots have filled all the spaces in the soil. Both those take 3-6 years. If water runs through your soil it is still good.

I'm trying to see where the leaves are falling off. I can see healthy new leaves just opening and I can see healthy older leaves but no sick or dying leaves so I do not think you have a problem.
Not sure what species that tree is but wondering if this is old leaves reaching end of life. Most evergreen species have leaves that live for 2-4 years then get too old so die and drop. That is natural and usually happens at the start of Summer so could explain what's happening to your tree.

Is your tree deciduous? (did it drop all the leaves for the winter?)

If anyone can ID the species that might give more clues.

 

[rockm]

Given you location and the tree's appearance, this looks to me like a Pistachio tree. Not an uncommon species to be made into bonsai. I may be wrong, but as said, it's definitely NOT a Chinese Elm

Pistachio from the hot South in a pot from the cold North

This yamadori pistachio was collected in Croatia 5 years ago and has still some way to go with the foliage mass. It has wonderful craggy bark and graceful twists and turns to the trunk line. Last w…

yamadori.co.uk

 

[Fidur]

It's a Schinus terebinthifolius, very similar to pistachio, but with a final apical leave in each complex leaf, Mine looks like this:


Schinus terebinthifolius

I wouldn´t worry about that leaf fall. It's usual. I even make a complete defoliation at this time of the year....