Elms Stagnant

[jimlau]

my 2 slippery elms, which had explosive growth for 3 months, now seem to have reached a steady state (no new shoots or elongation of existing shoots), even as i continue to feed.

is this due to excessive heat the last few weeks?

or is it just in the phase of the season, where the energy is perhaps being re-stored in roots for the winter?

i hesitate to prune further if there isn't enough energy to then ramify by producing new shoots.

thanks.

 

[Nybonsai12]

is this due to excessive heat the last few weeks?

That would be my guess.

 

[GrimLore]

my 2 slippery elms, which had explosive growth for 3 months, now seem to have reached a steady state (no new shoots or elongation of existing shoots), even as i continue to feed.

is this due to excessive heat the last few weeks?

or is it just in the phase of the season, where the energy is perhaps being re-stored in roots for the winter?

i hesitate to prune further if there isn't enough energy to then ramify by producing new shoots.

thanks.

Continue to fert and water and do not prune - our Elms are the same at this point but honest doing well and have had the same weather.

 

[october]

Elms do not continuously grow. They grow and then rest for many months. Sometimes the chinese elms that are treated like subtropicals will have 2 growth periods a year. Now, it could be the heat. However, the most likely explanation is that it is just taking a rest.

Also, how about posting some pics?

Rob

 

[coh]

FWIW, my Chinese elm has pretty much stopped growing at this point, though it does look like some of the buds are going to open.

It's interesting to see what has stopped and what continues to grow. Larch is still growing strongly, most of my maples have stopped or are only producing a little new growth. One hornbeam (Korean) has stopped, the other (European) is still growing though slowly. Oaks are still growing as are sweetgum.

Chris

 

[Dav4]

The autumnal equinox is 8 weeks away, and most trees are transitioning to mainly root growth and subsequent storage of starch. Some trees may have another flush of growth later this summer as the weather begins to cool, but for most, any more top growth will be minimal compared to what has already occurred.

 

[Poink88]

The worst heat is about to come here in my area (August) and plants will continue to stay shut but I am expecting another growth flush for about 2.5 months after...before our fall starts.

 

[berobinson82]

My elms are behaving the same. When before they'd surprise me after every day at the office with new foliage, now they are happy to sit still and rest. Still keeping them well fed however!

I've never heard the term slippery elm. Fulva or Rubra?

And pics?

 

[Adair M]

Hmm...

That's interesting... My Zelkova is still growing. On it's second growth spurt. I last cut it back about a month ago. Every twig back to 2 leaves. (True leaves.) The new growth is beginning to lignify, so I'm waiting for the tips to stop growing so I can cut back to two leaves once again.

 

[Tieball]

American Elms

My American Elms reach a point each year and then slow-down to stop for awhile. Breathing I guess...after the uphill push of growth in spring and early summer. Then they have a spurt of growth in late July and in August...and then slow way down again...I think in prep for winter. What I've noticed on mine that the cut wounds continue to heal though even though the growth seems to stop at this mid-summer point.

 

[brewmeister83]

I've never heard the term slippery elm. Fulva or Rubra?

It's a common name for U. rubra, I actually learned the name "slippery" before I figured out that red elm was one and the same.

 

[GrimLore]

It has only been a few days since my last post and the American Elms are pushing again... I guess they just needed to re-acclimate from the June rains of 12 inches, to more proper weather here *shrugs* The Heat spell seems to be where they decided to just take a little break but as soon as things cooled a bit to the 80's they are indeed pushing like crazy