Sick Elm?! Help!

[Vincent Tanner]

Hey, bonsai friends. I think my Chinese Elm is a bit under the weather. It’s got black dots and is dropping leaves.

I searched the forum and saw multiple threads that seem to also be black spots but got a bit overwhelmed and I’m not sure what to do… (Maybe I’m overly panicked!)

I’m in New England, and I’ve had this tree one full year. This was its first winter with me. The tree broke buds about 6-8 weeks ago. It has seemed very healthy and vigorous. This week, the dots showed up and leaves are falling.

Not sure the cause or solution… Overwater? Fungus?

I don’t know much about the oils and fungicides mentioned in the threads I found.

Any help appreciated! Fingers crossed this is no big deal.

PS: I have another, larger Chinese elm doing just fine. No issues.
(If sick, does the infected tree need to be moved away from the others?)

THANK YOU!

 

[19Mateo83]

Looks like a bug issue. The cocoon looking thing/webbing looks like a leaf roller was in there and left poop.

 

[VAFisher]

Looks like black spot to me. I have one that gets it every year for about the last 7 years. The first flush is strong but leaves soon turn yellow, black and mushy. I deal with it by spraying with copper and defoliating the tree. Most times the fungus does not return when it leafs out after defoliation. Sometimes, it takes multiple spraying and defoliation. I haven't figured out how to completely stop it yet. Next I will try a lime sulphur dormant spray.

Makes the tree look like shit for a while but hasn't affected it seriously.

Nice elm by the way. Very natural looking.

 

[Wulfskaar]

It looks similar to mine last fall/winter.

https://www.bonsainut.com/threads/chinese-elm-has-brown-spots.52466/

All I did was repot. The leaves fell off themselves a bit later and when it grew back, it was all good.

I'm not sure if that helps, but I hope it does in some way.

 

[sorce]

It looks wetter up top than it should.

The large fence makes me feel not enough airflow, even though that's not it's home in your hand.

The spots ain't a problem, but the cause could be.

Sorce

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The foliage is staying too wet and it is getting fungus. Defoliate the tree and when you water, just water the soil.

 

[Vincent Tanner]

The foliage is staying too wet and it is getting fungus. Defoliate the tree and when you water, just water the soil.

 

[Vincent Tanner]

Mission accomplished!

While it’s defoliated and all the branches are exposed, is it a good time of year to do some structural pruning? Maybe not if the tree was “sick”?