Chinese Elm torched

[Mikea454]

Short version: Anyone have any luck reviving crispy chinese Elms? would defoliating dead leaves help?

Massachusetts, like probably a lot of the US is on track for a record hot and humid July. I'm working on getting an automated water system for when I'm at work (I'm a vet and sometimes am stuck at work for 12-14 hrs). After a 96 degree day yesterday I came home to find one of my favorites dry as bone, pretty much every leaf was brown and crispy - a few leaves especially at the tips had a glimmer of green left. of course it's one of my Seiju Chinese Elms! - Not just a local nursery item. Everything is hand watered every morning, There was no obvious color change and I specifically remember the watering.. My 128 other seedlings all did OK (but I have lost one little seedling each day over 90 deg., this was the first well established plant). I of course watered it and moved it to shade for recovery. Anything I can attempt to give this a chance to recover?

 

[BrianBay9]

All you can do is keep it in the shade and water when needed, and wait. There's a decent chance with elms that they'll recover and pop some green.

 

[Mikea454]

I was hoping someone would say that, they do seem more forgiving than most. I will give it intensive care.

no pruning or leaf removal though right?

 

[leatherback]

Nah, just let the tree decide.
It might help to submerge the whole plant for 15 minutes, so that any living tissue can resorb water..

I have lost one little seedling each day over 90 deg., this was the first well established plant

This makes me wonder about your watering method.
If I look at this tree, and the size of the pot in comparison to the amount of foliage, this level of drying out should not have occurred within a day assuming it is an established tree.

How do you water?
Do you practice double-watering on hot days, where you water till water is pouring through, and come back for a second watering 10+ minutes later?

 

[Shibui]

Agree that this is very likely to be partly a result of inadequate watering. There is more to watering pots than just waving the hose past it once a day.
The terracotta pot will not be helping as terracotta absorbs water and radiates it into dry air so your soil is drying out on 3 fronts instead of the normal 2.

Removing burnt leaves will not help a tree recover but will not usually hurt either. They will fall off by themselves in time but if they offend and you have patience you can cut them off.
Definitely soak the pot. Don't just water with a hose because dry soil becomes hydrophobic and just repels water. Dry soil will still be dry after watering. It takes a good long soak to properly rewet the soil and roots.
After rewetting the soil, work out how to prevent them drying - better watering technique, water more often or less sun or a combination of all. Then give it time. Chinese elms are resilient and will try to stay alive if at all possible.

 

[Mikea454]

Nah, just let the tree decide.
It might help to submerge the whole plant for 15 minutes, so that any living tissue can resorb water..


This makes me wonder about your watering method.
If I look at this tree, and the size of the pot in comparison to the amount of foliage, this level of drying out should not have occurred within a day assuming it is an established tree.

How do you water?
Do you practice double-watering on hot days, where you water till water is pouring through, and come back for a second watering 10+ minutes later?

you know what, I think you nailed it Jelle, this is why I enjoy your YouTube so much, smart man. I double watered all my organic soils, but the few pots I have in full inorganic I think I have the tendency to skip the double water - got to get it in my head there is more absorption capacity than it appears. Shade cloth also appears to have slipped, so it got a sudden double dose of afternoon sun.

question for you, I have a nursery junpier I did a first repot with only the partial removal of dirt and roots and repotted it with surrounding inorganic around the unremoved soil - I am always worried the water runs through the outside and doesn't properly saturate the soil, how do you handle that situation?

 

[Mikea454]

Agree that this is very likely to be partly a result of inadequate watering. There is more to watering pots than just waving the hose past it once a day.
The terracotta pot will not be helping as terracotta absorbs water and radiates it into dry air so your soil is drying out on 3 fronts instead of the normal 2.

Removing burnt leaves will not help a tree recover but will not usually hurt either. They will fall off by themselves in time but if they offend and you have patience you can cut them off.
Definitely soak the pot. Don't just water with a hose because dry soil becomes hydrophobic and just repels water. Dry soil will still be dry after watering. It takes a good long soak to properly rewet the soil and roots.
After rewetting the soil, work out how to prevent them drying - better watering technique, water more often or less sun or a combination of all. Then give it time. Chinese elms are resilient and will try to stay alive if at all possible.

Before leatherback answered I was wondering if the pot had something to do with it, It's the only one I am currently using and that tree did the worst. I have noticed it gets hot in the sun and doesn't even cool down for a good hour or two after sunset, but I bet you're right it's porosity is likely the bigger issue. Looking at an empty one it's only the rim that is glazed, the rest is not.

Thanks guys, all your guidance is very appreciated.

 

[leatherback]

how do you handle that situation?

I do not, as I do not have pots with this.
If I would have.. I would in case of heat & draught consider soaking once every few days, and regular watering in-between. I am not a big fan of the half-replacing nursery soil. I find that junipers handle it well, as long as you do not do a deep-dive trying to remove all organics and just take chunks out, replacing with coarse substrate. The net repot I then find organics throughout, as wurms and other organisms have gone through the rootball.

 

[shimbrypaku]

Seiju watered at 10:00 - 11:00 AM every day, full sun.
My watering technique is to water until the container is flooded and running out the bottom.

I water the entire space, then water again.

Seiju is in Bonsai Jack inorganic soil.

The seiju in the pic is from a cutting and about two years old.

Container is from

Bonsai Shoes Modern Oval Plastic Training Pot

Bonsai Shoes is a US based manufacturer of premium plastic bonsai training pots. All of their products are designed and made in the United States.The Modern Oval is a sleek looking pot with a modern feel. This pot features RootZoom Technology. RootZoom Technology utilizes an air pruning mesh...

treeigami.com

Thanks

 

[Mikea454]

I do not, as I do not have pots with this.
If I would have.. I would in case of heat & draught consider soaking once every few days, and regular watering in-between. I am not a big fan of the half-replacing nursery soil. I find that junipers handle it well, as long as you do not do a deep-dive trying to remove all organics and just take chunks out, replacing with coarse substrate. The net repot I then find organics throughout, as wurms and other organisms have gone through the rootball.

good to hear, so many places seemed to recommend this 1/3 swap per repot claiming the junipers were very sensitive. Just chopstick and rake or do you use water?

 

[leatherback]

good to hear, so many places seemed to recommend this 1/3 swap per repot claiming the junipers were very sensitive. Just chopstick and rake or do you use water?

I lost 2 of this batch:

 

[Mikea454]

too bad I didn't see that video first

 

[Bonsai Nut]

The piece size is quite large for the tree - particularly in a 100% inorganic mix. Quite a lot of void space, and very easy for the roots to dry out.

Nothing to do now, because if you mess with it you will just stress it further. I would put it in 100% shade and hope for the best.

 

[Mikea454]

I did sir, TY... also a deep soaking as recommended and very careful watering

 

[Mikea454]

signs of life!

 

[Shibui]

signs of life!

Well done. Thank goodness Chinese elms are tough.

 

[Mikea454]

they really are, I think most of the other species I have would have been in the compost. thanks for advice everyone