20 yr old Japanese Elm help

[Little300z]

We just got a 20 year old Japanese elm. I bought a three way soil meter but I’m not sure the numbers that I need on the moisture,light and pH. This this is kept indoors as temps are low right now. New growth everywhere than started to lose leaves. We are new to bonsai and need direction on how to take care of it. I know it needs to go outside what temperature is below freezing here. Also wanted to know when to trim it. We’ve researched and found one person that says trim it after the bark turns brown on the new sprouts. Is this correct?

 

[hinmo24t]

fairlady Z owner?

cool tree.


someone will tell you to put your zone (USDA) in signature before anything else!

 

[M. Frary]

You can trim these anytime when they're growing.
Spring into early fall.
And you will be if it makes it and gets healthy.
I don't know your zone but once it gets acclimated to being outside it should stay there all year long.
They can take temps down to 10 degrees below zero with no problem when winterized properly.
I used to have a few and they saw even lower temps but then we got down below 20 degrees below zero for a few weeks and they were done.

 

[sorce]

Welcome to Crazy!

Sorce

 

[Cadillactaste]

Would love to see the roots better, I love exposed roots.

Those meters do not register well in bonsai substrate. A chopstick tossed into the soil and left there. Use it like one would a wick. When damp...don't water.

It looks to need more light. Judging by the internode length on the new growth. (Space between the foliage.)

 

[Cadillactaste]

Brian did an amazing resource on the watering method I mentioned.

Watering Bonsai Trees

Watering Along with proper siting, proper watering is among the most critical tasks to master to become successful in the art of bonsai. Water too frequently, or too infrequently, and the tree's health declines. Usually, the symptoms of...

www.bonsainut.com