Chinese Elm keeps shedding leaves

[terence8888]

Hello everyone,

I'm new here and also new to bonsai. I was given a Chinese Elm as a present last August. It was doing well initially but by November it started to shed leaves. It will then grow small green leaves but these leaves will dry out and drop in about a week. This keeps happening throughout the winter. A month ago (Feb) the new leaves showed some signs of growing bigger but would eventually dry out and drop again.

The plant lives indoors and is watered when the soil feels dry (about once a week).

What can I do? Should I apply fertilizer now that's it's spring?

Many thanks for your help in advance!

 

[Gabler]

1. Post some pictures.
2. Once the weather warms up, move the tree outside and keep it there.
3. In the short term, use artificial means to increase the temperature, humidity, and lighting while it's still indoors.
4. Check for pests and diseases and treat if necessary.

 

[Russ1]

I have a Catlin Elm that will do the same thing when too warm and too dry (Low humidity) and the soil too dry. It does well when cool and more humid for the winter. It lives in my attic in a window from late Fall to Mid Spring where it gets into the upper 30's to mid 40's most of the time and will loose most or all leaves for a couple months of dormancy then like yours in mid Feb or so will start to grow new leaves. It also does better when it doesn't dry out. I would wait on the fertilizer until it recovers and growing again. In the mean time keep it moist but not soaking wet. Living indoors where it it warm and the air is dry you may need to water more often than once per week. It's ok for the surface of the soil to dry but should be moist below the surface.
That's my take on it, someone else that grows a lot of these may have another opinion. I have only grown and rooted few cuttings of these so not my area of expertise.

 

[JJ6465]

Mist it a couple of times a day.

 

[Contact]

La pianta vive in casa

This Is the reason, these tree lives well outside. In winter loses all the leaves to leaf out again in spring. Trees need this cycle. If your winter Is really too much cold, you can offer some protection

 

[terence8888]

Thank you all for the great replies. Here are a few pictures. Any suggestions will be much appreciated. I live in London, UK and it has not been very cold this winters

 

[penumbra]

It is not a houseplant. Keep it outside.

 

[rockm]

Thank you all for the great replies. Here are a few pictures. Any suggestions will be much appreciated. I live in London, UK and it has not been very cold this winters

Your soil is junk and probably the source of the tree's problem. If it's inside, that only makes a bad situation worse. Compacted dense soil (from what can be seen in the photos) is extremely hard to water. It stays soggy when watered, or impervious to water if it dries out once. If you're submerging the pot to water it, the soil is likely staying extremely soggy, which inhibits root growth and kills off living roots. The leaf drop is an indication that the roots are dying off and are unable to support the new growth.

This leaf drop will continue until the tree expends the last of its energy (Chinese elm are very strong trees, so it can take a while).

The solution is to get the tree out of that soil and outside. Indoor conditions are extremely challenging for plants and bonsai in particular (if you're not using tropical species like ficus indoors).

 

[MaciekA]

Mist it a couple of times a day.

OP's tree is dying due to light starvation. Misting is not appropriate and will further inhibit whatever threadbare photosynthesis is happening.

 

[rockm]

Yes misting only makes things worse. It doesn't help and adds to soil problems. Misting doesn't really do anything helpful for very long for any tree indoors. It makes people feel they're "doing something" to help the tree. Best help for trees is to get them into decent soil and outside.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Your soil is junk and probably the source of the tree's problem. If it's inside, that only makes a bad situation worse. Compacted dense soil (from what can be seen in the photos) is extremely hard to water. It stays soggy when watered, or impervious to water if it dries out once. If you're submerging the pot to water it, the soil is likely staying extremely soggy, which inhibits root growth and kills off living roots. The leaf drop is an indication that the roots are dying off and are unable to support the new growth.

I was about to post almost the exact same information. If I had to guess, the tree tries to recover and then it is over-watered and the roots crash. The soil is really bad - there is no way the roots can get any oxygen to live. I would gently move it into better soil with an open structure, and then when the weather cooperates, get it outside.

 

[terence8888]

Thanks again for the great information. Sounds like I'll need to change the soil. Can anyone point me to where I can find good information? In particular what soil to use for this tree. Once again I really appreciate everyone's help.

 

[Russ1]

Thanks again for the great information. Sounds like I'll need to change the soil. Can anyone point me to where I can find good information? In particular what soil to use for this tree. Once again I really appreciate everyone's help.

if you can't find any locally you can get some Here ->
I didn't realize your tree was not in decent Bonsai Soil, should have asked, looking at it it looks worse than just leaf drop.
I would water very carefully until you can get a bit of growth going and some good soil to put it in.
Short of that you can probably get some Perlite (1/8" +/- particle size) and Coco Coir, maybe 2-3 parts Perlite to 1 part Coco and re-pot in that, cheap and works.

 

[Paradox]

Thanks again for the great information. Sounds like I'll need to change the soil. Can anyone point me to where I can find good information? In particular what soil to use for this tree. Once again I really appreciate everyone's help.

This would probably work fine for that tree

Tinyroots Bonsai Tree Soil - All Purpose Blend

Shop Bonsai Outlet's large selection of Bonsai Trees. With 30 years of experience, a #1 Bonsai Retailer with over 250,000 Bonsai Trees shipped.

www.bonsaioutlet.com

 

[Orion_metalhead]

100% Soil issue /root rot combined with lack of light.

there are plenty of soil mixes to be found on this site. My elms do well outside all year in 1:1:1/2 sifted perlite, saf-t-sorb, pine bark.

 

[terence8888]

I just ordered some soil from Kaizen Bonsai. Will repot the tree once I get the soil. Fingers crossed!

 

[Paradox]

I just ordered some soil from Kaizen Bonsai. Will repot the tree once I get the soil. Fingers crossed!

Just noticed you do not have your location on your profile. Putting it there will go a long way to help us help you. If you are in the EU, I could have tried to recommend an EU vendor instead of a U.S. one

 

[terence8888]

Good idea! Have updated it.

 

[terence8888]

Taken the plunge and change the soil. Took the plant out and the root system seems pretty anaemic. Cleaned it up and cut off some obvious dead roots. Repotted into the original pot secured with wires. Watered it with rainwater and moved it outside. Is there anything else I should do?

I did not trim any branches. Should I?

 

[Orion_metalhead]

what soil did you use?